Digital Card Central

Since the beginning of the year, the creation of the equipment system has been something that has almost created a second trade economy. Although the trading of equipment for players happens all the time, its clear that valuation for the cards has fluctuated so dramatically that you almost have to take it day by day.

With recent insert sets requiring equipment exchanges to get rarer variants, and manager cards for collecting all team parallels, things have shifted a bit into overdrive. People want to not only stack their own lineups with equipment, but they also want to complete the exchanges to get what they need for the full team sets.

The craziest thing about this is that the counts on equipment cards are still quite high for a number of reasons. They are not in short supply, especially with all the accounts out there who have received equipment awards for leveling up, but not executed any exchanges. The issue is what you have to give to get the perfect combo that you need.

There are two pieces of universal equipment at each level that have been proven to have more value than the others available. The cleat and fielding glove cards are required for any player exchange, which means more people need those than the other pitcher or batter specific equipment. If you have a stockpile of those, dont just give them up without making sure you get adequate payment in return. You probably wont get 2:1 unless you are lucky, but you might be able to get some lower level equipment cards in tow.

Right now, the most in demand equipment is Black, but recent uses of Gold for the fire sets has upped the economy there too. With so many purple player cards floating around, more users are looking to upgrade their lineups. The same could be said about teal to purple, but with counts as high as they are on both levels, shredding teal cards for purple is not the most efficient way to complete your set.

As the season progresses, and more users start to look to upgrade to the silver and gold levels, you can imagine that value will increase. Right now, with both top levels not able to be traded when players are completed, I have seen people try to hoard the black 3x cards in hopes to get some nice return there, instead of upgrading to silver and losing the trade-ability of the card.

When more insert sets start to use the card exchange to fulfill the requirements of completing a set, it would be easy to see more and more people start to hoard equipment when they can find it cheap. If you want to be on the forefront of what might be coming, it cant hurt to try to throw a few equipment cards into your counteroffers.

Hopefully at some point, exchanges of equipment for higher equipment will happen. I have so many blues and orange that I want to get rid of, and shredding a handful for a shot at better levels would be nice.

Lastly, Series 2 is likely on the way in a very short time frame here. When the new cards hit, and they will hit eventually, there are going to be a lot of people looking to get the better players into top boosted form as quickly as possible. Look for a surge in equipment value during that time.

In the end, the trade economy will be driven by demand, as it always has been. If the Bunt team makes the card exchange a huge focus, the value of the equipment cards will skyrocket. If it is used more sparingly, the value of the cards will depend on the way the boosted base cards perform after the exchange happens. Either way, I love watching the volatility of the market, as this is what makes trading on the Topps apps so much fun.

A few weeks ago, I expressed some major dissatisfaction regarding the lack of usage for the teaser character posters that were used to promote the Force Awakens. I was upset that wave one was more focused on the original trilogy and IMAX exclusives, instead of the ones we saw garner major collector attention on the physical side.

Now that we are through wave 2, I am happy that we FINALLY got the full series of character posters, plus a few others that look just as cool. The team definitely delivered on the ask, and I am super excited to have collected all of them. These were the posters that I had been waiting for since last year, and thankfully there were not any short print surprises that kept them out of the hands of the people that wanted them so badly.

To make things even sweeter, we got the theatrical poster as the award for wave 1, something I had been similarly desiring from the first wave, and now that it is checked off the list, its looking like wave 3 is starting off with even more coming this week.

Its pretty clear to me that although we got the posters after the wait through the first program, I still think this could have worked out a lot better had the release been done more like the first posters series released last year. With so many variants and Den exchanges that were put in place for these, it was almost as confusing to collect them as ever. At some point, the team has to recognize that using that many variants isnt going to be something that the fans will react to on a large scale.

I understand why they wanted to use the posters in this fashion, as they didnt want to have sold out cards with more people hungry to open packs. At the same time, there are many ways to do that without offering more than 10 different varieties along the way. That is what made the original cards so attractive – simplicity in look and simplicity in release.

Either way, im just happy to get the ones I asked for, and I am really excited that more are on the way. Collecting these sets has been fun on the base level, as the odds are not crazy enough that you cant pull the cards you want.  Similarly, the new framing on the cards has grown on me over the last few weeks, and I think that for most of the posters it is added to, the cards do look nice. Im not sure if we have the full information on why frames are needed, but im not as taken aback by them as I was when Series II launched.

