Digital Card Central

If you have been following along with SWCT over the last few days, you have probably gotten caught up with disruption as much as I have. Not only do the cards look seriously awesome, but the way the cards are released definitely raised some eyebrows. I like when things get off the wall like this, and I wish it would happen more.

If you need a bit of an update, the entire release happened under a very unusual context. First there was a very unusual push and bulletin sent to users that consisted of a bunch of numbers and letters. We all thought it was someone fat fingering the setup, but it was intentional. The bulletin led to an old article from earlier in the week, which gave clues to the launch of the new set.

Instead putting the pack in the store when the card was live, the users had to pull up the main sheet and access the packs through the button below the card. It was a fun little mystery, and though it was pretty easy to figure out, it got everyone talking.

It led me to take an inventory of the way cards are put into packs, and how to keep things fresh outside of the bundle purchase or straight rip format we usually get. Although some things do get overly complex, some are simple fun that keeps us on our toes.

Within days of the disruption release, we also got a coded message through push notifications that announced the return of Nightbrothers. Although the packout was not anything new, the format announcement caused a twitter storm of speculation regarding what might be coming. As the code was spelled out as “NB2,” people rushed to figure out what it meant. I love this approach. Keep everyone guessing until the last possible moment. Constant attention means better pack sales, in my opinion. Better sales means more value on our side.

This whole discussion begs the question of what are some other ideas that could take on a similar fun take on releasing cards. We know about pack journeys, or even “find the base to unlock the pack,” but im not sure that is what I am talking about. Here are some fun ways I could see packs going down.

• Choose Your Own Adventure Journey – Basically, release a number of inserts all at once. Each user who opens a pack has a choice. Rip pack one or pack two. Pack one leads to a choice between pack 3 and pack 4, the other pack leads to a choice between 5 and 6. With each choice, the user must decide which direction to go, and cannot go backwards to make a different choice. There is an award for all 10, but trading is a must.
• Community Vote – 12 card set. Each day a vote happens for the following day’s release. Community can buy pack with a base signifying a vote. Whichever card wins, goes into a pack with coin price on it. The other card is released via bundle. The next day the bundle card from the previous day goes up against the new card scheduled for release. This continues until all cards are out.
• Puzzle set – Each release article comes with a clue. Its a 10 card set, but only 5 are needed for the award, no one has a definite idea which 5 unless they figure out the clues. Collect the right ones, get the award. Clues let people know which card they want to pull. There is a den element that lets people shred one insert for the other, but only for a short time.
• Changing Odds – Release a full set in timed packs for a short time each day with every release. Which ever card has the most trades for the day has the lowest odds. Pack odds change every day based on rankings.
• Golden Ticket – Release a set one by one, but all cards are live. Each day, there are X number of golden tickets pulled at an extreme rate that can be shredded in the den for a full set, and an early set reward.
• Locked Release – Release a set where you have to pull a certain combination of cards to unlock the insert, which is then in a guaranteed pack. Basically, pull X card and Y card from packs, and you get access to a pack that has a guaranteed pull of the insert whose combination you pulled.

As I always mention, these types of things take time. Lots of time to set up and execute. We know EVERY set cant be like this. However, I think we need to see an effort to keep things fresh on a regular basis to ensure we stay engaged.

I remember when Nightbrothers hit during last year’s launch of the SWCT app. It sold out so fast that there were two days where I got to open zero packs before it sold out and one day when I got to open 10. They were gone in less than 10 minutes back then, and have remained among the most valuable cards in the app to this day.

Although the lack of available sets, combined with a limited release may have contributed to their popularity back then, it doesnt change the fact that they are the SWCT equivalent of a cult classic. They had no marathon, they never returned until yesterday, and yet people still scour the fan feed for people trading the original examples. Its a phenomenon that is only eclipsed by the residual value of the Hoth set.

It was released yesterday in ALMOST the same exact format that it was released prior, and I loved every last minute of it. 5k coins per pack, with the same parallel structure that was used for the first go around. Not surprisingly they sold out in about 20 minutes. Not as fast as the first set, but that is still insanely fast by today’s standards.

