US Nationals Moved...

[JandPDS]

The numbers will be a lot smaller this year, whether people believe it or not. I'm quite certain that Florida, the Carolina's, and Georgians are probably complaining about a further drive. At least its north to Ohio and not North and East to Missouri.

Another thing Origins had was a couple additional days to practice for those who came early enough, which was nice, especially meeting a lot of other players flying in from all over the country. It does not seem like this will be the case now.



Its not quite as central as you might think.

And I agree with Bruce. Move our nationals, at least give us worlds over here so we don't have to fly everywhere now.

To set the record straight Atlanta to Columbus is 556 miles. Atlanta to St Louis is only 423 miles.

I would say that 133 miles is a significant differance.

 

[Water Pokemon Master]

Ugh I hated Columbus. The city was so depressing and the hotel rates because of Origins made everything booked up and ridiculously pricey. I'm so glad they moved it.

 

[Deus_Ex_Machina]

R.I.P The Ace

Good Night Sweet Prince

 

[Prime]

Wow, I can't believe I won't be able to attend Nationals this year. I look forward to it every year and I really enjoyed it more than Worlds last season.

I feel blessed that I was able to attend Nationals for 3 years. In those 3 years, I had a tremendous amountof fun, got to meet some amazing people from around the nation, and got to see my friends again. I look back to Nationals at Origins and feel it was one of the biggest experiences of my life, and I will never forget about it.

I won't be attending for multiple reasons. For the first 2 years, the only reason I was able to attend the event was because I had someone who wanted to go for the Origins part of the event. They didn't like Pokemon, well they did, but they didn't play anymore. But they really enjoyed Monopoly, Risk, and would play those games with their son while I did the Pokemon stuff. Now, what is there to do?

I see the event has gotten smaller-time wise too. It's practically the same time period of Worlds. A little on Friday, it really starts on Saturday, and ends on Sunday. One of the things I like so much about Nationals at Origins was that it started on Thursday, and kept going for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It was literally 2 days longer than Worlds, and to me, those 2 days were so priceless. Those were 2 more days I could play in the league and earn cool prizes. Those were 2 more days I could chat with my Poke-friends and those were 2 more days when I could be surrounded by one the things I love the most, the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

I am saddened to see this change, because I still felt it was possible to maybe talk my friend into going to Origins again next year, but it won't matter now.

I hope the tournament brings in the numbers PUI is expecting, because I honestly feel we will see 1/3 the attendance because of the move. I feel Origins really brought in a lot of random new players to play in nationals each year, and I feel Origins was a great hub for all the players of this game to get together and reconnect over games and have fun doing other stuff too. Nationals in MO is worst of both worlds. It's an only-Pokemon event, and there will be no random new players to introduce to the game. The only people that will be there are those that play the card game already or live very close to it and heard about it on the news or newspaper.

Good luck Nationals in your new location. Maybe I can see you again in 2 years...if I am still playing Pokemon then.

edit: Before some of my statements sound weird, I just found out that it is St. Louis, MO, not St. Louis, MI. Why isn't Missouri MI? ARG!

 

[Hatter™]

Im not going to lie, I didnt really anything but OP, but I guess most of the posts are about people not going because of where they live.
I'm sorry if you can't go. I won't go into location for me since it is void.
For all those people that can't go, this opens up the opportunity for people who may of not been able to go, to now them being able to go.

Granted, I am dissapointed about no origins, but this saves people money all around(we all know the economy isn't the best right now). It also gives people a chance to see somewhere new(Yes I know people haven't been to Ohio either). It also moves nationals closer to the middle of the US, which IMO is a good thing. I think this is a good idea by them, spread the wealth I always say.

Finally, we don't know if this will start a trend of them moving nationals every year or not.. so if it is, I can't wait to see everyone complain for years to come on the location, although I could just wait until they announce next years worlds location for that. You can probably expect some "Im going to quit because of this outrageouness" too. :thumb:

~MadHatter~

Prime: Isn't it farther from Canada now? or is it one of those they are only miles closer..

 

[Lawman]

I don't think POP is lame. However, I think they should have at least surveyed people for an opinion.

