Digital Card Central

In an unprecedented move, Topps has released their second app in almost as many weeks, with WWE Slam hitting the app store last night. This is the app that many fans have been calling and waiting for, and one that I would say intrigues me more than the other two released this summer. As a kid growing up, I was a huge Wrestling fan, and though I dont watch week to week, Wrestlemania is still an event with my friends and I.

This app looks to be structured very similarly to the entertainment apps, with a main focus on collecting over gameplay. Being that Wrestling has a live element, its still yet to be seen how the weekly shows and pay-per-views will factor into the apps’ functionality.

Similarly, they have a HUGE roster of Superstars and Divas, and that makes me insanely happy. I definitely more identify with the Attitude Era than anything, and to see a lot of the Superstars represented in that manor is pretty cool.

The cover athletes span the 3 groups that comprise the roster, with Seth Rollins for current Superstars, Ric Flair (WOOOO!) for Legends, and Sasha Banks for the Diva side.

As for the card designs, it looks like an original concept, with possible inspiration from physical sets out there, although nothing is jumping out at me right now. The base looks great, and I am very excited to see where this goes.

More inserts should likely come today, hopefully being able to get going as soon as possible. With a ton of physical sets out there, plus a huge subject matter catalog to pull from, I fully expect this to be incredible with some of the potential ideas and story lines in play.

Overall, this is going to be a huge addition to the strong portfolio that Topps has already grown significantly this year, and I would say that the fan response on Twitter and the like has been enormous.

Here are some more previews from the app store, you can download it here. The twitter handle for the app is @ToppsSlam.

Now that the all star game is over, I want to spend some time breaking down thoughts on some of the sets that were released during the last week. Some were definitely among the best looking cards this year so far, and the Bunt team has to feel good about the way everything turned out.

All Star Game Set

This is a set I have put together for the last three years, and each time it gets better and better. I absolutely loved the design in 2014, and 2016 is definitely a step above that. I also loved that they separated out the expansion cards, so you didnt have to go diving through a sea of duplicates when you are filling out the set at new players being added.

All Star Live Moments

Another awesome idea from last year, and this year I think it was just as good. The gold separation design did a good job of separating the live cards from the original set, which was a point of confusion last year. There was a good share of great moments from top players, so this was something that I hope gets brought back during other events too.

Home Run Derby Set

For both the pre-derby and post-derby sets, I loved the design, and the photo choices were spot on. The Giancarlo stanton relic card for the post derby set was especially cool, and like last year, the relic stands above most of the cards released for the entire all star weekend.

Live Signatures

Although there was a bit of outrage about the list of people who ended up getting a copy of one of these cards, the live signature videos with Noah Syndegaard was worth all the headaches that came after. I really liked seeing how the digital team got these cards taken care of, and as I mentioned in my article prior, I hope we see more of the live signature concept.

All Star Fire

This was probably my favorite set of the weekend, and I absolutely love seeing the different designs Tyson Beck comes up with for Bunt. He is getting some major traction with the community and his sets, and I cannot wait to see what is in store for the future. Even the parallel concept worked well for this.

Retro Archives Set

The dual cards and retro all star cards from past years was a fun treat, and I always like seeing cards like this that were in a binder when I was younger. Although the checklist was a bit dated because of when the cards were released in the early 1990s, you just have to appreciate the content.

Unique Unis

This was a no brainer to me, and I loved seeing all the different jerseys that were featured in the set. Some big names also, and the award card was freaking sweet. Overall this one probably got lost in the shuffle a bit, but it definitely deserved any hype it got. Love this set.

As mentioned in prior articles, the ASG is probably one of the biggest events of the year for Bunt, and 2016 was definitely no different.

The newest thing that Topps Digital has brought to the landscape is live signatures, or players using an iPad to sign the digital cards with an apple pen. Basically, the Topps team presents a photoshop document of the card, and the player “signs” his signature over the layout.

With the All Star Fan Fest in full force, Topps has put a crazy rare offer together of Noah Syndergaard personalizing live signatures to fans who pull one of the tickets. Obviously, these tickets are about the toughest pull in the game right now, so its clear that they would have value regardless. The question is, if Topps has a way to get most of their autographs “live signed” will those carry more value outside of the rarity and prestige already associated with the card.

