Digital Card Central

Over the last few years, Topps Digital has always had a bunch of fun that occurs leading up to and during the holidays. Each of the 4 apps has launched the first parts of their holiday programs, with Huddle breaking out the seasonal signature program that just started earlier today.

Star Wars Card Trader

In the first of what looks to be a BIG couple of weeks for the app, the holiday base variants hit the sheet today with holiday themed designs. To keep people on their toes, the card counts range from 1 to 10, with no pre-released information on what cards are the lowest of the set.

I would guess that with the movie release happening this week, the app will be all over the place releasing awesome cards, and this is probably just the beginning. I would be on the lookout for a lot more to come.

Topps Huddle

Last year, the Holiday Signature Series was insanely popular and some of the hardest cards to get in the app all year long. They are back this year with a very sleek and modern design, and the lowest signature series count so far this year.

There will be 12 cards in the series with a Kam Chancellor reward card for collecting either the 100 count regular sig or the 25 count variant sig. Going to be quite the chase, starting with Jameis Winston today and one per day until Christmas.

Considering that counts are low and boosts are high on these cards, they should end up holding quite a bit of value.  Definitely excited to see where the set goes. The variants are the first pack inserted card to hit 5x and Im sure many more are on the way.

Topps Bunt

For the first time ever, Bunt is releasing a player focused series based on a retro theme. The 12 days of Rickey hit the app yesterday, and will continue like Huddle through Christmas.

Henderson is a popular player that holds some pretty crazy records, and I would expect that this program will reflect that in popularity. Being that this is the offseason for Bunt, the program isnt as powerful as it would be with a wider audience. Either way, this is a pretty cool idea for a set that I am following closely.

Definitely going to see a lot of cards pop up from my youth, and that always strikes a chord.

Again, this is just the beginning of some major fireworks that are definitely going to be coming. Stay tuned for more info on upcoming releases as they happen.

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

The playoffs are coming, and with that, some of the best times to be had in Huddle all year long. Not only will there be a ton of new cards coming down the pike, but they will be some of the most valuable examples of some types that will hit the app period.

Because of the way Huddle used boosts last year, I can understand where people would be cautiously approaching the coming weeks and months, but I think its clear that things are very different in structure this time around.

The playoffs will bring every last user out of the woodwork, and I absolutely love the level of competition that will inevitably occur as the season comes to a close. Here are some thoughts on getting yourself right before the brawls begin!

Priming Your Roster

Right now, there are a handful of teams that have already claimed a playoff spot. More will be claiming their spot come next week. Teams like Arizona, New England, Denver and Carolina should be at the top of your list to acquire in spades.

I will also advise to focus on the players that arent the QBs, especially ones that arent on the boost checklist. A 3.2x boosted QB will not be as valuable as Gold receivers and RBs from the top teams, and that is where you can score points that no one else will be scoring.

Of course, running QBs that score multiple ways are valuable, but it all has to do with the frequency of their points that go to players without cards available. Now that we have hit series 4, there arent many guys left without cards, and playoff series cards will go even further in depth to pick up guys that were missed. QBs just dont have the same type of point value, and you can check out previous articles to find out why.

Expected Releases

Huddle ramps up everything for the post season, even more so than Bunt in a lot of ways. Now that they are fully licensed, look to every last corner of the app to see where the cards are going to be coming from. There will be sigs, special sets, boosts, and my favorite new addition – legends.

Some of the cards will be easier to obtain than others, but I have to believe that they are going to correct a lot of the card count issues that have plagued the app to date. These arent going to be 1000 count inserts anymore, and I cant wait for the chase.

As for the actual playoff series of cards, which last year was my favorite of the year, things are less obvious the way they are going to go. They could go the direction of Bunt, and offer readily available highly boosted cards to get you to the finish line. They could also go the direction of last year and make the cards more limited. Either way, I expect at least a group of skill players per team that will be highly coveted.

When the games actually get going, there will likely be big game boosts for each and every match up, with increasing boost levels each round. Last year we were already at 9x cards by the time the playoffs came along, and for 2015, we arent even in the same zip code. When you also see that boost card counts are usually below 50 in the higher levels, its not the same requirement to own either.

I think we should see more in the vein of Bunt’s approach than anything. Dont expect 48x boosts like last year in the Super Bowl, at least I hope we wont get to that point.

Going into the rare releases, I have to believe the 1/1 program will continue to be a huge part of the app. I also believe that other low count limited and legend inserts will also be coming out in droves, as the revenue generated in chasing these cards is high for both Topps and the users that pull the chase cards.

With the holidays coming up, it should be very interesting to see how things change, as Huddle clearly catered to a certain crowd during thanksgiving weekend. I expect this to be the case during Christmas, but I would make a habit of buying in only for the cards you can see being of service as the game continues through the end of the playoffs.

Overall Playoff Structure

Last year’s Huddle Bowl was a complete disaster thanks to a situation where players conspired to fix the championship round. Because of the way things ended in 2014, I hope they go more towards a playoff leaderboard instead. It serves to keep people engaged through the whole thing, and prevents a scenario like we saw prior.

Although the Huddle Bowl may return, a big playoff program would be so much more fun in my opinion. As we saw in Bunt, people can hone in on performing like nothing we have ever seen, and it creates a sense of competition that doesnt exist with only 64 users getting the chance to compete.

Hopefully, some of the kinds of prizes that were available during the post season challenge in Bunt will make their way to Huddle, although im good playing for special cards as well.