In closing, sometimes its just better to revel in the completion of a set. It might not be perfect, it might not even be ideal, but it is fun to know that you have the things you wanted and are in line for the reward. I think that recent content has gotten better in many different ways, and it seems like they are opening up a bit on original cards in the app. Posters might not be 100% original, but its content that the fans adore. Im hoping that as the weeks progress towards the release of Rogue One, we continue to see fun chases all over the app.

We have all been waiting with extreme anticipation for what is coming during Topps Huddle’s first experience at the NFL rookie premiere under their full license. We knew that with full reign to do anything they so desire, the fire was coming, and now that we are getting a better look at what they had planned, I dont think even I was ready for how cool some of this stuff is.

Mini Camp Series

Over the last few weeks, NFL teams have gathered across the country for their first organized team activities of the offseason. Many rookies were present to get their first go as a member of the organization, and with it, many cool action shots of the rookies as they put on the gear for the first time.

The design for this set is minimalistic, but man, it is sure good looking. The Huddle team has made it their mission for the offseason to make stunning trading cards, and they have succeeded in spades. Each rookie looks like they are ready to jump off the front of the card, and the gold variants should be pretty tough to track down. Awesome, awesome stuff.

Mini Camp Live Signatures

During the course of today’s on the field activities, Topps has been hosting each of the rookies and getting them to actually SIGN the cards on a tablet. These cards will be added to the app over this weekend, and its not going to be something you will want to miss. These cards should be some of the best rookie based cards of the program, and will be coveted by all the team collectors that are out there.

So far, we know that there will be base and gold variants, but we have yet to see the full scope of what the program looks like. Live signatures has never happened in Topps Digital before, and I cannot wait to see it drop.

Drawn Play Signatures

After signing their mini camp cards, the players are also taking time to draw out their favorite plays on the tablet, which will then be converted into cards as well. These plays look like the rookies really took the time to diagram out some of their best moves, and it is going to be pretty cool to see how huddle uses the cards.

In Uniform Player Photos

Being that Topps does not have a physical trading card license, they are likely not going to granted access to the field to take their own shots with the players. They are likely going to be forced to create a photo booth in their tent and do the best they can. Although this is unfortunate in so many ways, they should be able to get some awesome content from all the rookies who cycle through their station.

Right now we know about a small portion of the plans for what is going down, but its guaranteed that you will want to be waiting on this content.

Stay tuned for more information as the event closes out.

We have gotten through week one with flying colors on The Walking Dead Card Trader, and now that we have a pictures of what the marathons will be, I wanted to take some time and offer some thoughts on the different programs and their strength.

Chop Series

This is probably my favorite of the individual marathons, even though Im not a huge fan of the name. The actual design template is second to none, with the cleaver offering a dynamic theme to the set’s subjects. These types of inserts will make the game seem very different from sets in its entertainment predecessor, and I absolutely love it.

Vintage Series

I was a huge Vintage fan in SWCT, but it was because the universe had roots in a culture considered vintage by today’s standards. With the first movie hitting theaters 40 or so years ago, that is definitely within the correct timeframe. The Walking Dead premiered in 2010, which was so recent, the iPhone 4 was released during that time frame. Yes, a phone that can support the app was already in existence, which means Vintage does not apply. I get that brand continuity was at play, but I just dont think it fits.

Smitten Series

I absolutely love the design of this set, and the antique style locket that shows the two characters looks so much like this is a house the characters stumbled upon as they are trekking through the south. This could end up being TWDCT’s version of connections, and I fully support the way that this series is set up. The romantic element of the character development is a key part of the show’s narrative, and this set is a great representation.

Walker Series

Ah yes, the true stars of the show. This set looks like it is going to be bloody and gory, and that makes me very excited. Its clear that they are not going to shy away from the gruesome depictions of the Walkers’ state of decomposition, so that will play right into the series here. Im hoping we get some fun entries of characters who have found their way into the zombie hoard.

Locations Series

The different places where the show’s characters have interacted with are some very interesting subject matter. So interesting that I kind of feel like this is shortchanging their importance. In SWCT locations were used as weekly chase sets, and offered a lot of content specific to the place itself. Although its clear that this does not mean that isnt going to happen, its kind of the first sign that it might not. I would love to see a whole West Georgia Correctional set, and hopefully we still get it.

