Is the Pokemon TCG dying?

[ryanvergel]

Pokemon is not on the outs. Folks are overboard in their anxiety. Stuff happens. It's real life. Deal.

I can honestly say that I am very dissappointed by some of the posts I have seen here dumping on Dan. Whether they are true, false, or somewhere in between, I believe a few of you stepped out of bounds.

Try this...Pretend I run OP.

• I have introduced a new website that is experiencing unexpected technical difficulties,
• I am in the middle of planning major events for this year and next,
• I have the annual budgeting process to work through,
• I am breaking in a new aspect of OP (the video game piece),
• I am trying to maintain these initiatives as free events for the players
• I have a bunch of players who are raking me over the coals for mostly unsubstantiated issues.

How would I feel? Unappreciated.

is any profession appreciated? especially at all times?

people appreciate a job WELL done. not a job done.

i am not saying that TPCi isn't doing a good job. in fact, i think theyre doing quite well. as i said earlier in the thread, i think this is mostly bad coincidences compiled with the website transition. however, i can definitely see other people being unsatisfied. with so many unsatisfied 'customers'- of course appreciation wont be here.

"Pokemon is not on the outs. Folks are overboard in their anxiety. Stuff happens. It's real life. Deal."

Well said. I think people are just being dramatic for the sake of it, arguing for the sake of it, etc. There is nothing else 'going on' in Pokemon until HGSS comes out, so this is taking all of the spotlight that would go anywhere else.

It's really not that BIG of a deal. Yes, it is become an inconvenience now that planning is being done for school/work (5-6 months in adv), but it hasn't been canceled. Nothing has CHANGED. We just haven't been told the usually things yet. Until it impacts my playing of the game, which it hasn't done that much, I won't be complaining and crying the end of the world. I know where the states locations are (even though I don't know prizes), so that is helpful. Same with Regionals. So I will just keep doing exactly what I have done every year around this time- playtest and work for states/regionals.

Nothing's changed yet, so when people act or talk like something has, it kind of bothers me. Don't over-react. Just makes it come off as kind of desperate.

 

[Box of Fail]

Steve, I respect that he may feel unappreciated, however, it was an inherently bad idea to move the site mid-season instead of waiting until the summer. I understand it was done in good faith, but right now a player's trip to worlds could be at stake; what if something is lost mid-transfer?

The annual budgeting process, Nats, Worlds, and free events were all expected, and did not catch anyone by surprise. If all of these have gone smoothly in years past, why aren't they now? It is a lot of work, but it is what must be done to satisfy the ever-growing player base.

I also would not be so sure about working on "major events for this year and next" (emphasis mine). If next year's Nats and Worlds are being prepared for already, when Nats has yet to be announced for this year, somebody has their priorities mixed up. If sufficient planning had been done for Nats 09-10 last season, we would not be in a bind.

Not trying to be rude, just constructive.

 

[TheGeneral]

To me this is a kids game that I as an adult love to play. I come to this site to talk with others like me who love Pokemon and love to either play for fun, competitively, or collect. And when I took the professor test, it wasn't just to have the title, but showed that my understanding of this game was at a level that could be respected. All I wanted to do was learn and get better at this great game.

Over the course of the past year, I have grown from my dining room matches with my brother (playing my rogue magnezone/pop 8 luxray deck :tongue to playing competitively and top-cutting/winning a couple tourneys. Of course without all my posts/threads/questions on the Pokegym site, I wouldn't be where I'm at now in this game (not saying I'm far, but have a much better understanding than I did).

Now, I can't post on Pokegym about a somewhat not-so-positive opinion (no slander, no cursing, only a one word response) of the new cards without getting warned by mods, my post deleted, and talked to by Dan, the TCG headmaster himself. I have spent thousands in this past year (as I'm sure most have, some of you seasoned players I'm sure are into the 10's of thousands) on my Pokemon cards, travel, lodging, & merchandise, and I feel I deserve to have an opinion on something about the game I spend my money on; whether it is a negative or positive response...especially considering my response was very PG rated (whether the mods agree or not).

To Dan; while I do not agree with how my opinion was handled in OUR situation (not referencing WPM or any other post on here), I respect that after I explained myself, we were both pleased and let it be. I may not agree with everything you say or do, but I do respect you and what you are bringing to the game.

After reading all this and seeing what's been going on, I hope Pokemon is staying afloat and continues to keep this game going the way it has. I can't thank the Pokemon enough for helping me meet the people I've met, the friends I've made, & the good times I've had.

 

[PokeDaddy]

Thank you all for your thoughtful comments.

