Digital Card Central

Yesterday was an interesting day in Huddle, especially when it comes to the release of Purple Boosts. These cards score at 2.2x, which is currently the second highest perma-scoring cards in the game. There are a few set rewards that score at 2.5x, but they are not able to be pulled from packs. Because of what happened last year around this same time, people are getting curious if things will go nuts like last year. Here are some thoughts.

Background

Around week 2 of last year, Huddle lost the ability to produce action shot cards. In the announcement discussing the change, there was a commitment to focusing on the gameplay side of things. Over the next few months, Huddle released hundreds of boosted base cards in all sorts of colors and patterns, to replace their ability to give a lot of variety in player photo subject matter. The community has affectionately called this situation “boost mania,” as it was clear that Huddle went kind of nuts. I discussed it in depth here in my 2014 year in review.

Whether it was a positive experience depends on who you ask, as many users (including myself) dove head first into the gameplay and had a blast during 2014. Others decided the app wasnt fun with so much commitment to the boost culture and decided to go a different direction.

Is This Boost Mania 2.0?

If you were around in 2014, you know this isnt 2.0. It isnt even close. That being said, I am excited that Topps has started to embrace the Huddle community’s love for playing contests, and given people more options for high scoring cards. Gameplay is a big part of Huddle and rightfully so, as NFL fantasy continues to be a BILLION dollar business overall. That means more people who come to Huddle will be open to the fact that Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays are going to be spent in front of the TV, in some capacity.

That’s not saying that Topps is abandoning the collecting side of things – as we have seen with the launch of Legends, and other HIGHLY collectible series. I would scoff at anyone who thinks that embracing both sides of the aisle is a bad business move, despite the connotations with 2014 it might invoke.

Its obvious that gold cards of elite point scorers are more valuable in Huddle than they ever were in any other game, and that should not be surprising. To offer even rarer cards that have higher boost levels in packs is only going to incite a feeding frenzy among the people who want those cards for their lineups. This is exactly what any business wants to do.

To see that the new NFL license ALSO provides them the opportunity to produce collector focused cards without limits, showcases how much different 2015 is than 2014. Inserts and other rare cards werent dead last year, but lets face it, this is a completely different ball game.

Value and Gameplay 

Im still puzzled as to why they went 2.2x instead of 2.5x like Bunt or even 3x to match the game boosts. The article may say these are “One of the highest scoring cards that will score the whole season that can be pulled from packs”, but that doesnt mean they are THE highest scoring.

Knowing the way the Huddle producers think, they likely put this line in the article for two reasons. 1) Playoffs cards will score higher, and 2) there could be higher boosts coming later. Right now, there really isnt a need to go nuts like last year, but that also doesnt mean there isnt money to be made.

Right now, the Beckham Purple is the most valuable in a gameplay sense. Although Hyde, Miller and Weddle are all considerably rarer, they have maybe 1/4th the potential to score points as Beckham does. If you are looking to trade for the other three, its likely you are just going to pay for the rarity – as they are some of the rarest cards available currently. Miller in the mid 50s for card count is insanely low, and that could be interesting later on.

Any of the purple boosts will take some major firepower to acquire, especially with so few 2x plus scoring cards available at the moment. Remember, with only 11 more games to play per team, you know people are going to want to stack their lineups as quickly as possible. This isnt like baseball where the boosts can be used close to 100 times.

Future Possibilities

I hope they continue to release a few each week. I really do. Its fun, the cards are valuable still and nothing is getting watered down. The second they start putting out sets that overshadow the game boosts, then I might have an issue.

To me, the game only boosts are something that needs to retain value to the general collector. When sets start coming out, things get completely out of whack – especially if the cards are released on Thursday or Monday night.

If they want to do one card per team on those nights, I think the perception of the release changes from completely “UGGG here we go again!!!” to “Hmm, I might need to buy a few packs here.” If they eventually flood the market, everything goes to hell, and I start looking to go on eBay to buy things instead of buying from the pack store. I would hate to see that be the case.

Right now, boosts are a novelty, and I really, really, really want to keep it that way. It appeals to the collecting side of the app and the gameplay side of the app at the same time, and if things DO get out of hand, that will change dramatically.

As with all the Topps apps, things change drastically in short periods of time. We still have yet to see the introduction of a “Smuggler’s Den” type feature, which could play in big for boost type cards. THAT would be something I would be interested to see how it works out, especially if Huddle uses it the right way.

Yesterday was a big day, as we saw the release of Series 2 in Huddle. Although it was just in time for yesterday’s game, this weekend will be the first time that the cards are REALLY going to make a difference. There are some important guys that you need to have sooner rather than later, and im going to detail them in this post. Dont give up the house necessarily to get them, but if you can use your trading magic to build up a stash of commons, it would be highly advantageous.

Devonta Freeman – RB, Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons play next Thursday night, which gives you a head start in building up some cards for a guy that has scored 3 TDs in a game multiple times this year already. He will come in handy against the Saints, whose defense is among the worst in the league over the last few years.

Rashad Jennings – RB, New York Giants

With the G-men playing on Sunday night against a team that has struggled, Jennings could get some major looks in a game that everyone in Huddle country will be watching. Although he hasnt had a great season quite yet, the Giants running game could be on display at home against a terrible Niners team. If they go up early, they wont pass as much – thus giving Jennings his time in the sun. The Giants ALSO play next Monday night as well, so you get the double dip fun on this one.

Martavis Bryant – WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

He was suspended to start the year, but will be active as the Steelers face the Chargers on Monday night. He is a huge deep threat, and with Vick being a gunslinger as it is, he could have a lot of chances to show off his speed. Although he wont get 10 catches, all you need is that one bomb to jump in the standings when no one else has his cards.

Antonio Gates – TE, San Diego Chargers

Another suspension victim that will be activated on Monday, Gates is one of those guys you can never sleep on. Although he is getting older and isnt the threat he used to be, Rivers has been having issues finding a groove in the Offense. His old friend should act as a red zone threat and a potential security blanket, which could be used much to your advantage.

Joseph Randle – RB, Dallas Cowboys

Even though the Cowboys are going up against New England this week, its a 4pm game and the passing game will have very little success against the Patriots secondary. Garrett has already committed to getting the ball into Randle’s hands more, as the offensive line is the one strength the Cowboys still have.

Honorable Mentions:

Deangelo Williams, Steelers – Bell’s return has meant reduced carries, but he has been great through the weeks as the featured back before the suspension ended.

Reuben Randle, Giants – He has caught as many TDs this year than Beckham, just saying.

Tyrod Taylor, Bills – Horrible week for Buffalo last week, but Taylor has been a surprise.