All I have to say is get ready to rumble, because the train is barreling down the tracks and you can either hop aboard or get run over. The party on the train should be pretty damn amazing, which means that preparing early should get you a better seat.

Buckle up and have a great time!

I hate to harp on this discussion, but I find it endlessly fascinating. I may have gotten a C in Economics in school, but I feel a force drawing me back to examining how value performs in the apps I play.

It all starts with my connection to both physical and digital cards. When you look at the overall lifespan of digital cards, its absolutely nuts how much it mirrors the journey that physical trading cards have gone through. Even more crazy is how quickly digital cards have moved through the gauntlet. Im curious what lessons have been learned by the Topps team, and what that might spell for the future.

I posted earlier this week about the ever dwindling value of cards in all apps that have higher card counts. With SWCT recently releasing a batch of 1/1 base cards, and Huddle releasing a new 1/1 per day, its clear that low count cards are what people want. They sell like crazy, and in Bunt, Huddle and SWCT, the app feeds off of the aura of the unattainable release. They might not get that the more low count stuff that is released the less it will be special.

This is something that is exemplified in physical cards since 2005, and only looks to be heading more and more down the same road in digital. Contrived scarcity has been a part of production for almost 20 years on the physical side, after almost a hundred years of cards being readily available as a whole. Although limited card counts have always been a value driver in the apps, cards had value for many different reasons up until recently.

It really has to do with supply versus demand, as well as the intrusion of secondary market sales information. Because value can be so subjective, and because there is no in game universal value indicator, trading and selling can almost be like playing roulette. Again, this is a very similar situation in physical, even though value is much less volatile because of how many cards are released in every product, and historical comparisons being more readily available.

Although physical cards have a price guide, it is a worthless cornucopia of arbitrarily assigned values in a monthly book. When card prices can change almost daily you can see how laughable a monthly guide would be. That being said, eBay is almost a universally accepted value indicator, something that is quickly being established in digital as well. The issue is that with instant delivery, buying and selling can happen a hundred times as fast as it does with any other material good. Volume is also still quite low, which can mean setting the market happens very quickly. One uninformed user, who doesnt know what they have, can easily set the market for a card well below where the value should be.

Similarly, because digital coins have no monetary exchange rate, things can get really out of whack. Free coins are given daily by the millions through check in bonuses, and this can be exploited easily by savvy users. This means that the cost of obtaining a digital card can be free, and any money received through a sale can be 100% profit, with no opportunity cost spent to ship the item to the eventual buyer. Its just insane how easy it is to offload a digital card in that manner. It contributes to cards being sold well below the cost to obtain them, both in terms of pack odds and pack cost.

This is beyond evident in the higher count cards that still have very tough odds. Take SWCT Vintage, which serves as the marquee marathon for the app. Odds are set at or around 1:75 packs, at 5k per pack. That means that if a user goes the full odds, it should cost 375k coins to pull one. When you look at how much money 375k coins take to buy right out, its more than 50 dollars. How much does the card sell for? You would be lucky to get 10 bucks on eBay.

This could be a measure of people not being aware of or not trusting the burgeoning secondary marketplace,  or it could also speak to how few people still assign value to cards with counts in the thousands. There are just too many of them to go around. It also doesnt help that people attempt to obtain them, just for the purposes of acquiring trade bait.

On the other hand, the culture of the 1/1 and hoarding low count inserts has become a thing. Its not really a fad, because having the best collection has always been part of the game. Its more of a public recognition of the importance of users who have the most low count inserts at their disposal. Value increases or decreases in many cases according to the public’s groupthink associated with these cards, and fame can be had for participation – something that is unlike anything I have ever seen prior.

Bringing this full circle to the point of the article, this is the exact same problem that physical cards have. Opening boxes of trading cards rarely results in a windfall – even though those situations do happen. 75%- 95% of the time, opening a box can result in a loss for the  consumer. Buying the cards you want right out is much cheaper in almost every case. It does remove the fun of opening the packs, much like digital, but that experience will cost you a lot to have.

Inherent challenges exist on the digital side, and Im not even sure I fully understand the problem in which to offer a solution. On the physical side, the secondary market is celebrated and embraced. On the digital side, the secondary market is attuned to a black sheep in the family. Everyone knows they are there, its just systematically overlooked on purpose. I feel as though it is a great thing it exists, but the issues are growing in prevalence.

Lets break this down:

• Cost to acquire target cards through the app is exponentially higher than right out purchase on the secondary market
• User demand for high count cards is diminishing by the day, which exacerbates the above bullet
• Secondary market is growing in size, but not in value. Average sales for insert series is trending sharply down
• Sales for low count cards are holding steady, especially for new stuff and 1/1s
• Fraud through sales and trading impacts user experience, and has no recourse for the perpetrator. If trades for any card are accepted in game, there is no way to reverse if the deal is not legitimate. Many times the perpetrator is not punished for fraud.
• Secondary market sales occur, but are technically not allowed per TOS. The sales themselves may not even be legal under US law. Reselling digital music is currently in dispute. There are ongoing cases under copyright laws that might prevent it from being legit. Although digital cards are MUCH different, Im curious how the above situation might apply to a the apps, knowing that we dont technically own our collections.

The ways of addressing the above challenges are extremely complicated, in my opinion. As I said prior, im not even sure I fully understand the economics of Topps Digital enough to offer feedback.