Like the originals, the new version is selling VERY well:

Star Wars Card Trader Nightbrothers Series 2 – Brother Viscus

Star Wars Card Trader Nightbrothers Series 2 – Brother Viscus (Red Variant)

Star Wars Card Trader Nightbrothers Series 2 – Brother Viscus (Black Variant)

There was a giant negative reaction to the reservation packs that were made available, but the complaints were laughable at best. I still dont understand why people take pack prices so personally, especially in a situation like this. Topps knew these cards were going to be big, and no one should fault them for trying to hook some big savers or big spenders with the reservation packs. There are a LOT of coins floating around these days, and there was at least one person who took a dive on the 15,000,000 black reservation pack. That is pretty much the end of the discussion. It literally takes no effort for them to try this approach, and even less cost to try it, so as a business it makes sense. It makes more sense when they have a buyer as we saw.

Either way, this set is a great example of why absence makes the heart grow fonder. Nightbrothers is one of those sets that Topps saved in their back pocket for close to a year. They knew they could go back to the well, and they knew that people would freak. I sure did. This isnt the only set that has this affection, and I would love to see how they could make more of the sets work in the same way. Think about finding source material for a new Reflections set? I would be on board.

I think this set also speaks to simplicity, and the attractiveness of a low count set. I have been waiting a long time for the SWCT team to use the historic and iconic Topps Sports designs to make cards for a long time, and I could see it being as popular as this is. We need a 1952 Topps Darth Vader card. We need a 1986 Topps Luke Skywalker. It cant be complicated, and it has to be limited. Variant free sets tend to have a big appeal, as we saw with the aforementioned Reflections, and also sets like Del Rey. People like simple. People also want to use their coins.

Nightbrothers has a status that will likely be unable to be replicated in a lot of ways, but the set has legs because people continue to remember its impact on the game. It was the first real limited set, and Im starting to wonder if that type of approach has been lost with the new direction of the game. I fully support and understand the usage of bundle purchase cards, and dont fault Topps for using that format. At the same time, there needs to be a balance in a lot of ways.

With such a big splash made with the new set, and a great idea to do a legacy award, I have to hope that this is the beginning of a renaissance of sorts. Lets hope more stuff like this comes down the pike.

You are either on board with all the variants that are sure to come out, or you are not. I dont see many fence sitters these days, and there sure are a lot of vocal people who seem to think the apocalypse will be painted with different shades of SWCT base cards.

With such a difference of opinion out there, what would make both sides happy? How do you build a base variant that silences much of the annoying complaints from people that donr really see the appeal?

Background

Since the launch of the app, there has been over 300 different colors used in the base. My favorite happens to be the most recent in the purple gradient, but I digress. As a way to seemingly shorten production times, and make money off people’s tendencies to follow certain characters, Topps instituted the variants.

They didnt actually start out as bundle purchase, however. They started out as rare cards in extremely cheap packs a few weeks after launch. The green cards were inserted at extremely low rates in 500 coin packs, and just like we saw with the faction cards, had a prize pack associated with pulling them.

It morphed into an expensive foray into character hoarding, with some of the base cards (printed as low as 1/1) costing $100 a pop. So far, we have seen a very similar type approach with series 3, and im curious if there is a way to keep it fresh without pissing off the entire app.

Change the Pictures

Although some of the ancillary characters might not have alternate photos to use, many of the sidepiece to main characters have hundreds. Although new approvals have to take place, a way to keep people on their toes is to offer alternate photos of characters. This might not be universally available, but it would be really cool to make sure there was a NEW element to each release besides the backgorund.

Use Parallax Effects

This is one thing that SWCT has not yet really explored, and a base variant that uses the parallax effect has a lot of possibilities. Think about the depth of a card with space themed backgrounds that makes the photo pop off the front. It would be awesome. I would really like to see what they could come up with, especially as more base variants are released. It has been used in Huddle quite a bit this year, and most of the time with some great visual results.

Offer Hoard Rewards

Instead of incentivising people to buy the packs just because they exist, add another element to it. Offer Den exclusives for the first few people to reach a goal. Shred X number of cards from the new variant to get X. Get to X number of cards of X character from this variant and get their next variant. SWCT’s community is based around trading, and its time to make the most of it. Not only will it get people to buy more packs, but encourage people to seek out even the weaker characters.

