|
Author
|
Topic: Team Europe - NOW is the time to FIGHT!
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 07:05 AM
I'm sure most of you now have realized that we (Europeans) will get Pokémon Expedition in April 2003 or never, depending on how well Nintendo's E-Reader sells in the US.
What this means, either way, is the definite death of the Pokémon TCG. Even the most hardcore fan will quit the game before April 2002. WE JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THIS!
Nintendo have to understand that they're destroying an entire TCG, with millions of fans! And they got to understand that Team Europe never gives up without a fight!
So now I want a roll call: who's with me on the "Team Europe We Want Expedition Petition"?
[ September 20, 2002, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: Golduck ]
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
farbsman
Member # 53992
|
posted September 20, 2002 07:13 AM
I'm with ya Golduck, and I am from the US. I am guessing u meant April 2003 though. I see no reason they should wait to release the Expedition set there until April. I am guessing you would be getting the set in English and if thats the case why can't they just print them here and send them there? I know for a fact it doesn't take 7 months to send stuff to Europe.
Send Expedition to Europe!!!!
--------------------
Webmaster at http://www.cardleagues.com
Pokemon League Gym Leader.
Judge at Columbus Gym Challenge 2002
Judge at Worlds 2002
Judge Super BattleZone 2003 Detroit
Tournament Organizer/Judge Super BattleZone Sturgis, Michigan 2003 SBZ Sturgis Pics/Results
AIM:farbsman
From: Northern Indiana | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 07:16 AM
Yes, we'll get them in English anyway, but the problem seems to be Nintendo's E-Reader. Here's an email I just sent:
Dear Nintendo of Europe and Wizards of the coast of Europe
I'm a longtime Pokémon TCG player, and also a Nintendo loyalist, and I enjoy playing GBA, N64 and Gamecube. I run a Pokémon TCG League here in Norway which takes place once per week, and I also attend one Pokémon tournament myself each week.
I've also played in many of the biggest and most important Pokémon TCG tournaments ever, including the "STS Qualifier 2000 Norway", "East Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2000 New Jersey", "STS Qualifier 2001 Sweden", "West Coast Super Trainer Showdown 2001 San Diego", "Stadium Challenge Amsterdam, 2002" and "Pokémon World Championship 2002 Seattle".
I'm also the webmaster of one of Norway's most popular Pokémon websites (http://home.online.no/~eovestre/pokemon/) and I'm webmaster, leader and founder of Team Europe (http://team-europe.cjb.net), Europe's biggest online Pokémon community.
I spend incredibly much time with this game (maybe too much), and I know it inside out. I also know a lot about Nintendo. But today, I got a surprising shock: Nintendo don't want to release their E-Reader for the Game Boy Advance in Europe, until they've seen how well it sells in the US. Well, this is a typical Nintendo marketing strategy - long gaps between US and European releases of new hardware. They did this with the Nintendo Gamecube too - it was released in the US October 2001 and in Europe May 2002.
Nintendo will continue their strategy of releasing new, important soft/hardware many months later in Europe. But I never thought this will affect our TCG. Unfortunately, Nintendo want to release the E-reader and Expedition simulteanusely. What this means is that they actually destroy Wizards of the coast's (wotc) trading card game. What Nintendo needs to realize is that Expedition isn't an entirely new game, and just an accessory to their E-Reader, but a whole game itself, that is much more important than the E-Reader.
Lately, wotc's policy has been to release new TCG expansions simultaneously in Europe and USA. Therefore, we [players] have been informed that Expedition will be released in the USA September 16th and at the same time, or a couple of weeks later, in Europe. But it seems to me that Nintendo took this in their own hands and denied Wotc to release it before their E-Reader was ready.
How far did Nintendo actually think when they decided this? Wizards Europe will lose millions if Expedition can't be released until April 2003. Every loyal Pokémon player will import cards from the US. People and stores will order booster displays through the Internet. We'll see a mass import market, and Wizards Europe left with no profit at all.
The Pokémon TCG is a Trading Card Game. And in order to survive, a TCG needs new sets to be released all the time. With no new release in almost a year, this game will die. We will have those who import cards from the US, yes, but one of the main rules for Pokémon tournament play is that you cannot play with cards that aren't officially released in your country.
Tournament play will also be very messed up, because we'll have a totally different card pool than the players in the USA. The "Modified" format, which allows every card from the expansion Neo Genesis to Expedition (and bans older cards) will in Europe be totally different than in the US.