• In game purchases of user to user single cards should be a focus for 2016 – whether it is digital currency used to bid on user auctions or monetary purchases, the secondary market needs to be brought in house. Topps takes pride in the fact that their digital cards have real world value, but they do not recognize how to realize that value in a legitimate fashion per their TOS.
• The trade system needs to have punishment in place for breaking the rules – Topps needs to invest in ways to investigate fraud within their apps. Saying “be careful of scams!” does not wash their hands of users that game the system. Ways to return stolen cards needs to be implemented. Users that scam need to be permanently banned from the game in a public fashion.
• The trader feedback system needs to be overhauled – this includes comments from people that can be used to warn of previous attempts to steal or scam.
• Trade education needs to be made more robust – Universal value indicators should be a part of the game, made available from the start. Value is subjective, but card types have intrinsic strength that should be very visible.
• Escrow services should be available for cross trading – disinterested third parties recognized by the app should be available for both parties to engage with in completing a high value trade or sale. Both users send their cards, and the third party completes the trade with the two sides to ensure proper completion of the offer. This can be automated.

Whether or not the addressing of these challenges will help to solidify the ever dropping values of cards remains to be seen. Although the lower count cards continue to increase in value, even the rock investments of the past are starting to feel the burden of the new economy.

Physical cards have seen this for the last five years, and I attribute the dwindling population of collectors for the situation. People have become disinterested in continuing to chase the stuff that you have to pay through the nose to get. Average box price is now in the hundreds of dollars, and that’s just the start of it.

This is not meant to be a discussion of how the sky is falling. That is not at all what I am implying. What I am saying is that we are still at a point where specific changes to the way Topps engages with the secondary market can have a tremendously positive effect.

We are about a week and change from the opening midnight shows of the new Star Wars movie on December 18th. I would guess that if you are playing along with the app, you likely already have your plans set for when you are going to see it. The question in everyone’s mind is how SWCT will be set up to celebrate the movie, and naturally I have some predictions.

Force Friday Recap

Its worth going back and discussing the madness that happened on Force Friday. Back a few months ago, Disney set a date for all marketing for the new movie, which was nicknamed to support a large participation from the Star Wars community.

SWCT had a number of releases that took place on that Friday, including a mad dash for the awesome Force Awakens Premiere set, which remains valuable to this day.

Since that time, hundreds of cards with ties to the new movie have been released, which is why I am expecting fireworks for the biggest Star Wars event in the last decade.

Making Plans

First off, if you think nothing is going to happen, you are crazy. I would guess that there will be a multitude of fun things planned for the 18th, including some that might start around 12am ET on that date.

For some, they spend enough that new programs are just fodder at their feet, so this type of planning really only applies to those mid range spenders who have to make a decision on their resources.

Between now and then, I would make a spending decision that will help you to prepare for the thunderdome we are about to enter.The main decision point is whether or not the new stuff associated with the movie has interested you at all. If it hasnt since Force Friday, I would guess this probably isnt up your alley.

If you are a casual collector, these are likely going to be the cards that many people have been waiting for. Even if your plan is to avoid this time, getting your share and flipping it for stuff you want is a very good idea.

To add fuel to the fire, Topps has been partnering with larger Star Wars websites to pump out publicity for their app. I would stay tuned to the bigger sites that have covered this info in the past, including places like i09 and the like. They may have exclusive previews that will give you a clue on what is coming.

My Predictions

This is the first time I have really not had a good idea in my head of what I would do in a situation like this. Because Force Friday was the big reveal of consumer products, and because so many cards have come since then, im not sure how I would go about this.

The obvious part of this is definitely some big card releases. Probably follow ups to the premiere sets, and definitely some rare and desireable inserts that anyone would kill for. Cards like signatures and relics are not out of the realm of possibility, but it could be other things like new card formats and pack journey type releases.

It is also a possibility that new base cards could be on the way, which is something many have been asking for a long time. Adding Force Awakens base cards would be a tremendous addition to the app, as it would provide new hoarding targets, and a whole new crop of cards to build into the different variants.

Smuggler’s Den would definitely be a feature that I expect them to use over the course of the weekend. We saw the premiere cards used as a vehicle to shred for special awards, and that is something that I expect to happen in some capacity again.

To this point, we have not seen any cards, outside of the preview set from the beginning of the app, that use actual movie stills. We might get our first batch of cards that arent built from promotional materials. Each of the sets that have been released so far exist in physical format, and I am curious to see if the movie gives a lot more to work with. I mean, its funny to see the Angles set on my pajama pants that my wife gave me for the holidays.

Post Release

After Friday, the movie tie ins should get more intense, even though the other aspects of the app will not be taking a break. Obviously you cant release a Vintage marathon card with a movie subject, so I wouldnt be worried about that.

Most importantly, have fun with the different cards and programs. I have loved a lot of what they have released to date, and it wouldnt be surprising at all if they really blow people away with what is coming. They have some of the best graphic artists around, and I guarantee you that preparations have been going for months.

This is a big day for all of us, I am glad there is an additional outlet in this app that really makes it that much more interesting.

When I found out that Huddle was going to be fully licensed for 2016, I had a bit of a freak out moment. After seeing the work that the design team was able to do in 2015, I knew that using logos and jerseys would be the vehicle to propel the team to design some of the best looking cards ever released in a Topps App. So far, the cards have looked absolutely tremendous, and I wanted to break down some of my Huddle created favorites from the year so far.