Topps Choice

With the distinctly designed approach that we see in all the above insert sets, Topps choice almost seems out of place. It is clean and modern instead of dirty and old fashioned. The design (which is taken slightly from the Huddle nicknames series) looks cool, but I would have much rather seen them go a different direction for an app that lives in such a decrepit universe. Sleek and modern arent what we have come to love about the Walking Dead.

Overall, I can tell this app is going to be awesome. There is a lot of fun ground to cover, and these marathons should have a lot of wiggle room to be intriguing to the users. If they go the directions everyone hopes they will, Walking Dead Card Trader will have no issue being a productive member of the digital world for Topps.

Over the last two years, Tyson Beck has had quite the successful run designing cards for Topps. As someone who thinks the designs are a little too unconventional for physical, they sure do fit in perfectly for all the digital brands. We have seen very popular sets in Bunt, Huddle and Kick, and this week, we are getting our first taste for 2016.

Topps Bunt

Last year, Fire ended up being one of the most popular weekly chase sets, as users tried to track down the tough to pull base and variants for the top players in the game. This year, a new format, which includes a card exchange element has been released, and it might be even more popular.

Not only do the cards look just as fun as they did last year, but the variant game is pretty strong for this release. Each card has three levels, including an Orange and a Gold which requires 2 of the lower levels, plus equipment. With Golds scoring at 4x, you can imagine the importance of collecting this set other than the cool looking designs.

Topps Huddle

Fire football looks like an absolutely enormous set. Unlike Bunt, the super premium content seems to be a huge part of the release, with all sorts of signatures, and a bunch of other fun cards. The content of this release is absolutely huge, with the first wave already

My only complaint is on some of the single sig cards, which feature a box behind the digital autograph. Obviously some of these cards are quite dark in their background, but at the same time, that is where a bold signature with a drop shadow would stand out just fine. Im guessing the designs were taken directly from the physical team, but this is an element I would have loved if it were designed differently. Corey has done some awesome work, but adding the signatures to the cards in this way is a bummer.

As for the other cards in the release, this is going to be nothing short of Epic. Bunt has done similar sized releases in the past, but I have never seen them literally use every card in the physical product. Not only is this insanely time consuming, but also insanely worth it to me. Blurring the lines between digital and physical is a great approach for Huddle, especially now that Topps Football is no longer around.

I will be chasing quite a few pieces of this set, and I cannot wait to see what the checklist looks like. As the waves pass, and more cards are added to the mix, its clear that the physical set will be a guide to what is coming.

When it comes to Fire, digital is quickly shaping up to be synonymous with its layout and design. Tyson Beck does a lot of good work in this format, and its clear that the partnership works very well in each of these formats.

With the release of Topps’s new Walking Dead Card Trader app, it was the first time that they branched out from their existing physical licenses to launch a digital product. To be honest, it was almost completely off the radar, and that is a very good thing. It shows that the consciousness around the digital side is worth acquiring new brands to launch, even if that means physical takes a back seat. The question now remains – what comes next?

WWE Digital

I would be stupid not to put this first on the list. There was an outpouring of support for a WWE app when the first tweets about the recent launch started to surface. Because no one knew that the Walking Dead was on tap, everyone believed the WWE license would be the best one to transfer to a digital arena. Personally, I have to believe that if they did this right, it would go over like gangbusters. The WWE has an ENORMOUS and rabid fan base, and its clear that they want a digital card game that has more of a collecting approach than SuperCard. Im putting high odds on this because of how much sense it makes.

Odds: Even money

UFC Digital

Again, like WWE, the fans for UFC have been very vocal about getting the chance to have an octagon themed app like Topps is capable of. As mentioned prior, UFC is a physical license that Topps has in the bag, so its a natural conversion. Without a sports app released in over 3 years, its time to get back into the non-entertainment game. Like WWE, this app just makes too much sense, and deserves higher odds.

Odds: Even money

Dr. Who Digital

This is more of a longer shot, as its clear that Dr Who’s fan base might not be something that can support an app to itself. As part of a larger entertainment grouping, I could see it being more popular, but as a whole, im not sure the show has enough of a following in the US to make this work. That being said, if the physical products released in the coming months take off, they could reconsider.

Odds: Long shot

Garbage Pail Kids Digital

Like Dr. Who, this is a Topps physical license that I am skeptical about support from the app crowd. Cross traffic from the other apps would be interesting to track, but Garbage Pail Kids isnt a household name the way that the Walking Dead or even Dr. Who might be. There are some nostalgic individuals who would LOVE to see their favorite cards from their youth get the digital treatment, but GPK just doesnt have the collector appeal in a way that I see an app being built around.

