Interesting thought: When the WoW TCG was initially released, there wasn't much discussion or advertising for it on the MMO side. I suppose that the thought was that Blizzard wanted to keep its players playing the online game. Nevertheless, Blizzard eventually embraced the game and started putting ads and links to the WoW TCG site on the official WoW site. I don't know the exact figures, but I do know that a lot of the MMO players took notice of the TCG; and vice-versa.

I don't follow comics as much as I used to, but it seems that neither Marvel nor DC are too interested in promoting the game. I think that this is a HUGE mistake for both the comics companies and UDE. Playing Vs. System has actually inspired me to go pick up a few graphic novels to try and catch up on storylines. Just because the Infinite Crisis set was so good, I actually purchased the compendiums for the story (which, by the way, wasn't nearly as good as the set).

Activities like this seem to have a "snowball effect". By actively promoting the card game in the comics, both Marvel and DC would help to increase the local bases of Vs. System. This would inspire more interest in the game; as having a large local player base inevitably draws more outside interest. Finally, the rewards would be reaped by the comics; as the new Vs. System players started following the comics to parallel their interest in the TCG.

In addition, there are certainly other opportunities for both the comics companies and UDE to expand their visibility of Vs. System. One of the key reason I maintained an interest in Yu-Gi-Oh! for so long (I know... I know...) was that the actual TCG and the video games were interconnected. Many of the "power cards" in Yu-Gi-Oh could only be obtained if you played the game. This not only generated increased sales for the games, but also gave prospective new players a starting point for the game. Why couldn't UDE do the same for video games like "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" or "JLA"?

How about free comic book days? Why can't UDE print up some promotional cards that could be included as inserts for the free comics? Once again, this is a two-way promotion; as comics get read by TCG'ers and cards are seen by comic book fans.

It's absolutely astounding to me how very small the Vs. System community is when compared to the comics community as a whole. Of course, Vs. System will not appeal to every comic book fan out there. Still, I think the current problem for Vs. System with regard to the comics market is not "I'm not interested", but "Never heard of it".

Produce a MMORPG...were you have to get the cards and ''make the decks'' witht the characters little hands...and you have to drive to the tournements and can walk upto tables and stuff:p

I have always wondered if anyone started playing the game due to the promotional cards that have been printed. Did anyone pick up Civil War see the Hawkeye card and start playing? How about the inserts in the toys? I know I bought more of those products then I normally would just to get the cards. Is that a two way street?

Lower prices ;)

To add to that... would any comic readers buy cards to get promo comics and then start playing the game?

that wouldnt help....much

You can get VS online or in SoCal for wholesale or less... can't get lower than that.

It would probably help if I could find VS cards at places like Walmart or Target.

Mu opinion is that the way to make VS. more open to the masses is to get rid of the perception that card games and comics are just for kids. Unfortunately I just don't invision a future where Lenny the office manager from Schnectedy is going out to the FLCS and buying 3 packs a week and participating in his local events.

Probably not anymore, since the comic 'collector' market (the only ones who'd be interested in going out of their way to get a promo comic) is significantly less prolific than ever before, or atleast it seems like it.

Speaking as a person who plays the TCG it is.

I know a lot of people will say "Well, I wouldn't pick up a game just because I saw a card in a comic book." However, applying a universal maxim just because you personally wouldn't follow the intention is a bit of a fallacy. When companies promote a separate product in a related product or service, the intention is not to get EVERY buyer to transition. Rather, the hope is that there might be a proportion of the people who have related interests that might transition.

Consider that the active comics buyers market is around 2-3 million people. If we could reach even 1 out of 100 of that group, that's 20,000 to 30,000 people. More importantly, it would actually let people out there know about the game. Aside from other TCG'ers, I don't think that I've ever met anyone who has ever heard of Vs. System. I'm not trying to argue that the game needs to be as actively promoted as Magic or WoW. But when there is absolutely no brand recognition of a product, then you are SEVERELY limiting your potential consumer base.

Yeah... DC and Marvel should love this long time. I know I started reading/buying comics.

Additionally... that is a GREAT idea. I plan on trying to demo vs on free comic book day. For seriouslys.

If everyone in the world played VS it'd be like a real life Yu-Gi_oh! cartoon. (I mean seriously, does the whole world run off that card game or something. I bet even the world leaders settle their problems through a card game. If that's what would happen we'd be F***ed right now, considering card games actually take some brain power.)

Yes, I know, and I love those prices. I'd just rather buy them at my local store and give them buisness, but when they're charging $5.00 a pack for DSM, I can't afford that. I hardly have enough money to get the cards I need to fill in the gaps in my collection.

Make Vs more widely avalaible, thus at superstores (Walmart, Target)
Insert Cards in comics w/ advertising in comics
Advertising on tv, cartoons, etc
Starter Decks that are ready to play competetively, including cards like Big Leagues, Against All Odds, and possibly Mobilize in a way like yugioh.
Basically advertising and entry level product