Right now, both Bunt and Huddle have used the live signature concept, both with quite positive results. Huddle’s live signatures at the rookie premiere might be some of the more awesome looking cards in the game, as the minicamp series they signed were already cool looking to begin with. The players also signed live sigs on less design focused cards, using inscriptions and drawn plays to increase the collectability. They havent been as well received.

Although I think the CONCEPT is a novel one and should continue to be used, Im not sure it does MORE for a card that is not already a part of the value. That doesnt mean the team cant use alternate methods to make the cards more valuable, I just dont think the live signature itself will do that much more.

In terms of Syndergaard, its clear that Topps is looking to involve the fans a lot more in the actual signing of the card, bringing personalization to the table. Although its unclear how it is going to work out when completed, its another cool way to get the fans closer to the cards in their collection.

In the end, its going to depend on the team to deliver compelling content regardless of the signatures themselves. Design and dynamic looks will always be more important to the aesthetic of the card than the autograph, and the real value indicators of card count and player will be the prime factors.

I like the concept as said above, and hopefully the team has more fun planned soon.

Even though the whole “this time it counts” campaign with the All Star Game bugs me to no end, I absolutely love this time of year. In Bunt, the All Star game becomes one of the, if not the biggest “event” of the year, where hundreds of cards should end up being released to commemorate the game.

Last year during the All Star Break, we got everything from the Home Run Derby to ASG history, and I doubt that it will be any different this year. Here are some of the things I would expect over the next week or two.

All Star Game Set

Being that the game itself is the focus of the whole week, Bunt has put out a full All Star roster in set form for a few years now. The cards have ranged from easy to pull to very difficult to pull, and I think that this is one set that many people wait all year to complete.

This year’s set should have its share of both easy and tough odds, so its best to figure out how you want to participate and go from there. In 2015, there was a red set at one per pack and a black set that was much more difficult to put together.

The great thing was, if you did manage to scrape together all the cards, the rewards were absolutely awesome looking. With Mike Trout winning MVP, it was quite the fun awards to see. They had a relic version and a non-relic version, and I would go so far as saying they were some of my favorites in the game last year.

Home Run Derby Set

In 2014, Bunt did their first HRD set, and continued the tradition in 2015. This year should mark year 3 and I am very excited to see what they have up their sleeve. Last year the award was a Todd Frazier HRD winner relic card, and I am almost hoping they take it a step further this year. Who knows, maybe all the HRD cards will be relic based?

All Star History

In past years, Bunt has commemorated past ASG moments with the history cards that focus on the event. These cards have ranged from a few different sets to individual releases, and many times, these end up being quite coveted releases. I really want to see some fun stuff from this side of things this year, especially because my favorite team is so bad.  A cool theme could make up for some of the pain that team collectors have.

Chase Cards

Although we didnt get an ASG sig last year, we did in 2014 and I hope that we do in 2016 too. I could see them really going for it with sigs, relics and limited, and if they were smart, branding them with game logos. Would love to see them go for some of the first legend signature series cards too, but you never know.

Live Content

This was where things got REALLY interesting last year, and it would be awesome if they could pull it off again. During the game last year, as big plays happened, Bunt released cards with in game images in the app. It was really impressive how quickly things got done, and I hope they can one up the performance for this year.

Contest

In Huddle, we saw them run a contest during the Pro Bowl game, and it would be really cool if they did a similar thing for Bunt this year. Even if the only cards you can play are the base ASG set, I would be fine with that. The more we can engage game play around this event, the better.

All Star Fan Fest

Every year, MLB puts on a huge convention at the site of the All Star Game, and Topps has been a presence there each time. As the exclusive trading card provider of MLB, they usually send a team there to engage with customers. They also put out a set of cards, and in 2014 and 15, Bunt had them loaded into the app. Pretty fun set to chase, and I hope to get a similar version this year.

Most importantly, over the next few days leading up to the release of the set, save your coins unless there is something you DESPERATELY need. There will be a ton of fireworks and you do not want to miss out.

We are through the first stages of the UFC launch, and for many of the MMA fans out there, it has been a pretty fun ride. With UFC 200 coming up, the app’s launch could not have more perfect timing, and I think that for the most part, the first few days have been a quality introduction to the app, with lots of free stuff and a whole bunch of cool looking cards.