More Timers

Instead of specific card counts, I would love to see more timer based releases. People go nuts for low count inserts, and its time to exploit two elements of the product that will contribute to bigger value. A timer creates urgency, and urgency creates value – especially early on. The shorter the timer, and the higher the cost, the lower the count will be. It will be a scramble to get your hands on the base variants of the characters you collect, and that is a way to not only inspire trading, but also more pack purchases.

Pack Journeys

This is the way I would go. Offer a pack that will separate users into a track. The first pack is free, and sets your course. The next pack contains the first variant at X rate, and so on and so forth until you reach the end. You cannot switch tracks until you hit the end, so everyone will need to choose wisely. If set up with cost and value in mind, this could be big. Pack journeys create artificial need to keep opening packs, especially as people get in further. At the same time if the incremental cards are all good, and the final prize is even better, I have seen people spend millions of coins.

Variant Backgrounds

Instead of just going with colors or changes to the border of the cards, change the background to reflect something other than color. Do a first order Kylo Ren, or a light side vs dark side variant for Anakin. Something like that would go a lot further with people who might now see the cards as worth collecting.

Overall, people resent the variants because they feel bored with them. The pink ones and the marathon aspect was a great start, but I feel like we can go further. With so many different pack out options now available, the producer’s imagination can dictate the popularity more than ever before.

This was a banner year for Huddle. NFL licensed for the first time, we really got to see the team stretch their legs. Not only did they incorporate some great sets from the physical side, but they created some of their own that definitely need recognition. Here are my favorite sets that are only available on the app.

Parallax Signature – Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady 1/1

Yes, yes, I know Adrian Peterson is my favorite player. That doesnt take away from this incredible design. The stadium, the picture placement, the signatures. These cards were the best sigs in the app this year hands down.

New Design 1/1

I might be a monster for saying this, but I almost like this design better than the design that physical came up with for 2015 Topps on the physical side. I think that these are some of the most coveted cards in the game, and part of the reason is because they are so cool.

Icons – Sig and Non Sig

There was no more super premium set available than Icons was this year. Each card was extremely costly to obtain, either through the 500k pack or the $99.99 direct purchase sig. Regardless of price, the cards lived up to what you were paying for, and remain some of the most attractive cards in any of the Topps Digital Apps. The multi exposure type approach with a gallery style full bleed presentation was just incredible to see.

Valor Relic – JJ Watt

Relics in digital were a new concept this year, and I think that for the most point they were a welcome addition. The Watt Valor relic from thanksgiving was of a different sort, and really showcased everything that the player and the card had to offer. It featured a digital representation of a snap from his helmet, but the primal pose made the card that much better.

Dynasties

Like Icons, this was quite the difficult set to get, but man was it worth every pack rip. Huddle has a stable of Legends and a handful of active players who have won their fair share of super bowls, and these multi-player cards were stunning in every single way. Not only do they celebrate the best moment of every one of the teams with the best players, but they are dynamic in the way they look.

Playoff Contest Signatures and Base Cards

Adding these cards to the contest rewards for finishing high during the playoffs was a huge reason why so many people played along. They looked awesome, they retained value, and they featured the best players in the game. Even after elimination, the cards still traded higher than just about every other sig in the game. Says something about what people thought about these examples.

If last year’s offseason is anything like this year, we are in for more fun releases as the Summer progresses. Just because Huddle is over, doesnt mean coverage on this site will stop. Only 7 more months until football right?

We all want to know what the next app is going to be. Similarly, we do have a bit of a road map as to some considerations, if not only because the digital licenses have followed the physical licenses so closely. I want to go through some of the best candidates for a new app based on physical cards Topps already produces.

Topps WWE

Wrestling is a huge draw. Huge. I would love to see the crossover numbers of people who watch wrestling and those who also engage in digital gaming. I bet they are nice looking stats. Topps has produced WWE cards for years, and the collection and gameplay elements that could be drawn from the license are almost ideal for a digital format. Not only that, but there are plenty of sets to draw from, similar to Bunt, Huddle and SWCT do for their respective physical licenses.

Verdict: YES! YES! YES!

