Of course ... consider how RPGs translate to online play.

Why would there be an online only CARD game? I can see translating the existing card games to have parallel online versions. But it seems like designing a card game where the cards exist only in a virtual context, and you can't actually play it as a real card game ... is the card 'format' even necessary?

When a film is editted for TV, they have to change it, so that it meets the requirements of the new medium. However, Made-For-TV films are aware of the way in which they'll be presented, and have a structure based on the medium of television.

So transfering a card game to an electronic format is one thing. But designing a game as a card game that ONLY exists in an electronic format is definately designing with the wrong medium in mind.

And then you go back to the issue of not having players to play. 100 kids going into a Walmart and buying Vs cards, taking them home and putting them in a binder to show off, or using them to play at home ever so often till they get bored and quit will not fix anything. Because now Hobby Stores stop selling them, and no longer run events.

When the Hobby stores run events, people buy the cards and you get more players, who meet more people and keep up with the change, win a little get pumped and keep returning. 10 people buying 2 boxes a person at a Comic Book Store over the next two years, and the 5 kids buying a few packs a month will bring in more money than those 100 kids buying a few packs a person at Walmart for 6 months.

And before it's said "Walmart will order such a big bulk that money will make it to UDE" Walmart wont carry it unless it sells. The people that work they dont know thing one about any of the cards (with a few odd people out) Look at Walmart now, a few Magic boosters and starters. Some Yu Gi Oh. (They did carry Vs for a short time, Web and Man of Steel was there to be stocked..which I did) So those two big orders that will bring in cash, then taper off (with OverPowered or whatever it was) all the while stopping Comic shops from re-ordering because they lost sells. So that leaves UDE from not making money again, and leaving them in a worse place.

I have said for some time, you want new players. Toss a card in with a movie ticket. Or one of those Mail in things they did with Hero Clix. Toss some cards in something other than a $14.99 action figuer. How about Happy Meals? Or in a box of Lucky Charms? Put one of those 15 card starter decks in with the DVDs of Super Hero movies? Or even an EA or better yet a foil, and a flyer on where to get more. (People like shiney cards) Talk to Marvel and DC, and put a common card like a four drop Superman from Man of Steel into ever Superman comic book for two months, right there next to an ad for Vs.

Here is a "collectible" game that is online only. They aren't cards, they're "runes", and you use them to summon spells or creatures in a turn-based strategy environment. It's a blast to play, and is a perfect example of a collectible game in an online-only environment.

But it'll never replace cards. Ever ever ever.

And how many people play Munchkin the CCG or go play Tabletop D&D for one reason, to interact with like minded people? There is just something about sitting at a table with a breathing person, who talks and jokes with you, that you lose over a computer. Same with card games. That an on line games tend to get a bad crowd at some point that just mess with people for fun, and ruin it for other people.

Which is part of my point.

Paper and pencil and dice RPGs are very different than computer based RPGs ... and so is the experience.

The same would be the case for CCGs I would guess.

I prefer the real life interaction, and barely play any electronic games ... playing against someone online isn't that much different than playing against the computer other than better [sometimes] AI.

Are you referring to the repackaged MOS packs that Wal-Mart carried? Of course they didn't sell...they were garbage. Much like the Web of Spiderman repacks that Wal-Mart carried... I know, I bought every one our local Wal-Mart had in stock in the hopes they'd order more. They were not packaged by UDE, but by some random distributor who had too much crappy product that wouldn't sell on their hands.

I'm referring to NEW product. I can walk to Wal-Mart across from my office and buy BRAND NEW single packs of Planar Chaos, Fat Packs... hell, even the damn MTG novels. They also have every shape and form of Yugi and Pokemon hanging there as well.

As far as places for players to go/events, that's UDE/Local TO's job. For instance, we have Unity Entertainment here in the Central FL area. They hold events in a variety of places....NOT ALL IN LHS OR COMIC SHOPS.

This notion that VS can't exist without Hobby Stores is nonsense. The product can sell outside of those venues and OP can continue as long as it is in the hands of capable TO's (or as long as UDE/Local TO's support events).