Although we only know of two insert marathons, surely more to come, the designs have been right on par with what we have come to expect from a Topps digital apps. So far, the lack of paywalls, the cheap packs, and free cards are exactly the way a new app should be launched. As more apps are developed, I hope this is used as a road map.

Launch Week Set

Much like the Opening Day set, Knockout released a set of cards geared towards the launch of the season. These cards are modeled after the base cards with a special logo for the people who were on board at the beginning. Not only did Topps offer upwards of 100 free copies in various packs, but there are a ton of them to wheel and deal as the app gets going.

Although I think the launch week logo should be much smaller, the concept and pack out structure to make them accessible is great.

Top Talent

As we saw with Huddle and Bunt each year, the app puts out a set of cards designed to help new players understand the concept of inserts. Even though many of these cards end up being super annoying in blind trades later on in the year, they are almost a necessity to assist these users with getting the feel of the game. I think that the look of the cards exceeds that of the other two apps, and maybe even the rest of the inserts released during the first week. Not bad at all!

American Stars

As the country prepared to celebrate the 4th of July, American Stars was the first insert chase set to be released. It focused on the top fighters born in the US, and the cards looked awesome. Being that I am brand new to UFC in a lot of ways, seeing a few names in the set that even I recognized was a good thing. This was another set, released during week 1, that featured posed fighter photos instead of the action shots that I wish were more prevalent. I hope this changes as the weeks progress, because its clear that dynamic photography should be at the center of this app.

Entrances

As a fan of WWE growing up, I almost watched the show more to see the flamboyant entrances than I did anything else. UFC is a bit different, obviously, but I still love the concept of this set as a marathon. The cards look awesome, and should feature some really cool shots of the fighters coming to the octagon. So far, this is the set I was most excited about and it was nice to pull the card in the first few packs.

Editor’s Choice

A staple of all the apps, Editor’s Choice is here for Knockout too. The design is understated and looks pretty good, and should be a cool set to chase. As mentioned prior, using the publicity shots for the fighters is something that is going to bug me, if it continues to be a trend. I wasnt familiar with the subject of the card, so I really didnt chase it this time, but I will dive in head first if Macgregor or Johnson gets a turn.

UFC 200 Faces

Im guessing these will be the first of a few different UFC 200 sets, and I must say, this is a great looking set. The simplicity of the look really makes for some pretty stunning cards, especially for someone as beautiful as Meisha Tate. The ramp up to the big event is going to be a crazy ride, I have a feeling, and I cant wait to see what happens as we get closer to fight night.

As mentioned, this is only a small sampling of what is likely on the way. Regardless of my lack of knowledge surrounding MMA, I am pumped to see how this app continues to grow. I dont think we have seen the top marathon quite yet, but I really like where this is going.

This is a good time of the year. New base, new beginnings, and with that, new marathons! We have already gotten a taste of what is in store, and Im still not completely sure if there will be another that is announced in the next few days. So far, we have a good amount, and I wanted to take some time to start with my thoughts on each.

Being that this looks to be a completely new set of marathons, without root in previous sets that were converted over (film quotes last time, etc), it feels like a great fresh start to really get going.

Widevision – Force Awakens

Man, I have been waiting for this for a LONG time. Not only that, but the first card in the series is pretty freaking awesome. I think there is huge potential here, and I think as long as we get Kylo and Han on the catwalk, ill be good. Either way, this set is the one I am most excited about, and it keeps in line with the rest of the widevision marathons we have already experienced.

Verdict: 

Prime Series

I dont really understand the name of the set, but I love the concept of the retro look and the artsy approach. Considering that the set is only in packs for 24 hours, and has pretty long odds, its no surprise that these are being traded for extreme value on the feed. I have high hopes for some of the iconic scenes that we should be getting, and these could end up being one of the more valuable marathons in quite some time.

Verdict:  

Evolutions

Obviously, this is a great concept, and also a cool design. I think that this could end up being quite interesting in the way they show the progression of some of the characters that have gone between the movies, or even between the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy. I think that this is definitely in the vein of connections, which I loved the during the first set of marathons in the app, but with a fun twist.

