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Author
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Topic: My e-mail to MTM RE: SuperBattlezone and his response...
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Skywolf1
Member # 1448
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posted January 28, 2003 04:52 PM
Hello everyone:
Seeing as how their is much confusion with RE: to the format of Super Battlezone and the format, and the apparent slew of "miscues" that have resulted from this, I decided to e-mail Master Trainer Mike with the concerns that all of you have shared.
My e-mail to him is below:
Hello again Mike:
Before I go on, let me say how apprecriative I am of all the work that both yourslef, Mike Boozer, and everyone at WotC has done for the game of Pokemon.
Without the continued dedication of WotC, this game wouldn't be nearly what it is today, and furthermore, wouldn't have exibitied the staying power that it has going on 5 years now. That in its own right, says a bit right there.
However, there is a darker side to this cloud. One, that has many people within the community, very concerned, and somewhat ANGRY to a certain extent. I feel, that while SOME of the recent "miscues" are as a result of licensing issues and such, I feel that some more could have very easily been avoided. It is these "miscues" that I would like to touch on.
As you are aware, for any TCG to survive the long haul, two very important elements must be in place. 1. A strong "community" of dedicated players loyal to the game through good times and bad. and 2. A solid and coheasive Organized Play system, that promotes sustaining interest and is able to attract new players.
With all the work that WotC has done for this game, and HOPEFULLY will continue to do, assuming that license negotations for the IP rights are a success, I am sure that you have come to realize that the Pokemon Trading Card Game exhibits both these essential ingredients, and thus continues to be a strong seller for WotC.
Now, while I realize that with anything that is licensed to another entity like this game is to WotC, changes occur. We, as a community accept that. After all, you have stated to me and the community countless times, that, "You (WotC), doesn't OWN Pokemon."
The community as a whole understands this. We realize that you are trying to do the best job that you can with the resources made available to you.
However, there is a few things we don't understand, myself included. Granted, with Licensed products, things are BOUND to change. However, with the case of posting at one time, that Super Battlezone was going to have ONE format (unlimited), and then TWO weeks before the actual tournament(s) are scheduled to begin, it is SUDDENLY changed, to Modified, left many of us perplexed, and even some more of us ANGRY. Why? Because, we have already as a community begun to put our resources in motion, have printed flyers, told players, informed our leagues of such a format, and then, OUT of the BLUE, it is changed. How does this reflect on us as a community, who is TRYING DESPARATLY to keep this game alive? VERY, VERY, VERY badly!
I wish I could turn back time, and prevent the "Overstock Fiasco" from happening, I would give anything for that. However, I cannot. Neither can anyone else.
I realize that trust has been broken. I do. However, some compromizes have to be made here. WotC has issued a "call to arms" to the Pokemon community, to assist with promotion and such, and the Pokemon community is and has answered the call.
However, we would like something back from WotC, honest, straight-forward and "MISTAKE FREE" information, when it is received. Magic:The Gathering receives this kind of treatment, I really see no reason why Pokemon cannot receive the same.
I know that Hasbro is cutting back budgets on licened products, and primarily concentrating on CORE brands, so this means that the community has to really step up to the plate, and support this game like never before. However, in return, we as a community would like honest answers, and not a slew of mistakes and miscues, and other "blunders" that have seemed to plague this game in recent months.
Mike, I ask you please, can nothing be done to get us information that is ACCURATE, and not riddled with blunders?
Because right now, much of the community, doesn't have very high hopes for this game at all, and believe me, that CONCERNS me a GREAT DEAL!
I would apprecriate your feedback on this issue, when you have a moment.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards,
Marsh Schneidau
[email protected]
...and his response:
Hi Marsh,
You know I do respect your opinions and that of the other active players but running these events is not as easy as it appears to be.
Due to a miscommunication, some of the TO's and the web team were told that this event would be Unlimited when it was planned to be Modified the whole time. We are still working to schedule the remaining Super BattleZone events. I won't go into the details of the various issues that have dragged this process out longer than it normally should have but trust me when I say that we all wish we could have gotten this program put together earlier and clearer.
Magic has 10 times the number of staff working for it. Pokemon pretty much has a few of us left. I HATE changing information or giving out information that changes. I HATE errors going out. We all do. However, we own Magic and can decide whatever we want. That is not the case for Pokemon. There are so many effects from this simple difference that change everything between these brands.You cannot really compare the two.
Please pass along to the community my apologies about the fact that errors happen. None of us like them. I have been in San Diego for the last 10 days helping with the NFL game and trying to do Pokemon work from there. Our events staff was buried under the Legions pre-release event. Our direct sales and customer service staffs are less than half the size they were a year ago. I am currently doing the job that at one time had been shared between 3 people and that is typical for everyone here.
