IL State Championship-Niles,IL 3/6

[DaytonGymLeader]

Guys, it's not up to Shan as to who judges at Pastimes. It's up to the PTO. You guys want to move events in Illinois to another venue for the State/Gym level? Someone needs to apply to be a PTO. Until that happens, and then that PTO gives Alan a run for his money, you're going to have to deal with the situation. I know it's not what you guys want to hear, but it's the way things are. In other words, make it happen. Don't wait for it to.

 

[Fantine]

I suppose Ill be going but I will be extremely unpleasant there. I heard that people have been trying but cant be come pto's.


Kevin

 

[menoknow]

I heard from someone that they arent signing any more PTO contracts right now. Don't know if that has any truth to it or not. I know a place in my hometown, pretty sure, just got PTO status and should start having prereleases after the Deoxys set. I'd like to be a PTO myself, but I'm not too sure of all the requirements and if they're even accepting anymore PTO's right now.

I suppose Ill be going but I will be extremely unpleasant there. I heard that people have been trying but cant be come pto's.


Kevin

 

[bullados]

I talked to Dave (dld4a) this past Saturday. He tole me that he is applying for PTO status, but the POP representative has told him that they will not be accepting any PTO applications until the present PTO for the Chicagoland area steps down, which doesn't look like it will happen any time in the near future. He also told me that he has almost all of the POP representatives phone numbers on speed dial so that he can call them quickly whenever he wants to. We're not getting anything at any time in the near future, unfortunately.

 

[BigChuck01]

Pastimes is such a horrible place. It's big, but the people suck, the pokemon players are isolated, and the owner is a BEEPING BEEP BEEP (use your imagination). Also, Alan appoints judges who cant read (FIVE RULES SHAWN!), and cant get a round going when its suposed to. Don't give me the "Well Chuck, if you're so smart why don't YOU judge" comments, cause I would never go to a tournament and not play (Plz no WCSTS jokes ) and I sure as hell dont know how to read.

Step down Alan, let Dave take over.

 

[Fantine]

I dont know the dude but judging by these posts I dont think hes stepping down anytime soon. What about Rockford area. Can Camille apply to be a pto. Also if she was able to be a pto would people rather go to Rockford or go to Niles.

 

[bullados]

Rockford, 100%, even though it's 3X the distance from my house. Anything to get away from Pastimes.

 

[BigChuck01]

Maybe if we link Alan to this he'll see that we want a new PTO and he'll be a nice guy and strp down.

*End Sarcasm*

Seriously though, does anyone have a plan?

 

[Dek]

Actually Chuck, that's a great idea...

(So much for apply for a job there >_>)

 

[dld4a]

First of all thank you all for all the nice comments!

I talked to Dave (dld4a) this past Saturday. He tole me that he is applying for PTO status, but the POP representative has told him that they will not be accepting any PTO applications until the present PTO for the Chicagoland area steps down, which doesn't look like it will happen any time in the near future. He also told me that he has almost all of the POP representatives phone numbers on speed dial so that he can call them quickly whenever he wants to. We're not getting anything at any time in the near future, unfortunately.

Actually they're not accepting new PTO until they get some legal stuff worked out. There is couple of other situations that complicate this matter a little. Nothing however that I think can't be worked out. It's hopefully just a matter of time and communication. Threads like this may help as long as it stays civil and the information related is correct.

I dont think that crystal lake has a place as big as they did for the CC, but pastimes is at least always big enough, and they always have enough product for everyone who wins. If you come out for the next prerelease in two weeks, there wont be much going on in the store except for pokemon, so hopefully It will be a little nicer that way.

Getting a place that is big enough is never a problem. For premier events getting a hall would be the way that I would go. As far as product at Niles. When has Alan ever given away more than the standard prizes. At my CC I gave everyone who played a booster Plus:
15+
1st Total of 31 boosters
2nd Total of 21 boosters
3rd Total of 15 boosters
4th Total of 4 boosters

11-14 were standard prizes
18,9,4,&4

10-
1st total of 23 boosters
2nd total of 12 boosters
3rd total of 6 boosters
4th total of 4 boosters

Prizes were based on attendance in each age group. That's a Total of 86 extra boosters I kicked in plus door prizes. This will be my standard MO. Will Alan (The owner of Pasdtimes BTW) meet this? Don't hold your breath.

 

[soslowpoke]

Thank you to the select few who managed to point out that I'm not the TO before I had a chance to step in.

Jimmy,
Giving prizes to the wrong players. Need I go on???
Please direct all concerns revolving this issue to IceCold, I had nothing to do with this, as I had not looked at the final standings before prizes were handed out.

You happened to bring up very few reasons as to why 'Pastimes sucks' other than that tourney results haven't been uploaded yet (I don't know about that one) and that you got placed in 10 and under my mistake.

It really makes it difficult to try and improve a situation (which I am trying to do) when you don't give me much to work with.

