Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Outside the US - What is left?

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aight, while im sure europe is having alot of problems with pokemon cards, but canada is too. We JUST got ru/sa EX, theres no prerelease tournaments at all, and theres no tournaments in general really! I think Nintendo is not just ignoring Europe, but they are ignoring any area that doesn't gross more than $1B a year. Nintendo, seriously. Don't be so narrow minded.

Nick
 
Hmm something wrong with your bit of canada... I got my ruby and saphire from Canada months ago.

Toronto FWIW. Even with sea freight and customs clearance it still arrived weeks before the official UK product.
 
seriously? well, i actually travelled around ontario and quebec to track down the Ru/Sa sets on one of my recent trips back (I am currently taking residence in Japan until the pokemon situation gets better in the great white north) and i couldn't find any... this was august, and my friend called yesterday to say he got some packs, but in any case, there is still my beef with the SERIOUS lack of tournaments.
 
Ok then. This thread was originally about which Pokemon leagues were still available outside the US. Instead it has become a Wizards/Nintendo Bashing ground.

I agree that it it taking far too long for Pokemon USA to start distributing the EX card sets and when they are planning on releasing them here in Australia. We are getting two sets at once, (Ruby Saphire and Sandstorm) To me this is ludicrous and needs some heavy thinking on nintendos Part.

I am with GuardianTIM with the matter that we can not get any information from Nintendo Australia. As a gum leader myself, I have called up nintendo and they did not even know that there was an EX game out there (At least their customer service anyway)

My Point: Currnetly in Australia... Or at least South Australia, There still is a league. We are trying to keep people happy and with this it is getting harder and harder to do if we don't get the support.

Hopefully Pokemon USA will read these posts and realise that there still is a fan base around the world and it might get lost if they act too slowly.
 
ranmasaotomes

You have summed up the position of the UK leagues perfectly we are trying to keep people happy and it is getting harder and harder with no support from PUI and Nintendo.

Local offices are GBA centred and do not know that a Pokemon TCG exists and local distributors are not much better.

Everyday we are trawling eBay for prize support and every week we look for news from PUI that includes us but it is not forthcoming:

Looking at the League situation as I understand it at the moment we have in the UK and Australia:

Rainham, Kent at the Gamers Guild (www.gamers-guild.co.uk)

Slough, Berks 10am - 1pm Every Sunday, Top Floor, Burger King, High Street SLOUGH

Oxford Pokémon League

Blidworth Pokémon League

Oasis Gym Pokémon League

Crawley Pokémon League

Suffolk Sci-Fi and Fantasy Pokémon League

The Pit: Pokémon League

Replay Games Pokémon League

Marquee Models - Harlow Pokémon League

Battlenet Battlezone - Norfolk Pokémon League
Tuesday evenings, 2a Queens Road, Norwich

Millenium Café - London, Homsey Road (just off Seven Sisters Rd), Holloway London. Every Saturday from 1:30 pm till around 6pm.

Scottish Pokemon - Borders Books & Music Buchanan Street Glasgow every Saturday 10.00am-1.00pm

Fishermans Wharf Market Cards. In the Fishermans Wharf Markets. Port Adelaide In Adelaide, South Australia

See the list with telephone numbers at http://www.members.aol.com/hairyclefairy/leagues/leagues.htm

Thanks to Freddy K for maintaining the page.

So how about we list all the other Non-US sites so there is a list that players can refer to as the pokemon-tcg site does not show anything outside the US except the dimly aware distributors.

First non- uk site listed :

Fishermans Wharf Market Cards. In the Fishermans Wharf Markets. Port Adelaide In Adelaide, South Australia
 
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Thanks. UKpokemonpro

I agree that its the customers of the leagues also customers or other products around the world find that we don not get things quickly. But instead of harping on and turning this in to a bashing thread. I will assist in helping people locate the various leagues around the world (Well at least *** one to the list)

Fishermans Wharf Market Cards. In the Fishermans Wharf Markets. Port Adelaide In Adelaide, South Australia.

