I rebuilt the feeling of ripping a 1999 Pokemon pack

  Hey makers — I've been quietly building PackRip (https://packrip.co) for the last several months and figured this was the right place to actually show it.

  It's a free, no-signup, browser-based Pokemon TCG booster pack opening simulator. 47 sets, ~5,475 cards, every era from Base Set 1999 through HeartGold/SoulSilver 2011. The pull rates match the originals (64% rare / 28% holo / 5% secret / 2% shining / 1% crystal), and I went deeper than I probably needed to on the rarity-specific visual effects — Crystal cards have a refractive shader, Gold Stars get the gold gradient, Lv.X has the holo-foil sweep.

  Stack: React 19 + TypeScript + Vite + Tailwind 4 + Zustand, Cloudflare Pages, Pokemon TCG API. Programmatic SEO build step generates ~6,800 prerendered card / pokemon / pull-odds pages.

  I built it because I missed ripping packs as a kid and the existing simulators all felt like spreadsheets with images. I wanted the pause before the rare slot. Funded by a tip jar — no ads on the gameplay surface, no signup wall, no "premium pulls".

  Solo project, not trying to make it a business — just want it to feel right for people who remember Base Set Charizard.

  Question for makers here: when you ship something nostalgic, how do you decide where the line is between "faithful" and "fun"? I keep catching myself adding modern QoL (dust crafting, daily streak) and wondering if it dilutes the museum-piece feeling.