Digital Card Central

With the release of the new app, there is a lot going on. Everyone is scrambling to get set up with their collection, and very few people know what to expect in the coming weeks and months. It feels very much different than the first week of SWCT in that we have context of what might be coming, instead of going in blind. There are a ton of eyes on this release, as everyone knows the boom that is possible. Who knows, there could be tons of content on the way that is beyond anything we have seen before. Here are my main questions.

Question 1: Is there a gameplay element to the app?

Right now, it looks like the app is structured similarly to Star Wars, which I would guess they were hoping to accomplish. That doesnt mean that there isnt some future plan for users to be able to play along. In the Mashable.com article from this morning, we saw that some element of app response will be used along side the show(s), but that could mean anything. We could see live content, app gameplay, something new? Its all unclear, but that is one of the things that makes this so much fun.

Question 2: What will be the anchor insert?

The sports apps all have signature cards as their anchor, and Star Wars has Vintage as their anchor (at least they used to). For both scenarios, the cards carry and carried extreme weight in the trade economy, and on eBay. The original Vintage set was so valuable, its prices made national news. For now, we still have no clue what to expect with the marathon cards, but if the previews are any indication, its going to look great.

Question 3: How much value will the main inserts have?

With so many eyes on the app, Im not sure we are going to have the lightning in a bottle the same way we did with SWCT. So many people came to the app in the first week, and then left, never to return. Although they were replaced tenfold by new users, the cards on their accounts were lost forever. Because EVERYONE in all four of the existing apps will bring cross traffic, im not sure the value will be as high. That’s not saying we wont see some big numbers, just not 150 dollars big. You never know though.

Question 4: How much longevity does this have?

Star Wars is forever. The sports leagues are never going to go away. These things are constant. A television show or shows is a different story all together. Think about it this way, is it possible that a show like the Walking Dead or Fear the Walking Dead gets cancelled or closes out prior to the app wanting to end? There is an endpoint to every show (unless you are the Simpsons), and though popularity for the franchise is at an all time high, im curious what might happen if that changes. Fear the Walking Dead is a brand new show, and its longevity compared to the original is far from certain. If the show ends, what happens to the app?

Question 5: Will mature content limit the popularity or increase it?

I know this seems like a stupid question to ask, but its a legit one. My son has his own Bunt collection and Huddle collection. He loves ripping packs. He isnt going near this app. Although the blood and gore looks cool, it kind of changes the target market from a younger crod through adults to adults only. That isnt necessarily a bad thing, as blood and gore isnt the taboo it used to be. Plus, as said prior, im not sure you can do this app the right way without it. Because of the graphic detail included in the sets and design, we could see more adults WANT to participate. Adults also have much more disposable income to throw at the content. This could end up being a positive.

Question 6: Will Star Wars Card Trader be used as a model or a warning?

TWDCT is the second entertainment app in the stable, and its hard to prevent people from drawing connections. I also think its hard to avoid the fact that the Star Wars community has gone from one of the tightest knit of all the apps to one of the most divided. Due to a number of situations at play, the content of the app has changed drastically since the start, and it really hurt the way users interact with the game. Although SWCT delivered some of the most intriguing content of all four apps during the last few years, it has also alienated a large portion of its customer base in some aspects. That being said, its still the biggest app Topps Digital has, and its model is something that TWDCT should take note of. From what I see on Twitter, many of the tweets have commented on the parallels, and I dont think that was unexpected. Im hoping the new app establishes its own identity, but I wouldnt be opposed if it took some pages from the playbook of what makes SWCT so much fun.

Question 7: Will the comics ever come into play?

Its no secret that the Walking Dead is not an original concept. It was based on a comic series that might be one of the most critically acclaimed books of all time. Being that is the case, Im curious to see if they have license to use content from the series, even though it is not part of the AMC license currently pictured on the banner. It would likely require a lot of extra planning and to be honest, I would be quite surprised if they can use any of it anytime soon. Because the comic is so good, I hope at some point, its in the cards.

Question 8: Will episode content be a big focus?

Because the episode content is so secretive to prevent spoilers, I want to know how the app is going to deal with people who may not want to know what happens until they get a chance to watch. More importantly, can Topps even get episode content far enough ahead of time to get design work and approvals done to release in a timely fashion. I would guess each season of the show will be represented, but I still havent figured out how they are going to go about it. Personally, I hope live content is available quickly, especially with some of the storylines going on currently.