They already do! Its called FEEDBACK on your MPA under tourneys. Use it sometime :smile:

Give PUI/OP a chance folks. They didnt just fall off the applecart yesterday. They have their reasons, I am sure. The ticket fiasco last year is probably one. Making the event more centrally located for the entire USA may be another. Maybe Vince has incriminating pics of Mike, Dave, Pete et al and "forced" them to come to St. Louis.

Wait until it happens, then complain (if you feel the need to!) I for one am glad to not have to pay a fee to walk a thousand miles to do Pokemon! Sure, the vender hall was nice, but I did not do any other game there! I think the majority of the pokemon players/staff agree with that.

Keith

 

[Prime]

Yeah, I thought Missouri was MI, so when I brought it up in Mapquest, it was literally right on the Canadian border, and it was giving me Michigan.

I am a lot thankful it isn't in St. Louis Michigan, as St. Louis Missouri is a much better location that is more centralized. It's actually closer this year than last year (to me), which means there is a shred of chance I could go.

 

[Lawman]

There goes about 1/4 of Origins attendance and a ton of money for gas.

Ugh, this sucks.

Says who??? Last I checked, St. Louis has a fantastic PTO (Vince), multiple leagues and very nice regional #s. Plus, it is closer to TX and Cookies #s are off the radar! Methinks attendence will be just fine.

Sorry Ohio players, but you will actually have to travel a bit to win a shot at worlds, like everyone else in the USA!

Keith

 

[Naki Feralkin]

Wow, I can't believe I won't be able to attend Nationals this year. I look forward to it every year and I really enjoyed it more than Worlds last season.

I feel blessed that I was able to attend Nationals for 3 years. In those 3 years, I had a tremendous amountof fun, got to meet some amazing people from around the nation, and got to see my friends again. I look back to Nationals at Origins and feel it was one of the biggest experiences of my life, and I will never forget about it.

I won't be attending for multiple reasons. For the first 2 years, the only reason I was able to attend the event was because I had someone who wanted to go for the Origins part of the event. They didn't like Pokemon, well they did, but they didn't play anymore. But they really enjoyed Monopoly, Risk, and would play those games with their son while I did the Pokemon stuff. Now, what is there to do?

I see the event has gotten smaller-time wise too. It's practically the same time period of Worlds. A little on Friday, it really starts on Saturday, and ends on Sunday. One of the things I like so much about Nationals at Origins was that it started on Thursday, and kept going for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. It was literally 2 days longer than Worlds, and to me, those 2 days were so priceless. Those were 2 more days I could play in the league and earn cool prizes. Those were 2 more days I could chat with my Poke-friends and those were 2 more days when I could be surrounded by one the things I love the most, the Pokemon Trading Card Game.

I am saddened to see this change, because I still felt it was possible to maybe talk my friend into going to Origins again next year, but it won't matter now.

I hope the tournament brings in the numbers PUI is expecting, because I honestly feel we will see 1/3 the attendance because of the move. I feel Origins really brought in a lot of random new players to play in nationals each year, and I feel Origins was a great hub for all the players of this game to get together and reconnect over games and have fun doing other stuff too. Nationals in MO is worst of both worlds. It's an only-Pokemon event, and there will be no random new players to introduce to the game. The only people that will be there are those that play the card game already or live very close to it and heard about it on the news or newspaper.

Good luck Nationals in your new location. Maybe I can see you again in 2 years...if I am still playing Pokemon then.

edit: Before some of my statements sound weird, I just found out that it is St. Louis, MO, not St. Louis, MI. Why isn't Missouri MI? ARG!

QFT, Prime. I agree with a very large abundance of this post in general. And whether you guys think it or not, people who do come to Origins for Origins, DO actually play the Pokemon games. I've met quite a few people in the last two years who had never played it before and had a ton of fun just playing this. I know a family from Illinois that usually just comes for the con in general (The father is actually staff for another event there), and they actually spent a lot of time playing Pokemon despite the dozens of other things they also did there.

Its not gonna be as big an event as it could be at origins. For a growing game, this is not where you want to go.

 

[Water Pokemon Master]

Wow, I didn't know Missouri was directly in the middle of the U.S. I pulled up a map and looked in the middle and the first state I saw was Missouri. You can't get any more central than that! It's more fair this way.