Verdict: 

Fan’s Choice

I am glad that we continue to see fan’s choice as a part of the game, but the new format is horrendous. Making people pay to vote in a set that has always been geared towards a cheap thrill of a release is going the wrong direction. Although there were some distribution issues last go around, I dont think that is reason to diverge from that path.

Verdict: 

Droids

I love me some droids, and this set looks to be pretty much playing right to that. However, considering that the previous droids set was basically forgotten by much of the community, im not sure how well received this will continue to be. That being said, the cards look great, and I am definitely looking to pick up some of my favorites along the length of the set.

Verdict: 

Creature Series

Another fun part of the Star Wars Universe gets to star in its own set. Im sure there are a lot of people who are excited about this, but I just dont really like the way the cards look. I would much rather see the creatures in action, and maybe that could change as we get further into the set. I would love to say this gets me going, but its just not up my alley as it stands. This could end up as one of the lesser valued pieces during this group of marathons.

Verdict: 

Ill have more info as the new marathons take shape, but so far this is looking pretty good. With Vintage seemingly gone, its going to be a wild card how people react to the replacements. So far, so good from what it looks like. Putting timers on the marathons is kind of a bummer, as it prevents double dipping, but maybe it can prolong value if things sell out low. I cant wait to see what is in the pipeline, I guess we will just have to wait and see.

With the release of the new app yesterday, we are back on track with apps that mirror the physical licenses owned by Topps. This also presents an interesting question of when Topps might start developing apps for which they will not have the physical component involved, mainly with sports like the NBA or NHL, who currently have exclusive deals in place with other companies on the traditional side of the business.

Of course, that isnt saying that properties like the WWE or Garbage Pail Kids wouldnt make great apps on their own. Im actually surprised that UFC was on the road map before its less real counterpart in the squared circle. That being said, with UFC now launched, I have to believe that its a matter of time before we see more apps that correspond with the other licenses like WWE. That isnt a bad thing – thats a very good thing. Topps owns the licenses they do because they are popular and have a big following.

Topps has made a significant investment in digital over the last few years, and UFC is a representation of how far they can go now that they have a recipe for success with the apps. This is why I am asking the question in the first paragraph, as its clear the timing might be right to go after licenses in Digital that arent necessarily reasonable on the physical side.

I still think that building around NASCAR is a really amazing idea, even though Panini is on the verge of releasing physical cards for the first time in a few years. Some sports are made for a digital format, and using the construction of race cars as a vehicle for an app is something I would play the crap out of.

I also know that Marvel is very much on people’s radar too, and it might be the one app that could outperform SWCT in a very real sense. As the movies continue to dominate box offices, the investment (and it would be a LARGE one), might actually make sense. Like Star Wars, Marvel is under the Disney umbrella, and we know the connection between Michael Eisner and Topps is there.

Overall, Im dying to see where this type of thing goes, as I feel like the plans to expand showcase a very real commitment to building digital far ahead of the plans that were in place when Topps first brought electronic versions of trading cards to life back in 2012.

I always love when new apps get released. Im not sure if its the beginning of the road that gets me pumped up, or if its just the fun part of starting from scratch. With the release of UFC: Knockout, Topps has added to their portfolio for the second time in less than a few months, and that shows the enormous investment they are looking to make on the digital side.

Not only that, but for the first time since the release of Topps Kick – a new sports app is in the fray. The app’s game play mechanisms are built around UFC’s big events, and with so many people turning to MMA as a growing sport in the world, this app could be huge.

History

Topps has had the UFC physical license for a number of years, and it has a loyal following of collectors. Cards of champions like Rhonda Rousey and others can be worth enormous amounts of money, especially as the sport becomes more popular. The rise (and fall) of Connor Macgregor is of note here as well, even more so with recent news attention surrounding his sudden retirement and subsequent unretirement. Through these highly visible stories, Topps’ brands have seen some major play, and this app only builds on that further.

Gameplay

Unlike Walking Dead and Star Wars, UFC has regular events that fit more into the apps in a classic sense. Cards have strengths and weaknesses that contribute to points, and as soon as we get closer to the next show, Im sure the first contests will make the gameplay more accessible for us to understand. I think its awesome to have more apps with consistent gameplay, as it adds to the capabilities of what might be possible with the construct.

