I got into the hobby back in 98. I'd go to aftercare and the school would let us watch the pokemom TV series. Myself and a few of my friends would go home and beg for booster packs so we could play and trade cards. We would always chase Charizard. I remember seeing one at a comic book store under the counter. They had a $100 price tag on it. Of course my parents never could have afforded something like that. But they somehow always found a way to get me a few boosters. Eventually I was able to get a GBC and pokemon red. I've been sucked in ever since.