I’m obsessed with Pokemon TCG Pocket at the moment. While I have finished all the official content currently available in the mobile game, I’m yet to complete the Pokedex and get my hands on that gorgeous full art Mew card. Luckily, I’ve got a few months before the next expansion goes live and my interest in Genetic Apex wanes like I wish the price of a PSA 10 Moonbreon would.
For the moment, I’m just opening my two daily packs and battling other players. I’m not too bothered about winning, so I mostly just show off my best cards. However, between my love for Lightning-types (as the card version has always called Electric-types) and the immersive rare Pikachu ex I just pulled, I’ve found myself playing the meta a little too much for my liking.
At least I’m not a Mewtwo player.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Has A Nickname Problem
However, in playing lots of battles, I’ve noticed a problem. While I’d love TCG Pocket to introduce Marvel Swap-esque emotes, this issue is more pressing and more serious. I’m talking about all the offensive names allowed in the game.
Now, the vast majority of opponents have names in a foreign language. I’ve noticed the Thai abugida, Japanese kanji, and more. It’s a testament to the global appeal of collecting little cards with pretty pictures, and I enjoy imagining the frustration writ across the face of a stranger on the other side of the world when I hit my fourth heads in a row to deal maximum damage with my Zapdos.
These names could say anything. I don’t read Thai or Japanese, and of the languages I do know, I barely run into Russian, Spanish, or German players. I’m not sure my rudimentary German would be enough to understand every name, but between Glurak, Turtok, Skaraborn, and the smattering of swear words I picked up from visiting my brother, I think I could get by. But it’s not the foreign names that are the problem.
I don’t know who anyone on my friends list is. Despite knowing everyone I’ve added, my friends aren’t called ‘kitsch, ‘dad’, or ‘NotGiovanni’. But having a display name is a part of the fun of online gaming; like displaying your favourite card in a frame, or picking your deck based on the coolest full arts. But usually there’s some moderation.
I’m Surprised Pokemon Has Allowed This
I’ve battled players with obscene names. Not just swear words, which don’t bother me, but names involving sexual abuse of minors and other abominable acts. I quit these battles immediately, denying my opponent the satisfaction of playing the game, but I need the option to report them, too.
I know this is probably an edgy way to form free wins, but I won’t tolerate such a name on my screen.
The players behind these accounts do not deserve to play this game. This is a game that children enjoy, and they shouldn’t be exposed to this vulgarity. Yes, I was there in the rancid Call of Duty lobbies of the ’00s, but that isn’t a badge of honour, it’s a future to avoid. My three-year-old daughter enjoys opening packs for me, and I’m just glad she can’t read when she watches a battle over my shoulder.
I’m surprised that this is an issue at all. Pokemon games usually have such a robust automoderation system that you can’t name your Froslass Froslass or your Cofagrigus Cofagrigus, but it allows a third party developer free reign? For a company so protective of its IP and child-friendly image, this feels like a major misstep.
The best time to fix this problem was before Pokemon TCG Pocket released, but the second best time is now.
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