Has Pokemon Organized play jumped the Sharpedo?

[TheRolesWePlay]

OTAKU gets it. This is the main reason a family wont attend Regionals like last year. Isnt Pokemon a family/child's game? By not giving out Booster packs for entry fee there is no reason to attend and put money in the prize pool for the Top players. The Top players will utlimately lose in the long run because the prize pool actually will not go up because of the decrease in attendance. Let that one settle in. Im all for paying to play if my family will get boosters for attending. But Im not going to pay $100 bucks to help the prize pool for the Top players.

EXCEPT, Juniors and seniors don't pay an entry fee, so it still stands quite strong as a family game. If the parent isn't that invested in it, then they don't have to play, and if they are $20 (from what I gather is the average) probably isn't going going to break the deal.

Will attendance drop? Who really knows, there are plenty of players willing to bite the bullet, the prize support however porbably won't be effected as prizes aren't decided AT the tournament, but before hand. You aren't paying to help the 'top players,' if anything you're just helping pay for the event to happen.

 

[FirestormXVI]

You might want to check around more, and remember to weigh what you hear.

I am seeing a lot of people celebrating, but if you ask why they'll blame something affected by the changes for issues they have with the current metagame... and ignore that even changes that might be a little positive, there is so much negative contained therein. Precedence is a concern, if only because it establishes patterns.

Out of Pokégym, SixPrizes, and PokéBeach (no where near a "scientific" sampling size), things are probably most positive here. PokéBeach is half and half, while SixPrizes is more negative. This is clearly my biased opinion as I lack the hard data to prove it, but it seems like players that know the "why" behind the "how" in "How the game works" don't like these changes. Some are competitive players, some are like me and just love to dissect and discuss the workings in the game.

Precisely why I ignore most of your posts in threads about competitive play. Sorry but I have no interest in listening to the opinions of someone who doesn't know what he's talking about on a subject that doesn't affect him because he wants to be "academic."

In any case, looking at Facebook groups and the one non-Facebook forum competitive players actually seem to post on, support was overhwelming positive followed by discussion on cards that would see increased play in this new format. Also far too much discussion on the price of Tropical Beach. It's unfortunate that the discussion is all members-only -- even if membership is open -- as it decreases the chances of being seen and creates a "silent majority" scenario for the playerbase that this ruling actually affects.

I will continuously bring up the counter point to this. You will see a dramatic drop in attendance this year because of the prizes going deeper in the standings. This absolutely does nothing to encourage the casual/non-competitive players to "Pay to Play". The end result will be less participants and thus the actual deeper prizes will be less effective than anticipated for those top players. Think about a family of 4 Master players with really only 1 good player being realistically able to make Top Cut because quite honestly "Mom and Dad" are just casual players at League and the older brother is just not good enough. That leaves the other brother (being the better player in the family) being the only one that has a chance at these deeper prizes. If said tournament is Regionals and Regionals costs $25 per head that is $100 for this family to spend to enter the tourney. This does not of course calculate the travel expenses, tolls, gas, Hotel, and meal expenses to attend Regionals. Now this is just an example of a family. Your casual single player that has no chance in making the deeper prizes, what incentive does he/she have to play? They arent going to be helping the elite players to get deeper prizes, thats for certain!!

Quick points: Boxes are used as currency. They know the player doesn't need it and will just sell it but it's far cheaper for them than straight cash and gets them around the gambling issue. As far as attendance goes, I get the impression that they are fine with decreasing attendance temporarily as the old model was clearly unsustainable.

 

[TheDancingPeanut]

Going to a movie costs $10-$14, not including concessions.

 

[EricDent]

Depends on when you go, and where you live.

First showing of the day (which at this time of year is about 2 PM) $6.75.
After that it goes to $7.75.

I never go at night ($10), and barely ever see 3D (extra $3.50 fee).

With the guy that runs our prerelease things being in it for the $ (or so it seems).
Wonder if he would be the one running the bigger events.

 

[Otaku]

Precisely why I ignore most of your posts in threads about competitive play. Sorry but I have no interest in listening to the opinions of someone who doesn't know what he's talking about on a subject that doesn't affect him because he wants to be "academic."

Not everyone who knows how to build an engine races competitively. I present my view, then my reasons for having them. The important thing to remember is that... knowing how to win doesn't mean you really know why you won... or how to make the game better. Which still doesn't mean I am right about what is best for the game.

 

[IT2Zoroark]

So will current copies of Pokemon Catcher still be playable? Or will it be reprinted AGAIN, and we have to get all new copies for decks? If that is the case I will be very angry due to the fact that I just picked up 8x RH Catchers >.<

 

[FincastlePokemon2]

So will current copies of Pokemon Catcher still be playable? Or will it be reprinted AGAIN, and we have to get all new copies for decks? If that is the case I will be very angry due to the fact that I just picked up 8x RH Catchers >.<

I'm sure we can get official word, but Rare Candy, Potion, Revive (last year) and I'm sure many more have been playable when an errata or new version with different text is printed. Particularly the Rare Candy issue, when an errata was issued before a new card with the correct text was even available. You just need to play with the new text, not what is printed.

 

[Pokepower22]

The problem with what TCPi have done is that the new rule change means players without any actual Tournaments untill after the rule change (e.g. UK) have no reason to test this format, or any work they did testing this format for Regionals is wasted.

 

[rileysill32]

The problem with what TCPi have done is that the new rule change means players without any actual Tournaments untill after the rule change (e.g. UK) have no reason to test this format, or any work they did testing this format for Regionals is wasted.

So why wouldn't you begin playing the next format right now? Lol.. Nothing is wasted if CP is involved no matter if we had a rule change ever week.

