Outside the US - What is left?

[NoPoke]

1) How do we make sure that the UK professors are running leagues in an appropriate venue?

2) How do we explain to all of the core retailers that don't get league kits that we're only supporting a few select people in the UK?

3) We simply cannot survive without the support of two distinct bodies, the fans AND the retailers.

4) What would the fans in areas that weren't allowed to have a league say if other regions in the UK were allowed to have leagues at this time? We cannot piecemeal a program like this.

Prof. Dav

1) Ask us?
1) Have a look at the regular coverage in Pokemon World magazine?
1) If Appropriate = Retail then goodbye to OP in the UK

2) As far as I'm aware there is NO retail support for pokémon OP in the UK. Now there may be a few retailers out there but they are very quiet and I haven't met any of their players.
2) OP in the UK has been club based for a very long time now... retail floor space is just too expensive in the UK.
2) A major distributor I used to use in the midlands shipped ZERO pokemon product for most of this year, in the same period they shipped $250,000 of YuGiOh.
2) When Warner Bros pulled out of OP four years ago, pokemon was at its peak then too, no other retailer stepped in to fill the void.

3) The retailers ARENT interested in OP in the UK. All OP in the UK is FAN based.
3) We are regularly organising events that average 40+ players. These numbers are greater than are being attracted to the majority of the USA events that you have recently sponsored. Please don't forget about us in your desire to get retail OP running.

4) We are constantly encouraging others to start leagues and approach shops to set up league. MacDonalds are acting as a venue for a league in Mitchem, London runs from out of a cafe, Crawley uses a room at a council sponsored adventure playground, (there is also a restricted league at a Crawley school ), Rainham runs from a games club. Glasgow runs from a book shop. If you saw the retail environment in the UK you would understand why the retailers are unable to provide facilities for OP: they just don't have the space.

Dave, I hope that the above helps to give you some idea of the difficulties that you will face in the UK. We are willing and ABLE to run OP and premiere events in the UK for you..after all its what we have been doing for the past few years anyway.

 

[Tego]

Thank you for your posts, Dave. I hope more of you now understand that "Nintendo" (sorry) are indeed not drinking tea or talking about the weather on their meetings, and that they are moving forward and have a lot to do.

There's a small team and there's lots to do. But they are working 'for us', they're on our side! And they're trying their best to get OP started. Please do wait and see what they can do. Don't panic before they get started.

Michel: I'm talking about the company who distributes Nintendo games and hardware in Norway, Unsaco AS. They will be Pokémon TCG's distributor in Norway too. They are Nintendo of Norway, but I never said all countries would have OP from the Nintendo offices.

Dave: hire an International OP director? May I suggest an ex-worker of Wizards of the coast called Harlan Levey? Who knows what he's up to these days, but I think we would welcome him back like the return of Elvis.

 

[NoPoke]

Harlan Levy: heard lots of good things about him and his commitment to pokémon.. Good suggestion Tego

 

[Android17a]

I'm taking the "wait and see what happens" stance right now. Just don't do to us what NOE did with Animal Crossing (i.e. decide it is too obscure for the Europeans and just never release it)

 

[Tego]

Android: there is no official reason why AC wasn't released here. I doubt it is because of its "obscurity", it's more likely to be because it was too hard to translate. But in my opinion, they could have just released an English language version.

But anyway, your point is good. We have to wait and see now.

 

[Michel]

NoPoke is awake !!!!!!! :clap:

Thanks for your explanation about Norway Tego

This topic has been started because we didn't know what happened, because we had no information about what will happen in Europe.
One person, because he has closer links with Nintendo, had information the others didn't have. :thumb:

We didn't know anything about plans for Norway, about Nintendo's meetings, ...
Thanks to this post, and the answers given by Prof Dav, we have now more information. :thumb:

Yes, it seems that PUI is working for us and if you read the post about OP in the USA http://www.pokegym.net/showthread.php?p=10660#post10660 you'll see that the future could be bright in Europe too.