Is there room for three more people in this orgy.....and maybe a feline?

My $0.02 for what it's worth --

I understand the scaling back of the proze money -- I hate it, but I understand it and can live with it if it's necessary for UDE to keep producing Vs. (always the hope that it may go back up, and it if doesn't, 100K is still a lot of money to give away at a tournament). What really baffles me is the cancellation of PCQ's. Again, I would totally understand if UDE had announced that they could no longer afford to give away cash prizes at PCQ's and would stick with just product / swag and PC points. But cancelling them entirely? How is drastically reducing local-level tournaments going to encourage people to buy more cards? Sure, hobby league and city championships might be nice for areas that have hobby league -- but mine doesn't. Also, for those worried that hobby leagues will now be beset by "sharks" needing to up their rating to qualify, having cash-less PCQ's would help alleviate that since there would remain 2 ways to qualify (ratings and points). I understand that some scale-backs are necessary, and can live with it. But slashing local-level events as well seems like a definite step in the wrong direction of building up local player bases.

Where are the tournaments going to be held? In the hobby stores that aren't getting anything out of it because everyone buys product at Wal-Mart instead? Or somewhere else that will cost money to rent, thereby eliminating most or all of the TO's compensation for organizing it?

No I am not. I am talking about the boxes of Man of Steel and Web of Spider-Man boxes of Boosters that they had for 29.95 (and more than not had rare heavy packs) I stil lcome across them every so often while I am shopping. Mejiers even carried it as well, stopping with Marvel Knights being the last booster boxes opened and sold.

I absolutely agree with the idea that RPGs in an online format are not RPGs in the traditional sense. They are not. They are a different breed altogether but that has been, primarily, due to limitations in technology not in concept.

The idea of the human interaction is EXACTLY why so many people play. That said, many people, a great many, prefer the anonymity of virtual existence. If for no other reason then the convenience of game-play at their choosing.

The idea of translating a card game, or any game with pieces of defined structure and value, to a virtual format is consistent with every aspect of modern society. The banks don't kept real money on-hand; they have ledgers (now online) that monitor values.

This game has the capacity for actual EXPANSION in the online realm. The ease of determining whether or not one can attack another character is much easier to explain through a visual representation than a complex logistical description in the CRD. The ability to perform new and even more complex tasks is easier with the aid of software.

The things that need more development are the human interactions. Things like Ventrilo and voice-chat help, but the real change will occur with the visual image of the human on the other end of the line. That already has started. Who on the Realms has a Mii?

It's just a matter of time.

Guys, best post ever?

Well, Unity has often used empty mall spaces, city auditoriums, and hotel convention areas. Sure, it costs money....but there has to be some kind of kick-back involved or why else would a company like Unity offer to TO all of the events in Central FL and GA? Because they like the games or the players?

And the notion that because Wal-Mart sells it, the hobby store will die is a bit off-base. I buy beer at Wal-Mart, but that doesn't stop me from going out to the bar on occasion with friends for a few. Guinness costs me $8 a sixer at Wal-Mart compared to $3.00 a pint at the bar.... but I still give both business.

If Wal-Mart can sell the product en masse, why wouldn't anyone support it? The LHS offers them a place to play the game in an ORGANIZED manner... if that organized manner happens to be a Sealed event, then the kiddies would have to buy product from the store as well.....

Seriously, that leads to another issue: Basing Hobby League around Constructed is just silly. It brings zero business (minus drink and candy sales and the occasional singles if your store happens to have such a luxury) to the store. Sealed Events would at least allow the LHS owner to jack up the per pack price for an entry and make a bit of change in the process. Charging $5 for HL entry for Constructed gets you.... well... nothing for the most part.

Yes, because every 12 year old that plays for fun, and every 20 year old with a family and a day off to play cards wants to play draft or sealed..or has a clue as to how...

No matter how many packs are sold at Walmart you cant have tournaments there. You cant meet new players there unless you are willing to sit next to the displays day and night.

Walmart is not the answer.

The other thing facing this game right now in terms of Hobby Stores is that in their eyes the games already failed. Is it even possible to change their minds?