this all started a while back....i'd been posting at sugarshock and put up some of my artwork. the echidna saw them and emailed me asking if i would mind drawing some stuff for him...and that was the initial start of a great collaboration. i drew some card pics for him, and we got to be great friends, so when he asked me if i'd like to team up with him on his next hoax (if there are any of you who have not yet heard of the great team rocket hoax, go to ech's site, the echidna's den, and read about it! it was great!) i thought about it for about a tenth of a second and said "hell yeah!" so, he asked if i could copy a piece of artwork, making it look like the original except for few modifications...i said send it along and i'll see what i can do. so.....
he sent me a scan of the card, it was really small, but i got this one from mechachu....
and this is what i drew.
yeah, it wasn't perfect. but still....it was pretty damn good!
now, here are some pictures of our finished product...not bad at all, huh?
now, originally the plan was to release this as part of a set of four pokémon 2000 movie releases. but...uhhh...well, i took too long producing the art, and wizards (damn them!) released information on the official promos, so that plan was scratched. what to do, what to do...it laid dormant for a while, but then...the super trainer showdown!! ech had a marvelous idea---release it as a promo for the sts! so anyways, we had ( i had) to hustle. i did the art, and sent it to the ech. he did the card, and faked the photos. now, for obvious reasons we couldn't be seen to have anything to do with news of it leaking out, so we enlisted our friend "exo"...he passed on the photos and our story of where he got them to a couple of people with ties to pokémon news sites (other than our own)....then we sat back, and waited for something to happen...
the first thing was happened was the news went up at jigglypuff center...
and a picture too!!
then a post in random gossip at pa! forums....i took out everyone's names but ours, "exo"...don't want to piss anyone off....
Exo102
Nickling
(7/14/00 7:50:35 am)
136.159.142.11
Reply | Edit | Del All American Surfing Pikachu!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm helping Puff3000 out here.
www.puffcenter.com
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That's Awesome! Thanks Exo!
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Where did you find it?
Exo102
Nickling
(7/14/00 12:22:54 pm)
136.159.142.11
Reply | Edit | Del Re: American Surfing Pikachu!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was at a tounement and this kid had like 10 of them! I think
it might be an STS promo or sumthing
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like, what age was the kid? Does his dad work for Wizards
are something?
Exo102
Nickling
(7/14/00 12:59:26 pm)
136.159.142.11
Reply | Edit | Del Re: American Surfing Pikachu!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
he said he got them from his aunt.
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Well, I'm sorry to say, but this card is fake. MT_Mike and
Pat's boss said it's fake. Read it here:
38.200.160.83/ubb/Forum15...00150.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm skeptical, although they said it was fake, it looks too
real,and Exo says he knows when he has a fake card, and the picture,
No one could have done the picture that good unless it was the
real artist
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's what nick15 said about this:
Well... it seems as if people already solved this mystery before
I stepped my foot in it.... but... oh well.
Besides, don't be too sure about things like this. Just because
it's in a case and APPEARS to be typed ON the card doesn't mean
anything. If I can fake stuff like this, someone better than be
can do a better job.
But if you want to know, two major flaws are in the card. Aside from any possible printing mistakes (ie the various errors found on Rocket cards), the two are the following: There is no space between the Length stat (it says 1'4" instead of 1' 4"), and the flavor text aren't in the right sizes. Usually there is like a 8th of an inch of gap between the golden box and the text.
Uhm... that's it.
it was discussed a bit in some chat rooms....these are some of my friends talking about it, here....
Dugtrio1951: [pop]
Dugtrio1951: The Mole is back! :P
XRocketDDZ: American Surfing Pikachu?!
Dugtrio1951: Hey, I found a new Stealth Post... Cool
purity number 1: what?
Dugtrio1951: Ech was telling me about that card earlier.
Dugtrio1951: He thinks it might be real.
XRocketDDZ: looks fake
Dugtrio1951: It looks real to me. Then again...
XRocketDDZ: check out the text on the top
purity number 1: damn slow modem
Dugtrio1951: I know
purity number 1: ...
Dugtrio1951: It says "(Can Not Evolve)" So?
Dugtrio1951: It makes sence.
XRocketDDZ: no, the name
Dugtrio1951: sense
XRocketDDZ: n/m
XRocketDDZ: now it ooks real
Dugtrio1951: "Surfing Pikachu"?
XRocketDDZ: **looks
XRocketDDZ: I enlarged it... froma certain size, the font looked
questionable
Dugtrio1951: PROMO 26?!