Topps Garbage Pail Kids

I grew up with these pieces of pop art that parody the Cabbage Patch Kids, and Topps has made them very popular on the physical side, producing many different programs with GPK involved over the years. As recently as the recent Iowa Caucus, they even put out spoofs on every candidate, some of which were amazing. I would love to see GPK as part of a larger app, and hopefully that happens some day. By itself, im not sure it could sustain the cost of putting everything into motion. Topps’ confectionary products could be a target there, as iconic candy like Bazooka and Ring pop might be threads to pull on.

Verdict: Great piece to a larger app

Topps UFC

Again, this could have a very good gameplay element in addition to a collecting element, and MMA is only getting bigger by the day. The only thing is that Im not sure this is a money maker for Topps on the physical side, so im not sure if it would be the money maker on the digital side it would need to be. Folding this in with Wrestling might be a stretch, but the genres are relatable in that respect. I would be interested to see how this might perform, because fantasy MMA is growing in popularity. UFC only happens periodically, and though Ronda Rousey is quite the celebrity, im not sure many people could name other people besides Dana White. Would be cool to see a Ken Shamrock legends card though!

Verdict: Interesting Prospect

Topps Dr Who

Of all the licenses Topps has acquired, this is the one that I feel had a lot of room to grow. Dr. Who is insanely popular overseas, and has a cult following in the US as well. Because there is so much history there, I could see a roadmap for an app that might work in the format that Topps built for Star Wars. The issue is audience size, and whether they could make as much headway with international audiences that would make the digital format worthwhile. Since they just acquired the license on the physical side, we dont even have a good pulse of its viability there either.

Verdict: Wild card

Topps Mars Attacks!

Much like Dr. Who, Garbage Pail and other licenses of a non-sport variety, Mars Attacks is very much in the same vein. Unlike the aforementioned licenses, the audience isnt as large and the history isnt as prominent. In addition to the fun and violent movie, the comics and other source material is really, really awesome. I love what could possibly be done with this, and though the built in audience is tiny, this is where digital might revive a license that has very low visibility.

Verdict: Big Stretch

DREAM LICENSE: Topps NASCAR 

Let me start by saying Topps does NOT have a physical NASCAR license, nor is it likely in their best interest to buy it from the now defunct Press Pass. However, that doesnt mean this isnt a huge opportunity on the digital side. Tons of people love racing, and tons of people are die hards for their favorite driver. If the app could focus on both the fantasy element and the “building a car” element, I think this could be HUGE. Think about pulling driver cards, parts cards, and then accumulating points based on the car you can build. Different parts could add different boosts, and different drivers would give different points based on how they actually perform. Although my wife is the NASCAR fan in the family, I cant help but be interested in this prospect.

Again, I want to be clear that there is no indication that any of these will be the next app, or that there is even a next app in the works. Star Wars looks to have been a perfect storm and its success might be tempered by the release of a new app. Im not sure Topps even wants to stir the hornet’s nest and test the waters, although you never know. Launching an app is costly, and the situation has to be perfect.

Lets travel back to 2013. Back to a simpler time when inserts were all in the same pack, and contests didnt exist. To trade, you had to pull up someone’s user profile, click on their sheet, and offer a trade. In the user profile, you saw the 9 cards they were playing for points at that time. During games, this was a way to see how the best scoring players got their points. During down times, it was something that the apps have been missing for the last 2 years – a way to show off your best cards.

Im not someone that reminisces about those days and misses a lot of what was going on. I very much enjoy the apps and I very much enjoy collecting on all 3 of the ones I play. However, I do get upset with each new year, because I know my best or favorite cards are no longer going to be in the default filter for 95% of the people out there. Because I have been playing Bunt and Huddle since the beginning, I have a lot of cards that are awesome, but also a lot of cards that never see the light of day.

Not only does this lead to my perception of those cards changing, but it also takes away the desire to buy during the offseason or other times where I know the cards will practically disappear come the beginning of the next season.

We all can understand how bringing up a user profile every time someone wants to offer a trade isnt the most efficient way to do it. However, that doesnt mean the trophy case needs to go away. In fact, I would say that this is one of the things that would make an app like SWCT much more interesting.

