So, how much longer before the game gives out?

[kunoalpha]

2 or 3 years ago I made a prediction that the game's playerbase would slowly decline and the game would start slowly dieing, I kinda wish I hadn't made such a prediction because its becoming a reality.

It looks like the next couple of sets have to turn the sales around for the game, otherwise I think it'll be like the Dragonball Ccg and we'll have to say goodbye to the game.

So How many sets do you think we have left before Naruto falls off the crutch and can't get back up?

My prediction is we have 2-5

2 being that the next one sells poorly and the one after sells worse

3 being that Bandai Breaks even, then sells poorly, then sells at a loss.

4 being that they Plus, Break even, Sell Poorly then at a loss

5 if they Plus Hard, Plus, Break Even, Sell Poorly and then at a loss.

Locals are dying out, Card Shops that had this as a main game are closing down, and everyone seems to be moving onto a new card game.

I think its time Bandai stepped up their game to bring back the playerbase, otherwise there's no point in running the card printers anymore.

A couple Ideas:

Bring Back Alternative Formats:
Back in the Day, we had D-Rank Mission and Classroom Exercises, [D rank meant no supers, CE was Only Common and uncommon cards only.] it added a lot more depth to building a deck because of the limited access to staples.

Supporting Unlimited as much as Block: Right now, its probably the only way to drive players back, a lot of people quit because of the block format, and if Unlimited was supported as much more people would probably come back if they can play older style decks.

Structure Decks Built Like Ygo's:
What I mean is Ygo Structure decks will give you power cards [Torrential, Smashing Ground, Mirror Force, Solemn Judgment, etc.] meaning the cards are easier to get and so it helps people on a budget play as well, I remember a time during Broken Promise where Fire cost 350 dollars, Naruto has had good structures in the past, but I think its time to up the ante to help more people try out the game, and if the structure decks have more staples in them, the more structures Bandai sells putting money back into the game.

Up the Prize Support:
This is really what needs to happen, the prize support gets worse and worse every year, if it doesn't change soon there's not going to be any players at all because the game won't be worth playing competitively. You can't do this without more money though, so that has to happen first.

More Sjc/Chunnin Events:
If more cities inside the states had events that held these it would attract more local players of that area to play competitively, so it would help expand the playerbase.

[allanime01]

Originally Posted by kunoalpha

Supporting Unlimited as much as Block: Right now, its probably the only way to drive players back, a lot of people quit because of the block format, and if Unlimited was supported as much more people would probably come back if they can play older style decks.

Up the Prize Support:
This is really what needs to happen, the prize support gets worse and worse every year, if it doesn't change soon there's not going to be any players at all because the game won't be worth playing competitively. You can't do this without more money though, so that has to happen first.

More Sjc/Chunnin Events:
If more cities inside the states had events that held these it would attract more local players of that area to play competitively, so it would help expand the playerbase.

While I feel the game is not dying at all, it is on a downward spiral the past few months. These 3 are literally the only things that need to happen to fix this.
Number 1 is obvious. I finally came around for unlimited format and seeing the latest rogue list for unlimited, i'd say it's fairly decent (except for sharignan tears and hikaru, but I believe thats already well known) nonetheless, unlimited LITERALLY only has gencon as a tourney, and whatever locals run their chunins that way. Give 1 SJC a year to unlimited, might draw in a bigger crowd, which means more money endorsing the game.

Number 2 is easily the biggest thing needed done. Luckily as the latest Tylars Corner revealed, there is supposed to be an increase soon.

Number 3 however cancels out the good news of two. I overheard at the last SJC in MI that they are now only doing 4 SJC's a year + Gencon. That is a BIG mistake Bandai. Seriously, SJC's are one of the driving things in this game. It's a driving force as to why over half the players sink money into it. Why bother making prizing good if the tourneys where you win prizes will be cut? I think it's best at 12. 1 per month (august's always being Gencon and 1 months always being AX, whenever that is) then the other ten months get SJC's, split evenly across the country in places that have shown highest attendance.