Limited Series

This was a popular series last year because of the low card counts on all the cards. For 2016, the set was completely redesigned, including team color variants for each release. The design is insanely awesome, showcasing the special nature of some of the rarest cards in Huddle. The design has a computer energy to it, and uses some cool effects to highlight the number of the card, and the player themselves. The bright colors make it stand out on the sheet better than previous cards, making it a collection piece that no one can ignore.

From the Lens

A new marathon for 2016, this set is all about dynamic photography, something that is one of the main reasons we love sports. Football produces some of the most iconic images because of the nature of the sport, and FTL is a celebration of that wonderful experience. The design of the card featuring the camera and the film is a great way to display the images in a clever way.

The Elements Series

Lightning, Rain, and Ice are all based around elements of football that tend to be uncontrollable. Some of the most memorable games of the past are bad weather games, and its only natural that Huddle has brought that history to digital. Of the three, Rain is my favorite, and I am enamored with the way the card uses the weather as a filter for the image. Lightning was used in Huddle last year, but its nothing like 2016. The design just pops off the card and forces you to take notice. Awesome.

Valor Relic

Even though this is only one card, its already one of my favorites in the game. JJ Watt is in top form, and the design highlights such a primordial moment with cool design work in the background. I am still getting used to digital relics, but it works so well in this card that I sincerely hope this is not the only one we get all year.

Thanksgiving Signature Series

When I saw these cards hit the sheet on Turkey Day, I immediately dove in head first. The autumn colors and stadium background just looks incredible as a presentation style. I thought the signature series cards looked great to begin with, but this just takes it to another level. As sigs, they will be valuable just because of the nature of the card, but the exclusive look makes a huge difference. Cant wait to see what they have planned for the holidays.

Super Bowl Moments

Just showing how awesome the Thanksgiving weekend was, we saw another series that made the list from the holiday. This ongoing set is the first to use Super Bowls in the cards themselves, and I dont think it wil be the last. My favorite thing about this card is the large photo with the silhouetted player separated from the rest of the image. Its a cool effect that works really well for a digital format. I am beyond pumped for the rest of the series.

Huddle 1/1 New Design

Yes, yes, I know its easy to choose this set, because they are the rarest cards in the entire app. However, when you look at the new design, it is pretty special in its own right. The way the photo is positioned diagonally between the nameplate and corner numbering looks awesome. Considering the original series was just a 1/1 added to the corner of the base design, this is leagues ahead.

Again, these are just my choices for the best of the year, and I am sure everyone has their own. With the Holidays on the way as the playoffs approach, this is the best time to be a part of Huddle.

Ah yes. The ever growing appeal of adding something to your collection that no one else can have. Just you. The way those cards look on your sheet is something of a myth for most people in the Topps apps, but for some, its the only thing they want. The 1/1 designation has been applied to cards in Bunt, Huddle and Kick for a while now, but recently SWCT also got their first taste.

As someone who has collected physical cards for the majority of my life, the 1/1 is a concept that was born in trading cards over 15 years ago. Since that time, physical 1/1s have become a part of almost every single set released, with the number of examples reaching into the tens of thousands. These cards remain some of the most coveted examples of trading cards in existence, with some selling for the price of a car.

In 2010, when Stephen Strasburg was fireballing his way to the top of the Nationals’ rotation, his Bowman Chrome superfractor 1/1 sold for over $20,000. Im not kidding, that is the real final auction price. It made national news.

Personally, I own about 10 cards in my own physical collection that bear a 1/1 serial number, and yes, they are some of the most valuable things I own. Even when non-collectors see cards like that, their reaction is pretty priceless.

Now, you might ask what this might mean for the digital side of things, and what the impact might be. Here are some of my thoughts.

Background

Since 2013, when Bunt ran its first playoff contest, the 1/1 has been a part of the game. My good friend LeeObrien won the 2013 Bunt Championship, and was granted his own card in the game. At the time, there was nothing else like it. There were also no locks yet, so you can imagine how that went down in his trade inbox. During the 2013 Huddle Bowl, 1/1s also were granted for the champion, and thus began a tradition.

In 2014, the VIP program was introduced for users who spent real money on the games they played. For the top echelon of users, the Diamond Level VIPs, each was granted a 1/1 card featuring a player of their choice. These were monthly give outs, so you can see where the amount of 1/1s in the games expanded exponentially. To this day, both Bunt and Kick continue to offer this, with Huddle discontinuing their VIP program earlier this year.

As for pack pulled 1/1 cards, that is where things get interesting. All of the apps have offered some promotion that features a 1/1 that can be pulled from packs, including special “golden tickets” where users can choose their own player. In Huddle this year, the 1/1 is the most sought after type of card, with a select group of users doing everything in their power to hoard as many as possible. It has created an enormous market for the cards, with some selling for as much as 500 dollars on eBay.

This week, the first 1/1 in SWCT history was offered for collecting the most of the original sketch art series ink card. KASHTAN accumulated 232 of the cards to win the prize, which Im sure was no easy task. This will be far from the last 1/1 released, as we have been inching towards a 1/1 base variant for the last few months. After that, I expect the floodgates to open much like they have in Bunt, Huddle and Kick.

To boil this down to the simplest explanation, 1/1s are ingrained in each of the apps. I would not be surprised if eventually we get to where we are on the physical side, but hopefully not for a long time.