Question 9: How will Topps use the show’s marketing channels to get new users?

Lets be real here. Millions of people watch the show every week. That’s a lot of people who might want to participate in the app on a limited basis. Because of how large the community is, im curious to see if Topps will run ads or dive deep into the message boards and marketing for the show in a way that drives user count into the stratosphere. If I were in their shoes, I would be sending my marketing team to the mattresses trying to find ways to infiltrate as much of the online community as I can. Blogs like i09 and Mashable are a start, but other mediums like Walker Stalker Con and Wizard World need to be on the radar too.

Question 10: Does this mean more entertainment apps are on the way?

Topps has licenses for Garbage Pail Kids, Doctor Who and others that seem to fit well in a spectrum like TWD. I am very interested to see the future, as this app could be a springboard into licenses that are not multi-billion dollar Disney properties. We need diversity, and that means taking risks on things that might not have appeal on a level like SW does. It gives Topps a way to be the trailblazer in the market, instead of one in 10,000 like they are with Star Wars. Right now, they are the only people in this market for the Walking Dead, and it will be a huge step to show that you dont need Mickey Mouse to help get you an audience. That is a really big test, and I am getting more confident by the day that they are going to pass with flying colors.

Overall, I am beyond excited for this app. Even with all the questions, there is celebration to be had, if not only because app expansion means that there is room for growth in digital cards. If the arena was doing poorly, this would never happen. With such a big array of possibilities out there, this is a great time to be a digital card collector.

I expect some amazing  content for the new Walking Dead Card Trader, and I would expect we are going to start to see them today. Mashable.com published a few previews today, and I must say, the Topps design team has done a tremendous job.

Although I am not sure if these are marathon previews or insert set previews, it doesnt matter. Im on board with these, as the design does everything you would expect from an app like this.

What still remains unclear is the Vintage/Signature type equivalent, or the one marathon that everyone is going to want. Whatever it is, all of the apps have launched with the most important cards leading off, so I would make sure to get whatever you can during the next few days. Any insert that is released should be on your list, and if they look anything like these, Im beyond excited.

My favorite of the release is close between the hatchet card of Rick and the blood red look from the Daryl card. This app is going to take Topps Digital to a place it has never gone before, and its clear that they are going all in with some provocative looks. If this app is going to work, they are going to be required to push the envelope with mature content, and I am fully supportive of that. I dont think it can work any other way.

Over the last few years, AMC has turned themselves into one of the top networks for original series. This includes the Walking Dead, based on the popular comic of the same name. Because of its intense storylines and imagery, combined with great writing and great acting, the show is one of the most popular dramas on TV. Now, it is also the next app from Topps, being the first app to have a dedicated digital license in the process.

For each of the first four apps, Topps has used a physical license to launch the product, and provide brand continuity. With the Walking Dead Card Trader, that is not the case…yet. Lifting off from the same platform as Star Wars Card Trader, this app should feature a similar approach, albeit with blood and gore oozing from every open wound. Its going to be amazing.

Like Star Wars, the show has a huge cult following, including conventions around the country and a huge online community. With the right approach and the right compelling content, you could see this app explode similarly to what we saw with Star Wars. Although the target market is a bit more adult aged, the fans are as passionate as we see in the galaxy far far away.

With a new series in Fear the Walking dead premiering, further opportunities could be at play. We already see the show on the splash screen, and with it, more possibilities of a multi platform operation.

In terms of the setup, it looks like the app features an identical approach to what we see in the other apps. Transmissions provide the news, fan feed offers a trading post, and the home screen allows for personal customization. Like Star Wars, I dont see a gameplay element to engage with yet, but as we have seen that might not be necessary for huge success. Basically, If you have played the other apps, this will be easy to figure out. If you are new to the scene, welcome to the world of the dead. You are going to like it here.

I will have more content as the days progress, but in the meantime, sit back, relax, and much on a severed limb or two. This is going to be a wild ride.

Yesterday, Huddle dropped the first box since late March, offering premium NFL draft content in combination with signatures, and a few other sets. This Box format obviously is becoming a common way to disseminate premium content in an attractive form, and I have wondered if this becomes a win win for everyone along the way.