Back when the 9 card display was active, people used it many different ways. Sometimes it was to showcase their wares, other times it was shown as a trade list, or sale depot. It was frequent that people said “trading cards in my profile” and used that as a way to help people understand what they wanted to deal.

Suggestions on Implementing This Feature

Even if we cant have a 9 card display any more due to screen space it would take up, or lack of space in any spot in the app, 3-4 cards would still make a world of difference. Here are some of the ways I would think about this, and how much value it could create in cards from previous years.

• Add it when selecting a user to trade with on the fan feed – when you bring up someone’s profile display 3-4 thumbnails right below their name. It could be a spot where everyone needs to look.
• Add it on the home screen – not only is it important to make the cards prominent for others to see, but also for the users themselves to see.
• Update year filters so locked cards are visible no matter what – this is a more interesting way of doing it, where users can use their locks to add a section to their sheet that makes locked cards visible regardless of what year they belong to.
• Add more locks – Bunt has 100, kick has 100. SWCT and Huddle have 30 and 25. We need a lot more to make due.

Residual Value

As it stands, many of the users leave the sports apps during the offseason. Its a natural exodus, and adding the trophy case might not prevent that. However, it can provide additional value during the season and during that timeframe – especially if people can continually show off everything they have collected.

I will not be ashamed to admit that my spending all but concludes when the offseason hits, mainly because of the phenomenon in play here. I know that any card I buy will not fall into the next season’s filter, so the prestige of owning that card will only come into play for people who still look for previous years when they dive into trading. That is a more limited group with each passing year, especially with turnover and new user acquisition.

At least if the cards arent going to score past the end of the year, give us a way to show them off.

Trading Impact

Right now, the fan feed must take up a ton of server space. A constantly scrolling feed of people who post the same request over and over again. Many of the requests can get pretty intricate, and this feature might be able to simplify that exchange, or even add a way to build in a way to tag something for trade or not for trade.

Going back to the way people have used the display in the past, it has shown cards that are off limits, it has shown cards that are on the table, or it has added simplicity to the fan feed blurb that is posted again and again. Its easier to say – check my display than list out the 9 cards you want to deal.

Convenience is the name of the game, especially in an app like Star Wars, where many users have taken to hoarding specific cards. This is a way to show off their hoard, add to their hoard or just give a glimpse of what they like. That is quite helpful for many fan feed noobs who have trouble deciphering the codes and vernacular.

I understand I might be too late, as Bunt 2016 could be too far into development to incorporate this. Hopefully this is something that can be worked in, as I see it as a game changer. I dont say that often, but I am using it here for a reason.

Yesterday, Bunt released a new series of card that I found to be one of the more intriguing releases of the offseason. Not because they look cool (which they do), or because they feature interesting players (which they also do). Its because they are the first card in any app to have the distinction of scoring points beyond 2016. You might think this is insignificant, but it isnt at all. This is something that could be big, if played correctly, and I hope we get some more instances of the team playing around with the concept more as we progress through the new season.

Background

In just about every case, once a season ends, so does the point scoring ability for that year’s cards. It happens in Bunt, it happens in Huddle, and I assume it happens in Kick. Not only is this something that can be necessary, but it is also a way to ensure that people continue to buy the cards pertaining to the new season instead of resting on a giant collection of cards from the previous year.

It it necessary because many of the games release high boosted card through the season, and to have those score at the beginning of the following year is an unfair advantage to people who have come on board during the days leading up to opening day. Bottom line, you cant start the season with 25 gold cards of every player from the previous year and still expect the game to be competitive for newer people.

Why This Idea is Big

Obviously, letting every card score beyond the current season would be awesome for all us veterans who have stocked collections. Trust me, I know that. However, in an environment like we have, I also understand that we need to color within the lines.

I think that allowing cards to score past the end of the year is a way to build value where there may not be as much to begin with – especially for rare cards or expensive cards that people want. This should be a luxury type add on, and I fully support its exploration more as we get out of just prospect cards. VIP program cards are a great incentive as it is, but think about the impact it would have if those cards were available for more than just the current season? Pretty nice perk to reward spenders right?