Examining Impact of 1/1s

I love the idea that you can have the only copy of anything in your collection. I own 2 total 1/1s, and both are some of my favorite cards I have. The first is a Joe Mauer 1990 draft pick sig 1/1 from the recent Bunt promotion, and the second is a Teddy Bridgewater Golden Helmet from last year’s Huddle. Neither will ever be traded.

This is why 1/1s remain special. For some, they exist as a bargaining chip or trade bait of the highest order. For others, player and team collectors like myself, they remain the ultimate chase. Because the “gotta catch em all” mentality is inherently part of the apps in every sense, the 1/1 is a way to keep people on their toes, while also generating excitement that can be a fickle ghost to chase.

When a 1/1 hits the sheet, people take notice, especially because they are still special. Even with all the aforementioned background usage, only a few users own 1/1s in the game. Because supply is so low, even the slightest bit of demand can incite a feeding frenzy. Even now, when someone in Huddle posts a 1/1 on the fan feed, it can generate tons of interest. Just leaving a 1/1 unlocked in any game will bring out the blind traders who see that the card is available for trade.

For a game where everyone collects something, 1/1s are a situation that only exists to create buzz for the people who love them, and prestige for the people that own them. They serve as a badge of honor and garner instant clout when your sheet shows the best of the best.

 Protecting the Future

Right now, Topps has a history of exploiting a concept that generates a lot of purchases. Its clear that because the demand and trade value remains high on these cards, people will open packs until their fingers hurt. That type of reaction is rare these days, especially as the user base becomes complacent with the way cards are being generated in each app.

SWCT is just starting to get their first taste of low numbered inserts available on a regular basis, and the user base has not reacted positively. Although cards like Pink base and Gold Elegant Weapons have been insanely rare in the past, they were part of greater programs. Asking users to buy in directly for their shot at a  rare card has been taken very poorly. As the base 1/1s eventually hit the sheet, im interested to see what happens.

At the same time, I think its clear that more pack pulled 1/1s will be coming to SWCT. Like we saw in physical, the notion that a user cannot own everything that is available, should be ringing pretty clearly already. That is just part of the game, and its not a bad thing. This is a universe of collecting where prestige and vanity are a huge part of what makes us tick. Having the biggest hoard, having the most rare inserts, having multiple full sets of a valuable program – all are what makes the game go ’round. Everyone wants to be the best, and to be the best, you have to have the best stuff on your sheet.

When you consider the clout mentioned above, it will only remain a big stick as long Topps maintains the novelty provided by the ultimate rarity. If 1/1s start flying out of packs, they wont be special anymore. On the physical side, we are already there, past the point of no return, and never looking back. Its so bad that people dont buy products without insane chase cards that are readily inserted. I hate it, only because the serial number has become more important than the card itself.

On the other hand, unlike what we are seeing in Huddle, cards with high availability and no numbering can still have value. Im worried that in the future for the games, value will be determined SOLELY by the card count in all the apps, instead of the cool factor as well. I hope we dont get to that point.

Best Ways to Keep Them Special

As with most of my content, im not going to sit here on my soapbox without offering some of what I might do to preserve the novelty. The games need to continue releasing cards to make money and keep the lights on, so the faucet cant be turned off. That means Topps will need to figure out ways to deliver the cards in a manner that wont make the users give up. Here is what I would do.

• Carefully balance pack 1/1s with pay to purchase 1/1s – Because these cards can be so lucrative, they will no doubt want to tie them to purchases as much as they can. Whether its VIP programs or actual bundle buys, I hope the 1/1s pulled from packs continue to be balanced against the others. Too many bundle buys will eventually wear out the novelty, and do it faster than ever. If the balance is maintained, the programs will go further. Im not saying VIP programs should go away, just that they cant be the only way.
• Increase display – This has been harped on since the beginning of 2014, but is now one of the more important features that I believe the game is missing. Give users a place to display the top cards in their collection, and make it impossible to gloss over. Topps needs to play to the competition aspect of collecting, and a prominent display of user cards is a huge gap that hasnt been closed since the release of the 2014 builds. Even something that organizes locked cards from all seasons at the top of anyone’s sheet would be a good solution. Give the SWCT hoarders a place to display their goods so that trading and showing off becomes as easy as possible. That’s what this is all about.
• Avoid variants as a 1/1 delivery vehicle – Any time new art needs to be developed, it takes resources that are already thin. With up to 10-15 cards being released per day in the apps, the graphic artists can be swamped. That being said, ensuring that 1/1s have their own programs and are not based off of other cards will keep the users coming back for more. When its a variant, that still happens, but eventually it might not. Slapping a 1/1 on a card cant be the only reason someone wants to trade for it or buy it.
• Keep Them Tough to Get – This is going to sound awful, but I really feel like this is a really difficult piece to manage. I dont want newbies or low yield users to get 1/1s. In cases where casual users have pulled readily available cards, they can be lost forever in abandoned accounts. Other times, existing whales can pillage these users because they just dont know any better. Its not an equitable situation in the slightest, and though everyone should have the chance to be Charlie Bucket, its actually better when that doesnt happen.

To put this all into the easiest to swallow format, its best to take an inventory of the way things have gone to this point. I like the direction that the apps are going a lot. People may hate how much money is sometimes required to get the best cards, but that isnt by coincidence. There needs to be continued incentive to invest one’s income in buying cards, and if no value is there, what is the point? The game’s free to play users might expect that Topps continues to cater to them, but as a pay to play user, that is not what I want. I want my money to mean I get something that free users cant have. If I spend my hard earned money on this game, I had better be getting something worthwhile. If a user that doesnt spend thinks that they should have the same access, Im sorry. We are just not going to see eye to eye.