I completely understand the desire for correct information from the public and from fans. I appreciate the zeal and energy that you all bring. Please consider some of the circumstances we are working under before jumping so quickly to anger though. You can't take change personally as it is not meant to be. This isn't about "breaking trust". Its about people that care about games doing the best they can with what they have. Super BattleZone was not a scheduled program. We managed to find some extra money and put it together. To be yelled at about something extra we are taking on for the public makes it harder to do it next time. I hope you can understand that.
I will do my best to be error free but I won't promise it. I am human as the next person. The same goes for everyone else here at Wizards. And errors do happen on other brands (just like they do for other companies), you just haven't caught all of them.
As always, thanks for passing along your thoughts Marsh.
Take care,
Mike Gills
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Marsh Schneidau
(aka Skywolf1)
Founder, Card Trainers International
Nevada's FIRST Master Professor
Skywolf1: JOLTEON--You practice as you perform. At first you bide your time and become very resourceful, but when the time is right and the odds are in your favor you strike full force at whatever the task might be.
Visit "Team UK's" NEW website at:
www.members.aol.com/hairyclefairy
From: Las Vegas, Nevada USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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IndigoMaster
Member # 752
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posted January 28, 2003 05:01 PM
I can say that, me personally, am very glad to hear this. It is nice to see how well he responded to your e-mail.
But i do have one complaint...i know time is strapped, and etc, but i wish that this info had been directly relyed to us, seeing as how there is such uproar in the community right now.
From: Atlanta GA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Gym Leader Blaine
Member # 5977
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posted January 28, 2003 05:05 PM
MTM states that SBZ was planned as Modified to start with, but doesnt say if we can run it as Unlimited or not because of the misunderstanding. SO my question is can we still run it as Unlimited cause of the wrong information or is Modified the only way?
Dont get my wrong I enjoy the programs we have, and am thankful that some extra money found is being used to fund this, but I just want to know if we can still play Unlimited as some of the players have been told. That is all this comes down to for me.
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"One day I will be the most powerful Jedi ever!" - Anakin Skywalker
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question 83 from gym_leader_blaine:DMTM who would win in the battle in Gengar VS Jango Fett?
darkmt_mike says, "Hmm. think Gengar uses the Force so I would bet on him."
Salt Lake City Professors Web Site
From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Mar 2001
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Pokesensei
Member # 7
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posted January 28, 2003 05:28 PM
Marsh:A big thanx for e-mailing Mike and finding out what`s going on.You da man! ![[Wink]](../tcg/wink.gif)
But i do have one complaint...i know time is strapped, and etc, but i wish that this info had been directly relyed to us, seeing as how there is such uproar in the community right now.
Indigo,granted,I give you that but you did see what Mike said(and is the 100% truth) about they have alot less staff than they did a year ago?They are quite literally doing the amount of work of 3 people?
I`m in complete agreement that it should have been more timely,but considering the current work conditions MTM is facing,he can only do so much and we should give him some slack.He is doing the best any of us can considering his circumstances. ![[Smile]](../tcg/smile.gif)
MTM states that SBZ was planned as Modified to start with, but doesnt say if we can run it as Unlimited or not because of the misunderstanding. SO my question is can we still run it as Unlimited cause of the wrong information or is Modified the only way?
GLB,I would think you can`t change it,but you should e-mail MTM and ask to get a final answer.You can also e-mail the Professor list or even e-mail custserv(heck,you can even call them).
HTH,
`Sensei
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•Founding Member of TEAM COMPENDIUM
•STS/World`s Judge
•Admin of WizPog
Right..not blocked that is.At least until I`m overuled by a Gameboy again!-MT Pat smarting after being overuled by a Gameboy.
`Sensei is a madman from another dimension!-DMTM
From: Out of the Box | Registered: Feb 2001
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Gym Leader Blaine
Member # 5977
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posted January 28, 2003 05:45 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Pokesensei:
[QBGLB,I would think you can`t change it,but you should e-mail MTM and ask to get a final answer.You can also e-mail the Professor list or even e-mail custserv(heck,you can even call them).
HTH,
`Sensei[/QB]
I might just give MTM a call tommorrow and talk with him about this.
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"One day I will be the most powerful Jedi ever!" - Anakin Skywalker
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question 83 from gym_leader_blaine:DMTM who would win in the battle in Gengar VS Jango Fett?
darkmt_mike says, "Hmm. think Gengar uses the Force so I would bet on him."
Salt Lake City Professors Web Site
From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Mar 2001
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IndigoMaster
Member # 752
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posted January 28, 2003 05:48 PM
Sensei, i completly understand, i see how strapped for staff they are. I just hate that it took an e-mail from Marsh to get this kind of response. I don't mean that in any what so ever offense to anyone. I understand everything thats going on, and how magic has so much more staff than pokemon, but its just so frustrating.