 

[Pokepower22]

So why wouldn't you begin playing the next format right now? Lol.. Nothing is wasted if CP is involved no matter if we had a rule change ever week.

Still, say if you've been testing a deck for Regs the time up to the rule change(Nats - rule change) and then everything changes the testing isn't worth as much as what it was without the change.

 

[waynegg]

My only comment to all these recent shenanigans is it's reminiscent of what WotC did in 2003 that basically killed Pokemon. Peeps don't seem to learn from the past. It's really sad.

 

[bullados]

My only comment to all these recent shenanigans is it's reminiscent of what WotC did in 2003 that basically killed Pokemon. Peeps don't seem to learn from the past. It's really sad.

WOTC eliminated the 15+ age group. There was no recourse for those over the age of 15 to play this game competitively. It was, "You're out, play Magic".

Please, PLEASE tell me how this is ANYTHING similar to what WOTC did.

 

[keniselvis]

So...does anyone know what the $20 fee for regionals will end up going towards? It sounds like the concern is that it's going towards prize support for those in top cut. I wonder if that's true.

anyone have any real facts?

 

[waynegg]

WOTC eliminated the 15+ age group. There was no recourse for those over the age of 15 to play this game competitively. It was, "You're out, play Magic".

Please, PLEASE tell me how this is ANYTHING similar to what WOTC did.

When you put something out of the reach of the majority through pricing changes and charges to play in tournaments, you're effectually eliminating the 15+ age group. Watch the numbers in this year's tournaments (I know you will anyhow) and get back with me this time next year.

 

[Tylertyphlosion]

If 20 dollars is going to break your bank and you're a Master, you need to reevaluate your life and focus on something other than pokemon.

-Ty Smith

 

[waynegg]

Well, I guess the condescending elitist snobs and thieves I read about in another thread will remain... Y'all have fun with that.

 

[espeon200]

So will current copies of Pokemon Catcher still be playable? Or will it be reprinted AGAIN, and we have to get all new copies for decks? If that is the case I will be very angry due to the fact that I just picked up 8x RH Catchers >.<

Old copies of Pokémon Catcher should still be playable. So far an Errata has been issued when means you can play them without a corrected reference card. It's similar to the other cards that were mentioned above, or like Potion. You can play a Potion from the Base Set without needing a reference since it was errata'd.

 

[Swordfish1989]

If 20 dollars is going to break your bank and you're a Master, you need to reevaluate your life and focus on something other than pokemon.

-Ty Smith

What you and others don't understand is that you have to draw the line somewhere and say enough is enough. It's like when a store raises their prices steadily by 5 cents every month... at first you continue buying because whatever, it's only a nickel, but eventually you realize you're paying too much and you complain. What you're saying is essentially 'c'mon guys, it's only another 5 cent increase, can't you guys handle 5 cents?'

Are you guys like, legitimate adults? And no, I don't mean some high school or college kid, I mean like, you pay living expenses, transportation expenses, food, credit card bills, student loans? Full time 9-5 job? Do you guys have families you need to support that also play the game? The reason I ask is because as someone who has entered this part of my life, I totally understand where Otaku and waynegg are coming from. Cost of living is going up, salaries are pretty stagnant, and now the price of being competitive in this game is going up too. Before I could only really participate in 1 regional, like everyone else, so I went to 1. Now I need to go to like 3. Now I need to go to all 3, and pay an entry fee. And if you have a family who also plays? Imagine now paying an additional $80 (family of 4 playing) every time. If you're the average American family, you're stretched as it is and now you have to pay more? All of a sudden you're re-evaluating ALL of the money you spend in this game and wonder if it isn't cheaper for your family to just join a nearby soccer league.

I came to this realization only recently, and not even with Pokemon but with other aspects of my life. Little things like a Starbucks coffee that add up and can quickly become an expense you need to cut if you want to maintain everything else going in your life. It's tough.

And most importantly, it's not about the $20. If you think that's the only thing going through people's heads, then please grow up and get the maturity needed to deal with adult life.

 

[losjackal]

What is interesting about these large, 20 dollar events is with the additional 5 rounds the next day in top of the 9 the first day, that is 14 rounds at least. With Best of 3 play, someone will typically 2 or more games each round, meaning 28 games of Pokemon at least. That's more entertainment than just a straight 9 games, right?

I don't know about you, but when I played in the Klaczynski Open, I found the Best of 3 Swiss to be a lot of fun. To be able to learn from your experience in game 1, have an idea of their deck list, and try to apply that knowledge towards game 2 and game 3.

Personally, I am not looking forward to paying to play. I'm not trying to get a Worlds invitation. I'm just passing the time why my competitive son plays. But 28+ games of competitive play is a fair amount of entertainment for $20.

 

[keniselvis]

Because I LOVE Playing and, unfortunately, am not very competitive, i do hope that I do see some swag from my $20 entry fee. And with my son being able to play for free, I'm happy to pony up the $20 for someone else to organize and event where i can play competitively with other players from around the area. (Even if I suck!)

The fact is, I don't have to do any advertising. I don't have to rent out a place. I don't have to do anything except show up. I'll gladly pay the $20.

Re: the cost for families to go and having a family of 4 pay $80 plus gas plus food plus blah blah blah: If I go to a professional sports team I have to pay gas to get there, parking, tickets, and food at the concessions. If it's a game three hours away, I also have to pay for meals. Maybe a hotel. And that's just for THREE HOURS of entertainment. If you have kids that are "Masters" they should be ponying up their own cash to play. My son is 12 and I have made him pay for all his pre-releases. If he wants to play, he needs to pay. That's part of being responsible.