8 incomplete evolution line in Boundaries Crossed

[Maverick Nate]

I've looked at the numbers of the fifteen cards we know, and not only does the plasma storm release have the Japanese plasma gale set and half deck, but it also seems to contain the black kyurem ex and white kyurem ex battle strength decks in full, (+18) and with the leftovers from freeze bolt/cold flare, and the riolu lucario left from the national beginning set, we're at about 135.

Any plasma storm cards also can't be saved for the next set. Our release of spiral force/thunder knuckle not only will need to include the 116 cards from that set, as well as the 8 or so cards from the plasma battle gift set, but the 42 cards from the everyone's exciting battle packs. Cards cannot be postponed into that set because they already will have to remove some due to the about 160 card total expected.

 

[vaporeon]

Why not just have all the cards from those sets in the set they are suppose to be in? If the Japanese set Freeze Bolt and Cold Flare has a total of 160 cards together, just release those 160 cards in our equivalent set and not split them up. We know they can do this but they choose not to.

It would make a lot more sense to put Zapdos EX and Moltres EX in a starter deck and make them exclusives to it or just put them as promos for a blister as they dont need to be in the set if they dont plan on making full arts.

 

[homeofmew]

It's happened before.
Evolved pokemon without the basic has also happened.
If I remember right there was a legal frospass but no legal snorunt.
Team Rockets Persian I think was another one.

 

[TRAINER HEZ]

It's happened before.
Evolved pokemon without the basic has also happened.
If I remember right there was a legal frospass but no legal snorunt.
Team Rockets Persian I think was another one.

Yes, it has happened in the past and people didn't like it then either, so why doesn't it change?
The conclusion I came to earlier is that sets should be designed with a view of how it will be released worldwide as a complete product. Pokemon in Japan and TPCi should work together on design rather than throwing together sets out of whatever bits and pieces Japan releases.
Luckily we have positive signs in the worldwide release of the XY video games, hopefully the TCG will follow suit.

 

[SMP88]

Even if the US and Japan release TCG sets at the same time starting with XY, I doubt we're going to get things like the half decks or National Beginning Set as is over here. There's still going to have to be some sort of filler set or those cards will just get added to our next set.

 

[TRAINER HEZ]

Even if the US and Japan release TCG sets at the same time starting with XY, I doubt we're going to get things like the half decks or National Beginning Set as is over here. There's still going to have to be some sort of filler set or those cards will just get added to our next set.

What I was saying is that they don't do things like that, that they have a plan of a set number of products each year and stick to it worldwide. So say, 4 or 5 sets with accompanying theme/starter decks and a couple of other box sets that get released in Japan AND the rest of the world in an identical fashion.
Other games are released worldwide and manage to ship the same product to all locations, why can't Pokemon? I feel the creation and marketing behind the TCG is really lazy, just because they know Pokemon will always sell, but they could easily sell better with a little more attention to detail.

They must know people don't like being treated differently for living outside of Japan and unhappy customers buy less... it's painfully simple. It's like Japan gets the real product and everywhere else just gets a rehash.

 

[Otaku]

SMP88: My "crazy" idea is that the cards start being designed as if all, get this, were intended to be competitively played!

What about new players that need simple cards to learn with? Competitive cards don't have to be complex. This format is finally feeling sort of open... but the reason it took so long is we still have a fraction of the cards worth using in competitive play. We've had clearly defined, dominating archetypes before, but in the "good" formats the gap between them and "the rest" wasn't so big.

The other point I've tried to make is if a lot of these products that exist in Japan but not here is... the process is backwards. Make good cards, then find the ones that can be repackaged (in Japan) as "specialty" cards.

Instead of our sets needing to cram in extras not even designed for competitive play, in Japan they can cut such cards from their sets to put into half decks and the like. Even they do something like use new art, it is better for all involved if the cards are better; then we can have some useful promos to look forward to for the "outside of Japan" wing of the game.

Yes the competitive TCG players are not the majority of the consumer base, but when you compare us to the other minority (collectors) and the majority (general consumers treating a booster pack like a "toy"), you seek to appeal to the widest possible audience.

If you were preparing a meal for 10 people, and eight of the people have undiscriminating pallets, while one is a gourmet and the other is an athlete with special dieting needs, you select a meal based on the latter two's needs; then everyone can be satisfied.

tl;dr: Competitive players are happy with a competitive Pikachu. Collectors enjoy a "collectible" Pikachu. General fans just want a Pikachu. So release a competitive Pikachu that is easy to snag in the main set but can then be giving an alternate art (and possibly "special treatment") and released in another fashion to please the other two. If sets still have parallel holos (or the like), then all three groups have had their demands met. Even if one group outnumbers the other two combined by a staggering amount!