I admit it. I play Pokemon on the GBA. It's true.
I first got involved with the world of Pokemon when my daughter was three and one of her friends gave her some Pokemon cards. Being a reformed (I couldn't afford to buy cards anymore) Collectable Card Game player I was a bit intrigued with the game.
At the time, the older sets were selling for $0.99 per pack so we would buy one or two packs when visiting the toy store. We got into the game AFTER the big craze when even coffee shops were selling packs for $5.00 each! But, I digress.
Eventually I purchased a GBA for my daughter and the Pokemon Sapphire game. We later scoured the used game stores and bought the older ones too.
Because she was rather young (4 yrs old) at the time it was more a case of, "Daddy, will you play while I watch and command you on what to do?" As opposed to giving her the game so I could get some peace and quiet!
So, being the gamer that I am, I took to the game quickly. Learning which types are better against other types. Raising teams to take on all comers. Checking the 'net for tips and tricks on raising and breeding Pokemon.
We eventually got the Game Cube and those Pokemon games that go with it. We even got the special Shadow Lugia Game Cube and the skin that enhances it. If I had known the special one did not have the hook up for composite outs I would have gotten the regular one though!
So, that is my basic intro to how I got involved with Pokemon.
PS: We also have a TON of the cards! I don't have much from the more recent sets but we did have a near-unstoppable Gardevoir deck for a while!