The mobile game "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" (PTCGP) has recently found itself in hot water. Players have been buzzing about alleged plagiarism in the "Guidance of Sky and Sea" expansion pack, specifically concerning the Ho-Oh illustration on the Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) cards, which seemingly misused existing artwork, sparking considerable discussion within the player community.
While the official team quickly removed the controversial illustrations from the game on the expansion pack's launch day (July 30) and promised replacements, they followed up with another announcement late yesterday (July 31). This time, they urged players to stop attacking the artist, taking full responsibility for the operational oversight and calling for an end to personal criticism.
According to the official statement:
"Regarding the illustrations for the Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) cards in 'Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket,' which were announced on Wednesday, July 30, we have confirmed that some players have expressed criticism and blame towards the artist.
The issue with these illustrations arose because The Pokémon Company and Creatures Inc.'s card production team mistakenly provided incorrect reference materials as official data to the artist, leading to the graphical error. All responsibility lies with us, the publishers; the artist bears no fault.
Typically, most illustrations allow artists to fully exercise their creativity and style; however, there are also cases where the production team provides concept sketches and asks the illustrator to follow them. In this particular case, the Lugia illustration falls into the latter category, and the problem occurred because the production team inadvertently provided an incorrect sketch.
The illustrator honestly completed the commission based on our instructions. Therefore, we earnestly request that everyone refrain from making any slanderous or attacking remarks towards the illustrator. We kindly ask for your understanding and to cease such behavior.
We deeply apologize for the significant trouble and inconvenience this incident has caused to long-time Pokémon fans and the artists involved in card production. We will humbly reflect on this and make improvements. We ask for your continued enjoyment of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and we will strengthen our illustration management processes to prevent similar issues from happening again."
Naturally, this controversy has sparked two distinct camps of opinion. One side argues that since the official team has taken full responsibility and promised to tighten oversight, why are players still targeting the original artist? Are some just looking for drama and a chance to bash someone? The other camp believes that while the official team admits to management issues, players are still justified in scrutinizing alleged plagiarism. They're scratching their heads, wondering why the company is stepping in to take all the heat.
(For a deeper dive into the origins of this plagiarism controversy, check out our previous article.)
Still, for players, even if the overall gameplay isn't affected, seeing the Ho-Oh ex (★3) and Lugia ex (★3) cards remain in their current state is bound to cause some grumbling.
While the official statement aims to curb the online backlash against the artist, in today's internet climate, a simple announcement might not be enough to quell the storm. With the card pack having just launched, this controversy is fresh, and everyone's waiting to see how the officials handle it moving forward.