Odds: Long shot

NBA Digital

Rumors around the watercooler is that the NBA isnt all that happy with Panini on the physical side. The fact that they didnt negotiate a digital exclusive means that Topps could get in the game if they so choose. This would take a lot to happen, but if I were in the position that Topps is in, I would be gunning for it like a maniac. Im not ready to say this is imminent, but its more of a gamble now than it has been before. As one of the main sports out there, with an app already in existence, Im putting better odds on it.

Odds: Middle of the Pack

NHL Digital

Again, the only reason I am putting this on the list is because its one of the big four sports. Because its one of the big sports, it has to be on the radar. Upper Deck has a good thing going with E-pack, but its not a true digital card program. Being that the NHL is their exclusive license on the physical side, its clear that Topps has reason to want to get in the digital game. Like the NBA, dont hold your breath, but it just cant be out of the question.

Odds: Middle of the Pack

NASCAR Digital

Im not sure why, but after WWE, this would be my dream sports app. I just dont see NBA or NHL being on the cusp at all. There are too many roadblocks for them that I dont see with NASCAR. Although I am not a huge fan of Stock Car Racing, the prospect of what an app like this can bring to the digital world would be amazing. Similarly, Panini just took over a limited physical license and plans to release NASCAR products on that side of the fence. I would say from that perspective, it would be stupid to think it isnt on Topps’ radar as a potential sports addition to their portfolio. Fantasy is big in NASCAR, and with a live aspect to the game, you can see how it would fit perfectly in the digital world.

Odds: Middle of the Pack

The Simpsons Digital

In terms of a high profile entertainment license, the Simpsons have a huge global appeal. Although the collecting side of the show is small, the way that Topps could market the product would be insane. Physical products would also be something worth chasing, especially because so few companies have tried to make the products. Think of all the guest stars and directions this could go, and if done the right way, could be literal digital insanity. That being said, I have to believe there is a reason that so few companies have gone down this road. Maybe the show’s team is tough to work with. Who knows?

Odds: Long Shot

Seth McFarlane Digital

There are a few shows that McFarlane has done, mainly Family Guy, American Dad and Cleveland Show. These shows have a huge internet following, and Family Guy remains one of the most popular animated shows on TV. McFarlane has done work recently with Leaf in the last few years, and might be open to going down the digital path if he got the right offer. This would be a multi-branded app like Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead, so it might be something that all the shows can coexist. Would be great to see. Im putting better odds on this because of the recent physical sets.

Odds: Middle of the Pack

Marvel Digital

Im going to close with the one license I would say would be as good as Star Wars, and believe it or not, its another Disney affiliated company. Marvel’s recent success with all the movies could make this app so big that Topps might be able to fund the division for years. Marvel as an entertainment app would be something that has as large a universe as Star Wars, maybe quite a bit bigger. Movies, Comics, Toys, everything would be literally the best thing to happen to digital since Star Wars. If Topps can find a way to get this done, get ready for the biggest app release in history. 10 years ago, this would have been a joke, but now, its the holy grail. Upper Deck owns the physical license, and has done work with movie themed cards. I know its possible to get this done, but it wont be cheap. It might be so expensive that it cant happen. Odds reflect that situation.

Odds: Long Shot

I would love to hear what you all think, as the fans seem to know what they want in terms of a new chase with a new app. I think we could see a yearly cadence if the SW, TWD process continues to be the case. Topps Digital is expanding as we can see, and I hope more fun is on the way.

To me, when a set clicks in Bunt, there can be major fireworks in chasing the cards. We have seen it time and time again, when a cool set triggers a tidal wave of value – especially when the set is tough to get. This year, the Bunt exclusive content has been amazing, including some of the best looking inserts we have seen in the history of the app. Here is a breakdown of my favorites.

Universe

When I saw this set hit, I was floored. I think the way the cards look is out there, but it works incredibly well in a lot of different ways. The checklist was good, the pack format was good, and it all came together with a great award. Although these arent traditional baseball card ideas, that’s what make them so cool.

Posters

This set is still running, but man do I like what they did with the designs. I especially like the detail in the folds on the card, as well as the stadium image that accompanies the player. As someone who had posters like this on my wall as a kid, it brought back great memories.

Galaxy

Another theme that is out there a bit, but the look of the cards themselves is really, really cool. The card exchange element of the set made for some trading intrigue that I always look forward to, and that is always a plus for a set. The more trading the set encourages, the better I feel it resonates with the team.