In the end, the super premium parts of the game will continue to be developed, and I am praying to the card gods that things continue to work well. So far, I havent been disappointed.

When the season started, and I saw that contest cards were going to be a part of the gameplay each week, I got VERY excited. Not only were the cards really good looking, but they were insanely limited as well. Although their value has cooled off considerably, the attraction of the cards still gets me playing each and every week.

Background

2015 Bunt had a number of issues with keeping people interested in the contests, mainly because many users felt that the reward of the prize wasnt even close to being worth the effort they put in. A number of times on this site, I asked for contest specific packs, where the contest winners would be able to get a special insert that wasnt available anywhere else.

Huddle was the first to implement the contest card, which was given out to the top 25 on Sunday’s main contest, and top 50 for Sunday night’s game (concurrent with the aforementioned), top 50 for Thursday night, and top 50 for Monday night. It was later expanded into pay to play premium contests that give out cards with a bigger boost and half the count.

Let me say, I love the way the contest cards look. I think they are some of the better looking cards in the game, mainly due to the simplicity of the presentation and the focus on the player photo.

Value

Contest cards are valued similarly to the Best of Huddle cards, which like last year, take a certain person to appreciate them. These cards can be valuable to a team or player collector, and if you can find the right trade partner, they might be willing to over pay.

As a whole, not everyone likes cards that arent pack pulled. Cards that everyone has access to and everyone chases. When a card doesnt fit that format, not every user really wants to consider it part of their chase.

It also hurts that there isnt set rewards on top of the contest rewards, which sounds insane, but is part of the game. Some cards are valuable solely because there is a set attached, and its going to be difficult to achieve higher value without that element.

Some of the bigger named cards continue to be valuable – especially if the player is one of the marquee names in the NFL. Everyone else is relatively interchangeable, and that is part of the issue. Because so many contest cards are now on the market, the lower tier guys are rarely valuable, just like we see with any set.

Challenges with the Format

One of the biggest issues with Huddle in 2016 is player selection. So much of the game is based on player popularity, much like phyiscal cards, and some of the choices are just off. Second tier players are getting contest cards before bigger names on the same team, and that sends a weird message to the users.

Secondly, the boosts on the cards have come and gone with so many higher cards now available. A 2x card a few months ago was significantly more valuable than it is now. Contest play and value for these cards have dropped because it was clear that their gameplay isnt as useful as before.

Lastly, the format for each contest is a bit stale. Although time is required to get the contest formats set up, and that is always of the essence, an investment in updating the formats should be made.

Suggestions – Easy Solutions

• Increase the boosts – The premium contest cards should be no less than 2.5x if not higher, and the secondary cards should be 2.2 or higher.
• Better player selections – look at each team and start to figure out which of the big name skill offense is still available.
• Ensure specific counts – obviously there are some people who are exploiting the delivery system on these cards, with card counts going above the stated number. Delivery by bulletin may help ensure that a 25 count card stays 25 and not 28.

Suggestions – Harder Solutions

• Change the Design – I love the contest card design, and I dont want to see it changed. However, a change in design might give the opportunity to reissue marquee players that have already been done. Obviously, this is harder because of production delays, but its worth looking at for the playoffs and holidays.
• Add the insert element – if you win a contest card, I would see if there is a way to deliver a PACK with the award card guaranteed, with a shot at a special version of that player as well. Better odds for the premium contests.
• Create weekly sets – collect all the 500 count, 50 count or 25 count cards and receive a coin bonus or an award card. This would ensure that more people would play in all the different contests instead of just some. You would still get rewarded for sporadic play, but the added element is there.
• Increase daily bonus for people that score in the top of the contest rankings – Coin economy is heavily monitored in Huddle, this is clear. But this is an incentive that people will definitely want. Sometimes its a good thing to get more people playing along, as it will make the boosts more valuable.
• Remove pack prizes from the fantasy contests – giving a pack of base for these instead of coins isnt working. Coin prizes would be much better.

Suggestions – Contest Formats

• Collection score contests – Separate users into a bracket based on their collection score so they face off against people with similar sized collections.
• Lucky Dog contest – Make a base variant that scores at 2x – set should be about 100 or so cards. Offer a pack of 20 of these new base cards to the entire app for free on a tuesday. Make them untradeable for the week. These are the only cards that can be used in the contest. Its literally the luck of the draw.
• Random lineup contest – the app picks from your base cards at random. Of the 50 cards it selects, you play those cards.
• Crowdfunded contests – charge an entry fee of 1-5k. Entry fees are collected in a winner’s pot. Depending on what place you finish determines the amount you win from the pot. If 5,000 people play, the pot will be huge. If not, well thems the breaks. Recruit your friends!
• Favorite Team Contests – you play with the other contest players who have chosen the same team. If you are a Patriots fan, you play with the rest of the patriot fans for this contest. Scoring average among the contest entrants determines what place you finish. Highest team score wins!

The main issue with many of the suggestions is the time to set it up, and the time in which the contest runs. If we add in new cards being created, production delays could come into play. With only a few weeks left in the season, there may not be much that can be changed before the playoffs start.

However, at that point, it becomes all about how those contests will play. Huddle playoffs are some of the craziest competition there is. Everyone watches the games, so thousands more play along. There needs to be a good format that capitalizes on the new tidal wave of contest players that all want part of the action.