From: Atlanta GA | Registered: Feb 2001
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LizardOTC
Member # 124
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posted January 28, 2003 06:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MTM:
Magic has 10 times the number of staff working for it...
Our events staff was buried under the Legions pre-release event...
Its about people that care about games doing the best they can with what they have.
I suppose this says it all. We can conclude that Hasbro/WotC has decided that:
- work on Pokémon is to be pursued only when time can be spared from more important 'core' (WotC-owned) brands.
- the only reason any resources go to Pokémon is because the MTs advocate for it.
- we need to look at this glass as being half full, rather than half empty.
This game could be so much more than it is. There is so much deep support out here! It is sad that someone, somewhere inside WotC/Hasbro doesn't see that... 
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"No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Sewage Portrayed As Meat...It's not just for breakfast anymore!" -LizardOTC
"Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." - Proverbs 25:19
From: The Vast Midwestern Waste | Registered: Feb 2001
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IPGeek21
Member # 184
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posted January 29, 2003 01:43 PM
LOTC,
That is unfair. That is only a snapshot of how WotC works. THEY have had serious lay off situation for the past few years and in CORPORATE envinronments NOWadays one person wears so many different hats.
It seems like a very intimate work environment... AND not at all easy.
MTM went to SD BUT I doubt it was all FUN and games. Up in RENTON I am also pretty sure it is not all fun and games. At some point it WAS A REAL cash cow, realistically NOWadays we know it is not (but to what extent?)
BUT they are doing what they can. AND it probably IT IS just as crazy for a POKEMON event (Worlds for example)
AND I can believe the misunderstanding between CONSTRUCTED: modifed, unlimited...
NOTHING is perfect and MTM does HAVE us in his best interest. So not only does he wear many hats HE BEARS an extraordinarily HEAVY burden: US.
MTM must either DO everything himself and/or TRUST others to assist him. Definitely a delicate balance.
I am willing to overlook errors, LA has an event & 15+ is recognized =)
[ January 29, 2003, 01:44 PM: Message edited by: IPGeek21 ]
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Drafts bring out the BEST of the WORST cards in Pokemon
*TC Member/WizpogMOD_Squad/Master_Prof*
+GodFather to an Angel:RIP-Paloma Geronimo
-=-=-=-=-=-
TheCompendium
Team Random
Proud bro of SSJ3DVP11
ipgeek21.com
SHUT UP & DO something about it
From: The here, BUT WHERE shall we go? | Registered: Feb 2001
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LizardOTC
Member # 124
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posted January 29, 2003 02:05 PM
IPGeek21:
Please reread my post. I am not blaming MTM for the problems with this event. Quite the contrary, in fact. I imagine that SBZ would not exist at all without MTM's efforts to create it.
That said, I do think there is a problem. That problem seems to stem from larger corporate policy which has dictated that Pokémon receives resources that are... stretched thin. 
Hasbro has announced this policy publicly. Hasbro has resolved to focus on 'core owned brands' and minimize expenditures on 'licensed products.'
It is the effect of this policy that we are seeing now. We owe a big thank you to MTM for his work on our behalf. Without people like him, we'd get nothing.
I think that Hasbro's handling of Pokémon at this juncture is extremely short-sighted, given that the brand as a whole is set for a major resurgence with the release of Ruby and Sapphire! I do not feel that I am being unfair in pointing this out.
Of course, if Hasbro does not intend to renew the license for Pokémon, then the policy makes a great deal of sense... 
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"No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Sewage Portrayed As Meat...It's not just for breakfast anymore!" -LizardOTC
"Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." - Proverbs 25:19
From: The Vast Midwestern Waste | Registered: Feb 2001
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Noah Weiss
Member # 59265
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posted January 29, 2003 03:24 PM
This is ironic, since if I recall correctly, Hasbro bought out WotC in the first place for the Pokemon TCG when it was the big fad, and now look.
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Just call me Noah121... I accidentally mixed up "Login name" and "Displayed name..."
Link to My Forums: go.ezboard.com/bgameshowboard . It's a forum for Pokémon and game shows.
*Supporter of Rogue Decks*
*Opposer of Trainermon*
From: Lincoln, NE | Registered: Jan 2002
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DMTM
Member # 10
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posted January 29, 2003 03:44 PM
Just to set the record straight. It was a phone call from me, that alerted Mike. Well before the letter from Skywolf.
I would have cleared it all up if I had been here folks. I also was out of town at a tournament. I alerted Mike on Thursday and left on Friday.
Neither of us had access to the Web. Mike got a hold of our web person and had it changed Monday.
