I respectfully disagree with this particular approach...
... I do agree that some players may not know stores exist in a particular area.
However, having in-store pre-release is not the best solution to that particular problem.
For example, having a centralised MTG website publicize the stores is quite useful - something that Karry's & Cassandra's & Melvin's website does quite well.
Furthermore, all stores having regular FNMs would also be listed on the Wizards pages for FNMs.
They would also be listed on the DCI tournaments page.
If I may take ToyBox for an example - I didn't know about that particular store, until I was recommended it by someone (and I must admit I really like the quality environment there) - thus, word-of-mouth & good website publicity helps it reach out to players.
A centralised pre-release, in fact, can aid this publicity.(1) If you go to a centralised pre-release, it's often a chance to meet up with a lot of players. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen players meet each other for the first time, and they ask "So, where do you usually play Magic?" "Oh, I play at XYZ..." "Oh, I didn't know there was a place there, I should go there to..." or "Where do you live?" "I live in the ABC area" "Hey, me too! Maybe we can get together and play Magic".
(2) If you go to a centralised pre-release, it's a chance for the stores themselves to take up a publicity drive - we have seen how CCE Games does it with their buntings, Manawerx is also present, etc.
Thus, I don't think having a centralised pre-release is to the detriment of the "publicity" of the other stores. I do think that it's a detriment to the immediate economic benefits that can be gained by the other stores - yes, stores getting to hold a pre-release will certainly be a big boost in 1st week revenues following a pre-release - that's the time when a new set is in high demand.
But sometimes, having a centralised pre-release that benefits the community at large, will lead to trickle-on effects at the stores at later dates.Again, another case in point, I remember at one of the pre-releases, CCE Games mentioned they would start kicking off drafts with whatever product they had obtained during the pre-release. This was a natural feed for players to move from a large pre-release event to regular drafts at their local store(s).
Local store(s) took the opportunity to cement knowledge about where they were based, and the events they were offering, during this large, centralised pre-release.Speaking of events, again, that's another bullet point of support for centralised pre-releases. A large centralised pre-release is the natural avenue for stores to publicize their upcoming store events, no?
Great chance to reach out to the gaming public.If there was a large centralised event held every week, or every 2 week, then that would be very detrimental to the stores.
But this is a large centralised event held every few months, followed by a regular circuit of tournaments at local stores.
If we want to fix publicity of unknown stores, or just raise general store awareness, I would offer the following solutions:(a) Publicize store locations, store opening hours and store events via MTG-Malaysia or similar website. Also publicize it via the Wizards website.
(b) Hold Sanctioned events - they are automatically listed on the DCI tournaments page.
© Stores should volunteer to hold main circuit events (GPTs, etc.) or even just Special Sanctioned Events e.g. Manawerx's Block Constructed afternoons, or CCE Games tournaments (forgot what it was called), etc. If they rotate these events across the stores, great publicity for each store...
(d) Stores should send flyers to each other - for their own customers to know where the other places to play are - this requires collaboration and trust, of course.
Anyway, those are just my thoughts.
True, those are true for the market in this region. I agree with your points and have been trying to implement some of them as well. Because the players are usually mainly in one area. Seriously, if we did MTG earlier and no one knew about us, that would have been a failure on our part.
But since they implemented it worldwide, I believe the whole implementation was with States in mind where traveling to a centralised pre-release can be a pain in the butt.
And having pre-releases is not exactly a shoo in for sale though. Many people will just travel to these stores to play and purchase the bulk of their stuff from their favourite local store, so de-centralising the pre-release will not garner sales but it will generate more traffic to a certain extent.
May 22 2008, 02:59 PM
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