Dugtrio1951: Wow
purity number 1: puff center?
purity number 1: huh?
Dugtrio1951: Where's 18, 19, ans 20?
Dugtrio1951: and
purity number 1: hmmm
purity number 1: this on the forum?
XRocketDDZ: i got the link to it from the forum
purity number 1: oh
Dugtrio1951 has left the room.
Dugtrio1951 has entered the room.
Dugtrio1951: [pop] >_<
purity number 1: diglett dig!
Dugtrio1951: Yep!
XRocketDDZ: trio trio trio
purity number 1: hehe
Dugtrio1951: Heh
XRocketDDZ: (I had to say that)
and it went up on the boards at pokégym.....
SURFING PIKACHU! Here it is, courtesy of puffcenter.com:
http://the_chan.tripod.com/cgi-bin/Surfing_Pikachu.jpg
That certainly doesn't look fake. I can assure you that I didn't
fake it. Many know I can't draw that well (or atleast like the
art). The reason I uploaded it to my site was because Puffcenter
is an Angelfire site and the picture wouldn't show. How exciting!
------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certainly doesn't LOOK fake...but I'm not deciding either way
on this one.
------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
were did ya get it??
we dont exactly need anouther pikachu, but that one is alright...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the Statue of Liberty in the background? Cannot Evolve??
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Honestly, I don't know what to make of it... looking at it at
500% in Paintshop and seeing if I can find any flaws... I'll get
back to you guys... (Someone send it to Nick15... he's NORMALLY
good with these things...)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wait, my mistake, it's promo #26. I got it from puffcenter.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
How come it can't evolve? That's too bad. Wouldn't be too useful
either way though.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm good with fakes, and I've seen Puff3000 (owner of the site)
and Exo102 (person who reported it. Exo102 doesn't make fakes
and Puff3000 doesn't make very realistic fakes. I'll ask him more
about it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I guess it can't evolve because there's no surfing Raichu *shrugs*.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah, it there was a surfing raichu, it could evolve.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or how about Surfing Dark Raichu?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I checked Ebay and sites like Pokeguide.com and I found nothing.
Herm..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think It's a real card. That fale from nick15's sire isn't as
good as this.. since it's on a hard sleeve, it is truly real.
and I think it isn't 24. It looks like 26..
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wait a second...he looks so cute, and has that great surf attack,
and , and WHAT!
Sufing in NYC!
Major error.
That should be The Waikiki Hilton! Ban it Ban it!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
That's real. The text is on the card, not typed over the card.
Figures wizards would make another crappy promo. Hitmo + pp= one
dead pikachu. For everybody who might think it is fake look at
it: it is obviously in a case, no crappy looking text (words on
card look like they're on the card [printed on it]), and wizards
said they would make a pikachu promo (figures). Unless there is
some weird promotion this will probably have less value than a
non-holo mew
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wait a second...he looks so cute, and has that great
surf attack, and , and WHAT!
Sufing in NYC!
Major error.
That should be The Waikiki Hilton! Ban it Ban it!
Herm.. are you saying it's real? Well he said it's an error,
and to ban it. I know he knows it's real. And I think I know he
knows I know he knows I know he knows it's real.
It's real. I couldn't be more sure of it.
See he said it has the attack surf.. this is all too true.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exo said:
I was at a tounement and this kid had like 10 of them! I think
it might be an STS promo or sumthing
That's a pretty solid reason.
IP: Logged
now--things were going pretty good! there had been several fake american surfing pikachus, so people were predisposed to treat this as another one. but for one reason or another, the majority of the posters were inclined to believe it was real....
a representative of wizards of the coast saw it.....
and well, duh, he knew they didn't make it! so he said so....
after that, lots of people suddenly started seeing errors and flaws...and our poor little pikachu got ripped to shreds! oh the horror! :D but you know, it went on for a little over a day...and i think if official word as to its being fake hadn't come down so soon (we were really counting on having the whole weekend before they saw it...) that we could have kept it up for a few more days....take a look...
MTM/P's Boss
Pokemon Trainer
Posts: 48
Registered: Apr 2000 posted 07-14-2000 04:26 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay. Sorry for the tounge in cheek reply. I just couldn't believe
someone would put the Statue of Liberty behind a Surfing Pikachu.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The gameboy game has a pikachu EXACTLY like that one! It is real.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would personally have put the Space Needle (Seattle, WA) in
the background for this fake!
MTM/P's Boss already confirmed that WoTC did not print this card!!
Case closed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MTM/P's Boss: It's a fake. We did not make this card.
