A lot of last week's fears about Pokemon TCG being "dead" have subsided, and current indications & rumors are that Nintendo will print the ADV cards themselves and will create some form of Organized Play (OP) structure. But it's still unknown what lies in store for us there. However, in the meantime it looks like WOTC will be going out in style with strong Pokemon presences at the upcoming Origins & GenCon gaming conventions this summer. There will also be one, maybe two (or three?) more Super Battle Zone events to celebrate the release of Skyridge and Legendary Collection II (no word yet about an SBZ for Jamboree). Finally, it was announced through the Professor E-Mail list earlier this week that the Modified Format will change yet again on June 1st (it was originally going to be in September, but the licensing issue changed all that). No word yet on what the new format will be, but I think a lot of us have an inkling of at least some of what may be rotated out.
Stay lively,
- CHRISBO
LICENSING CHANGEOVER QUESTIONS:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #577 from bodragon:
Will Nintendo take over the Pokémon TCG after the
license expires?
master_trainer_mike says, "That is what I hear.
And that is after we are no longer involved, so
Pokemon will of course, continue :)"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #650 from master_trainer_red:
on pojo they said that nintendo made a division
for the pokemon tcg is that true or false
master_trainer_mike says, "Geez guys, you are
asking the wrong person, I don't work there and I don't know."
[CHRISBO NOTE: Here's a link to the news item in
question.
http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/2493.html.
However, there's been no official word from Nintendo about this yet as far as
I know.]
{Pojo Note: There now has been official word from Nintendo through a variety of Press Releases. GymLeaderPhil posted them on Pojo.com for readers today}
master_trainer_mike presents
the speaker with question #605 from lepi1962:
Any comments on the news that
Nintendo will release English ADV cards at the same time as
WOTC will release LC2?
master_trainer_mike says, "They
have not told us that that is what their plans are nor was
it announced at GAMA or Toy Fair or any other similar event
so I honestly don't know."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #618 from m_p_douglas:
Re:605 What happens if we have Nintendo's cards
out can we play them.....
master_trainer_mike says, "I honestly don't know
what the schedules for product release are.
Realistically though, you would not be able to use other Pokemon cards (ones
we didn't create) in our remaining OP events because it would not be fair to
the new company for us to try and make tournament rulings on their products.
They will have their own ideas on how their cards
work and perhaps on how they interact with our cards.
It would be confusing to the public and not fair
to the new company for us to do that."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #634 from drpoke:
Do you think that there might be a chance that TPC
would ask you (WOTC) to continue the current system of ratings? I know that
DCI did a ranking system for other TCG's? For a price I think?
master_trainer_mike says, "We have not been contacted about any plans for OP."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #616 from drpoke:
Does TPC and Wotc have the same printers for the
tcg cards? Or are they different?
master_trainer_mike says, "First answer, that is
proprietary information, second answer, I honestly don't know."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #589 from skywolf9653:
Mike: I had read your post on WizPOG, re: OP and
such with regards to this game, do most TCG's that follow fads, following
along the same path, regardless of the market they are targeted towards?
master_trainer_mike says, "For the most part yes. Of course there are many other variables involved and I am certainly not the expert either :). Solid rules foundations, exciting game play, ease of access for new players while providing stimulating game play for the advanced player are all additional factors. I just wanted to offer more information to you. You will and should all come up with your own answers."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #593 from skywolf9653:
Mike, as WotC tried to "expand" this games
"market" with the advent of the professor program, could this game have gotten
a more older crowd over time, much like M:TG and SW do now?
master_trainer_mike says, "Hard to say. Magic and Star Wars have been around for much longer (10 years for Magic, 8 I think for Star Wars). I did see some of the same types of evolution (no pun intended) taking place with Pokemon but keep in mind that in both the previous games the designers of the games AND the authors of the OP were the same. Wizards and TPC both had their own ideas about what makes good game rules, OP, support, and so on. Not to take away from them or from us but that difference in opinion hampered the game at times. Perhaps that will improve now that they are united under one roof."
ORIGINS & GENCON GAMING CONVENTIONS:
master_trainer_mike says, "I also talked with Mike Guptil, the TO for Origins and Gen Con and let him know that we will be providing super prize support for the Pokemon Events at those shows"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #610 from trekiev:
any chance of seeing trophy prizes at origins
and/or gencon
master_trainer_mike says, "mmmmmmmmmmmaybe"
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #580 from trekiev:
how many days does origins and gencon last?
master_trainer_mike says, "4 days each."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #599 from skywolf9653:
Mike, when are GenCon and Origons as far as dates
go? I will try to attend both events, and just need to know dates.
master_trainer_mike says, "Full information on
these cons is linked form our web site. Just go to www.wizards.com and then
click on the events link on top and then conventions.
Origins is June 26-29 and Gen Con is July 24-27.
I have hopes of also making it to San Diego
Comicon and running some stuff there too but that is still in the works."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #574 from master_o_pokemon:
So if I have a chance between Origins and GenCon,
should I choose GenCon? :)
master_trainer_mike says, "Hmmm, well there will
be great events at both. The Professor
Championship is at Origins and the Team Multiplay Championship and the Fan
Appreciation tournament are at Gen Con.
