The official Pokémon website has announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Online. The Adobe Flash based game will allow people to play against 12 different computer opponents. Below is the full press release.

Press Release

Prepare for the Pokémon Trainer Challenge, a new online Pokémon Trading Card Game experience!

Announcing an awesome new way to play the Pokémon TCG: the Pokémon Trainer Challenge! The Pokémon Trainer Challenge is a totally free online game that you can play via a Flash-enabled Web browser. Whether you’re new to the Pokémon Trading Card Game or a regular member of your local Pokémon League, you won’t want to miss the fun of the Pokémon Trainer Challenge!

In the Pokémon Trainer Challenge, you’ll face off against a host of computer opponents in intense battles. There are 12 opponents for you to defeat, each with different personalities and strategies to challenge even the best players. Choose from several pre-constructed decks to play with as you have fun and hone your Pokémon TCG skills! You’ll also have the opportunity to take the theme decks from the new Pokémon TCG: Black & White expansion for a spin. When the theme decks hit stores in early April, they’ll contain codes that you can use to unlock and play their digital editions in the Trainer Challenge.

Coming in early 2011, the Pokémon Trainer Challenge will be the first time you’ll be able to play the Pokémon TCG online. It’s completely free for everyone—all you need is a Web browser with Flash enabled and a Pokémon Trainer Club account. Get ready to play by signing up for a Pokémon Trainer Club account today at Pokemon.com!

Source: http://www.pokemon.com/us/news/tcg_tcgo_announce-2011-02-15/

It's unfortunate that the Pokemon official websites are so heavily reliant on Adobe Flash. They should really have taken this to the next level and allow human vs human battles online instead of just computer opponents.

Or better yet, make a full-fledged console game with full online capabilities that allows you to use every card ever printed.

If Yu-Gi-Oh can churn out such games on a regular basis, why can't we at least get one more Pokemon TCG game?