Is the Bleach TCG dying?

Justmcnew · 09-03-2007, 12:17 PM

It's already the second set and yet there's more people in my area that play Naruto more than Bleach. I think the reason for the fact the Naruto CCG is more popular than the Bleach TCG right now is because Naruto seems to have a bigger fanbase than Bleach does right now.

Also some people are too afraid to play another TCG from Score which is why they don't wanna play Bleach, remember what happened with Dragonball Z/GT, Inuyasha, and Yu Yu Hakusho? It's like Bleach is Score's last chance and If it fails they'll fall into a spiraling abyss.

Problems I already see for the Bleach TCG and constructed Tournament play, you need exactly seven people to have a tournie, lack of playmats, promos, and prize support, and Naruto has better prize support.

The Naruto CCG is a great game, the only problems I see with it right now is that Fire is a bit overpowered and Lightning is almost severely underpowered. Eternal Rivalry did balance the game in a sense, Wind/Lightning has gotten better, so has Earth/Wind as well.

I've been playing the Bleach TCG since Premiere and it's a fun TCG, it's just that there's a lack of people who play it in my area. Plus it's hard as it is to get playsets of Balance of Souls and Reality Checks IMO.

I know a few people who would get into the Bleach TCG but they're afraid the game is gonna die out just like all the other TCG's Score has made.

That kinda worries me to be honest...

Ąerŏ · 09-03-2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justmcnew

It's already the second set and yet there's more people in my area that play Naruto more than Bleach. I think the reason for the fact the Naruto CCG is more popular than the Bleach TCG right now is because Naruto seems to have a bigger fanbase than Bleach does right now.

Also some people are too afraid to play another TCG from Score which is why they don't wanna play Bleach, remember what happened with Dragonball Z/GT, Inuyasha, and Yu Yu Hakusho? It's like Bleach is Score's last chance and If it fails they'll fall into a spiraling abyss.

Problems I already see for the Bleach TCG and constructed Tournament play, you need exactly seven people to have a tournie, lack of playmats, promos, and prize support, and Naruto has better prize support.

The Naruto CCG is a great game, the only problems I see with it right now is that Fire is a bit overpowered and Lightning is almost severely underpowered. Eternal Rivalry did balance the game in a sense, Wind/Lightning has gotten better, so has Earth/Wind as well.

I've been playing the Bleach TCG since Premiere and it's a fun TCG, it's just that there's a lack of people who play it in my area. Plus it's hard as it is to get playsets of Balance of Souls and Reality Checks IMO.

I know a few people who would get into the Bleach TCG but they're afraid the game is gonna die out just like all the other TCG's Score has made.

That kinda worries me to be honest...

DBZ lasted for about 7 years, and Inu lasted for at least 3 years. The only TCG out of those 3 that didn't last very long at all was YuYu. My area is booming, in fact, the entire state of Pennsylvania is booming. We get 10 locally here, even more if the younger kids that were actually interested in it would jump in, but they keep blowing their $ on YGO. Another local Bleach tournament maybe 40 miles south of me gets 20 weekly. It's just a matter of finding people in your area who are interested/getting them into it.

Right now, I don't see any real evidence of it dying just yet. I don't think anything will happen for at least another year yet.

Kiz · 09-03-2007, 12:56 PM

Naruto didn't take off until around 3rd set. Bleach is basically new. The new set has only been out for about and week so we really only have set at the moment. It's way to early to judge. We have more bleach players in our area than we did Naruto when it first started, so it's looking promising over here. Something that's just born can't be dying.

kingpoopa84 · 09-03-2007, 02:59 PM

I played DBZ too but I got out of it when GT came and now I'm breaking a promise I told myself after I got burned by DBZ. I now just starting to play bleach and I like it but I'm still afraid what Score might turn it into or drop it all together so i'll just have to wait and see. Also if Score burns me this time I won't buy anything from them ever again! Funny though i've could have sworn I've said that before?

WondaWice · 09-03-2007, 03:15 PM

Dieng? at the Pre-Release we got about 24 people, gencon got 44 people despite it being the first set, and some of my friends whom ive met back from Inu are saying its really big in there, just cause its not big in one area it doesnt mean its dead.

Justmcnew · 09-03-2007, 03:31 PM

I'm very glad to hear that it's still alive cause hopefully here in Kansas City, Missouri it will get better even though Soul Society just came out.