Similarly, physical crossover cards like the new Titans set should also be granted this type of designation, if not only because they are so hard to acquire. They also should be used as incentive for physical collectors to come to Bunt and stay there, or as bait to have digital collectors dive into the physical product. Adding a multi year designation makes that more alluring.

In the end, it might be a way to keep cards at the forefront of people’s consciousness once the year is over. So often the gems of previous years are lost without a “trophy case” to display the best of the best for all to see. It used to be that we could leave 9 cards in our starting lineups for everyone to appreciate, but now that is gone. If a card isnt on the current year’s sheet, its filtered out 9/10 times so no user even cares to look. With multi year cards, older diamonds can get the estate presentation they deserve.

Dealing With Changes in the App

One of the other reasons why multi year cards can be difficult, is because the app changes year over year. Bunt 2016 will likely almost be a different game than Bunt 2014, and could even be very different from 2015. Its crazy how many changes have occurred, many for the better.

This means that a card that has extreme value today might not have the same value in the future. Although that isnt a huge concern, its something that may have more impact than one would expect. So much of Bunt collecting is based on prospective value “profit” and with a desire to stay relevant, the issues could present a problem in trade-ability of the subjects.

Personally, I love when new things like this are rolled out, as it keep things fresh. As we get closer to the new build launching at the end of March or beginning of April, im sure we are due for an education.

A few days ago, I wrote out an extended commentary on direct purchase inserts, and why they can be good and bad. One of the things that seems to be a part of the switch to direct purchase is the coin economy, more over, the fact that there seems to be so many floating around. There are some reasons why this started, and some more reasons why it continues. With almost every insert being offered through direct purchase at this point, is it worth keeping your coins? Here are some thoughts.

I think the changes in the coin economy stem from a number of different issues, and a few are easy to pick out. High daily bonuses, drop in value of marathon inserts, fewer sets to chase on a daily basis, more direct purchase, all have an effect on the value of coins. At the same time, the rise in hoarding within the app has put more value on acquisition of many base cards, which means that coins are still very important to that quest.

Similarly, taking all marathons out of the cheaper packs last year, seems to have had a larger impact than even I expected it would. It used to be that everyone in the app lined up for releases of the marathons each day. For many, the daily bonus of 25k coins gave them 25 shots at a pack containing the marathons at 1k each rip. That bonus made it worthwhile to run fast to the app when things were released. When the packs became 5k a rip, many of the daily users decided it was better to go another direction. Vintage and Widevision still had clout, but the other inserts fell considerably in residual value. Now that we are in wave 2, very little of that value from the older marathons has returned.

The advent of selling SWCT inserts on eBay also exacerbated the fallout from the pack switch, as there were fewer people who now wanted to keep the inserts. So many more acquired with the intention to sell, only hurt further by the ever growing crowd of people who just gave up on marathons all together.

More and more people also started up duplicate accounts to keep raking in the coins, as it was still profitable to pick up inserts every day. Around the same time, the cross traffic from other apps also jumped on board with hoarding coins knowing how valuable big releases were.

Today we saw Vintage released in bundle format for the first time in its run. As someone who hates ripping through packs and coming up empty, I was happy to have an option if I so desired. Others saw it as a further devaluation of the coin economy, which is a fair criticism of the program. Coins are dropping in value, but it has as much to do with user behavior as it does with convenience.

Users seem to frequently choose direct purchase over coins, and with so many coins floating around from everything mentioned above, its not shocking that Topps keeps going back to it. Additionally, so many people have a hoard of dupe accounts that they use to funnel cards, that the economy is even further in decline.

Bottom line, if people dont buy coins, Topps doesnt make money. However, many wont buy coins unless they are out, so its a vicious circle that almost needs a course correction or intervention from the team. There are also frequent posts from the community arguing that sets havent been as interesting as of late, which is also something that might need some attention. Although personally I feel that set quality has been quite good as of late, complaints are louder than support.