When you see that Bunt has made this a monthly offering to their customers, and now Huddle has started to use it too, we start to see that it is better to offset high investment bundles with more than one card at a time. It also draws parallels to physical cards, something that can add an allure to those of us who also collect in that manner.

Additionally, its not one card for the price, and most of the boxes do not come with a guaranteed “this is the card you will get.” Fostering a gambler mentality, where users are enticed to go back more than once, helps Topps, but it also increases the value of the best cards in the box.

For whatever reason, regardless of count or subject in any of the apps, a guaranteed card will not be worth as much as a pack pulled card when all other things are equal. Users want to know that it was TOUGH to get the card they want, and it makes it even harder when other less desirable cards are also included in the box.

Of course, if too much junk lands in the box, no one will buy it, so the producers have to walk a fine line between offering a ton of bang for the buck, and so little that it scares people away.

At the same time, any time something is offered via bundle purchase instead of coins, it devalues the in game currency below what it was. Bunt offers a coin purchase option, which is equivalent to a bit more than what the bundle would cost,  but we dont see Huddle offer that option for people that have saved up enough to buy. With so many people only participating in the app to collect coin bonuses and cross trade when they get something good, coin purchase boxes might be a way to invite that in.

In terms of continuing to cater to the lower end crowd, including F2P, boxes are pretty much out of their consideration. Offering smaller packs with lesser content seems to help a little more in getting them involved, but most of the time these users are looking up at a ceiling of what they can logically expect to be in the market for.

Right now, its pretty clear that the SWCT community absolutely hates when new variants are released into the app, and its because there is so little value left in obtaining base variants when they all immediately go on sale, and few people in the app actually care about a master collection anymore. Using box formats that include other super premium content outside of base variants might have softened that blow, and I am curious if things would be as toxic if people got more value outside of just buying a specific card for $99.99.

I really like what Huddle and Bunt have done because it gives a guaranteed chance at some of the best looking content in the game. Although it is possible to walk out with a dud, many of the boxes do deliver the kind of value that will give you a nice return on your money. For some, it will be out of their price range to pick up, but that doesnt mean that the big spenders need to starve either. Both apps have done a very good job at spreading the content over all the different price points, and this is a way to bring things up a few notches. The lower spenders usually will still have access to packs at a coin rate, even though the premium content is absent.

My only fear is that boxes will be overused, and built to spread out junk content that cant sell in other formats. Hopefully dedicated product releases will continue to happen, and the boxes wont be “lets dump all these dead inserts into a bundle and price it at $34.99.” These types of things need to be well planned and well executed. We have already seen MAJOR issues with Bunt, but it looks like all has been corrected for the next go around. If the next box goes smoothly, Im not sure I would have any problem continuing to commit to the format.

Overall, these types of adjustments in the way the app functions become very very interesting. They keep the game fresh and help to progress the platform. At some point in the future, new tech will come along and another format will be discovered. Until then, Im going to continue having fun ripping packs like this.

Outside of Bunt and Kick, using your locks is something that can be very important to success in trading among the other users. Even in Bunt and Kick, which both have quite a bit of locks to use, things can start to get tight if you have been playing for a long time. With only 25 and 30 to use in Huddle and SWCT, I get questions all the time of which cards should be locked, and I wanted to offer a few thoughts on my strategy.

Background

Starting in 2014, the team created the lock feature, which prevented a card from being added to trade offers that werent initiated by the owner of the card. If anyone tried to include the card in any trade, it would give them a message that explained it was not available.

With super limited cards becoming more and more common, locks were a game changing feature that made trading bearable again for the people who had top collections. With only 25 available at first, people quickly found that they needed more than what was there. Eventually more were added to Bunt and Kick, bringing counts high enough that a user could protect their prized cards without having to make a judgement call on which ones to leave in the wind.

SWCT also added more in a way that most people were not expecting, asking for people to buy a pack or a bundle to get another 5 for usage. Not only was this incredibly unpopular, but still far behind where Bunt and Kick were.

Huddle is the only app not to add more locks, and users are growing increasingly frustrated over not being able to lock down cards in an app that produces the lowest count stuff of all four put together.

