We are discussing this at our local forum/community, and I'm looking for all possible ideias.

Thanks

well,first off I would start being grammatically correct, that goes a long way. then tryto convert casual MTG/Ygi/other TCG players to Vs. then you need a base of operations, such as the local card/comic/collectible store.

Thank seph... English is not my main language... ;)

We already have a base of operations, that is trying to push VS to a higher lvl, but I was looking to more global ideias.

Things that go beyond the local store, like do you advertise VS at schools? Or something like that.

Here are some of my suggestions I sent to UDE, the low / no cost options might work for you.

Good Luck.

September 12th 2006

Don Williams

My name is xxxxxx and I am a VS. player, but I also have extensive media connections. I would like to help promote this game. While a great game I have found that VS. has less popular exposure than many other high profile CCGs. I believe that greater mass exposure would result in increased sales for the VS. product line. I have outlined a brief strategy for radio exposure based upon my experience in the medium.

Low investment exposure:

An email campaign focused primarily on promotions and news directors. The subject line of this email will be key to generating interest as many emails must go unread. The first email should be sent approximately 6 weeks before the Pro-Circuit Los Angeles event, with a weekly follow-up.

A pre-recorded interview with two top players should be recorded, to be attached to later emails. The recording quality should be of sufficient quality to be radio airable.

The same two players should be further approached to make themselves available to live interviews. If this can be arranged, the offer should be put forward in the promotional emails, with centralized contact information along with time and date availability. Some stations may prefer simple telephone interviews, and these should be even easier to arrange.

Investing in exposure:

While I understand promotional budgets can be tight, I believe that the following allocations would be profitable.

A general mailing of promotional materiel to Los Angeles based radio stations. T-shirts would likely be the most well received items, but actual product would help spur interest in the game itself, and place it into the hands of those best able to disseminate that information.

In addition pro-circuit invitations could be offered to a select few who showed interest in the game itself.

How I can help:

With over 16 years in Local and National radio I have developed a number of contacts in the industry. I am willing to use these contacts to help generate interest in the VS. game. If they are not readily available to you, I can generate email lists of industry targets, and station lists by market. I will also make myself available (at no charge) to advise on email subject lines, content, and promotional strategies that will stimulate the most interest within this target market.

Thank you,


Oh and replace LA with where ever you are, though I may not have contacts there.

Just to add, new players are likely to quit the game if they kept on losing(which they will). Just lose to these players on purpose will help keeping them interested. I know back when I was playing Yugioh and I was a noob, I beat this guy who's ranked top 10 in the world, nothing beats that feeling of overcoming the impossible.

We had a meagre following for a while. The thing that seems to have the most impact is moving our play night from a weeknight to Saturday evening.

I think the success of our local Hobby League is simple, but many shop owners would be hesitant; It's free.

Glen has always been one of the most generous businessmen in the world, and his shop has consistently shut down all the local competition as a result. He charges as little as possible for everything he sells and he has built up a large loyal customer base because of it. I remember him getting Jim Lee to sign stuff in the shop for us at no charge... like 16 years ago. I think he has been in the same spot for two decades selling comics. Over the past couple years he has opened a back room for gaming. He buys the Hobby League kit and lets us play for the EAs on Monday nights for free.

Good times.

To address the issue of "newer players will always lose and it will discourage them"...

At ACME games in Cincinnati OH, there are two nights for Vs.
Tuesday nights are largely newer and more casual players, while Wednesday nights are more for competitive testing. Its generally accepted that if you're going to go Tuesday night, you don't bring your tier 1 Squadron deck, and if you're going Wednesday, you don't expect to do well with your Crime Lords curve deck.
It has resulted in two separate, but very happy groups of players.

So my suggestion to stores that want to foster a good Vs. environment.
1) Get to know your players well.
2) Have a hobby league, but encourage your more competitive players to not bring their tier 1 stuff.
3) Have competitive tournaments with decent prizes on a regular basis.

Thats just my suggestion, best of luck to all of you.

I live in Toronto and although the city is geographically large, we've been able to get a good group of guys together relatively consistently. The things that I found really draw people:

1) Central Location to play at.
- We play mostly at 401 Games which is right in the center of the city.

2) Good prize structure for tournaments.
- The local weekly tournament has an amazing prize structure and it usually draws a few people over to the more inconvenient and unconfortable location to play at.

3) Email lists of events.
- chdb is the biggest champ in Toronto as he took over the responsibility of emailing a list of known players to try to get the biggesst turnout possible. I think that regular hobby-store-goers will become interested in Vs. because they see a lot of people playing and bandwagon onto it.

4) Good communication between regular players.
- If you keep in touch with players from your store and arrange to meet regularly, you maintain a strong playgroup and encourage others to join, hence making the Vs. community in the area larger.

just some thoughts...

At one of the 1st PCQ's I attended I top 8ed, I had to play VIdi in the 1st round of the finals. I won the first game, lost the next 2, but it sure felt great winning the 1st game!:laugh: Even if I'm not entirely sure he didn't throw the game on purpose! I usally let newbies win! At least the 1st game or 2. Gets them to come back for more!:)

you just need to show people that playing vs is like resolving costless cantrips with gas effects.

offer hot sex

Okay, now that might work for me :laugh: but I'm betting thats not going to work so well for most realmers,seem to be men and its mostly men who want to play! Though it may work in some comunities!:cheeky:Who can say!

what I think should happen which will encourage younger and noob players alike to play more is not let any Big event winners play in small competitive events like normal local tournies or any thing, because its usualy the more experienced players or big event winners that pretty much wipe the floor with the inexperienced and younger players which is why they either quit or find other far off places to go that they cant really get to or the said places are in really horrid neighborhoods or cities, now I'm not saying ban them I'm just saying the older and big event winning players become teachers and such I mean in all card games there are the more experienced who act as if a Noob or a younger player is wasting their time so their ego gets in the way and they come out looking like total jerks.

OK I've been playing VS Since the beging . I traded All my YU-GI-OH except for one deck got about $500.00 dollars in store credit got 4 boxs of each dc and marvel origins Ever since then I've been byeing a case of every set that comes out.

There were about 4 of us that started to play then they went there own way they moved away . I kept in touch they told me that VS was huge out west and south . While I was here with NO ONE to play with it stinks .

So to promote play at my local hobby store ( HARRISONS--@ LIBERTY TREE MALL --DANVERS, MA ) I put a sign up for a tournament. I put up my own money ok 1st place 100.00 dollars ,2nd place 50.00 dollars CASH . I had about 20 people saying ''o ya I'll be there '' . 4 people showed up ok YAAAAA I wasn't to happy .

Next week I see all the people and I asked where they were. They all said '' We didn't think the prize would be that high ! '' some said '' I didn't have the money to buy any cards '' So I told them ya well It was Cash prizes and I told the others that they could have borrowed one of the 19 othere decks I had .

So I had all these extra common and uncommon cards sitting there so I broght them into the store and told people HERE make decks . Now My store has some of the best card playing minds Any where !

This one kid Saul (Sorry man Idon't know how to spell it ) anywhy He mad a SICK common uncommon deck Whoped My Squadtron deck TT deck HV deck (sick deck got to put it up same time ) Any way You see what I mean.

As of this past weekend 10-29-2006 I got a box of spidy and 2 Cases of starters Batman and Spider man . Benzo and I demoed a few games gave out some free packs for everyone that demo . Now there seems to be a buzz . Just incase I got 4 boxs of cards MOS and MMK 2 of each and 2 cases of starters one Batman and one FF4.