I know this is a very difficult situation for both Nintendo and wotc. My advice is this: Nintendo should release the E-Reader and all other E-cards (Animal Crossing, NES, Kirby...) when they're good and ready, but release Pokémon E-Card Expedition now. I've heard comments that it's impossible to release the cards before the reader, but it isn't.
Pokémon Expedition is a stable selling game on its own, and doesn't require the existence of the E-Reader in order to sell. People will buy this set the same way they have done with every other set released so far. I can understand that the other E-Cards (non-Pokémon) cannot be released before the Reader, but Pokémon is something different.
Actually, I believe that releasing Expedition way before the Reader only will do good sales-wise. When every Pokémon fan has a collection of E-cards before the actual Reader is released, they'll just more eagerly look forward to the Reader. This could be a good marketing trick, not the opposite.
I hope to get an answer to this email, and that it will be taken seriously.
Regards,
Eskil Vestre (16)
Norway
Pokémon-maniac ![[Wink]](wink.gif)
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 07:58 AM
I got a very nice reply from Wizards Europe, but I haven't got one from Nintendo yet. It seems to me that Wizards want Expedition out in the shops just as much as we want.
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
BronzeGrowlithe
Member # 66394
|
posted September 20, 2002 08:17 AM
Keep it up, Team Europe. I don't know why this happened, but you need Expedition just as much as anyone else, no question about it. Why the heck would they worry so much about the E-Reader anyway? They should know that it isn't necessary to keep playing.
--------------------
Professor BronzeGrowlithe taps his paw, patiently waiting for replies...
"What a hobby..." -Spike, Cowboy Bebop
5th place-Origins Professor Challenge
From: Indianapolis, IN | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
SauroN
Member # 373
|
posted September 20, 2002 08:54 AM
Way to go Goldie!
Oh yah!! Fear the return of Team Europe! ň_Ó
You should've named the topic "European players gets a slap in the face". ack, memories *sniff*
I'm gonna send a mail...
--------------------
The Highgrounds: One giant step for man, one giant leap for the end of humanity.
Yes! Jumpluff DOES own you!
Cursing is good for your health.
I hate it when people edit my posts ...
Number of posts edited since day 1: Lost count after 237 ...
From: Sweden | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
NoPoke
Member # 42315
|
posted September 20, 2002 10:46 AM
I agree with you Golduck. But being an oldie I don't like the term FIGHT. Confrontation rarely resolves anything.
We have to find a way of demonstrating our support and commitment to the future of this game. Your email is good start. Anyone know the names of the CEO's of Nintendo, Hasbro and Wizards? These, and the appropriate VPs are the people we have to convince and demonstrate our commitment to.
It is important that we don't second-guess any reasons as to why things are the way they are. We are the brand-loyal customers that companies always declare that they need. Sometimes companies need to be reminded of their own rhetoric.
--------------------
========================================
'Good News' or 'Bad News' but NOT NO NEWS
some people brag about their tournament results, me I'm gonna brag??? about what players have managed to get past me LOL
-------Hoodwinked---(things I won't get wrong again...)------
'legal stalling' : game loss at least
'only joking' on misreported match results: DQ Yep its that serious!
The prize swap penalty as it applies to shuffling.
From: Crawley England | Registered: Sep 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
nick15
Member # 142
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:10 AM
Hate to take this post off topic a bit... but what has been the dates of the last few card sets (Destiny, LC, etc) over there??
--------------------
I am Nick15. And you are you. Isn't that cool?
FakeCard.com - Pokémon TCG Fake Cards galore. Neopets TCG fake cards coming soon.....
From: Dukhovskoknabilebskohatsk, Russia | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:29 AM
LC and Destiny: same as USA, with just a few days difference. The European release date for Expedition was 17th September (one day after USA). Therefore, Wizards Europe ordered a lot of Expedition, and have tons in stock. But now they have to wait to send it out to shops in Europe, because Nintendo won't allow them to release it yet.
quote:
Originally posted by nick15:
Hate to take this post off topic a bit... but what has been the dates of the last few card sets (Destiny, LC, etc) over there??
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
nick15
Member # 142
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:39 AM
But now they have to wait to send it out to shops in Europe, because Nintendo won't allow them to release it yet.
Ok, THAT is pretty stupid. You have my vote!! Power to the people!
--------------------
I am Nick15. And you are you. Isn't that cool?
FakeCard.com - Pokémon TCG Fake Cards galore. Neopets TCG fake cards coming soon.....
From: Dukhovskoknabilebskohatsk, Russia | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:39 AM
I agree with you that fighting might not be the best solution. I didn't include the word "fight" in the email. What I mean with fighting in the topic subject, is that I think we shouldn't just sit here, complaining and doing nothing, but actually fight back and do something about it. Like I did with sending this email.
quote:
Originally posted by NoPoke:
I agree with you Golduck. But being an oldie I don't like the term FIGHT. Confrontation rarely resolves anything.