Some additional notes I feel will boost this game: Find more reasons/ways to reprint stuff. I recommend bringing back tins, or releasing 1 TP set a year thats nothing but (or at least 50%) reprints. It allows people that hold on to their cards to feel like their money wasn't wasted, as well as opens the card pool a bit wider.
Also, bring back mats. Any mats. Seriously, these coins? Dumb. >:/ Hell I liked the loopy fist lee card more than those BS things.
Lastly, I highly suggest more advertising. Hell commission some people here to throw a commercial together and get it aired. Or MAKE one and get toonami to air it during Naruto. Really, this is a big chance to really bolster how well known you are.

[kunoalpha]

Originally Posted by allanime01

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Some additional notes I feel will boost this game: Find more reasons/ways to reprint stuff. I recommend bringing back tins, or releasing 1 TP set a year thats nothing but (or at least 50%) reprints. It allows people that hold on to their cards to feel like their money wasn't wasted, as well as opens the card pool a bit wider.
Also, bring back mats. Any mats. Seriously, these coins? Dumb. >:/ Hell I liked the loopy fist lee card more than those BS things.
Lastly, I highly suggest more advertising. Hell commission some people here to throw a commercial together and get it aired. Or MAKE one and get toonami to air it during Naruto. Really, this is a big chance to really bolster how well known you are.

I actually had the idea of everyone who won an Sjc and everyone in the top 8 of gencon would get to choose a card to be in the next tournament pack, that way we could see reprints from all over the place, giving us more reprint options.

But yeah something needs to happen or the game dies forever :<.

[Sai'ix Renkai]

Honestly, I think this game is going much better than what people are saying. I'm personally trying to build my own locals back up, and I even got a few that quit back in because of it. It's not much, but it's a start.

[allanime01]

Originally Posted by kunoalpha

I actually had the idea of everyone who won an Sjc and everyone in the top 8 of gencon would get to choose a card to be in the next tournament pack, that way we could see reprints from all over the place, giving us more reprint options.

But yeah something needs to happen or the game dies forever :<.

See thing is, I HIGHLY disagree with that last part. The game isn't really dying. We had great selling sets so the money is in the company, the issue is everything else is going down while profits go up. This does not make sense.

Also, I dont think choosing reprints by players is a good plan unless Bandai can restrict the options. Otherwsie we'd see original Jonins Intervention, or 8 Trigrams, or other cards that were broken/rogued reprinted, only to once again be rogued. there are plenty of options though. Especially for themes like toads, genjutsu, etc.

Originally Posted by Sai'ix Renkai

Honestly, I think this game is going much better than what people are saying. I'm personally trying to build my own locals back up, and I even got a few that quit back in because of it. It's not much, but it's a start.

I agree with my main man here. While things like SJC numbers and prizing are down, there ARE locals that are building back up, as well as what I said above, sets are selling well and selling out, which means Bandai is making profits.

[Sai'ix Renkai]

Originally Posted by allanime01

See thing is, I HIGHLY disagree with that last part. The game isn't really dying. We had great selling sets so the money is in the company, the issue is everything else is going down while profits go up. This does not make sense.

Also, I dont think choosing reprints by players is a good plan unless Bandai can restrict the options. Otherwsie we'd see original Jonins Intervention, or 8 Trigrams, or other cards that were broken/rogued reprinted, only to once again be rogued. there are plenty of options though. Especially for themes like toads, genjutsu, etc.


I agree with my main man here. While things like SJC numbers and prizing are down, there ARE locals that are building back up, as well as what I said above, sets are selling well and selling out, which means Bandai is making profits.

I hate the doombringers right now. Especially when, like you said, SELLING OUT?! Hello, how does that make the game near death? SJC prizing doesn't bother me, I never go. But some do, and I get it. I just want this game to stay so I can have fun. I don't need to win.