Problems I can see so far are:
1.) Lack of weekly tournaments- want them? Name a date/time and something can happen
2.) Multiple people carrying out the task of one. In other words, we have Alan being the PTO and basically doing the paperwork, whoever's on hand at the store running the computer, and then two judges.
3.) Prize support- We basically offer what Nintendo outlines. I have been pushing for more prizes, but attendance has not been reflecting an incentive to do so. I am working on that (compiling a list of what other locations are offering and the attendance numbers they have previously gotten...I'm doing my research)
4.) Uploading of tournament results- I can very much see the need for these to go up in a timely manner. Again, that is soley up to Alan. Tell you what, I'll email/call him tonite and see what the progress is on that. I know we signed up for a Prerelease tournament date online the day of the City Championship and we've still not been added to the locator yet.


I would appreciate more imput from you and why people are so upset with Pastimes other than those possible reasons, because it really baffles me. I really want to listen and help improve. Afterall, since we're doing it, might as well do it right. Then again, maybe I'm just too "bleeping retarded" as you referred to me as at Crystal Lake (and my dad really enjoyed hearing that when he walked in that instant to pick up my brother) to comprehend what is distressing you

 

[SLOW DECK]

I am happy that folks go through the effort of hosting. Dave, Yoshi, Camille, Sean, and Adam should be commended for running tournaments and going through the effort to keep pokemon thriving in Northern Illinois. If there are problems, so be it. I would rather participate in a tournament that has a few problems then not play in any. If things don't go perfectly, make constructive suggestions at the appropriate time (which means later) to the person.

As far as the owner of pastimes, I really don't see anything to be gained from sending grief his way. I really don't see any positives by burning bridges at Pastimes? Let's be constructive with our post's, not destructive.

 

[BANGINBOX]

You happened to bring up very few reasons as to why 'Pastimes sucks' other than that tourney results haven't been uploaded yet (I don't know about that one) and that you got placed in 10 and under my mistake.

Well lets see, since you asked...
It all started when he started treating pokemon players as if they are a waste of his time. Shortly after the ECSTS qualifiers. Remember the HORRIBLE smell??? Where did you hold your City event within the store? Waaaaayyyyy in the back, where we would not be in the way of the REAL money getters. What exactly does he DO for the game? NOTHING!!! He does not even include pokemon events in his events email that he sends out bi weekly or so. He could care less if if we were there or not. With that being the case I (LIKE MANY OTHERS) would just prefer not to be there. Even if it means driving hours out of the way to do so. Its our money he seeks. Its OUR choice who to give it to! When will he see that no one is willing to support his store and reliquish the title to someone who deserves it. Another thing, As the head judge I dont think that you should be the last person to arrive. The tournament was not even close to being on time. 30 minute rounds??? (what a joke). I was checking my clock at the beginning of every round. End of round 3 (the one where Cory was stalling Slowdeck) did not end until 39 minutes after the round started. I even came to you while you were at the back table, stuffing your face, to remind you that there was a time limit to rounds, and that you will be needed for that particular game. Slowdeck had a legitimate complaint . He was being cheated!! Unfotunately, as the HEAD JUDGE, you chose to do nothing.

Problems I can see so far are:
1.) Lack of weekly tournaments- want them? Name a date/time and something can happen
2.) Multiple people carrying out the task of one. In other words, we have Alan being the PTO and basically doing the paperwork, whoever's on hand at the store running the computer, and then two judges.
3.) Prize support- We basically offer what Nintendo outlines. I have been pushing for more prizes, but attendance has not been reflecting an incentive to do so. I am working on that (compiling a list of what other locations are offering and the attendance numbers they have previously gotten...I'm doing my research)
4.) Uploading of tournament results- I can very much see the need for these to go up in a timely manner. Again, that is soley up to Alan. Tell you what, I'll email/call him tonite and see what the progress is on that. I know we signed up for a Prerelease tournament date online the day of the City Championship and we've still not been added to the locator yet.

1) No one wants them at pastimes. Dont take it to heart, that place has a bad stigma and that will not change anytime soon.
2) Why is this our problem??? It is his responsibility to get these things get done in a timely manner.
3) Good for you. I am glad that you are taking some interest in the game. However isn't it ultimately Alans call? What good would all your hard work do if continues to see Pokemon as a thorn in his side.
4) Seems to me like another thing Alan has yet to follow up on.

Look Sean, You sir are getting the bad end of the stick. As I have seen in the above posts, its not you who is at fault. However, with you continuously defending Pastimes, you end up taking the brunt of the heat. Alan is not doing anything to further his numbers or better his position. Why do you continuously take the heat. Does he even know All of chicagoland feels this way about his store? You as his representative should ensure that he does. Then maybe we wont be so hard on you.

Then again, maybe I'm just too "bleeping retarded" as you referred to me as at Crystal Lake (and my dad really enjoyed hearing that when he walked in that instant to pick up my brother) to comprehend what is distressing you

I am man enough to admit when I'm wrong. This is not one of those times. I am sorry if you father was mad. However if you havent gotten that people just will not support pastimes after all this time.