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Werner Jr Quevedo
Member # 52057
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:44 AM
whaat!!!!!????? i'm going to contact wizards italy immediately
viva team europe!!!
--------------------
Prof Werner Jr. Quevedo
Proud member of team europe
First italian judge
Also known as Darth Waerner or Devil
top 16 in Italian Qualifiers
Godzilla i chose you for die!!
Gatr is too boring;magcargo(is going to) rules
GODzilla 17-1-4
Winner of Italian QT(if i had played :D)
From: Italy | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
cedric15
Member # 12107
|
posted September 20, 2002 11:46 AM
I agree too, we want Expedition!
From: belgium | Registered: Apr 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
ukpokemonpro
Member # 518
|
posted September 20, 2002 01:25 PM
Look Guys and Gals the thing is that this is not a WotC fudge up.. This really is all Nintendo and TPCs doing..
WotC UK and Europe both want Expedition, the retailers want Expedition and the players want Expedition; the only people that don't want Expedition released in Europe are Nintendo and TPC...
The really dumb thing is that the cards will promote and generate a market for the e-card reader and most of teh hardcore players will be chomping to buy one when they eventually hit the shops in Europe...
Oh wait a minute I know I will just order little Jonny one for Xmas on line instead...
Global Market Nintendo .. GLOBAL MARKET easily accessed by the INTERNET.
I already have confirmation that I can get cases of e-card from the US retail at a cheaper price than I can buy it wholesale in the UK.. and that includes shipping.. Now I add the rarity of the cards in the UK to mix and now if I want I can sell them on at an inflated profit...
Can anyone say Yu-Gi-Oh type shortages and prices.. This is really silly.. really, really silly ![[NoNoNo]](graemlins/nonono.gif)
--------------------
ukpokemonpro
"a meaningless title is just that ... meaningless"
"London Super Battlezone 2003"
quote the judge...
'only joking' on misreported match results: DQ Yep its that serious!
14,000 deck boxes yeah we'll take all of them .... what have I done!
Find the Pokemon League and Tournaments in Kent at:The Gamers Guild
From: Gillingham, Kent, UK | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Marcello-Milord
Member # 74276
|
posted September 20, 2002 01:50 PM
Hey guys, I asked to Italian OP Manager for Expedition, and she told me that card will arrive in Italy for the end of septmeber....what's going up?!?
--------------------
**Marcello-Milord!**
* A proud Pokémon Professor
* Member of Team Europe
* Judge in many Wizards' Premier Events
* Gym Leader of PKMN League in Sassari (Italy)
* Nidoking #1 Trainer
* Proud Team Rocket member!
* AKA Milord/Tuxedo Mask
"Arrendetevi subito, oppure preparatevi a combattere!"
"Miao, proprio cosě!"
(Italian TR end of motto)
::ICQ: 106121537 ::
::AIM: MarcelloMilord ::
From: Milano - Italy | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 20, 2002 02:03 PM
Marcello, she probably hasn't got the information by Nintendo yet. Wizards Europe got the information all of a sudden, and didn't expect a delay at all. Probably the same will happen with Wizards Italy.
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Michel
Member # 286
|
posted September 20, 2002 05:12 PM
Ukpokemonpro, could you send me the address of the seller by mail ?
Thanks ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
--------------------
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 ! ! !
From: Brussels - Belgium | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Michel
Member # 286
|
posted September 20, 2002 05:47 PM
Got the info ... thanks
--------------------
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 ! ! !
From: Brussels - Belgium | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
MasterMazakala
Member # 66586
|
posted September 21, 2002 05:51 AM
had anyone got the email for nintendo?
From: Wales, UK | Registered: Feb 2002
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 21, 2002 05:55 AM
Have you? Forward to me at [email protected] and post it here!
quote:
Originally posted by MasterMazakala:
had anyone got the email for nintendo?
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Raikou1234
Member
Member # 3003
|
posted September 21, 2002 06:04 PM
You have my vote cause anyone that just get delays til next spring is insane! By then, Aquapolis might be out, and you guys won't have as much for Worlds, which is unfair...... I mean, you don't even need the e-reader right away anyway....
...Good Luck.....
--------------------
Team Format Winner at Origins with SuperSpaceGuy!
Go Team Rabid Tyrouge & SSG!