Fortunatly I have started there as a gum leader and so get a little access to some info that my boss can get

Also. In case anyone is interested. Look at the Australian distributers web site for australia. I think the last time it was updated was 2001 when the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TCG was released. No mention of Pokemon TCG at all.
 
Tomorrow we have our meeting with the distributor, i don't have much hope because they are to selfish to admit that they don't have knowledge.

But if Europe has to be under a brainless regime of not involved, nitwits of OP distributors. Then it's time to make our own plans and create our own OP.

Don't forget the few profs left in the different countries are the only ones who really have knowledge about OP, rules etc.
Your distributor needs you to promote the game by playing it, explaining rules. Take advantage of this because i expect that one of these days they will approach those profs of the mailinglist on -tcg.com

If that situation appears contact between European profs will be more important than ever.
 
Hello Everyone,

For those of you that have been on this forum a while, you know who I am, and what I have tried, and been somewhat successful at, with WotC with regards to OP and International support, and I am committed to making sure that PUI/TPC DOES know and understand that there is an international player base for this game, and that something must be done to address these issues, as from what I am hearing and understanding, is that current distributors KNOW NOTHING of the new Pokemon TCG out there, and this to me is not going to bode very well for this game's future successess as an INTERNATIONAL tcg, like TPC/PUI envisions.

I do not work for Nintendo, nor do I hold any official capacity at PUI or TPC. HOWEVER, I do have contacts at PUI, that tell me they want this game to be a world wide game.

What I will do, is forward this post on to the director of OP at PUI, and hopefully he can offer his insights as to the status of International distributors

Take Care,

Marsh Schneidau
(aka Skywolf1)
 
Skywolf i have seen the things you did for this game.
If you have sources or anything at TPC there is only one thing Europe needs the most.

PUI should tell the distributors which are going to the European OP convention (yes there is one coming) to go around the table with the remaining Profs in their country en listen to them, not only listen but let those profs arrange OP in their country.

That distributors don't know anything about the new TCG is their own mistake, they are only interested in selling much boosterboxes and that's it.
Now they are in pain because they have to go to an meeting and talk about something they ignored for over the last year.
Yes i'm talking about ignoring the players of this game.

If they had listened to most profs posting on this board than there could be a smoot turn over to TPC new tcg without any wrinkles.

But by ignoring people with the knowlegde, giving gymleaders no change they created their own .....

If all the OP distributor had one person (payed or hired by them) to arrange OP everything could be arranged in no time.

All i can see, bad luck for them because now you have to bleed for what you have lacked in the past.
 
"Replay Games Pokémon League"
*muttermutter*
I keep seeing this listed, and I'm telling you, it hasn't run since April last year (2002). I think they must order the kits and just make up numbers for reports, because they do have all the latest promos, yet every time I phone up, it's "No, sorry, we don't run that anymore, but there's some YGO players..."
>_<

I don't know. That's pretty much my response to all this now, I don't know. (that and half this topic seems to be blocked by the school server, heh)
I'm gonna see how many people turn up to my club after the half term (and how many of those aren't just there to borrow my cards and play Harry Potter ^^; ), see if it's worth me actually getting seriously involved in any of this.
Can't say it looks good though, not at all...
 
Hello Team International: (I rather like the sound of that. :D)

I hear your concerns and I have forwarded them on to the person(s) that will be able to bring about change here soon.

So, I am working for all of you. Because, as far as I am concerned, the International Pokemon community is JUST AS important as the North American Community.

If I receive any new information, I will be sure to pass it on.

Take Care,

Skywolf1
 
Hi everyone :)
I missed the last 2 months of discussions 'cause I hadn't my Internet ç_ç
Now that I'm back, my 2 cents

As I talked with Prof Donphan, the italian situation for OP is approximately the same for every European country: distributors know NOTHING about OP, and (for us) the company distributor indicated to be the OP responsibles, don't answer.