This Week In Bunt

Headlines in 2015 was cool, but nothing like this program in 2016. I love the instant gratification of the biggest moments from the prior day, and the addition of a weekly award is quite the improvement. The design packs a lot into the front of the card, and even with so many elements, it still works really well. If my Twins werent so freaking terrible, I would have many more of these cards in my collection.

Signature Series

As I talked about when the app first launched, the signature series cards this year is one of my favorite designs in the 4 years they have been a part of the app.  Using multiple images per release, plus different signatures in the case of Maeda is a fun twist that I gravitate towards. The big daddy of the app really has a lot of pop this year.

Fan’s Choice

I love retro cards, and 1984 was a really good year for Topps. Because this isnt a really original design, I have to give credit to the team for picking a year that works so well with a Bunt format. Last year’s Fan’s choice had more spring training posed shots, and the change to game photography makes me like these that much more. I hope we get more sets in a retro arena soon, as I feel a set like Archives has been missing for the year.

To think we are about a month and change into this feels like things have come a long way with these sets. Seeing a future physical product connection on the way makes this that much more fun, as we might finally see some of these cards in physical form. ToppsDan has proven to be quite the designer, and the exclusive content that hasnt been taken from Physical shows his prowess. As someone who has become more of a collector than a gamer this year, I have been really impressed overall.

This is a big, big week for sports cards, especially on the physical side. Every year in late may, the NFLPA invites the top rookies of the class to Los Angeles to don the uniform for the first time. Many people will be there to take photos, meet the players and get content for the season. For the first time in decades, Topps Physical will not be represented. However, unlike previous years, I would expect that Topps Digital will have a reason to be present and involved.

After the event last year, we got a lot of content surrounding the rookie premiere. A LOT of content. Because the app was not yet licensed by the NFL, the cards focused more around the behind the scenes than it did on the field. Now with Rookies able to be pictured in their NFL uniforms, all of that can change.

Content will likely not be in the app immediately after the event is over, but once all the editing and approvals are done, look out. I can see this being a welcome source of rookie based content for a long time, and with lots of team collectors HUNGRY for full uniform cards of their team’s draft picks, it should be a blast.

If things go the way they did last year, we should see content that hits all over the spectrum of value and cost, something that might continue the “Road to the Draft” type of theme they have been running with since the combine. I cant even put into words how excited I am to see what they will come up with.

For me, its all about the super premium content that might be on the way, as that was the plan coming out of the NFL draft. I would love to see a rookie premiere signature series, relic series and maybe even Limited series come out of this, as for right now, the rookies are the most alluring part of the offseason there is.

No doubt, Huddle’s content has been so incredible these last few months, that I am putting a lot of trust in them to continue delivering compelling content. I have a feeling that this is going to be something you will NOT want to miss.

Here is a list of rookies that are scheduled to attend, including all the top picks and even a few surprises.

Moritz Bohringer, Vikings
Devontae Booker, Broncos
Joey Bosa, Chargers
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
Leonte Caroo, Dolphins
Corey Coleman, Browns
Alex Collins, Seahawks
Connor Cook, Raiders
Pharoah Cooper, Rams
Trevor Davis, Packers
Kenneth Dixon, Ravens
Josh Doctson, Redskins
Kenyan Drake, Dolphins
Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
Tyler Ervin, Texans
Will Fuller, Texans
Jared Goff, Rams
Christian Hackenberg, Jets
Derrick Henry, Titans
Hunter Henry, Chargers
Kevin Hogan, Chiefs
Jordan Howard, Bears
Cardale Jones, Bills
Cody Kessler, Browns
Ricardo Louis, Browns
Paxton Lynch, Broncos
Braxton Miller, Texans
Malcom Mitchell, Patriots
Chris Moore, Ravens
Paul Perkins, Giants
Dak Prescott, Cowboys
CJ Prosise, Seahawks
Keenan Reynolds, Ravens
Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs
Sterling Sheppard, Giants
Wendell Smallwood, Eagles
Michael Thomas, Saints
Laquon Treadwell, Vikings
DeAndre Washington, Raiders
Carson Wentz, Eagles
Jonathan Williams, Bills

This is the part of the launch that I was most looking forward to. Its always fun to see what people think, and so far, its clear that people are very excited about a new app in play. That doesnt mean that they are all happy with every aspect of the app’s first day, but its worth collecting some of it and offering some of my thoughts as well.

