Pokemaster's Pad

8-4-03  Keeping the Game Going: What Nintendo needs to do to keep the game alive.

Hey all. Sorry I couldn’t make it to GenCon. Houston to Indianapolis to play Pokemon cards, well, didn’t go over too well with the parents. Alas...

Well, it seems like it was a big success, and that Wizards went out with a real bang! Thanks to Wizards! They have messed up on some things, and done other things tremendously well. But we have to move on now. Wizards is done and Nintendo has picked things up. But as we all know, running the Pokemon TCG has never been, is not now and never will be an easy task. But if you ask me, Nintendo has the opportunity to keep this great game going and, possibly, improve it as well. So lets look at some of the current problems and how Nintendo can improve things.

First off, lets look at the new rules, or rather the changes to the rules, that will take effect once Nintendo comes into power. Most of them are so minor that they never really come into play. But a few do, and these rules have a few players I know about ready to quit the game! One is the one retreat per turn. This is the one rule that I myself am a little uncomfortable with (and ONLY a little uncomfortable with thanks in no small part to dontknow09). This means the free retreating pokemon will lose a bit of their power. It means also that more strategy will need to be used. No longer can you simple send up your free retreat baby while you play through your turn thinking about who to attack with. It also means that if you Double Gust and retreat, there is no more retreating that turn. But when you think about it, it won’t really have that big of an effect on the game. Then there is the Confusion condition. You pay a bigger price for failing an attack attempt, but can retreat out of it normally. While it may seem being able to retreat normally would almost destroy the usefulness of confusion, with the one retreat rule it can actually be better. After all, they first have to have the proper energy to retreat, and then they must have a pokemon ready for attack, or at least to stall, ready to put up active. It can put your opponent in a defensive rather that offensive position, which is where you want them anyway. The final new rule of note is that now, the player who goes first cannot draw a card on their first turn. This one has people I know in an uproar. But truly, it may be a bit more fair. You do after all get the first attack in. And the loss of ONE draw of ONE card in the very BEGINNING of the game couldn’t possibly hurt you much. Come one, be logical. We have Bill, Oak, Elm, Computer Search, Cleffa, Copycat, Juggler, Forest Guard..., well, maybe not Forest Guardian so much >_<. But really, one card won’t hurt so bad. These new rules balance out nicely, really. I had one guy come up to me and say, "You mean now I can’t play multiple Lucky Stadiums in the same turn for more drawing!?" Come on, folks, get a grip.

One thing Nintendo needs to realize is that this is America. What works well in Japan may not work as well over here. Now it might, but they cannot afford to take chances. 200 people showed up at GenCon. That’s all good and fine, but think of it this way; how many people would have showed up if it was for Yugioh, not Pokemon? Thousands. Why I bet you that more that 200 Yugioh players would show up who LIVE in Indianapolis. But out of the whole country, Pokemon had 200. And you know the sad thing? That’s a great number for us right now. The game has declined, and of course that is to be expected. But Pokemon is in the ropes right now people, thanks in no small part to the elimination of the 15+. Yes, there is the Professor Program. But how much is that REALLY worth? Can we win trips? No. Can we go to great world events? No. We have the professor championships. A weird tourney for a few qualifying professors in one corner of the country. Not good enough, Nintendo. And that is who we should put blame one. TPC. Wizards at least saved us from TOTAL exclusion with the program. TPC wanted up GONE. So the first thing Nintendo needs to realize is...

If they want success, the 15+ division needs a lot of attention, prize support and benefits.

WE keep it alive. Who is it that buys boxes when a new set comes out? Who is it they makes trips across country to play in tournaments? Who is it that teaches new players? Who is it that Organizes, staffs and runs local tournaments? Who is it that runs to leagues and Battlezones? The 10 and under? The Elementary and Middle School kids? Not a chance. Its the High Schoolers, the Adults who HAVE jobs, who are INTERESTED in the game. That’s who supports it. Pokemon won’t survive on the allowance and extra lunch money of the kids. Pokemon needs the paychecks and commitment of the 15+, and that’s the facts. Pokemon isn’t a cheap game to play. So if Nintendo wants to make money, they need to respect those who spend the most money, the most time and the most energy on it. And that’s the 15+.

The second thing Nintendo needs to know is this...

If it’s not competitive, the game won’t get past being a casual hobby.

We need tournaments. We need Championships. After all, what’s the point of spending hundreds if we can’t even win something cool out of it? Pride? Screw pride. I’ll take my un prided self and save up for a car or college if I can’t win something decent. Competitive play is what we want. This is America after all; the competitive spirit flows through our veins. *Large flag drops behind pokemaster and bugle plays* =D

Another important point...

Local league play needs to be fun, efficient and well fueled.

The leagues are where we hone our skills, make friends, teach new players, buy our cards and, well, bond. OK, I know, it sounds corny, but it’s true. Leagues, if run properly, grow into communities. I don’t know about you guys, but half of my friends were meet at the leagues. Leagues are the smaller parts of the game that make up what is Pokemon. Leagues can be fun and keep the game going, even with 100 screaming Yugioh players at each others throats a few tables away >_<

Nintendo also needs to consider this...

Timing is key.

These past couple of months have been hectic. Three sets came out in just this last 6 months. We haven’t even had much time to figure out what to use and who the new stuff interacts with old card, or complete sets, or test decks, much left have enough time to get money together for the next set. It’s been crazy. Nintendo needs to give us ample time to get comfortable with a new set, but not starve us of new products either. I would say two sets per year would be good. Also, large tournaments should take place each year, if not more than once. Qualifiers for trips to the tournaments are very important.

And one final thing is this...

LISTEN TO THE PLAYERS!!!

If they can’t get this down, then Pokemon is in trouble. If they do something we don't like, and they don’t change it, then people will leave. If they screw up Modified, or anything else, I can just switch to Heroclix full time.

Remember also guys; if we want the game to continue, don’t just sit back and hope for the best. Tell Nintendo what we want! You have a voice; use it.

Check out the new Nintendo site for poke cards. It looks like they are planning some pretty good stuff for us. If they come though, they need our support and gratitude.

CYA around!

Pokemaster1110

Brian Stevenson

pokemaster1110@hotmail.com


The Poke`mon Master 1110