Perhaps when Seireitei releases this November it will get a bigger fanbase, who knows. Oh wait, that's right around my birthday this year!

Currently though my area is bustling more Naruto players than for Bleach at the moment.

Psychosis · 09-03-2007, 09:04 PM

Justmcnew, there should be something at DieCON for sure next year, and thats just across the river from st louis. Score is always a big hit at DieCON, you should make plans to go, we should meet up and playtest n stuff. its not that far from KC... btw GO CARDINALS!!!!! XD

Justmcnew · 09-03-2007, 10:43 PM

DieCON? Alright Psychosis I'll shut up already about the status of the Bleach TCG...

Geez, what a way to be harshly sarcastic... >_>

The 14th Captain · 09-03-2007, 10:48 PM

Well my tourney has a moderate but consistent following, and we are all pretty into it so I'm not worried too much. I think if the numbers don't change by Seireitei then the game might be in danger of falling off, but it's not even 6 mos old yet.

You know what I think would really boost interest in the game? A commercial. How are people going to get into the game if they don't know it exists? I've had to sit through Duel Masters commercials, Yu-Gi-Oh commercials and even MTG commercials (and that game is beyond dead in my area) and I have yet to see a single Bleach TCG commercial. The Naruto CCG commercial made me actually interested in running Shukaku cause it looked so sweet. Pokemon continues to have one of the best marketing campaigns around, and despite the fact that the game has been around for like 10 years it still has a commercial and guess what? It still sells cards.

The problem as I see it is that the Bleach TCG is as poorly marketed as the Sailor Moon CCG.

For all of you squinting and saying "...Umm what Sailor Moon CCG?" my response is "Exactly."

BleachCardGameboy14 · 09-04-2007, 06:00 AM

It Not dieing because it is fun to battle with people and use like 5 Different Characters and the Same Energy cards every turn. I mean Naruto and Yugioh dosen't work like Bleach so Bleach isn't dieing. The Bleach TCCG Is Hard at frist but after you read the rule book it isn't that hard.

Koovo · 09-04-2007, 11:41 AM

The 14th Captain is right. I see more commercials for Naruto and other card games. I was surprised to see a Magic commercial about Tenth Edition, the last one I remember was back in the '90s. Better marketing will undoubtedly help snag a few more potential players and new deals from distributors. As of right now, I have refrained from purchasing boosters of the latest expansion due to lack of interest in my area (in my opinion the biggest turn off) and the fact that school allows less time for gaming. I am still tracking the game, but it is too early for threads like this. The Bleach TCG isn’t even a year old, give it some time to grow and mature before damning its existence.

Psychosis · 09-04-2007, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justmcnew

DieCON? Alright Psychosis I'll shut up already about the status of the Bleach TCG...

Geez, what a way to be harshly sarcastic... >_>

umm... what?

ok... i saw u lived near(ish) to st louis, and Diecon is what, in april? wtf dude... It was a serious statement... but I guess if you don't wanna go, or think it's some kind of a joke (lets see, DieCON, I have played numerous DBZ Regionals, Pre Releases, YuYu tournies, as well as it being the site of the 05 GKI *Grand Kai Invitational* for DBZ... the biggest invite-only tourney DBZ EVER had... or maybe it was archon... i think it was DieCON...) and if u think its some joke convention I just made up, the people who run it, the main guy,

John Bancroft... o and btw, DieCON is the first place I ever met Aik... u might know him? he's only like the Main Guy for the Bleach TCG?

you know seriously... i know its a ways off, but seeing as before my post this thread had genuinely already answered your question as to whether the game was dead (a resounding no) I thought it would be nice if I mentioned a convention near you that I myself would be attending, and offer my hand in friendship as a fellow bleach TCG enthusiast...

thank you for teaching me my lesson about showing kindness to people on a forum. I now hope to see you there just to have the sincere pleasure of beating you in whatever tourney they have.

Sincerely,

Psy "harshly Sarcastic" Chosis

(Edit: ok I was wrong about the date, its May 30,31st,June 1st, but still by then we will prolly have set 4 or 5, so If you were commenting about how far away it is (timeline wise) I guess I see your point... it was a sincere post so whatever)

Omega Ridley · 09-04-2007, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The 14th Captain

Well my tourney has a moderate but consistent following, and we are all pretty into it so I'm not worried too much. I think if the numbers don't change by Seireitei then the game might be in danger of falling off, but it's not even 6 mos old yet.