When I first saw the new feature of the Den revealed right before all the marathons ended, I was VERY intrigued. I thought it was a huge opportunity for the app to bridge the timeframe between the end of Wave 1 and the start of Wave 2. There were so many ways it could be used, and for the most part, it went strong for a month or two.

As with any feature, things can get stale, and though some high value sets have had a Den element, its not what it used to be. I think there is still a ton of potential for the feature, even if it is a bit unorthodox of a way to introduce cards onto the sheet by removing others.

Im actually pretty sad that the value in releasing ships has dropped as much as it has. I thought that the build process would be something that could almost replace the gameplay that the game lacks compared to Bunt, Huddle and Kick. Then again, there is only so much interest that can be tied to ships that are so similar to others that have already been released.

Similarly, using the Den as an upgrade tool doesnt really sit well with me either. Sets like Path to the Dark Side use the den as a way for users to upgrade their sets to different parallels, but the cards are just variants and not added content. That is where frustration and resentment can build.

In my opinion, it would be awesome to see the Den generate additional elements to a set that werent available elsewhere. Instead of releasing another variant of a card that already exists, the Den should be a place where users can gain access to other parts of the set.

I have already posted suggestions for usage of this feature in a previous article, but I wanted to offer some additional options that would be interesting to me.

Building Fleets

As I have talked about recently, playing to the vanity and competition that naturally exists in the community to be the best, will result in huge volume. I would love to see a Den element where ships could be built, followed by the ability to shred them to build elements of a fleet.

Different awards could be generated based on the size of your fleet, and those awards could be cards signifying rank or even coins as a payout. Higher ranked fleet owners should get the opportunity to do things with their cards that other lower ranked people dont have. Whether its access to special cards,early access to certain packs, or a leaderboard that displays the people who own the best fleet in the game.

Multi Panel Cards

I suggested this before in a way, but I think its worth mentioning again. I think that if SWCT could release pieces of a card in packs that could be assembled to create the final insert would be awesome.

I would even think its a way to help diffuse those packs that have nothing in it but base. Think of a marathon card that has 1:80 odds like Vintage has had in the past. Sure you might get lucky and pull one in the first few packs, but you might also get shut out on a 500k investment. If pieces of the Vintage card could be released in packs at a 1:15 basis or something like that, a user could potentially trade with the community to get the other pieces that would be used to shred for the card they missed in packs.

It could also be used as a weekly chase leading up to the final payoff of the award card in a marathon situation. Think about pulling pieces of a card every week for 10 weeks, and then shredding them to get the award card. Make the puzzle pieces the marathon, with the reward being the the full picture that the different pieces form.

Bounties

The previous marathon was popular, and I think the Den could be used to do it again. This time instead of pulling the Bounty cards from packs, different Bounty payment cards would be inserted in Boba packs long term. In the den, the set of 5-10 cards would be available during the same period, where you would shred your bounty payment cards to pay bounties for the character you want.

Han Solo would cost 10 of the bounty payment cards, where Greedo may only be 2. The tiered structure would provide a chase that users would build towards, and if they eventually pay all the bounties, a Boba Fett award card would be given.

Golden Tickets

The same structure could be applied to a golden ticket type chase, where users could pull them in Boba packs and trade them in as currency towards a special base variant, or special card(s).

Offer Gold Monuments of four or five popular characters and require tickets to be shredded to get them. I could see some clamoring for the cards which all those master collectors would kill for.

This is a long term chase, so its not something that should be obtained within a few days, unless someone is going to break the bank. Make us work for it a bit.

Movie Casts

This is a place where the character cards from the different movies would be used to build a cast list for each individual movie. If the cast can be assembled at the variant level implied, they could be shredded for a special version of that movie’s poster or some card that is based on the cast that was shredded.

Weapon Construction

I have been waiting for the build a lightsaber program to happen eventually, and I am disappointed that Elegant Weapons remains the only lightsaber themed set in the game.

Like building a ship, it would be cool to be able to build lightsabers or blasters in the same way. You would need all the elements of the schematic, from the Crystal to the metal for the hilt. For more complicated sabers, you would need more of those resources.

Again, the Den has so much potential, if not only to bring to life the parts of the Star Wars universe we all have been waiting for. Base Variants and Ships is a pretty narrow look at this type of feature, and I am dying for the creativity to come back to the Den.

We have seen so many different types of content within all of the Topps Digital apps that almost nothing is out of scope for future content. Whether its something as weird as Skateboard Decks to something as cool as exclusive digital designs by Tyson Beck, content is all over the place. That’s not a bad thing, either. Its one of the main reasons I love the apps as much as I do.

One thing that always gets me diving in head first is when artists’ work is translated into the apps – either on an exclusive basis, or as a digitization of the physical works. Its one thing that I think remains special and novel, mainly because the Topps team has been so diligent in picking winners.

Sets like Christian Waggoner’s Reflections series in SWCT, and the recent release of S. Preston’s Minimalist Ballparks in Bunt all showcase how powerful art can be when translated for the digital world. Sports art has always been something I find absolutely fascinating, especially Goal Line Art in football, or more well known artists like Leroy Neiman.

We know that more “art themed” cards are coming SW later, as previewed yesterday through Comics Alliance, and it seems to be more like official works generated by official SW channels. Looks pretty cool, and may end up being the TBD marathons. Along side this preview, sets Space Paintings remain an enormously popular marathon-esque set, as does Card Trader illustrated. In the art theme, both of which feature less traditional representations of the SW universe.