I agree with you Tego, wait and see. According to what I've heard these last hours, YGO is not as played in the other countries as it is in Belgium or France.
That's a good point too

 

[Tego]

Nobody plays Yu-Gi-Oh in Norway. And i mean literally nobody. There are NO tournaments for Yu-Gi-Oh at any of the big card shops here. I haven't seen a single booster for sale anywhere.

 

[Tego]

Michel: remember that I can't be a super inside source who tells you everything. I won't ever tell anything else than what I'm supposed to, and I asked for permission from my bosses to tell you (and Norwegian fans) about Norway's OP plans.

 

[Michel]

Sure Tego. I was in the same situation when Wizards had the game.

Sometimes I had 'private' information that I had to keep for myself.

Like you do now, I tried to calm down the people on the boards because I knew things were going to happen and that people were working hard on it.

But on the other hand, I understand the impatience and sometimes the frustration of some of us. These impatience and frustration is also a sign of their love for the game and the community !

I certainly don't ask you to be a spy for the European community and give information that may not be public

Companies change but communication remains so important ! Two posts of Prof Dav and the situation is completely different

 

[Skywolf1]

Europe: Don't give up yet...

Let me be frank here just for a minute...

I have either met or established a rapport with many European players who play this game.

Truth is, I KNOW what Europe has gone through with WotC. I am really trying to get answers for you folks up there. I was talking with PUI this morning at length, and one of the first topics of conversation is Europe, and I ask the questions, and I keep asking the questions, until I get the answers. Like many have stated in one way or another, Silence in this case, IS NOT golden.

Chances are that many of the YGO players will probably come back to the game ONCE the OP is in place. I feel that this game CAN and WILL grow. I have contacts in high places, and both Jimmer and PUI KNOW of the situation in Europe.

Please understand something though, I am doing all I can right now, for the game. I want to do more, however, right now, I am barely able to keep a roof over my head, let alone send Ben the materials I have promised him. Do I feel bad about this? Damn right I do, however, it is either try to get out of my siutation or suicide, and as much as I have contemplated the latter, I understand the this might not be the most prudent course of action for the European community right at the moment.

What I will do, is e-mail Jimmer Sivertsen again, and make reference to this thread, so he is PUT ON NOTICE, with regards to the situation in Europe, that is what I will do.

Tego is trying to maintain a positive attitude for the game in Europe, as are most of the European Player base, especially you folks in the United Kindom and Belgium.

The OP program hasn't even begun here stateside yet, and I have heard people complain that Nintendo isn't doing enough. Truth is, at least from my stand point, Nintendo acted very intelligently in NOT divluging OP plans while Hasbro/WotC et al, still had anything remotely to do with the license. This was a smart business move, because Hasbro could have, if they so desired, made things MUCH worse for the game, and shot any semblence of OP down for this game BEFORE it even had a chance to get off the ground.

Thankfully, that did not happen. I know Jimmer, and I know most everyone at PUI, so instead of assuming what you'd like me to do to help with the situation in Europe, please e-mail or better yet, post to this thread.

Because I will NOT ACCEPT EVER, this game just being just one that can be played (and enjoyed) by Americans and Japanese. So help me God, I will die trying before that ever happens, and that is the God's honest truth.

So, let me know, what problems you are having, I want everyone to write with their concerns, because I will see that these concerns are heard and addressed. Many didn't think that I couldn't get a chat started with WotC Europe, but damn it, I did it, and I will do it again if necessary. But, I also want all of you to understand another thing, laws and customs regarding sales, exports etc. I am sure are different in Europe then they are here. Also, language issues are a concern for you folks up in Europe. Now, while I don't condone the "silent treatment" that you folks up there have been getting, which I don't, I do want you to know, that the author of this post DOES LISTEN and is PASSING ALONG your concerns and issues, and I have been met with the following response everytime; "EUROPE WILL NOT BE IGNORED!" That came right from PUI, and if I have to, I will contact TPC about your issues.

Please also understand, that this game is in NEW hands now, and those hands, have had a VERY LIMITED amout of experience in this sort of thing, so it is a learning process for them as much as it is a waiting process for you folks.