 

[Magnechu]

Don't mind the location change, but was hoping for a different weekend! POP should take into account that a lot of high schools have graduation that day. It affects more than just the high school seniors, as well, but all the family that needs to attend as well. It's sad that I can't attend Nationals because of my graduation, but I know it's worth it in the end. Hopefully I'll go next year.

 

[Lawman]

Well to start with obviously it wasn't that big a problem. Otherwise how do you explain 2007 nationals having about 700 people and 2008 nationals having over 900? Secondly they took Nationals and moved it about 400 miles away from where it was last year.

And they moved worlds 3000+ miles away from 2008. Your point is what again??

Keith

 

[Quatra]

Atleast you all get to go to Nationals, Regionals, heck Even Worlds. Not everyone is able to attend them, Myself included. So be Glad you were able to go at all. I don't, and i'm sure many others like me, don't have the cash or time off to run to every Event Pokemon holds. Im lucky to Attend Prereleases when i can afford it.

 

[Azure Kite]

They really should have thought this through before jumping the gun. I won't think any less of them, but this was definately the wrong descision, and I think POP will regret moving it, if someone doesn't convince them to switch back the location before June.

 

[a_shy_girl_1999]

Now; I really want to go to Nats again ... I'm not really disappointed that they moved nats; I mean I would want to go for a chance to also visit a new state that I have never been to... I love to travel to new places.

Plus I remember a lot of times hearing how people wished that Nat's was a stand-alone event. Now it finally is!
Why is everyone complaining?

 

[Jason]

To St. Louis vs. Colombus
From:
Los Angeles, CA - 1825mi vs 2241mi
San Fransico, CA - 2059mi vs 2446mi
Portland, OR - 2048mi vs 2436mi
Seattle, WA - 2142 mi vs 2420mi

Salt Lake City, UT - 1325mi vs 1713mi
Denver, CO - 849mi vs 1258mi
Las Vegas, NV - 1599mi vs 2007mi
Phoenix, AZ - 1504mi vs 1921mi
Albuquerque, NM - 1041mi vs 1457mi
El Paso, TX - 1236mi vs 1676mi
Lubbock, TX - 877mi vs 1293mi
San Antonio, TX - 904mi vs 1315mi
Houston, TX - 868mi vs 1232mi
Dallas, TX - 630mi vs 1041mi

New Orleans, LA - 679 mi vs 911mi
Memphis, TN - 284mi vs 590mi
Atlanta, GA - 554mi vs 568mi

Chicago, IL - 297mi vs 357mi
St Paul, MN - 612mi vs 755mi
Wichita, KS - 442mi vs 851mi
Kansas City, KS - 249mi vs 658mi

Miami, FL - 1216mi vs 1155mi
Orlando, FL - 995mi vs 949mi
Charleston, SC - 858mi vs 633mi
Greensboro, NC - 749mi vs 407mi
Richmond, VA - 821mi vs 479mi

Midwest + New York + New England area...closer to Columbus than St Louis


SERIOUSLY PEOPLE, that St. Louis location actually help most areas, and why dont you fellow North easterns and south-easerns actually travel for another 200 or so miles????? Jeez.

 

[Prime]

Atleast you all get to go to Nationals, Regionals, heck Even Worlds. Not everyone is able to attend them, Myself included. So be Glad you were able to go at all. I don't, and i'm sure many others like me, don't have the cash or time off to run to every Event Pokemon holds. Im lucky to Attend Prereleases when i can afford it.

Your totally right, and I hope people don't lose sight of how lucky they have been in the past to attend these great events held by great people.

I think many of us lose sight of what is in the game's best interest when it comes to stuff like this, but I do feel there are many good points in this thread why Nationals would be better at Origins.

 

[homeofmew]

I will miss the other cool stuff origins has.

 

[SD PokeMom]

people really think PUI didn't 'think this through'? really?

they've likely been investigating possible venues for months, if not since last nats.

i don't think many people have any idea of just how much planning goes into putting on an event like this, from what i understand of the process for worlds. this is not a 'snap' decision, nor one that will be reversed once announced...

jmho.
'mom

 

[Water Pokemon Master]

You can get most of the stuff from Origins on the internet.

(And often for cheaper or the same. )