IM me at RabidRogueKid for a Game of Apprentice
From: Somewhere | Registered: Mar 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
GymLeaderPhil
Member # 455
|
posted September 21, 2002 06:44 PM
If Golduck or anyone else would want to spread this information or future information you recieve from Nintendo of Europe/Japan and WotC's Europe Deptartments, I will be happy to help you achieve that. Editiorials is also not a problem. Just send me word by word at [email protected].
If its one thing, I'm not going to sit around while WotC loses the license because of Nintendo holding back a piece of hardware that should have been ready to release in time with the cards, if there was a set date.
I know that WotC is not just sitting around either, the longer they do, the less players they are going to have. But we need to get it into The Pokemon Company's heads that although the release of the cards before the GBA Device will turn away those who want to play the mini-games etc. they will lose their bread and butter from the actual playing community. Either way Nintendo is still going to get some sales, because once players start getting the cards, you know they will want to scan them...
This is not a fight for Europe. It isnt even a fight for North America. Its for the sake of the license to anyone who has ever played the Pokemon Trading Card Game. We are fighting, thats not a good way of putting it, persuading the executives, the big cheeses to consider what the public wants, instead of trying to get people to buy their products at the same time. Nobody in Spring of 2003 will be playing the Pokemon TCG to even care about buying a Card E Reader... Call it the American "I want this and in sixty seconds" but delaying the product will not only make little Timmy unhappy...
Remember when Toys R Us discontinued the League program?
-Phil
[ September 21, 2002, 06:46 PM: Message edited by: GymLeaderPhil ]
--------------------
THIS is truly thinking outside of the box!
Check out Florida's Pokemon Website
From: Where ever the ladies take me | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
mysterioustrainer
Member # 1049
|
posted September 21, 2002 07:14 PM
Myst here from "Cheyenne, Wyoming" and scared to death for you guys. Why? The domino rally effect. Most likely I feel this will be resovled and it will go smoothly soon however consider this, our fellow "Americans".
Domino 1: Delay in Expedition (already fallen)
Domino 2: Canceled Expedition
Domino 3: Loss of interest for Pokemon-TCG in Europe.
That is what has been the main reason to worry, but here is where it effects here at home.
Domino 4: Decrease in Premiere Tournament Value
Domino 5: Loss of interest for Pokemon-TCG globally!!!
Domino 6: Pokemon TCG is now in the Vault.
Get the idea? I'm a little worried, maybe over reacting, but worried. Nintendo should not have upheld the Expedition, maybe just the E-Reader for now. I'll do what I can.
With the best of luck I'll see you in the future!
Myst
From: Wherever the adventure takes me! | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
ukpokemonpro
Member # 518
|
posted September 21, 2002 10:38 PM
The real problem here is attitude towards the Pokemon Brand.
Nintendo just can't seem to get it in their heads that they screwed the Game Boy and Game Boy Advanced market for Pokemon by delaying and altering the products they have released into Europe and that the BRAND is best known for it's CCG.
Now the release of Expedition would have I am sure stimulated demand for the e-card reader. By delaying all they are doing is making those that would have bought their products MAD.
So we will import EXPEDITION kill our own markets and NOT BUY Nintendo Products because we don't like being treated like a 2nd Class Market.
This madness threatens OP worldwide and will make a farce of any future World Championships.
If as I suspect will happen we all buy on the Grey Market then there will be no European OP .. NO SALES NO MONEY!
I think WotC need to rethink their support for OP in Europe because your sales here all just shifted to the US.
--------------------
ukpokemonpro
"a meaningless title is just that ... meaningless"
"London Super Battlezone 2003"
quote the judge...
'only joking' on misreported match results: DQ Yep its that serious!
14,000 deck boxes yeah we'll take all of them .... what have I done!
Find the Pokemon League and Tournaments in Kent at:The Gamers Guild
From: Gillingham, Kent, UK | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
Golduck
Member # 523
|
posted September 22, 2002 01:01 AM
Like I said in my email; actually, I believe that releasing Expedition way before the Reader only will do good sales-wise. When every Pokémon fan has a collection of E-cards before the actual Reader is released, they'll just more eagerly look forward to the Reader. This could be a good marketing trick, not the opposite.
quote:
Originally posted by GymLeaderPhil:
But we need to get it into The Pokemon Company's heads that although the release of the cards before the GBA Device will turn away those who want to play the mini-games etc. they will lose their bread and butter from the actual playing community.
--------------------
Norwegian Championships - register here
Have/Want list
Visit Team Europe's new home page:
TE v. 2.0
Be sure not to miss:
Norwegian Championships 2003
From: Norway, in front of a Mac, designing the new TE homepage | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged
|
|
|
Printer-friendly view of this topic
