At the time, it was novel and weird.
This was before NFTs were a thing.
Before most people had even heard of crypto.
Han Solo flying the Millennium Falcon, a card in Star Wars Card Trader.Image: Topps/Lucasfilm
When I hear that, I usually apologize because I know just how deep that obsession can go.
I not only remain hooked on the app in 2025, but Im in as deep as ever.
Clearly, this thing is still going strong, except maybe not quite as strong.
The full Vintage Han Solo card, worth $225 then and $120 now. Image: Topps/Lucasfilm
So whats been happening?
Like many apps you have on your phone,Star WarsCard Trader can be used in two ways.
When I started back in 2015, I was a free guy.
A sampling of my Hoth Han cards. The top two rows are 1cc until the silver, then they’re all 2cc. Image: Topps/Lucasfilm
I wasnt going to spend real money for a digital card I didnt actually own.
And that mindset is why, around 2018, I stopped playing.
All of the coolest cards were only available if you spent money and it just didnt interest me.
One of the new Vintage cards and my personal favorite. Image: Topps/Lucasfilm
This, as a collector, was incredibly enticing.
Like with any kind of collecting though, that kind of level of rarity means one thing: money.
And thats when my whole perspective changed.
I quickly found there were high-end players on the app who spent A LOT on the game.
And not just $225 on a single card.
Im talking thousands of dollars on individual cards and maybe tens of thousands on in-app currency.
But how to get it?
Well, money of course.
But also, the help of something that had slowly developed over the years: a passionate fan base.
Without the help of theStar WarsCard Trader online community, I wouldnt have fallen back in so deep.
Best of all, it all worked.
And make no mistake, there has been a slip-off.
The team behind the app, who were once available and engaged with the fan base, has disappeared.
Some sets are incredible and beautiful, while others are lazy and ugly.
Part of that is probably because Topps has, for the anniversary, gone back to basics.
Its reintroduced the original sets that fans loved at the very beginning.
That includes Vintage, the series the Han Solo was a part of.
Now though, its in multiple variants (see above) and some are even rarer.
At least for me.
And, unlike most collections, this one comes with me wherever I go.
Its on my phone and I can mess with it anytime I want to.
Star WarsCard Trader is still available in all the app stores.
Download it and check it out but be warned.
It can be addictive.And if youre hoarding 2025 cards, send meMillennium Falcon.
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