I have gone on record saying that YGO will start showing signs of stress. That is not to take anything away from that game or its players, I am merely stating my own personal opinion about the game. I feel that many of the players who are now playing that game, will give Pokemon another shot, once a coheasive OP program gets put into place. Hofefully the distributors will support both games equally.

I know that perhaps some of what I said would strike Ire in some of you folks in Europe, however, these are just the facts as I see them right now. I will always go to bat for you folks in Europe. I just want you all to know, not to expect results overnight, because I can only do so much as a single individual.

I look forward to hearing from ALL European players soon.

Don't Give up, this game WILL flourish once again.

Marsh Schneidau
(aka Skywolf1)
[email protected]

 

[ukpokemonpro]

Marsh hey I am not fretting on the materials you promised and certainly not worried when or even if the arrive... You keep the roof on first matey and don't stress yourself over us.

We do understand that OP has not started in the US yet but with Pre-release Tourneys, Ruby and Sapphire Challenges, News on leagues, league kits on ebay and all it does look like the US is just about set and that delivery is all ready to roll.

Compare that to a Europe that cannot register even existing leagues! And well we do get a little envious

Anyhow Dave has reassured us a little but it is the details we need to start getting soon if we are to deliver to the promised timescale.

International so far = we still can't get a Non-Continental American Phone number in the professor sign ups and there is no Non-US or State/County box for us to use.. and you wanna try getting a usable post code into an American Zip Code box... can't happen!

This is a minor niggle but it does make us feel like after thoughts despite assurances otherwise..

Still the blue sky picture looks good but we gotta see the delivery

 

[Skywolf1]

Ben,

If you need to use a US address, I can provide you and other European players if you need it.

Take Care,

Skywolf1

 

[NoPoke]

GOOD NEWS:

the pokemon-tcg international pages have been updated!
There is now a list of distributors!

EU,Norway : to be annouced????

Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, New Zeeland, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Nederlands, UK, Austrailia, Brazil, Belgium, Estonia, Denmark, and Hong Kong all have a distributor.

Hey Goldie how come Norway is being ignored and the European Union gets its own 'to be announced' even though many of the member states have distributors detailed.

:thumb: :clap: :thumb: :clap: :clap: *bounce*

 

[Michel]

European questions and problems ... Skywolf is back.
Thanks Marsh for all the great job you've done and will do for us in Europe

Like NoPoke said, a first list of distributors is available. Things are moving, and that's a very positive point.

If you read some of my other posts, you'll see that I've announced that, if OP in Belgium was given to the distributor of YGO (and Wizards Pokemon), I would quit Pokemon OP.
One of the two Belgian distributors on the list published today is that distributor (the other one has never done anything for our game).

That means that I quit Pokemon OP.

Wizards has had to take Belgian OP away from that company to run it by themselves, YGO OP is run for 50 % of the country only (the French speaking people are not supported by the Belgian distributor), YGO Worlds qualifier run by that company was unbelievable (changing of format 8 days before the event, swiss rounds announced but changed into single elimination on the day of the tournament, manual pairing with the result that some players believe it hasn't been done honestly, ... )

I'll keep on playing (as long as thay let me play ), and I'll keep on saying what I have to say about our game and our community. No organization of tournaments, no leagues and no judging anymore for me.
My last tournament as judge and TO will be run next Saturday in Brussels ... have a lot of Wizards stuff to distribute

I deeply regret to have to take that decision, and I would have really loved to be more involved in our game, in our community and in OP than I was before, but I love our game too much, and I have too much respect for our players, to start OP in these circumstances.
Working with a company is OK, working against is stupid and useless.


OP plans that we've seen for the USA are great, and the communication that starts with PUI and on the website is a very positive and encouraging thing.

I truly hope that all my European friends who'll start the big new European OP adventure will have as much fun and great moments I've had for the last two years.
I know most of them, and I'm absolutely sure they'll keep on doing a wonderful job for our game and for our kids. :thumb:

 

[ukpokemonpro]

Michel,

I hope you reconsider ... you are a great European Ambassador and will be missed by all... having said that I know exactly where you are coming from my friend..