Out idea was to manage directly the OP thing, but - as Michel said (Hi Michel ^^) - PUI surely can't (and don't want) accept a thing like that cause they have to work with companies: it's always a money affair :(

The new idea is really simple.
The distributor announced an italian release for EX: R/S and Sandstorm for January 2004. Now, for OP is really useful to have out a local language release of the product, or an english release is ok?

For players, I think (and I know I'm right) english product is enough. It would really nice if local OP starts with an anticipated english language release of the above sets - we do know that distributors already have them. Why PUI waits for local language release?

It's the same trouble of the Ruby/Sapphire videogame release. When local language relase was announced, misteriously ALL english copies from european stores have disappeared, and stores werent' able anymore to order import copies of the games.
NOA wanted to have money from local players, that want to play games in local language - appeal with young players is more simple, not anyone knows english, right?

I think the same thing happens with TCG. PUI wants young players to buy cards that they UNDERSTAND, cause most kids only collect cards, without playing (so the "translation booklet" is useless).

But, are we able to find a way to accord with PUI about an anticipated OP start?
I tink I'm the only MP in Italy who has ordered BZ kits, and I have many kits left (waiting for them cause I'm moving from Sardinia to Milan). But Professors are not everywhere, and many many stores are losing interest in Pokémon TCG OP.

If a regular OP activity starts now, it is more simple for stores to announce that to players, and there are many chances for players to re-gain interest in the game.

Personally, I'm still running a League in Milan (there are only 2 Leagues that I know, last year there were at least 5 of them).

So my proposal to PUI is: pre-release of the product in english (as they announced, but nothing happened), and start of OP in Europe. Then, in January 2004, they can release a local language of the sets. Obiouvsly, full support from professors and MPs.
 
Skywolf:

You mentioned that the commite of the trading game for North America was just important as the international one. Well Where is the evidence? I don't think nintendo is caring about either, as even Canada (supposedly covered by the North American Pokemon Commite) has little tournaments.

The international problems are everywhere too; nintendo is not focusing enough on other parts of the world besides USA. Instead of just TELLING us they care, I think Nintndo should actually take some action into making sure we get OP internationally.

Thanks for your time.
 
I agree. I have been emailing my own distributers about getting the league back in Australia. So far we still only have whats left of the Wizzards leagues. For all of you lucky places that actually GOT a battlezone... Congratulations, we are still waiting (and it has been confirmed that we are never getting them) The last 2 seasons for out own league. You Know the Water and Phykick Season.

Maybe we are being too harsh on both Wizards and Nintendo, they are only starting out in this field and I can see that there is teething problems for them. As long as it comes out soon. (Before the end of the year) Then I believe everyone will be happy.

I am not here to do company bashing. I am here because I love the game and hope that the support that has been in the past will continue in to the future.
 
Okay so the list of leagues I have active outside the US running with NO PUI support so far is:

Rainham, Kent at the Gamers Guild (www.gamers-guild.co.uk)

Slough, Berks 10am - 1pm Every Sunday, Top Floor, Burger King, High Street SLOUGH

Oxford Pokémon League

Blidworth Pokémon League

Oasis Gym Pokémon League

Crawley Pokémon League

Suffolk Sci-Fi and Fantasy Pokémon League

The Pit: Pokémon League

Marquee Models - Harlow Pokémon League

Battlenet Battlezone - Norfolk Pokémon League
Tuesday evenings, 2a Queens Road, Norwich

Millenium Café - London, Homsey Road (just off Seven Sisters Rd), Holloway London. Every Saturday from 1:30 pm till around 6pm.

Scottish Pokemon - Borders Books & Music Buchanan Street Glasgow every Saturday 10.00am- 1.00pm

Fishermans Wharf Market Cards. In the Fishermans Wharf Markets. Port Adelaide In Adelaide, South Australia

Does anyone have anymore? Rainbowgym can we have some details on the leagues you and henna are involved with?

We are seriously considering an alternate non-PUI OP organisation at the moment due to the total lack of support shown so far. Promises are one thing but let us not forget that all we have been promised has not been delivered! OP in October is a pipedream for us and the PUI disclaimer of not everything will be available to you in your country makes me very suspicious.... Certainly next few weeks is not a tight deadline and sounds like it is very likely to slip...