I challenge the Topps Digital team to bring the artistic side to all the apps in as many ways as possible. Dynamic cards can be made all across the different mediums that exist, and this just happens to be one of my favorite types of thing to collect. I dont think I am alone there, especially when you see how many people gravitate towards these types of releases. With such talented graphic artists in house as well, I would be curious to see what the team could even come up with on their own. Matthew Petz, who works on the SW design team for the app, is at the top of his field. No coincidence there. TOPPSDAN and TOPPSALFRED continually showcase how much skill they have at creating amazing looking digital cards. I want them to use that talent as much as possible.

Topps also has a relationship with talented artist Tyson Beck, who designed the Fire and Arcade series used in Huddle and Bunt. Because I feel like his designs are too “out there” for a physical card set, they fit like a glove in the digital realm. Users are much more experienced with cool content like we see in his work, where the traditionalists of the physical side have shown they are not.

This is where Topps Digital can remain on the cutting edge for content and showcase why the quirky and the beautiful have a place side by side in the apps in their portfolio. I cannot say how excited I am to see what they have up their sleeve.

Value in 2016 Huddle seems to be awfully volatile. As a whole, the situations that exist with the market stem from card counts attached to certain sets, and with that a value system based on availability over anything else. It can be beneficial in some circumstances, but it can also be insanely frustrating.

Background

As with most issues in Huddle, the bed was made last year during a period where design options were limited. Because the same pictures needed to be used for thousands of cards, the Huddle team opted to control other elements of value, such as supply, boost, and rewards. As expected, this set a pretty powerful precedent, that they are still dealing with to this day.

When the full license kicked in, you had a smattering of vocal veterans who longed for the rarity of 2014-15, and a slew of new users who were just discovering Huddle for the first time. Obviously, the crossover effect won out, and higher count cards became increasingly less valuable as the year progressed.

Cards with counts as close to 1 as possible became the high end currency that top users traded in, and it became a competition to see who could amass collections consisting of only these cards. The market soared, because many of these individuals were happy to pay in spades to users who wanted more quantity over quality.

Thus, the economy was built around the lowest count cards in Huddle, rather than the standard value driving factors. Even lower tier players with low counts could still be valuable, just because there werent many around.

If you wonder why a Limited Variant with a card count of 120, like Rodgers can be had for less than the cost to open 5 packs, its because of this situation. That’s what bothers me, because count shouldnt be everything.

Top Low Count Sets

Right now, if you want the best of the best, the Gold Legends are a no brainer. As a set, there is really nothing that eclipses these in value. The recent release of the Deion Sanders signatures are similar in value, but the lack of a marathon element, will prevent widespread chases of the individual pieces of the 4 card set.

I would even go so far as saying that most of the Legend market is controlled by a select few, who have managed to hone in on cards of this nature without much dispute from people who pull the cards outside of the group. There are strays that remain outstanding, but as a whole, the legends are close to impossible to obtain. For the most part, that is the way it is expected to be.

The same can be said for the ultra rare limited cards, which are numbered to a player’s jersey number. Because these cards can be as low as 1 as we saw with Cam Newton, the group of card count enthusiasts have done their best to obtain as many of these as possible. Frequent targets include Rodgers at 12, Beckham at 13, and a few others who combine popular players with crazy low counts.

Other sets like Dual and Triple signatures are very much sought after and in the mix, especially if the count stays below 15. Any card that goes above the 100 level is almost out of scope, which as said before, has impacted the economy to the point that its frustrating.

Why This is a Good Thing

Low counts limit supply, and for many cases, demand can be huge – especially for popular players. Because Huddle does have a lot of readily available cards, owning a low count insert below 50 or even below 25 is something that can boost your profile in a very measurable fashion.

Conversely, if a card is more available, the cost to obtain them on the secondary market is much more reasonable to manage. This means that collecting most of the inserts you want wont be too expensive, and collections with less of a laser focus can grow easily without much investment.

Why This is a Bad Thing

First, its hard to predict the card count on many releases, as there is no set number involved. This means diving in head first when counts are low can backfire easily, and the user is left with a card that isnt worth what they put in.

Even more frustrating, design and cool factor for any given card is almost a non-factor, which is what makes me the most angry of anything. Cards that I would have literally killed for last year during the head shot era have a lesser value, SOLELY because count is high(er). This is not a good thing at all. It ensures that your collection will not be worth much come any foreseeable future.

The vanity of owning low count cards is driving the higher count huddle economy into the ground, even more so as the community sees how unattainable the low count inserts really are. I have long supported that people who spend the money to get the cards deserve the prestige that comes with what they pull, but im not sure I support that everything else is valueless as a result. Maybe I have to change my approach.

This type of situation does not exist in the other apps the way it does in Huddle, and that is why I feel like this discussion is more of a growing concern. Although low count inserts obviously has clout in SWCT and Bunt, the general value of the rest of the cards isnt impacted in the same way it has been with Huddle.

Some of this situation was self inflicted by the Huddle team’s assessment about the first “premium” type cards being higher count, but the course correction may have been too drastic in both directions based on the way the economy has responded. Its as if the middle class has almost been eliminated, and its odd that this is the case.

Maybe I am overreacting, and maybe I am looking at this from a jaded perspective, but im still curious to hear what people say. I guess I just want people to appreciate more than just the cards that only a few people can own, while still letting those cards sit on their pedestal where they are. Is that possible? Im not sure anymore.