In terms of course correction, here are some of the ways I would go about it:

• Coin Drain Base Variant – It used to be that green, spectrum and faction packs would hit and people could spend 300k on 500 coin packs because they wanted to stock up. I would think that putting out a base variant card with a rare chase pack prize when its pulled would do wonders.
• Coin Drain Insert Set – Reflections remains one of the most valuable inserts out there because you had to pull a certain card to get access to the pack. If Topps chose the right source material, I feel like a setup like this could be very helpful. Its sole purpose may be to drain the coins from users, but if the wow factor is there, its a big win for everyone.
• Hoarded Insert Set – The community likes hoarding, and sets like Illustrated and Space Paintings are popular because you have to hoard the inserts to get access to the variants. The current posters set is similar, but there is an element of unknown to the size of the hoard needed to get the color inserts. If done the right way with the right set, this could be insane.
• Super Rare No Variant Set – Another reason why Reflection has so much value is because it was tough to get, looked awesome, and had NO VARIANTS. If the community was forced to chase a card at high odds with no variants, I think it could do some damage to the hoarded coins.
• Permanent Hoarding Base Packs – Create a pack that houses only white base and make it available permanently. I think that base have become very much more valuable in recent weeks with the golds, and this is a way to drain the coins on something that so many people are desperate for.

The point to all of this is that there has to be an abandonment of direct purchase for a while to ensure the coins are gone. If the market is regulated, and the coins are drained, the economy might recover. That’s not saying that a one time drain is all that is needed to fix things, but a frequent incidence of these tactics will prevent the economy from dropping even further.

Direct purchase is convenient and it makes a lot of money if done the right way. At the same time, the negative effects can be enormous.  The team has to be responsible with its usage, if not only because of the perception the community has. Topps might not even want to address this issue, if not only because so many people just decide to buy the card instead of rip packs with the hope of pulling.

I dont think we are at a point of panic yet, and we might not even be close. There are too many things that can be solved with more attention from the users and more attention from the app’s staff and support. If a critical eye is placed on how to improve user experience while still hitting daily targets, I think the community’s feedback might soften. Im still having fun, and I dont see that changing anytime soon. I know that might not be the case for everyone, but I urge readers to think about it from both sides of the coin.

Topps is a business, and that is never going to be different. Its not worth complaining that they are doing things to increase revenue – that’s their main purpose. However, talking about the issues without solutions is just complaining, and I think we have seen that this type of communication doesnt work. Lend your own voice, but also find ways to be constructive. Your points dont fall on deaf ears, but your complaints will have a deafer ear than a well thought out discussion.

Im sure there are a million suggestions people have, so this is your time to get on twitter and share your voice in a way that isnt adversarial. I think we all want things to be copacetic, so that we can continue our enjoyment of the game. Its time to make that the purpose of our voice.

We have all had our moments of curiosity surrounding how the team would approach hoarding in the app. Last year, we saw both Pink cards offered for golds, and the monuments for whites. This year, we have no promises of anything major, but we do have our first systemic recognition that SOMETHING is coming. The question now becomes, what do the Gold cards mean in the grand scheme of things?

Background

With Series 1 and 2, hoarding became a large part of what SWCT’s community found the most interesting part of the game. There were two major hoard targets as both had some very valuable rewards for completing a large hoard. The first are the monuments, which could be had by shredding 5500 whites to claim the prize. You would get your name on the back of the card, which is something I find extremely cool. The second target focused on hoarding Golds, which by the end of the chase, required 70 to shred for 1 of 10 pink parallels.

Gold Cards Create a Feeding Frenzy

The first of the Gold cards was released last week, and required 100 white base cards to be shredded. Because the white base for most characters are already in the hundreds of thousands, it wasnt hard to find trading partners who were more than willing to part with their unneeded base in exchange for the people they hoard.

Luckily for me, I had at least 4 copies of all the Gold releases so far, and happily traded 6:1 on each copy I had. It literally collapsed the trade economy on every one of those characters, as the people who were actually hoarding them had an advantage, but also 1000 new competitors to fight against.

Impact 

Before the golds started hitting, it was rare to see someone hoarding more than two characters. After the gold, I found quite few individuals who were now hoarding up to 6 characters. I mean, its their choice, and they can choose to spread themselves thin knowing that the golds are inevitable for popular characters.

At the same time, I would also have to guess that a few things are going to happen:

• As white base card count increases, so will the number of whites required to get the gold.
• As we progress through Series 3, there are parallels that will require a LARGE amount of white base or other parallels similar to the monuments last time.
• Its still going to be tough to hit the thresholds required for any monument style chases, and it will likely require the user to make a choice on a smaller group of characters.