The UK is investigating alternate tourney scoring programmes and ranking systems.. if PUI will not do it we will do it ourselves...

In the meantime lets advertise our leagues here and ensure people know we exist...
 
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Just skimming the Forums, and after reading these few pages, I've noticed that people have mentioned delays coz of Translation, etc.
However, there has been at least one person from Canada, a few more people from England, and at least 2 people from Australia (Ranma and Myself, unless I missed anyone else) who have had no luck with getting cards out to their respective countries (and let's not forget all the Europeans and people from other parts of the world as well).

Now if it Translation truly is part of the delay, I'd hope that the 3 other Major English-Speaking countries (Canada, England and Australia) would surely have no problem with card distribution - we _can_ read American quite easily, you know... Even if they say Color instead of Colour, we can cope with that.


It's sad that where I live, the card place at the Fishermans Wharf Markets (as mentioned above) is pretty much one of the few (if not only) places that still gets new sets. Kollectable Kaos stopped after Neo because people were tired of not being able to get recent releases, and the store at the Brickworks markets has kept on a bit after that, and I don't know about the RuSa set as I've not been there for a couple of weeks.

Good news, however - 'Pokemon 4 Ever' (4th movie) will be released on DVD in about 2 weeks. Of course, it never came into Cinemas out here, and my group of friends have seen both the 4th and 5th movies already, but at least it's a start, albeit an incredibly late one.


As I'm sure we'll all agree, I hope that something is done about these problems with distribution in ALL our respective countries - the sooner, the better.
 
Ok guys.

I don't know if it will do anythin but I have e-mailed the international pokemon section of the site with a link to this thread. Hopefully they will look at this and notice what we are trying to accomplish with this. Perhaps if you know of the distributers you could also forward a link of this thread to them.

I like all of you wish for the league to be reborn. Pokemon has become more of a cult than a fad. Pokemon is here to stay. Just like Magic or even Warhammer, Pokemon has become something that will last the test of time.

Again, hopefully Nintendo or Pokemon USA will read this and perhalps they will help us along with getting OUR leagues started.
 
ranmasaotomes said:
Ok guys.

I don't know if it will do anythin but I have e-mailed the international pokemon section of the site with a link to this thread. Hopefully they will look at this and notice what we are trying to accomplish with this. Perhaps if you know of the distributers you could also forward a link of this thread to them.

I like all of you wish for the league to be reborn. Pokemon has become more of a cult than a fad. Pokemon is here to stay. Just like Magic or even Warhammer, Pokemon has become something that will last the test of time.

Again, hopefully Nintendo or Pokemon USA will read this and perhalps they will help us along with getting OUR leagues started.
Click to expand...

Well the cult thing is not what I think of the TCG's. But I agree about you of Magic and Warhammer, will have the same fate as Pokemon (action speaks louder than words as I say). Magic had gone through the rough roads before it could reach this far. :cool:

About the distribution of the cards. Am I the only Asian in the world who is eyeing on the game??? Hopefully not. In my case here at home the cards are distributed smoothly here and the new store scheduled orgainize play next year it is because they are waiting for the previous distributor to finish Battlezone. We had coordination with that store during the First Philippine Games and Collectable Convention (Gamecon). I would admit even here like anywhere else we are in limbo but we made continuity as our "weapon" not to drift away for good.

Oh my.... my eyes are rolling!!!! :rolleyes:
 
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That link is baloney. All it is is pipe dreams and some guy telling us we are going to get a league. Translation delays are NOT the problem. Like guardianTM said, we can read english quite well even if you do spell certian words differently.

True, Nintendo is trying hard, but clearly, not hard enough. Besides USA and Japan, no country has gotten the necissary support they needed to establish Organised Play.

I think that Pokemon has the same potential as M:TG but nintendo really needs to try harder to bring the joy of Pokemon OP internationally.
 
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