Regional Differences: Pokepark

It’s time for another exciting edition of Regional Differences, the series that examines regional differences between Pokemon TCG releases. For today's edition, we're going on a field trip to the greatest theme park ever built...

http://static2.hypable.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/jurassic-park-john-hammond.jpg

  

...by someone other than John Hammond. 

http://www.jurassic-park.fr/fckeditor_upload/image/jurassic-park/personnages/john_hammond.jpg

PokePark

http://www.gamerevolution.com/g00/review/pokepark-wii-pikachu

I’d ask for your permission slips, but in the Pokemon Universe, once you turn 10 you're a legal adult so you're good to go. 

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bvgkbDG9hnY/maxresdefault.jpg

Background: 

PokePark was a short lived pokemon theme park that originally opened on March 18, 2005 in Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. A second location was opened in Taiwan in 2006. The parks contained a number of pokemon themed rides and attractions (Bulbapedia maintains a list of attractions for posterity). Before the parks were shut down for what I assume were safety concerns associated with bringing extinct pokemon back to life: 

http://img12.deviantart.net/94d7/i/2013/263/2/d/fanart___when_pokemon_ruled_the_earth_by_dragonith-d6n2a5e.png

(or bankruptcy if you'd rather be less dramatic), visitors had the opportunity to download and/or purchase special pokemon accessories for the video games and TCG.

Of these exclusive giveaways, two of the rarest are the Pokepark Premium Files. These special binders could only be purchased at the Japanese PokePark location and were available in two varieties: 

PokePark Forest

and PokePark Blue

Both Premium Files had their own set symbol: a forest for PokePark Forest (shocking I know) 

and a mountain for PokePark Blue. 

There are rumored to be only 1000 copies of each Premium File, making both of these items extremely rare and collectible. 

While the cards in PokePark Forest were never released outside of Japan, the cards in PokePark Blue did eventually see a Western release in a variety of printings.  a considerable number of variations of these cards in the West. until I started researching this article, I didn't realize how many different printings of these cards we received in the West. Let's take them one at a time. 

Entei:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Entei_(POP_Series_2_1)

Western Releases:

1. POP 2 (non-holo)

2. POP 2 (cosmos foil alternate) released as part of the mass market Legendary Beast Blisters

Ho-oh:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Ho-Oh_(EX_Unseen_Forces_27)

Western Releases:

1. ex Unseen Forces (non-holo)

2. ex Unseen Forces (holo) Golden Sky theme deck exclusive
3. ex Unseen Forces (reverse holo)

Suicune:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Suicune_(POP_Series_2_4)

Western Releases:

1. POP 2 (non-holo)

2. POP 2 (cosmos foil alternate) released as part of the Legendary Beast Blisters.

Kyogre:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Kyogre_(EX_Emerald_15)

Western Releases:

1. ex Emerald
2. ex Emerald (reverse holo)

Raikou:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Raikou_(POP_Series_2_3)

Western Releases:

1. POP 2 (non-holo)

2. POP 2 (cosmos foil alternate) released as part of the Legendary Beast Blisters.

Lugia:

http://940ee6dce6677fa01d25-0f55c9129972ac85d6b1f4e703468e6b.r99.cf2.rackcdn.com/products/pictures/203246.jpg

Western Releases:

1. ex Unseen Forces (non-holo)

2. ex Unseen Forces (holo) Silvery Ocean theme deck exclusive
3. ex Unseen Forces (reverse holo)

4. Pokemon Rocks America Promo

Groudon:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Groudon_(EX_Emerald_14)

Western Releases:

1. ex Emerald
2. ex Emerald (reverse holo)

Tauros:

... who is also a legendary pokemon I guess?

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Tauros_(POP_Series_2_5)

Western Releases:

1. POP 2 (non-holo)

2. POP 2 (cosmos foil alternate) released in ex Crystal Guardians Blisters and the Tauros Value Pack

Rayquaza:

http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Rayquaza_(EX_Emerald_9)

Western Releases:

1. ex Emerald
2. ex Emerald (reverse holo)

Note that Japanese exclusive alternate art prints of certain cards from PokePark Blue were given to PokePark visitors for going on certain rides. These include Suicune, Lugia, Groudon, Tauros and Rayquaza.

Thanks for reading this week's edition of Regional Differences. You can check out the previous posts in this series by clicking the reddit links below. Let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions for the next regional difference to cover.

Team Rocket

Gym Heroes/Gym Challenge

Call of Legends Shining Pokemon