@ Austino. Well, some customers are better than others. If you left the game would it bother me if I have 23098430284 players? No. Hunting? Come on...
@ Ryan. We agree! WOW:thumb:
@ Kevin. Dude, you have no idea what goes on. Their priorities and planning are theirs, not yours. I did not represent PUI, I said "if I were running OP". I will say, though Kevin, for a young man in Seniors, you are extremely well spoken and articulate. I respect your for your efforts.

Things are going to be OK. Right now, they are rocky.

Do you kick a person when they are down or do you help it up? Let us hope not. Give them and the situation a break.

 

[NoPoke]

Citicism and complaint are fine. Right now I suspect that POP are a bit overloaded with critcisms and complaints. Stupid technology! So don't be surprised if POP are a bit sensitive. They are human too.

The opening post was more than just criticism and complain it would spread fear uncertainty and doubt amongst anyone who was not more aware of the history of the game. NOT GOOD.

Forum posts are easy to misinterpret. Given a bad interpretation of someones motives and a moderate interpretation I'm always going to try to seek out the moderate. Hence why I didn't see Biggie's post as a threat. If someone is saying "so long and thanks for the ride" a not unreasonable question is to ask if that is "goodbye".

 

[Austino]

@ PokeDaddy

I said irritating large enough of their player base, not losing one customer. Even while there's a lot of tension with players vs TPCi in getting information, I still support the company by promoting pack sales through my league each week. Each week my league spends at least $40-50 on packs/dice/sleeves, so as a paying customer and product promoter, I feel the right to speak up when things are sub-par. My thoughts on the issue are also widely spread views as well. I'm certainly not the only one needing to know when Nats is, where it's at, why ratings aren't correct, what state's prizing is, etc. There is the ability to be a good customer who helps the company while at the same time having irritations with the level of information being presented to you as a customer.

The 'hunting' was in quotes for a reason. Reread my post and you understand why.

 

[Box of Fail]

@ Kevin. Dude, you have no idea what goes on. Their priorities and planning are theirs, not yours. I did not represent PUI, I said "if I were running OP". I will say, though Kevin, for a young man in Seniors, you are extremely well spoken and articulate. I respect your for your efforts.

Steve, I do not have any idea what goes on. I made my post under the assumption that the information in your post was "what goes on". Your post seemed quite plausible, as Biggie seems like he would be under stress with so many responsibilities.

Their priorities may be theirs, but it just seems simple to worry first about the most immediate issue (Nats '10), and I understand you did not represent OP personally, but that post does seem to imply that Biggie is in the middle of "planning major events for this year and next". I simply think that planning for next year's Nats would be premature when this year's Nats has yet to become official.

I have no intention of attacking TPCi, merely giving consumers' complaints, as picky consumers do

Oh, and thanks

 

[ashinto]

As I stated before, it's not the player base (if it was, I'd be extremely surprised), in my opinion, all this may be due to the resesion. Even major companies right now are loosing money left and right and POP might be in the middle of it. Maybe they aren't making enough money and they don't know how much they will be able to give to each state for there state's torniment, or if they even have enough money to book nationals right now. Relax, we're getting all the info soon enough.

Kev, thanks for posting at the exact same minute as me...and goin' before me.... JKJK

 

[Victory Bell]

Well 2/3 of pokemon's player base probably wont read this, so I dont see why they would be afraid of what they say here would damage their player base. (Though I am suprised that this thread has hit 5,000 views without getting locked!)

Also, I feel that it is important to note that if OP cant comment on nats dates at this time, they are at least staying professional and not making excuces to the public.
I say we leave them alone about that for a week or so. They are adamant, so it obviously wont help.

And I hope, and think, that if there wasent a nats or states, there wouldent be a worlds. Which there is.
Ironicly, in the most expensive place possible. If they were poor they wouldent have booked it there. :/

 

[PokeDaddy]

@ Austino
it is great that you support the game. Your passion is obvious.

Your points, albeit valid facts, do not detract from the fact that understanding and compassion may be required.

@ NoPoke
The folks at TPCi are not human. How dare you call them that. They are Lectoids from Planet Ten and their names all start with John!

 

[ashinto]

Well 2/3 of pokemon's player base probably wont read this, so I dont see why they would be afraid of what they say here would damage their player base. (Though I am suprised that this thread has hit 5,000 views without getting locked!)

Also, I feel that it is important to note that if OP cant comnment on nats dates at this time, they are at least staying professional and not making excuces to the public.

my bud....i think you just cursed this thread, but i've seen crazier things before...and i just realized that the last five posts including this one are all from new englanders!! and this thread could damage there player base that is willing to travel to the big events of the year (most top cutters do have a pokegym.)