You know what they say... If the shoe fits ...WEAR IT!!!

jimmy

 

[Ice'Cold]

I can answer a few questions for sure. The tournament has already been uploaded to POP, there was an error with the software (just like what happend at crystal lake) and the tournament just didnt upload right. It has already been emailed to POP and it is in their hands. Jimmy, you being in the 10- was a small error and the same thing happend to Abe at crystal lake, we didnt figure out he was not in the 15+ until standings were up. As far as prizes being give out wrong, that was entirely my fault. Since the computer was screwed up I had all 3 age groups on one sheet, and had to manually mark what age group everyone was in. I accidentally skipped over one name in the 10- and he didnt get any prizes (at first), until I realised what had happend. The problem was fixed and the top 5 in 10- all got prizes.

 

[PokeWisconsin]

I can think of many reasons why players despise Pastimes:
1. There are a lot of thieves running around that place last time I was there
2. The tournaments are very slow (so slow)
3. Cheating during the tournaments (more of a local player issue, but still prevalent)

 

[dld4a]

There is no League at Pastimes because no one has bothered to do the work it takes to get one going. Look, Chicago is the third largest market in the country. Alan has a huge store in an excellent location (very densely populated). There is absolutely no excuse for that store not to have one of the largest leagues in the country (and therefore the world), and yet there is NONE! Not only that but tourney attendance is dropping off the map because the players are continuously made to feel as if they are second class players, or at least not worth the trouble. Alan’s words, “I’m not a gamer. I’m a comic guy.” (from an interview on WGN Radio/Steve and Jonnie/Life After Dark-in which he said the word Pokemon once and that was in passing with out discussing it at all. The whole interview was supposed to be about gaming. Guess what the only topic actually discussed was. MTG) so he leaves the work involved in gaming up to his employees. It is the fact that his employees have not done any work to maintain a league and regular tourneys that is the base root of the malcontent amongst the players. To date his employees have demonstrated an interest only in the rewards for judging tourneys and not in doing any work. This means recruiting and training new players. And just to let you know that means young kids, which is why it’s work, but in the end it’s worth it if you stick to it. I want what ever is best for the game. So get it done, or step aside! There is room for everybody. The players are out there. I guarantee it. I know from the way they have responded to a minimal amount of efforts on my part (I’ll be stepping it up big time soon).

 

[PokeMama]

I dont know the dude but judging by these posts I dont think hes stepping down anytime soon. What about Rockford area. Can Camille apply to be a pto. Also if she was able to be a pto would people rather go to Rockford or go to Niles.

Actually I have applied, but as was already mentioned, it won't do much good until they work some things out. We've had Leagues at Tomorrow is Yesterday every Sat and Tourneys with turnouts of usually between 24 -28 locals every Sat for like 5 years now, and 32 (unfortunately turning some away due to maxing capacity) at our previous Prerelease, and 47 at our CC... which seem like pretty good, consistant numbers to me. We even have a possible on-site new larger gameroom as we have a new opening in our building. So there are possiblities for Rockford I think. But Dave's had great turnouts as well! Guess it says there's a lot of good growth for Pokemon right now, don't ya think! And that's great! I say the more the merrier! I'd much rather see us all working together than all fighting for the same ultimate goal, which is to have a great place where a ton of Pokemon fans can comfortably gather to play the game they love! I'm supportive of ANY location, as long as that's the end result!

 

[dld4a]

Actually I have applied, but as was already mentioned, it won't do much good until they work some things out. We've had Leagues at Tomorrow is Yesterday every Sat and Tourneys with turnouts of usually between 24 -28 locals every Sat for like 5 years now, and 32 (unfortunately turning some away due to maxing capacity) at our previous Prerelease, and 47 at our CC... which seem like pretty good, consistant numbers to me. We even have a possible on-site new larger gameroom as we have a new opening in our building. So there are possiblities for Rockford I think. But Dave's had great turnouts as well! Guess it says there's a lot of good growth for Pokemon right now, don't ya think! And that's great! I say the more the merrier! I'd much rather see us all working together than all fighting for the same ultimate goal, which is to have a great place where a ton of Pokemon fans can comfortably gather to play the game they love! I'm supportive of ANY location, as long as that's the end result!

The only thing is that we need to make sure that you get the credit for all the time and work that you've put in and not that other person. I've mentioned your name to the appropiate peoples and will do so again.

 

[Fantine]

Im happy with it being in Chicago but not at Pasttimes. I would much rather have it at Rockford or Crystal Lake.

 

[PokeMama]

The only thing is that we need to make sure that you get the credit for all the time and work that you've put in and not that other person. I've mentioned your name to the appropiate peoples and will do so again.

Well, that's very nice of you, but on his behalf I do have to say that if it weren't for Yoshi we wouldn't have had any Premiere events in the first place. So for that I'm very grateful. It gave all my local kids a chance to experience the excitement of Premiere events. I'd rather work together than not have events at all. But I have to say I'm not too fond of all the "politics" involved. I just want to be able to offer a good tourney to those who'd like to be there. That's the main thing.