Pokémon Card Fans Foster Community, Play for Scholarships

Since opening about a decade ago, Uncle’s Games at Crossroads Bellevue shopping mall has been fostering a community for Pokémon lovers of all ages. The growing success of its Monday night events has given families new ways to incorporate Pokémon into their routines.

Pokémon, which has its United States office in Bellevue, is a trading card game and video game based off the popular Japanese cartoon show.

While skilled players can compete for prizes and scholarship money in local, regional, national and international tournaments, the players at Uncle's Games keep the atmosphere friendly to all ages and skill levels.

Julian King, 11, was sitting alone at the end of a table and prepping his deck for battle.  “Uncle’s is one of the best places to play Pokémon since nobody here rips off one another. The older kids look out for the younger ones,” he said.

“We just try and create an area where players can trade and play with one another,” said store employee Andrew Burns. “We use these events as a catalyst for networking and making friends.”

A contributing factor for at least one family wanting to come back has been “the welcoming and low-pressure environment to come and go as you please” established by former and current store employees, says Bellevue parent Jenn Sikavi.

A couple families who are regulars at the Bellevue shop have used Pokémon nights at Uncle’s and the game in general to help their kids improve in school. 

Bellevue resident Kendahl Burk, 6, has only been playing Pokémon -- either the video game or trading cards -- for just over a year and a half. Yet his dad, Michael Burk, has noticed how Kendahl’s reading and math skills have improved.

Burk used Kendahl’s love for Pokémon to get him to start reading, by conducting the Pokémon test. “When he asked for the game I made him a deal. He would have to take the Pokémon test,” said Burk. “If he could turn on the game, read and navigate the first four screens in making a Pokémon, we would buy the game.”

While the video game helped Kendahl learn to read, his dad said, the math skills were refined with trading cards. 

“It uses basic math -- addition, subtraction and sometimes multiplication,” said Burk. “When you attack or are attacked you have to know how much to deduct a Pokémon’s XP or how much to add sometimes.”

For Kendahl, improving his reading and writing skills quickly proved useful. In his first year of playing competitive Pokémon he won multiple tournaments and regionals. It culminated in an all-expenses paid trip to Nationals last year after winning the junior division for the video game.

Parents Sikavi and Jonathan Arras also have used Pokémon as a reward for their two children, 9-year-old Jared and 6-year-old Allegra Arras, to bring home tests and graded assignments. 

“Every time they bring home a test, whether it is good or bad, we give them a holographic card,” said Arras. “It encourages them to show us the results. Last year Jared only brought home one test and this year alone he has brought home five or six so far and we are only one trimester in.” 

Pokémon officials have embraced using the game as a way to encourage kids to do well in school by giving out scholarships. According to the Pokémon World Championship website, last year’s World Championships participants in trading cards received scholarships ranging from $10,000 for first place to $1,500 for eighth place. The first place winner of the video game part of the World Championships received a $3,500 scholarship and $1,500 for second. 

Yet for both the Burk and Arras families, their intent was not use Pokémon for academic purposes, but rather to feed the interest of the children and have a bonding experience. 

“It’s a good thing to do on a Monday night,” said Sikavi. “Get some dinner as a family and play some games. Something to look forward to.” 

If you go

Pokemon players meet at 5 p.m. Mondays at Uncle's Games at Crossroads Bellevue, 15600 NE Eighth St, Bellevue.

Tournaments

To compete players can earn the chance to participate in the Pokémon TCG World Championships event in August, players can compete and win in their National Championships, or become a top player via their Championship Points total. To earn points, players can participate in the 2013 Pokémon Championship Series, which is currently underway.

Learn more at the Pokemon website: http://www.pokemon.com/us/play-pokemon/

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AVNEET SINGH CHATTHA is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.