DMTM
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Frodo_Baggins - "Like the guy said "Get out of the box""
From: Seattle, Wa, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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Gym Leader Blaine
Member # 5977
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posted January 29, 2003 04:06 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DMTM:
Just to set the record straight. It was a phone call from me, that alerted Mike. Well before the letter from Skywolf.
DMTM
Sure it was DMTM, always trying to take the credit for everything ![[Razz]](../tcg/tongue.gif) ![[Bounce]](../tcg/graemlins/jump.gif) ![[Bored]](../tcg/graemlins/dozey.gif)
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"One day I will be the most powerful Jedi ever!" - Anakin Skywalker
darkmt_mike presents the speaker with question 83 from gym_leader_blaine:DMTM who would win in the battle in Gengar VS Jango Fett?
darkmt_mike says, "Hmm. think Gengar uses the Force so I would bet on him."
Salt Lake City Professors Web Site
From: Salt Lake City, UT | Registered: Mar 2001
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IPGeek21
Member # 184
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posted January 29, 2003 05:19 PM
LoTC,
Nope I was not saying that you were blaming MTM BUT I want to HOLD true that POKEMON is not just being put aside. WotC is smaller in folks than it used to be.
But corporate HIGHER ups can be SO OUT of touch with anything but the POLITICS involved with the job & the bottom line.
Hopefully pokemon IS IN their plans.
IN WotC's it is...
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Drafts bring out the BEST of the WORST cards in Pokemon
*TC Member/WizpogMOD_Squad/Master_Prof*
+GodFather to an Angel:RIP-Paloma Geronimo
-=-=-=-=-=-
TheCompendium
Team Random
Proud bro of SSJ3DVP11
ipgeek21.com
SHUT UP & DO something about it
From: The here, BUT WHERE shall we go? | Registered: Feb 2001
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LizardOTC
Member # 124
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posted January 30, 2003 07:55 AM
Right.
Clearly, WotC would like to continue to produce Pokémon cards. The MTs, and probably others we don't know about, have made a big investment of time and energy in the game, just as we have. They say they love the game as much as we do, and there is no reason to doubt that!
However, it seems equally clear to me that someone, somewhere higher up in WotC/Hasbro dislikes Pokémon and the licensing hassles and expenses it entails. Our game is just one product, and Hasbro is looking to trim its number of products, targeting 'underperforming licensed brands' first.
We need to give Hasbro as many reasons as we can not to axe this game...
That is why I have delegated to 9 stores, run 2 BZ's weekly and additional DCI tourneys twice a month. I have enrolled over 50 new players in the DCI ranks in the last few months. I have a large quantity of product stock (purchased with my own funds!) that I use for draft and sealed play tourneys, as well as prize support. I bought 10 boxes of Aquapolis alone.
I stand to lose a lot if this game dies, and it is hard not knowing anything about the future. The game has my unconditional support.
Does Hasbro intend to reciprocate? [Standard answer: "WAIT AND SEE"]
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"No! Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try." -Yoda
"Sewage Portrayed As Meat...It's not just for breakfast anymore!" -LizardOTC
"Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble." - Proverbs 25:19
From: The Vast Midwestern Waste | Registered: Feb 2001
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Meganium45
Member # 99835
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posted January 30, 2003 10:49 AM
Lizard, which part of the vast midwestern waste do you live in (sounds like a description of South Dakota, but....)(Yes! a random South Dakota Slam)
If you are in range of St. Louis, we should try to hold a joint event, or get a big group together.
Worked out great when Pokedok and his crew travelled south for our last event. Unfortunately, we were not able to support him in the same numbers. (sometimes work gets in the way of this crazy game).
e-mail me, and maybe we can work something out (you have no link).
I am hoping Super Battlezone and Ruby/Sapphire rejuvinates this game even further. We've got a group from our Core League going to the SBZ, and turning it into an all-day family party. Breakfast beforehand, dinner afterward, and coordinated lunch in between. We already have 7 families signed up for this.
Even cooler, we have KY dad coming in this weekend for our Aquapolis Draft.
Just a thought - anyone think SBZ may be a way for WOTC to judge exactly how many core players are out there? Holding them all on the same day means us "hardcores" won't be travelling to 6 or 7 of them like GCs!
See you on the boards. - After I check with SteveP
Meganium 45
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"To Make a Difference, you have to be Different"
Winner and parent of 6 year old winner (Little Duck) of Colinsville SBZ!
Other son was the 9 year old winner May SBZ at Dragon King, the best place to play Pokemon in the Midwest!
NOW 3 TROPHIES!!!
THE MASTER PROFESSOR IN ST. LOUIS and TO too! Yipee!
Gotta love St. Louis 8th, 9th and 10th and the Origins Professor Championship! (I was 9th :( )
Too bad we never have room for our bench - - lol.
From: St. Louis, Missouri | Registered: Aug 2002
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