Well, that takes all the fun out of it!!
Seriously, isn't it great having official word so quickly!!! We
so lucky!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well all signs point to it being real. I can tell in many different
ways if a card is fake, and this card looks 70% real, but then
again, one thing holds on the borderline of real and fake.
Someone surfing in New York City's waters!?!?!?!? Whoever has
been to New York City as much as I have knows that that is crazy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, that's a very good fake if you ask me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
lol Tyais...I fell smarter now. I was the very first one to say
that it was real. Go ahead! Go look back at that original post.
I'll wait here...*MuK waits for people to find original post*
there! I told you! I AM THE SMARTEST PERSON ALIVE!!
then nick15 has to add his two cents, damn him....
nick15
Pokemon Master
Posts: 1139
Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-14-2000 05:31 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well... it seems as if people already solved this mystery before
I stepped my foot in it.... but... oh well.
Besides, don't be too sure about things like this. Just because
it's in a case and APPEARS to be typed ON the card doesn't mean
anything. If I can fake stuff like this, someone better than be
can do a better job.
But if you want to know, major flaws are visible in the card.
Aside from any possible printing mistakes (ie the various errors
found on Rocket cards), they are...
There is no space between the Length stat (it says 1'4" instead
of 1' 4"). Plus, the stats text is off by a degree or so,
as if it was added AFTER the fake maker tilted the image. Also
the flavor text aren't in the right sizes. Usually there is like
a 8th of an inch of gap between the golden box and the text.
Besides, since it was in a case, the text should be in a lighter
shade of grey. Notice how the black background behind the case
gets lighter for every layer of plastic that covers the background?
The card should have the same effect. Alongside with that, there
a bit of flash from the light source from behind the photographer
and/or a flash from the camera light, rippled a bit due to the
imperfections in the plastic surface. (Boy, I sure do ythink of
a lot!)
Sort of like this:
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/images/07-14-2000/surfing-pikachu-edit.jpg
Sort of like this, more or less.
And if anything, Pikachu should be surfing with a Golden Gate
Bridge or some other Californian icon in the background... since
we all know that California is the surfing capital of the US,
if not the world.
Uhm... that's it.
------------------
[Warning!: Contents Under Pressure! Post editorials with caution.]
Pokémon Aaah!
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/
Real fake cards. Really!
[This message has been edited by nick15 (edited 07-14-2000).]
IP: Logged
------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by robpz:
Someone surfing in New York City's waters!?!?!?!? Whoever has
been to New York City as much as I have knows that that is crazy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROFL!
------------------
(no kidding....surfing in nyc
waters....eeeew)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmm... This is hard... The thing is, I looked over almost EVERY
one of my cards (Not every CARD, but ever different card), and
this artist sure hasn't drawn any Pokemon cards yet... It's either
a new artist, or a fake...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's definately a fake... Like nick15 said... There's no space
between the 1' 4". Also, the name, and HP, and the types
symbols are not sharp enough...
oooh nick likes my art forgery!! look!!
nick15
Pokemon Master
Posts: 1139
Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-14-2000 05:57 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No, the artist is a regular Pokémon artist in some of the
later sets and promos. Toshinao Aoki, who drew Surfing
Pikachu, has drawn quite a number of other Pokémon cards
which include Flying Pikachu, new pictures for the Movie Promo
Birds, and the original ANA Legendary Birds promo cards.
I know my Pokémonology.
------------------
[Warning!: Contents Under Pressure! Post editorials with caution.]
Pokémon Aaah!
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/
Real fake cards. Really!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Um, guys, in case you glossed over that fact, Boss Mike, Official
Rep for Wizards, just said it was fake a few posts up. No need
for more speculation...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
shhhh, Kori! Don't confuse the issue with facts!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I think it's fake,they would have to be more original than nyc
in the background to make it look real.
------------------
hehe look, ech is getting into the act...so far no one knows its us....
The Echidna
Pokemon Master
Posts: 855
Registered: Nov 1999 posted 07-14-2000 06:43 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I must say... it does look good for a fake.
Of course, when has WotC ever admitted that a card that has slipped
out is thiers?
And we all know that Wiz if famous for it's errors now...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seriously, isn't it great having official word so quickly!!!
is it just me, or will there always be someone complaining?
we go from people saying that wizards doesn't care to this :-P
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WoW...It is nice having a WoTC employee to tell us what cards
are fakes
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ech: Of course, whenever have they bluntly said that those cards
were fakes?
Of course, there are the possibilities to this situation.