Inserts

Right now, the only things available are the base cards, but as we saw with Walking Dead, the first Inserts should be coming very shortly. In the app preview from the app store, we see that the physical cards are going to be a great source of cards to bring into the game, and luckily for us, many of the UFC sets have been quite awesome over the years.

As things get going, we should get a better idea of things, and I literally cannot wait. With only a few months between releases of new apps, Im curious how long before we get further names on the banner. This is one that might have been a bit more expected, due to Topps’ history with UFC, but maybe more are on the way. I hope this journey is far from over.

You can follow the app’s twitter feed – @ToppsUFC.

Download the app at this link.

Im really happy we are continuing to go down this road, as I recently wrote about the physical to digital redemption cards that are currently a huge chase in the apps. Yesterday we got word of the first entertainment based physical product focused on the SWCT app, and it looks pretty freaking awesome.

Like we see with the sister product for Bunt coming down the pike in august, this will be a physical product that has a coordinated app component, and likely introduce SWCT to a large number of other people who are not already on board. Topps has a calculated approach here, as I see them focusing a lot more on reframing their physical collector’s mindset about digital. I dont think that is a bad thing.

We are seeing that they are going to offer special app redemption cards at one per pack at least, with some RARE parallels and digital signature cards that also tie to the app itself. Plus, with the cards using the old base design, we can all have fun reliving the glory days with new photos and some new characters in the old border.

Additionally, the cards look to share value between their worth on the secondary market for both digital and physical. We should get a good clue of what this looks like for the Bunt side shortly, but Im much more interested in SWCT because of the sheer amount of people that will be interesting in building their collection through both sides of the transaction.

This is going to be a blast, and I cannot wait to see how this all shakes out. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

With the launch of Topps Series 2 Baseball, we are getting our second dose of redemptions in Bunt for the year. They are added onto redemptions we have seen for SWCT in physical products and also in Kick. With the absence of a physical product to include Huddle redemptions, that’s not likely in the cards. Considering all of these situations, its time to talk about how much the redemptions are worth in app, especially when Bunt is going to be releasing an entire product based around these cards in August.

Availability

Here is what makes redemption cards so valuable. A lot of things have to go right for them to end up in the app. When these first started it was a lot less likely to check all the items on the list, but that has changed more recently with so many people joining the fray.

First, someone has to buy the physical product, and for many of the redemptions, the cards are close to impossible pulls. That means a lot of packs need to be opened, and if the product isnt popular, the redemptions can stay buried well past the expiration date.

Second, the person who pulls it needs to know what it represents. Thankfully, Topps serially numbered the physical cards, and most collectors are trained to not toss those. That being said, with SWCT redemptions numbered to 100, that COULD end up in a common box.

Third, the person has to redeem it. Maybe not the person that pulled it, but the person that eventually ends up with the card needs to get it into the app. That isnt always available because there are reasons not to scratch the code and alter the card if you are not going to use it. There are player collectors out there who this could cause some problems.

As a result, the cards are in demand and low supply. Some of the Bunt versions ended up as 1/1s. Obviously, value is so extreme, it will be out of scope for most users.

Subject Matter

As we see with everything in the apps, the subject of these cards is always a big deal for the different examples. The better the stuff on the front of the card, the more value it will have.

For Bunt, this means that there are some players that are going to be more valuable than others. Same thing goes with boost level and the general look of the card. So far, because the SWCT versions are the Classic Art series that has 3-5 variants outside of the redemptions, the value is capped lower than it would be if these cards were it.

For Bunt and Kick, the redemptions are exclusive, so it adds to the allure.

Owner

These cards are like lightning rods. Because many of them are so rare, they attract a crowd of individuals who are much more likely to hang onto them than trade them for a few sigs here and there. Newer users who own the redemptions are much more likely to need the top cards in the app, and for a lot of people, they would be swayed by a crazy offer.

If the person who owns the card is a big spender, their needs of the lesser cards might end up being significantly less.

Overall, if you own one of the redemptions, consider yourself among the lucky. It just becomes a hood ornament on a luxury car in a lot of examples, and that status symbol can mean something for a lot of people. I love these programs because they cross over the barriers between physical and digital. Lets be honest, anytime that happens, it becomes a benefit.