 

[Box of Fail]

Citicism and complaint are fine. Right now I suspect that POP are a bit overloaded with critcisms and complaints. Stupid technology! So don't be surprised if POP are a bit sensitive. They are human too.

The opening post was more than just criticism and complain it would spread fear uncertainty and doubt amongst anyone who was not more aware of the history of the game. NOT GOOD.

Trying to present an extreme view is a great way to get a dissatisfied crowd going. The reason I would tolerate it in your position is because he supported his opinion in an eloquent and thought-provoking way, so convincingly that an official member of TPCi had to post to dispel the rumors, and make an off-color remark, regardless of his true intentions.

Spreading fear throughout the community is okay... it's certainly not provocative enough to warrant closing the thread. Sometimes it's good for people to be scared; it causes a general shift from waiting with relative patience to actively complaining, blaming TPCi and putting on the pressure. This is undoubtedly a good thing, as it generally produces results... a little scare never hurts.

This topic, while I'm sure the OP had nothing but concern for the game in mind, serves as an excellent political tool which can only lead to more unrest and disappointment towards POP, until ultimately a Nats date is published.

 

[ashinto]

Just a thought now...maybe they've planned this so we'd be hooked on Nats and more people will come when it's date is finally given.

 

[NoPoke]

Box of Fail, though well written the opening post was full of fallacious arguement. Predicting or even declaring the death of the game doesn't seem a very concerned position to take.

The thread has only got this far because of the genuine concern over USA nationals. I hope whatever is holding up the announcement is resolved quickly. Not knowing is bad, but false or uncertain information is worse.

 

[SteveP]

To Dan; while I do not agree with how my opinion was handled in OUR situation (not referencing WPM or any other post on here), I respect that after I explained myself, we were both pleased and let it be. I may not agree with everything you say or do, but I do respect you and what you are bringing to the game.

To me, this shows great maturity and understanding. Sometimes, we don't like how others express their grievences with us. We are emotional beings. Perhaps we need more "Vulcan" in our blood. :lol:

This is a classic example of a win-win outcome that could've easily turned into a lose-lose outcome (someone lost their professor status and TPCi lost an advocate).

 

[dogma]

A part of me doesn't want to bring this up again but it is really important:

Did Biggie post personal details about someone on a public forum without their consent?

If yes, no matter how that information was received, that is just so irresponsible.

If that information was received in a professional capacity, and Biggie was acting in his capacity as an employee and hence representative of TPCi, then that is just insanely stupid and wrong. Sorry. There must be repercussions against such a blatant use of private data.

Someone posted what a huge outcry there would be if a minor was involved. I completely agree. How would you like your child, your relative, your friend to be endangered in any way?

We have to know. If Biggie did it, there should be repercussions

 

[PokeDaddy]

A part of me doesn't want to bring this up again but it is really important:

Did Biggie post personal details about someone on a public forum without their consent?

If yes, no matter how that information was received, that is just so irresponsible.

If that information was received in a professional capacity, and Biggie was acting in his capacity as an employee and hence representative of TPCi, then that is just insanely stupid and wrong. Sorry. There must be repercussions against such a blatant use of private data.

Someone posted what a huge outcry there would be if a minor was involved. I completely agree. How would you like your child, your relative, your friend to be endangered in any way?

We have to know. If Biggie did it, there should be repercussions

PM him. Take it off the boards and ask him.

 

[toxictaipan]

i guess it depends on what the motivation is in posting here instead of the OP forums: to communicate a concern directly to the people who can actually *do* something about it, or to start a 'OP sucks' dogpile...

jmho
'mom

Because expressing your opinion on how boring the revealed cards from the new set are just TOTALLY needs to be posted in the official professor forum.

 

[pyrot53]

A part of me doesn't want to bring this up again but it is really important:

Did Biggie post personal details about someone on a public forum without their consent?

If yes, no matter how that information was received, that is just so irresponsible.

If that information was received in a professional capacity, and Biggie was acting in his capacity as an employee and hence representative of TPCi, then that is just insanely stupid and wrong. Sorry. There must be repercussions against such a blatant use of private data.

Someone posted what a huge outcry there would be if a minor was involved. I completely agree. How would you like your child, your relative, your friend to be endangered in any way?

We have to know. If Biggie did it, there should be repercussions

he posted a guys name which he shouldn't have known. But then again it was only a first name. Pokegym the king of all censorship even lets people post first names(even of minors),

 

[SD PokeMom]

PM him. Take it off the boards and ask him.

but it's so much more fun to get out the pitchforks and torches!

'mom