posted April 17, 2002 03:33 PM            

At first I'd like to thank again Kristin, Ann and Antoine for coming on the boards.
I know it's not always easy for them, but their presence here is a very positive point for all of us.

I'd also like to thank all our US friends for their other topics about Europe. I'm really happy to see that we are a worldwide community and that players from everywhere are ready to help other players
As you probably know, I'll be in Seattle with my daughter. Please, come to see me ! I only know a few of you, and I'd really like to know you in person

I've read another topic, and as I think this one is the older one about the situation in Europe, I'll answer to two messages here :

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I've put so much work into holding Europe's OP alive. All those hours in front of the computer. All the work for Team Europe. And this is the result. This is what we get. I'm frustrated, and I'm soon giving up. (Golduck)

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Where have you been these last days Eskil ? In Germany ? Please don't go there anymore, you come back with very bad ideas
WE NEED YOU in the community, and the third member of Team Europe will never let the founder of the Team quit the Team or the game

Just remember last year ... there was no STSQ in Belgium, and a lot of Belgian players were in NY and SD anyway.
An English, a Belgian and a Norvegian were watching one of your Belgian friends playing a Para/Gatr on a Saturday afternoon (sorry, just remember you're sick when we talk about that blue card ) against one of our German members ... that's TE Eskil, and we want to live that kind of things together again.

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I have been working for Wizards for more then five years, I have seen people, products and organised play programs come and go, but make no mistake, we allways care(d) ...
It really is not very encouraging for any of us to read all these posts on the messageboards about how bad you all think we do our jobs.

Be as it may, we do try to find a good balance between what you want, and what we can do (or our budgets allow us to.. ). ...

To be honest, I really want to see things pick up in Europe and whats more, Im prepared to invest a lot of my time and effort in this but it can only happen with your support, not your negativsm.
(Ann)

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Ann, I understand that the kind of messages you read here are not encouraging for you and for the team in Berchem.
I have the chance to know probably more than many other players the nice job you, and all the team, do for the game and the community ... because I have more contacts with the Office.

Like I've said before, all the things you do are not always visible by the majority of the players. If you don't talk about it like Karin, Antoine and yourself do for a few days, people may think you don't do anything for our game and leave the community alone.

The posts coming from WotC Europe are showing that it's not the truth (that's my opinion, ... don't know for the other players ), but it's difficult for many of us to know things you've explained these last days

I may assure you that we want, you and the players who write on these topics, exactly the same thing. To bring the game to a higher level ... the members of Wizards and the members of the community all together.

A famous person said one day 'I have a dream' ... I'm far from beeing famous but I have one too ... to see people from the other European offices join us here on the Pokegym.

I know you can't do anything about that in Berchem, and I don't ask you to do something in that direction.

You showed that the two main Wizards offices (USA and Belgium) are willing to listen to the players, to talk to them and to build something with them.
Three offices are missing here today ... we need them too to make, all together, the game get bigger in every European country

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Proud member of the Professor Program
Proud member of Team Europe

Judge at the Gym Challenge Rainham 2002 - Gym Challenge Antwerp 2002 - Gym Stadium Amsterdam 2002 - Worlds Seattle 2002 - GenCon UK 2002 - Gym Challenge Lucca (IT) 2002 - Gym Stadium Antwerp 2003

http://www.pokemonteambelgium.be.tf

POKEMON TEAM BELGIUM
BattleZone BRUSSELS - Belgium loves Pokemon too ! ! !

posted April 18, 2002 04:14 AM            

That's great to hear! Now I can sleep a little better the night before the tournament, when I know that there will be the correct number of rounds.

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Originally posted by Ann:
Hi

The Stadium Challenge in Amsterdam also features a Professor event with a trip to the Worlds in Seattle. I know that the format of this event has been under discussion, especially the number of rounds played. Rest assured that if there are many professors for this event the number of rounds goes up. We just didnt think we would get enough professors to justify 6 rounds and that 3 rounds would be adequate ... but we will stick to the math and elevate the number of rounds if nescessary.

Ann

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posted April 23, 2002 10:23 AM            

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Originally posted by Ann:
This first Challenge certainly put everything in perspective. I must say it was a very interesting and rewarding experience.

Exactly 100 players : 28 in the 10 and under category, 72 in the 11-14 category.
Side Event, 15+ with 28 players.

Particpants came from Belgium (ofcourse) The Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.

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