The Merc here again. I have been getting a lot of mail about the
articles that everyone is afraid to write, so I am gonna bust out another
article that everyone will think about for a spell.
Recently, I have been hearing a lot of the "horrible rares in Gym Heros."
I have heard many people say that it is Hasbro's ploy to earn more money, yadda
yadda yadda. Here is the TRUTH, and you can quote me on this:
"Wizards (or Hasbro, whichever the case is) produces and distributes cards
for many card games. Each card costs the same to produce, and they don't
constitute for higher value until there are consumer willing enough to purchase
the said card for a said price."
What does this mean? I will explain. Wizards R&D checks cards in
Magic for playability for the CCG consumer market to aquire, distribute, and as
a promotion for sales. The sets hit the most in Magic were Fallen Empires
and Homelands. Both had one good card (Hymn To Tourach in Fallen Empires
and Merchant Scroll in Homelands) in them, but both were common, so people only
bought a few cards from the set for four of each. Both sets failed to sell
well. Fast forward to a set known as Tempest. A card named Cursed
Scroll was at the time unplayable. Someone plays one at a tournament and
proves it's power, and it became one of the greatest cards ever made. $20
to $40 depending on availability and whatever the consumer will pay.
Cursed Scroll was not only playable, but it was almost impossible to get rid of.
Blue could not counter (destroy it before it comes into play) it because it had
a low casting cost. Red and white needed time to get rid of it.
Black and at times green!
were helpless to it. It went in
Now, let's look at Pokemon. Misty's Goldeen has only 30HP. It has
one attack that does 30 damage if you get heads. But it does have a free
retreat cost. Point is, in the right decks, it can wreck most things.
I am not saying it is invincible; I am saying it's playable. It is cheap.
One energy for a 50% chance to deal 30 is pretty good. But, of course, no
one likes it. And why? Why do you think? Everyone hates it.
It has low HP. Blah, blah.
Want to know a secret? Misty's Goldeen and Scyther cost the same.
Huh? What am I talking about? Let's review. Wizards/Hasbro is
not gonna make a ton of cash making trash rares. They cost the same to
produce. Maybe about 3" to make. That's for the material to
print on, the ink to illustrate the card, etc. Wizards/Hasbro makes no
additional profit by "ripping off kids for making trash rares."
They can make all the cards ultra-broken and they will still make the same
amount of money off them. But making all the cards broken makes the game
too complex and less fun. The only reason Scyther is worth more than
Misty's Goldeen is because people are WILLING to pay more for the former than
the latter. That's it. Nothing more to it. Hasbro is not gonna
save money making trash rares.
And then there is the two rares a theme deck. One holo and one nonholo.
Everyone nags and complains about this as well. Okay, the holo cards may
cost about 5" to produce. Add one to the theme deck, add a nonholo
and 58 other cards to the mix, each about 3" to make, add a manual, about
5" to make, add the coin, about 5", the damage counters, about
5", and the packaging, maybe 15" and that adds up to about:
$1.77
This is just an estimated guess. This is not accurate. I am using my
best judgement. Point is, whether you like it or not, cards are worth as
much to the consumer as they want it too be. Hasbro/Wizards does not
decide the price of cards; they distribute them. So you see, they are not
earning additional profit by "ripping off kids." They are
earning it from selling the products to retailers, who in turn sell them to the
general public.
I hope this shatters all of the skeptic views on the trash rares. A
Scyther is worth as much as Misty's Goldeen. That's that. Send the
hate mail. At least I told you the truth you couldn't possibly comprehend.
On another note, I am not gonna quit the game or bash it in any way. I
will return with my usual strageties once I get this out of the way.
Mercury Crusader (AKA The Self Proclaimed "Greatest Water Pokemon
Trainer" and Team Rocket supporter)
themerc@angelfire.com
"Styling and profiling only the way a Horseman could..."
Angelfire for your free web-based e-mail. http://www.angelfire.com