To believe that the gold releases will keep coming is another question, as they may not have a long enough period of time to get all the characters through the mill. Hoarding an ancillary character to get the gold when it comes can be rewarding if you are part of a small group of people who made the same choice, but it can also be risky. Characters like Slave Leia will be featured, because  4756 people have chosen to hoard her. Bobbajo? Maybe not.

As a result of the golds, its crazy how many trades I have seen declined where they would have been accepted. Instead of people going 1:1 their hoard for yours, now its more of, “well im not sure I want to trade at all. You hit one of my 14 mini hoards.”

That isnt a bad thing overall, as adding value to the economy is always a great thing to see. Even more so when the value is added to cards that are the easiest to get in the game. I have to believe that at some point, people will start to loosen up and the counts will increase enough that you can still hoard characters who havent been featured yet. I just hope my character is done earlier on, so I can get back to trading 1:1.

Again, the question of which characters will get a gold, and which characters (if any) will not get a gold.?

Today is day 2 of 212 until football comes back. That is a VERY VERY long time. Lucky for us, Huddle will likely continue to produce content through the offseason, including a bunch of stuff over the next few weeks. If you are a Panthers fan, the next phase of the Huddle season is probably not going to be very fun for you. For everyone else, especially those like me still grasping to some semblance of football that is still floating in the air, there is a lot to come.

Super Bowl Champion Set

Denver Broncos fans rejoice! If Huddle is anything like previous years, or anything like Bunt, there will be a celebratory set that should be released shortly. Unlike previous years of Huddle, where content creation was limited because of the required use of head shots, we might get game and celebration photos in this set. I could see this being a guaranteed per pack setup, with a rarer variant that is also available.

Von Miller Super Bowl MVP

Last year, we saw Brady get his due as SB MVP with a signature card that was in packs. It would be awesome to see that again for Von Miller. He played an EPIC game, and deserves to be given a card for us to chase. Its rare that a defensive player can deliver back to back performances like he did, and I would love to get the card.

Super Bowl Parade Set

Again, going off of Bunt, this is a distinct possibility. The parade should be happening in the next day or two, and it would be cool to get content that features the event. Although the NFL might not be as open to the content as MLB was, it would be cool.

NFL Honors Award Winners

I have a feeling this set should be coming as well, as the main awards were announced the night before the Super Bowl. Cam Newton won MVP, Todd Gurley won OROY, and Marcus Peters won DROY. I could see a small set with all the main awards, and Cam MVP card as the set reward for collecting everyone. Last year, Huddle put these cards in the base pack, and they were IMPOSSIBLE pulls. The Aaron Rodgers MVP card ended up with only 10 copies. Would be cool to see that type of chase again.

Brett Favre HOF Card

As far as I know, Favre is the only 2016 inductee that Huddle has released cards for. I could see Stabler, Pace, Harrison, and Greene eventually entering the fray, but Favre is clearly the biggest name on the list. It would be cool to see him honored like Bunt did with their HOF. They may not be able to use the HOF logo, but Im sure there is a way to make it work.

2016 NFL Moments

The Packers’ hail mary, Kam Chancellor’s forced fumble to seal the win against Detroit, Cam Newton doing a somersault as he lands in the endzone, Peterson’s 49 yard TD on 4th and 1 versus the Broncos, Martavis Bryant in the endzone in the playoffs, Janis saves the Packers again on the Hail Mary, followed by Larry Fitzmagic! All worth chasing down some pictures and using them for a set. im sure Odell Beckham has a million different catches that can have a card.

2016 Best of Huddle

Through every week, we have gotten a best of Huddle set that is awarded to the best points players each week. For the final release, I would love to get a set that has the Best of Huddle at every main position. Celebrate the best point scorers at QB, RB, WR, TE, DL, LB, DB and so on. This would be a great way to get everything wrapped up and tie it all together.

Again, this season was awesome. I had more fun than I could have even put into words at the beginning of the chase. Huddle’s new look and new capabilities paid off and then some for people like me, and I am pumped up to see what happens as we enter the next phase.