Card Design

From what I have seen on twitter and in the app so far, the fans are loving the look of the cards. I dont think that anyone is saying the main inserts released so far arent worth checking out, and in some cases, I have even seen comments how they might be some of the best looking cards in all the apps.

My reaction: Agree

I think the design team has done a great job making the subject matter compelling in a way that fits the platform. The chop inserts are absolutely incredible, and the experience of the people behind the cards really shows through. Alfred has had his hands in all the apps in the past, and was a design lead in Huddle for a number of years. Walking Dead will be happy to have him at the helm.

Content Structure

This is where things get pretty dicey, because in a lot of ways comments suggest that people went in expecting one thing and got another. The main piece of feedback I have seen is that people wanted the team to start more in the way Star Wars Card Trader started instead of using a model similar to the way it is now. With new people coming in, the fans have been upset that bundle purchase programs have already started being introduced, despite the app being so young. The precedent doesnt sit well with a fan base who has grown increasingly restless with recent structure in SWCT.

My reaction: Agree

Right now, the app needs to hook users before doing anything else. Cross traffic will support the numbers in the first few weeks, so there is no reason to alienate fans of the show who have never been a part of the Topps Digital crowd before. That’s not saying NEVER offer bundle cards, but it is saying to let things marinate before going that direction. I see cash dependent programs being a need of an economy where too many coins are floating around. At the moment, no coins are in the economy outside of what was purchased during the first 24 hours. I see no reason to go down that path so early. Bottom line, the Walking Dead has a following, but nothing the size of Star Wars. The users will need to be coddled more than I think the team seems to want to coddle them. I think this is the first shot across the bow, and I will say, I side with the fans on this one.

Base Cards

I loved seeing the reactions to the base, as its clear that Topps did not pull punches with some of the gory details. Some people love it, others are a bit grossed out. Both of which im sure are the exact reaction that was within expectations. There has been a lot of consternation over main characters without base cards, especially Rick and Daryl.

My Reaction: Disagree

What people didnt seem to notice was that the main character base we were all freaking out about are pictured in the splash screen. They are coming and its probably going to be sooner rather than later. From what it looks like, there will be content based around their release, so im not too concerned anymore. When I first looked and saw they were missing, I was confused. Now that I have had some time to let it sink in, im actually excited.

Android Launch Issues

I feel for the non-iOS people out there, because it seems like Android always has issues. That being said, after quick and explanatory response from the team, everyone seemed to be very impressed with the interaction they got for the issue.

My Reaction: Agree

I love that ToppsKat and ToppsCW are diving in with the community, something that will hopefully continue. Although the issues consistently occur, sometimes its more about the way the team reacts, versus how the issue impacts the game. If users are addressed up front, like they were, most people will continue to bear with you as things are resolved. Big kudos to the team on this one.

With one day in the books, it looks like everything went about as well as could be expected. Im very eager to see what the content for today looks like, and what some of the marathons end up being. Content will be the star of this app until we see what other surprises are up their sleeve, and hopefully the criticism discussed wont be a permanent stain. Cant wait to see what’s next.

Considering how big a day this has already turned out to be for Topps Digital, this news is something that I am just as excited about. Ginter has been a beloved set for baseball now for 10 years, and it has been used a few times in all 3 of the sports apps. Its retro look and awesome content has been responsible for some great cards over the years, and I am glad we are getting the full treatment in Huddle.

Obviously the cards look amazing. The gold sigs are so nice in their design that I actually want to try for the set. The low count legends should have some MAJOR clout in the trade economy, and that doesnt even speak to the 1/1 signature that is also available.

Seeing that this is broken up into a few different waves adds to the appeal, as the awards will fuel a fire for a lot of the big spenders in the app. It also gives the boxes a bit of time to marinate, as people know that more and more content is on the way.

The most important piece of this really has nothing to do with the look of the cards itself actually. The fact that Topps is committing to using physical centric designs after the expiration of their physical football license is quite refreshing. Although physical cards may be done for Topps football, Huddle’s new deal with the NFL ensures that Topps will continue to be a factor in football cards.

I am a huge fan of this program, and with 2 boxes now in a week, I think its safe to say that the offseason is no longer “down” time for Huddle at all. Bridging 2015 and 2016 with great looking cards will be a huge factor in the launch of the new build, and it seems like the team is invested in making their app relevant year round.