Advantages of Locks

As with any collectible situations, having protection is a huge deal for high value goods. With so many people out to capitalize on the the situation, locks can serve as a partial safeguard against the “fishers” who send out hundreds of trades looking for people to accidentally accept.

They can also signal to other users in SWCT which characters you are looking for, as many will lock their hoard to showcase that no trades will be available for that character.

Most importantly, it has a convenience aspect as well, especially in receiving unsolicited trade offers through the feed or blind trades. A low count card can attract new users who will offer junk due to lack of knowledge, or experienced users looking to add to their collection. Not everyone is willing to sort through offer after offer on their top stuff – especially in counters for something they need.

Disadvantages of Locks

When a user locks a card, it effectively removes it from circulation. So much so that even blind trades will not show the owner. This is somewhat of an advantage to an owner, as it will prevent people from knowing who to contact for something they want, but it also hides the card from everyone. Some people do not want to remain anonymous, especially if they are proud of their collection.

Taking cards out of circulation can put strain on the economy for a certain card – especially if it is limited in availability or new. The cards where this is a problem are few in number, so I am not even sure if this is a big enough deal to mention.

Similarly, it can be discouraging to new users, who see that they are far behind from the get go, and cant even try to pick up the cards they joined the app to get. Again, this is a minor consideration, but it is what it is.

I want to say, adding locks to the game just cant be seen as a bad thing, especially with how many people get robbed of great stuff because of scams. All consequences are minor, compared to the major consequences of not having locks to use.

What Cards Should You Lock?

If you cant bear to lose a card, lock it. That’s my rule. If there are few to no offers that would ever entice you, dont leave a card out there. This mentality should be applied when weeding out lesser cards when all locks are used up, almost prioritizing the ones you cant bear to lose.

Similarly, if a card gets a lot of attention you dont want, using a precious lock could save you the hassle of all the offers from people who will harass you. Things like low count cards and 1/1s fall into this bucket, because your name WILL show up on blind trade offers no matter what. A lock will prevent that.

In SWCT, I mentioned that it is customary to lock your hoard card both as a signal and as a convenient way to avoid other hoarders from trying to raid your stash. If people see you hoard Luke Skywalker, they are more likely to offer their hoard for yours based on seeing that indicator.

What Cards Shouldnt You Lock?

Cards you would move for the right offer might be best to leave unlocked. I cant even count the number of great blind trades I have received out of the blue for a card I wasnt enamored with. You never know when the overpay is going to come, and locking a card you might move will prevent those good offers. Bad offers will come too, but that’s a risk I can deal with.

Similarly, locking base cards in the sports app is probably not a good idea, as the unlimited count and ease to acquire will make the lock worthless. Locking untradeable cards falls under the same circumstances, as there is no reason to lock a card you cant trade.

Prioritizing Locks

Here are the criteria I usually think about when I get something in I have to lock, but have none available. Everyone’s criteria is different, which means its in your best interest to think about how your list shakes out.

• Team/Player
• Card Count
• Demand
• Card type
• Visibility on the main sheet

Right now, I have all my locks used on Huddle and SWCT, but Bunt I have a number left to use. With few low count cards released on Bunt that I own, its easier to prioritize. My collection focus is small, so that gives me a lot of room to maneuver.

We can all hope that Huddle and SWCT catch up with the trend set by Bunt and Kick, as I feel it would be welcome across the spectrum. Locks are a luxury that shouldnt need to be a luxury, a feature that should almost be unlimited.  One can only hope.

Today, we get our first taste of a bundle purchase contest, available for 10 dollars in the Bunt store. Basically the equivalent of 50k coins, the prizes for this are pretty nice in packs of Black Boost 3x cards. The elite players can sell for a ton, so itsnot a bad idea to consider dropping the money if you have a good lineup to play.

Because the format of the contest isnt the normal stream of switching players, I thought it might be something that is worth talking through on here to give people some tips.

What is a Fantasy Contest?

For the last few years, Bunt has allowed unlimited switches in the contests, meaning you can literally change as many cards as you need to over the course of the day’s games. This allows for maximum points, and is much more forgiving if your lineup doesnt play well. With the right amount of boosts, this could mean hundreds of thousands of points per day.