1) MTM/P's Boss is lying to us. (I honestly doubt that... not
very likely.)
2) MTM/P's Boss doesn't know about it. (Possible, but I seriously
doubt it... about as likely as #1)
3) Its a fake... (Bingo...)
nick15
Pokemon Master
Posts: 1139
Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-14-2000 07:59 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Um, guys, in case you glossed over that fact, Boss Mike,
Official Rep for Wizards, just said it was fake a few posts up.
No need for more speculation...
I know a head cheese laid down the law, I was just giving
my ideas and I'll shut up now.
------------------
[Warning!: Contents Under Pressure! Post editorials with caution.]
Pokémon Aaah!
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/
Real fake cards. Really!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Looks like a real card. I'm not going to comment on the validity
of this though. We'll just have to wait and see.
------------------
ooh now ech is going after nick15....we were so disappointed that wotc saw it so soon....
The Echidna
Pokemon Master
Posts: 855
Registered: Nov 1999 posted 07-14-2000 08:47 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Uh Nick... need I remind you about your ill fated experiance with
VHS Mewtwo and GB Meowth...
If I recall you had a five page do***ent about how there were
fake, and guess what... THEY WERE REAL!
Of course I'm not saying that THIS is... I'm just saying that
one must be careful one way or another.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Echida Says:
"Of course I'm not saying that THIS is... I'm just saying
that one must be careful one way or another."
Thats right be careful.
*Flips through the plans for Golden Gate Pikachu, Mt. Rushmore
Pikachu, Lincoln Memorial Pikachu, Mickeychu, and, Dark Maulchu.*
How big are the waves in NYC?
DMTM
IP: Logged
nick15
Pokemon Master
Posts: 1139
Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-14-2000 09:26 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Surfing Pikachu has some major mistakes, more so than what
other mistakes WotC has made in the past.
The GB Meowth had minor layout differences, just moved HP's and
off sized Icons. (which I still question). This Surfing Pikachu
card however has quite different errors on it, the misrotated
stat text, and the differences in the flavor text to a real card.
Plus we also need to take into account at what MTM/P's Boss said
about this: "It's a fake. We did not make this card."
How do we know he's NOT telling the truth? We need to at least
factor in the possibility that what MTM/P's Boss said has some
validity to it.
Oop! New info... take a look at the Stat for Surfing Pikachu.
Check out the letter "M" in word "Mouse".
Notice how the middle part in the M (the dip "V") ends
in the middle? Now take a look at every single Pikachu card you
have. The M on a REAL Pikachu card touches the bottom.
Uhm... this means the font is not the same, ergo, a Fake. And
don't tell me WotC decided to change the fonts.
Then take a look at Jungle Pikachu, or any Pokémon with
a 2 energy attack. Notice how the energy for the attack is very
close to the left side of the card? The Surfing Pikachu's attack
is WAAAAY off.... as if the original artist used the original
Japanese energy placement format to make it.
Then the flavor text is small, as if the fake artist SHRUNK the
font size in order to fit all of the writing in the box instead
of resizing the text field to fit (like what WotC does, just look
at Rocket Magnemite).
Now take a look at the image. It appears to have been REDRAWN,
when compaired to the ORIGINAL Surfing Pikachu picture. (http://members.aol.com/rlt90241/surfpik.jpg)
The lines seem too uneven in the fake card.
There. Now the GB Meowth proof was a fluke, however this time
I'm POSITIVE that it's a fake. (Aside from the fact that MTM/P's
Boss said it was a fake.)
------------------
[Warning!: Contents Under Pressure! Post editorials with caution.]
Pokémon Aaah!
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/
Real fake cards. Really!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought it would be something GOOD. ): ): )
------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This would be an okay card if it were real. But i'll bet it's
a fake. Since water decks could use this for protection against
buzz and the like.
------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
you guys. i don't wanna say, "It's real," or, "It's
fake." It could really go either way. by the way, doesn't
the picture remind you of the one in the Pokemon TCG for GB?
------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shouldn't "Can Not Evolve" be "Cannot Evolve?"
------------------------------------------------------------------------
After playing around with my cheezy paint program, I DO agree
with Nick, First off, I played a bit with the Humanist421 font.
First off, The "M" part of the text was nick intended
It dipped slightly! Only that Humanist421 font can do that. Second
I looked at the HP. Strongly it was a different font which means
it was taken off another image, leaving the 50 HP intact. But
this what makes it wierd. Both the "Surfing Pikachu"
and "Surf" looked like nick15's fake... or was used.