Now if you are going still ... have you got any July Kits there are a lot of hungry leagues over here would love to see the TR Hitmonchan ...

Well gotta try eh

 

[NoPoke]

EU law generally forbids trade barriers within the EEC.

You could always deal with a distributor in the Nederlands or even the UK? If it's French product you are after then I guess you have to wait for the distributor for France to be announced.

I too am tempted to give up being an organiser and just play. After hitting your head against a brick wall for a long time the question as to why you should continue to do so does eventually sink in. The past few years have had there ups and downs. OP in the UK has been much like trying to push water up hill, with the added feature of those responsible for the delivery of OP chucking proverbial rocks at you. If things don't show a big improvement in the UK quickly then I'll be joining you on the sidelines Michel.

For me the touchstone as to PUI's commitment to the rest of the world rests upon the delivery of pre-release tournaments outside the USA. If PUI can't manage that then I can't see why I should bother either.

 

[Michel]

Thanks Ben

NoPoke, it's absolutely not a question of product but of OP responsibility. I can without any problem find cards of any set anywhere I want, but if OP in a country is supported by a local distributor, I may not be linked to a distributor in another country, except if the main company (Konami for YGO for example) agrees with it. According to what I've already seen in the past (last time last July), I think it will not be possible for me to properly and trustfully work with that company and, as I don't want to fight every week and spend a lot of time in useless discussions, I prefer to quit.

Reconsider ? Maybe if PUI, or the responsibles of Pokemon Worldwide OP, assure me of the fact that OP in Belgium will be organised and followed exactly the same way as in any other country and that no difference in terms of delays, organization of leagues or main events, respect of rules (game, tournaments, ...), treatment of TO, judges, players or Professors, ... will be accepted by PUI.
Or if OP in the French part of Belgium is supported by the French distributor

TR Hitmonchan ? 24 'winner stamped' can be sent to you as soon as you tell me where I have to send them. I may add some winner stamped TR Mewtwo if you want. Sorry, I don't have 'non winner' copies of them.
But these are not from the July kits, but from the August/September Belgian kits

email me the address, ok ?

 

[Skywolf1]

Michel and Ian,

While I respect your decision not to continue with OP SHOULD the Belgium distributor, take up OP for the game.

I sincerely hope you'll reconsider should Belgium get another OP distributor.

You have been a vital asset for OP in Belgium, and I very much hope you decide to keep your active role as the premiere ambassador for the game in Belgium.

Remember, I am on your side. If there is an issue you want me to address with PUI, please let me know, so that any past mistakes with distributors can be avoided. From what you have lead me to believe, this distributor doesn't have the game's best interest at heart, and indeed if that is the case, this is an issue that needs to be addressed IMMEDIATELY!!

Ian,

What can I say, you and Ben have been the strongest and most steadfast supporters of the game in the UK. I can understand your frustration, however, I would also like you to read my other post in this forum.

I think some good things are afoot here. I hope that you both will be involved, so that we can usher in this new era for the game we all love.

Take Care,

Skywolf1

 

[pokeprofRaymond]

GOOD NEWS:

the pokemon-tcg international pages have been updated!
There is now a list of distributors!

EU,Norway : to be annouced????

Finland, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, New Zeeland, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Nederlands, UK, Austrailia, Brazil, Belgium, Estonia, Denmark, and Hong Kong all have a distributor.

Hey Goldie how come Norway is being ignored and the European Union gets its own 'to be announced' even though many of the member states have distributors detailed.

:thumb: :clap: :thumb: :clap: :clap: *bounce*

Wow it is great :clap: !!! Now I will have inform the people in my local distributor of the cards about (in case the do not have it yet) !!!!

It is OK for me if the two TCG's are played. In our situation it is a little bit difficult for pokemon TCG players here to play one more TCG or shift. We had a increase number of new players from the past two weeks (and got clobbered as always :lol: )!!!

 

[ShadowCard]

Will France welcome back Pokemon? I heard they removed the show from their tevevision airwaves . I want french cards.........