On the flip side, Fantasy is much more like Draft Kings and Fan Duel, which prevents switching more than one card into the lineup during the course of the day. This is a set it and forget it contest, and it relies on really good information and really good planning to ensure you dont choose duds in your lineup. If your pitchers get rocked, you arent going to do well, because you cant switch them out.

Choosing Your Lineup

There are a few things to consider, and they arent always easy to figure out. If you are going to play and win, you will need to use the following items to make a determination of who will be in your lineup:

1. Boost level of the card – the higher boosted cards should be among your top choices because they can score exponentially higher points. They can also hurt, so dont use a boost just because its there. Make the right choice.
2. Player position – In a fantasy contest, Pitchers are safer, especially high strike out ones. Over the course of the day, they can make up for runs and hits with Ks, and that will help tremendously. Try to pick hitters that are less prone to striking out on the other hand.
3. Player scoring history – flip the card over and scroll back to see how many times they accumulated positive points vs negative. A bad day can end your chances if the boost is high enough.
4. Matchup – check the pitcher vs batter stats on places like BaseballReference.com or see what their last few game splits look like on MLB.com. If the guy is in a slump, try choosing someone else.

There are also DFS guide sites that can help you to make choices as well, as the daily fantasy blogosphere is huge. The difference with DFS and Bunt DFS is that value of the player is more important in DFS. In Bunt, you can play 9 Nolan Arenados if you so desire.

Setting Your Lineup

When you are adding cards to your lineup, make sure to save all at once. You get one opportunity to set your lineup before it locks, and then you will be stuck if you have open slots. Similarly, DO NOT TRADE any of the cards or upgrade any of the cards in your lineup as they will be removed from play. You will not be able to replace them for free.

Using Your 1 Switch

There are a few ways to make this work to your advantage. You can either save it for a bad performance or save it for a big moment. I like having it in case a player just craps out and has a horrible day, but switching in for a big grand slam or something like that can be huge. he issue is  that if you put in a card, you are basically giving up the stats of the player you are taking out. If that player has yet to play or has yet to score, you might only be gaining the difference between their final tally, and the points for the big moment.

As a point of strategy, I would definitely choose at least one guy from the early games and switch them out with someone from the later games. At the very least, that can get you 10 slots in the contest lineup for the price of 9.

Why Play?

Overall, fantasy contests are fun if you cant sit in front of the computer all night. Its just as much luck as it is anything else, so that evens the playing field more than you would expect. If you have better choices than the guy who plays 9 Carlos Correa, you could easily outscore them.

In a 162 game season, every player has a number of bad days. The great thing about contests like this is that with careful consideration, you might be able to beat those big fish who has an issue with recognizing a bad day in the making. To me that is quite an interesting situation.

Ah yes, the one day of the year, where everyone puts on their Darth Vader mask and starts talking into table fans. This is a fun time for the app as well, as the “celebration” is something that they have recognized in the past. Being that its a day where the world’s consciousness of the Star Wars Universe is at an all time high, I cant wait to see what they are going to do.

We have already seen that Tapjoy bonuses are increased, and large bundles are on sale. On social media, the main twitter accounts have hinted at a big set that is going to be released. Hopefully we are going to get a program of similar size to revisited, as I had a blast putting that together.

The giveaways through Twitter and Instagram will DEFINITELY be in your best interest to participate in – the first of which has already started:

This is going to be a day where the app teams may all get into the fun as well, as Bunt and Huddle may have special sets that they can release. During Force Friday last year, the lightforce sets were released to tie into the launch of Force Awakens materials, and that could be coming again here.

All in all, this day is about what we love. For me, Star Wars means a willing suspension of disbelief. Its that freedom that allows us to have fun and enjoy something that is far beyond our wildest dreams. We all want to be superheroes of some sort, and watching or playing along is a way to experience that in a really amazing way.

Happy Star Wars Day everyone! May the force be with you.

So far, the Force Awakens Portrait cards have been one of my favorite sets released in conjunction with the movie. They use movie stills to showcase a close up focus on the characters themselves – something which drove a lot of what the film was all about. Star Wars has always been as much about the people as the story, and the simple presentation of these cards have made me love this set.