Last, He prolly forgot the most basic part of making it fale.
I noticed that the text was in "antialias" format which
splashes with the card, making it look real. It looks like he
used a shadow font on the flavour text.. If it was in antialias,
and you spaced it correctly, it would have been the best fake
since Ech's TR fake ;-)
IP: Logged
nick15
Pokemon Master
Posts: 1139
Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-14-2000 10:04 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shouldn't "Can Not Evolve" be "Cannot Evolve?"
True statement!
Besides, if a Pokémon can't evolve, it wouldn't say anything.
Does Electabuzz or Mewtwo say "Cannot Evolve"? HUH?
------------------
[Warning!: Contents Under Pressure! Post editorials with caution.]
Pokémon Aaah!
http://www.nick15.com/pokemon/
Real fake cards. Really
The Echidna
Pokemon Master
Posts: 856
Registered: Nov 1999 posted 07-14-2000 10:39 PM
------------------------------------------------------------------------
What happens if you have a plan for a great hoax and no one falls
for it?
Answer: Surfing Pikachu
Yes, as probably about 90% of everyone has guessed by now,
it was indeed a fake conjured up by myself and my lovely new assistant
Purity. We had really big plans for this, but I think the main
problem was, (sorry to say...) MT Mike. I mean no one was really
even thinking too much about it until he came right out and said
it was fake.
Now believe me, this was not something that we planned to profit
on, it was merely just another attempt at imortalilty, abiet it
was in vane.
First a bit of boring background though... (yes.. I know, but
you must sit through it!) See originally we were going to fake
the Movie Promos, have Coro Coro Marill, Togepi, Surfing Pikachu
(with the American Art) and an American only Slowking. That was
of course until WotC screwed our plans and announced them early!
They NEVER do that! Heh.
Anyway after that we still decided to continue with the Surfing
Pikachu, with the American art. Now it was solely my choice to
do the Statue of Liberty. I mean Purity was pushing for something
on the West Coast, like the Space Needle or Golden Gate Bridge,
but I insisted that it be the Statue since the Statue of Liberty
IS Americana. I really didn't think people would pick the card
apart because of Surfing in the east Coast.
Now then, as for Nick, you are totally screwed in the head mate...
on several counts. I will give you the Letter M, but that's it.
All the rest I copied IDENTICAL to the Rocket Voltorb, my source.
The Sizes, Colors, Types, they are all 100% Identical with the
exception of the Pokédex. That I could not do. I knew I
should have scanned a real Pika, but I was afraid of variation.
You are also correct about the Energy requirements. They are the
correct sizes, but alas afterwards I forgot to shift them over
to where they should have been...
The Flavor Text, again I copied it as I was blanking the Voltorb
to ensure that it was as close as possible.
The top loader was NOT edited at all Nick. You are crazy. In the
coming days, I am still going to complete my Surfing Pikachu page
and show everyone exactly what I did. There you will see the original
Voltorb in the Toploader and how I only pasted in the face of
the Pika, not the whole card. ie, I left Voltorb's border.
Now, then people picked up on the 'Can Not Evolve' tag. I'm sorry,
but that IS true. If you look on a Japanese Flying or Surfing
Pikachu, it DOES say, can not evolve. This case is different than
Electabuzz and Mewtwo Nick, because Pikachus can NORMALLY evolve,
the others can't.
I really thought that this was going to be better than my Rocket
Hoax because it was simpler. I really thought that by having Purity
create the American only art it would have made people accept
it a bit easier. I didn't think that it would make them scrutinize
it more.
If you think about it, the Surfing Pikachu was not THAT bad...
I think though it fell victim to MTM saying that it was not real
and then people hacked it to bits so that they could verify MTM's
claim. Hell... even I would have been fooled. I mean comeon...
is anyone actually going to pick up on a freakin' space or something
like that. Maybe I'm just upset that it only lasted 27 hours where
my Rocket one lasted almost 72.
I would like to thank everyone though for their comments, either
good or bad, I love feedback on my work. I would also like to
thank those that said that this was better than anything I could
ever do, and even when Nick said "someone better than me
can do a better job" Made me feel good Nick.
As with TR, this was not an evil prank, in fact thats why I stopped
it when I did, before it got too out of hand. This was just something
to make everyone think.
Now then, if you want to send the perpetrators of this mail, please
do so, we love mail. And MTM, if you're looking for aspiring card
makers or starving artists at WotC, give us a ring.
Sincerely,
The Echidna
echidna@macjames.dhs.org
Purity
sugarshock@crosswinds.net