Also, the European players that won Worlds qualifiers should be at Gen Con as
well so that one might be a bit bigger."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #584 from michel1be:
re #574 : if there are no other qualifiers, there
will be only 4 European players at GenCon Mike, and no Professors :-)
master_trainer_mike says, "I will be talking with
the local offices about getting goodies out to their players as well (like at
Gen Con UK for example)."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #583 from marril2000:
I was looking
at the origins schedule of events for pokemon and was wondering if at this
time, could you comment on if there will be any other pokemon events besides
the fan appreation event and the TMP?
master_trainer_mike says, "Origins has the Professor Championship. Gen Con has the Fan event and the Team Championship. There will also be a Team Limited event at Origins as well as numerous Modified and Unlimited events. Also 8 player limited and booster drafts will be run as needed."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #591 from marril2000:
Mike, will professors be needed for assistance at
GenCon and/or origins?
master_trainer_mike says, "Right, I forgot to
mention that. The TO (Mike Guptil) has already had more than sufficient
numbers of Professor contact him though more are certainly welcome too. I
talked with him this weekend at the TO conference. While he certainly can't
pay for too many staff people, I told him that I will compensate all
Professors that offer to help that he ends up using at the event. With
product, shirts, cards, etc."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #594 from m_p_douglas:
I tried to Preregister at Origins, and my computer
would not let me :( Is preregistration important for Origins or Gen Con?? Also
if we staff for you we are not a "volunteer" for Origins or Gen Con just for
Pokemon?
master_trainer_mike says, "You might want to pre-register to get a better rate on the Origins fee. Otherwise I am making sure the Pokemon events will handle as many of you that show up. I will ask the TO if he wants me to post his email to the Professor list so you can contact him directly."
BATTLE ZONE / SUPER BATTLE ZONE:
master_trainer_mike says, "Anyway, due to product fluctuations the exact date of the Skyridge SBZ is still being worked out. It will be in May and I will do my very best to NOT have it on Mother's Day weekend. I should have more details early next week."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #601 from trekiev:
in the professor mail, you mentioned a LCII SBZ ,
was that a typo?
master_trainer_mike says, "Nope, I will try and
put that together for you guys."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #628 from marril2000:
has it been considered to distribute professor
shirts through Super BattleZone II (and III). what about professor points for
those who decide to stick around and help run SBZ II (and III)?
master_trainer_mike says, "All sorts of things are considered. Keep in mind that these all cost money and I can only do so much. However, all Professors who make it to the Professor Championship will walk away with a shirt (while supplies last of course)."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #606 & #608
from marril2000:
mike, as the wizards warehouses get emptied out,
if by any chance wizards happens to stubble across some kind of energy stock
pile, and there is time to assemble it, do you think energy draft kits could
possibly be tossed together and distributed to
professor that request them (with a limit)?
master_trainer_mike says, "You know we have some energy left over. I hope to distribute it through the LC2 SBZ. There are all sorts of discussions about getting stuff out to the Professors and players as we finish up our involvement with Pokemon. NOT to ruin the game but to help you keep it alive. Besides what good would 270,000 lightning energies do me?"
master_trainer_mike smirks.
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #595 from wizo_pokemom:
I hate to ask
this, but how many delegated stores that wanted new accounts to run BZ have
actually been able to get up and running? my store has had nothing, so has no
kits...:(
master_trainer_mike says, "Several stores have been started and set up. Others are still going through the process of creating a direct sales account with us and still others have changed their minds. I certainly do not wish to cast aspersions on anyone, but I have had many instances of retails stores telling you and telling us different things. If a store is interested and has not been contacted or feels that they have not been being serviced properly please suggest they call DS at 1-800-564-1636. Of course, they are as short staffed as the rest of us but I know they want to sell stores the kits if they want them."
SKYRIDGE, LEGENDARY COLLECTION II, and JAMBOREE:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #625 from soslowpoke:
What sets will the LCII cards be taken from?
master_trainer_mike says, "The Neo block. And a
few small surprises."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #631 from lepi1962:
Which cards will be in Jamboree (vending, WOTC
own, or)?
master_trainer_mike says, "Ahhhh grasshopper, wait
and see :)"
MODIFIED FORMAT:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #588 from drpoke:
when will you announce the new modified format?
master_trainer_mike says, "It will start on June
1st. It will get posted a few weeks before that.
Not good to confuse the more casual players by
announcing it too early."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #613 from soslowpoke:
Care to share on what's being rotated outta
modified in June? ;)
master_trainer_mike says, "not yet :)"
PROMO CARDS:
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #617 from lepi1962:
Since Suicune Black star promo is distributed with
DVD/VHS only in USA, do you have any plans to make this card available to
others outside USA?
master_trainer_mike says, "I haven't heard of any plans for it, no."
master_trainer_mike presents the speaker with
question #612 from lepi1962:
Are you planning a promo card for Pokemon Movie 5
in May?
master_trainer_mike says, "Not that I have heard
of."