Although the Variants are there, most of them are delivered in a way that is easy to understand, and easy to collect. This is one of those sets that everyone was able to participate in, and for the most part, get something out of. Those things tend to be fewer and far between in the Topps world these days, and when they happen, its no surprise that people go nuts for them.

Seeing that we are getting our first character card of FA Luke Skywalker in the app, all of a sudden, this set becomes one of the hottest ones to complete. With the spoiler-ish type of circumstances in which he appears in the movie, this could actually open some doors for how certain things become available for usage.

Personally, I had a LOT of fun chasing the different parts of this set, and that was after I got in a bit late due to a vacation with my family. Now that I get to see how well everyone has taken this release, Im glad im not the only one who appreciates it.

My plea is this. I know that movie footage material has been limited for usage, up to a point, based on the sets they have released. Im hoping that as more stuff becomes available, we get more sets that use footage stills from the film instead of publicity or artists rendering. Its not that the renderings are bad at all – quite the contrary. Im just asking for some variety and a focus on giving us more of the movie we all got to experience with the app.

Now that FA is out on DVD, I think its safe for spoiler content. Hopefully the Topps team gets the go ahead to start diving in. I mean, how cool would FA widevision be? I would chase that set to the ends of the earth. I can only believe Portraits is the first foot through the door, because I absolutely love this type of direction.

Back in the middle of last year, we got our first taste of cards that used the original movie posters as a theme. Being that Star Wars movie posters are iconic and often described as some of the best around, it was natural for the fans to want to see them in SWCT. Luckily for us, they found a way to make the set work, and work well. The award card being the unreleased “Revenge of the Jedi” poster, changed to “Return” because Jedi should not care about revenge, was awesome.

Although I was upset that they felt the need to use a border on the card for variants, it was something I could live with. To this day, I still have the award card in my stash. There is just something about that set that spoke to me, and it remains one of my favorites.

When Episode VII’s posters started showing up in theaters, I almost wished they would have dropped Series II right then. Instead, we were left to wait until the hype from Rogue One is now more engaged than hype from TFA, and that is upsetting in its own right. One thing about the recent movies is that posters have almost become an art form again, after losing that element in the 90s and 2000s.

As mentioned a bunch of times on Twitter, the only thing I cared about was the five character posters that were used as teasers prior to the main poster being released a few months before the movie. That’s a set of six cards, and four others could be used from some of the other things created for special engagements. So far we are five posters in, and we have gotten 4 IMAX posters and a weird foreign poster from the OT.

This means that unless the character posters are coming five in a row, with the main poster being the award, something is going to go very wrong with this set. These character posters are some of the most recognizable marketing material of the movie, and to see a set go through with out their usage is something I would have a huge issue with.

When you also see that the set has 10+ variants involved, I think this whole experience becomes something that might have been a winner, and turned it into something that is confusing at its core. Although I LIKE the idea of using the Den as a way to get ONE variant of the cards, that cool gimmick is ruined by an insane amount of additional cards that seem to be perfunctory in nature.

I dont get it. I really dont. The fans would have gone NUTS for a set of posters based on the ones that WE wanted, added to some cool underground TFA ones that we would think were cool too. Doing so with the original setup from series 1 would have been a grand slam. Instead, through half of the set, im sitting here wondering why they are trying to get cute on a set that worked SO WELL the first time around. We should be able to have our cake and eat it too. Doing this set the right way would have been huge. Its okay to retread an idea if it killed the original way. This would have killed too.

I know we are not all the way through the set quite yet, but I am curious to see if this works out based on the first 5 cards released. This is something I have been waiting for since November, and if the checklist goes to waste over international original trilogy posters that very few of us have ever seen, we are going to have some major, major things to discuss. I already feel like some intense questions need to be asked about the need to use 12 variants, but this would set me off.

If the main character posters end up being something that Lucasfilms prevented from going into the set, that is a different story all together, obviously. However, its unclear if that will ever be discussed in a public forum. If this was a decision by the team to use the posters they are choosing to use, it becomes a matter of giving fans what they want.

All I have to say is this – I dont ask for much, and I rarely complain about the drama that comes with the SWCT community. However, if these posters arent done right, after many fans have asked for them to be created with care, I might have to stoop to a level I havent stooped to before. This is a set you dont mess with, and so far, we are not off to a good start.