You know what I think would really boost interest in the game? A commercial. How are people going to get into the game if they don't know it exists? I've had to sit through Duel Masters commercials, Yu-Gi-Oh commercials and even MTG commercials (and that game is beyond dead in my area) and I have yet to see a single Bleach TCG commercial. The Naruto CCG commercial made me actually interested in running Shukaku cause it looked so sweet. Pokemon continues to have one of the best marketing campaigns around, and despite the fact that the game has been around for like 10 years it still has a commercial and guess what? It still sells cards.

The problem as I see it is that the Bleach TCG is as poorly marketed as the Sailor Moon CCG.

For all of you squinting and saying "...Umm what Sailor Moon CCG?" my response is "Exactly."

Eh, I remember Sailor Moon at least being advertised in TopDeck. It doesn't help that Wal-Mart is the only chain retailer that carries Bleach.

Also, there STILL aren't any stores in my state that have tournaments =_= You would think that Washington would, considering we have Wizards of the Coast... I guess people are interested only in Magic, WoW, Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh.

Kisame4200 · 09-04-2007, 02:44 PM

Here in SW Washington this game is pushing up daisies. The only store that sells it in my area is a single target, and its stock of bleach hasn't diminished for a very long time. The store I go to won't even touch the game. I'm sad it had to be this way, Bleach is one of my favorite mangas and I was really looking forward to this game, but alas I only know of one other person in my area that plays the game, it is sad indeed.

soviet prince · 09-04-2007, 07:14 PM

is the Bleach game dead?

the answer to that is a heck no, it's only in it's second set the game has not been out ong enough to die. Give it time greatness is not achieved in one day.

Omega Ridley · 09-04-2007, 07:42 PM

It's more alive in some parts of the country, and dead in others.

Psychosis · 09-04-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soviet prince

greatness is not achieved in one day.

it could be if you weren't so lazy!!!!

now if you would excuse me, its nap time.

Maupin · 09-05-2007, 01:38 AM

Alright if you guys want to complain about advertizing let me give you some information:

Wizards of the Coast affiliated with Magic....everyone knows that WotC has infinate money to spend on advertizing and that not for Magic

Konami - They have yu-gi-oh and a lot of money....no point in going on from there

Nintendo - Pokemon .... Nintendo = power house when it comes to money.

Score Entertainment - Bleach, Score does NOT have a lot of extra money when it comes to advertizing. The reason they don't have commericals for Bleach TCG was because of the failure that Re-Z was and the amount of money that was lost through advertizing for that lord forsaken game. Where they lack in advertizing they make up in customer care and making the fans happy. Most people would disagree, but if you get a chance to meet some of the employees ( namely Josh, Dan and Aik ) you will learn that they are looking out for the player base.

Once again advertizing comes in forms of tournament prizes and what not. Honestly I wouldn't mind seeing more play mats given out, but at the same time if every joe schmoe could just get a play mat like in Naruto then whats the point of having them? Players NEED something to look forward to winning other than a promo card.

soviet prince · 09-05-2007, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychosis

it could be if you weren't so lazy!!!!

now if you would excuse me, its nap time.

huh I am confused,

Psychosis · 09-05-2007, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soviet prince

huh I am confused,

I tend to have that effect... just ignore me and move on

but if you must know, I was bored and in one of your posts u said greatness is not achieved in one day, i made a terribly un funny statement (its what i do) about how it could be, If only u werent so lazy, and then i went and took a nap (leaving you to achieve greatness in a day, while I sleep) as a form of complete and utter Hippocrasy on my part.

to quote myself, Just Ignore me and move on... i ramble when the medication is watered down.

Justmcnew · 09-05-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psychosis

umm... what?

ok... i saw u lived near(ish) to st louis, and Diecon is what, in april? wtf dude... It was a serious statement... but I guess if you don't wanna go, or think it's some kind of a joke (lets see, DieCON, I have played numerous DBZ Regionals, Pre Releases, YuYu tournies, as well as it being the site of the 05 GKI *Grand Kai Invitational* for DBZ... the biggest invite-only tourney DBZ EVER had... or maybe it was archon... i think it was DieCON...) and if u think its some joke convention I just made up, the people who run it, the main guy,

John Bancroft... o and btw, DieCON is the first place I ever met Aik... u might know him? he's only like the Main Guy for the Bleach TCG?

you know seriously... i know its a ways off, but seeing as before my post this thread had genuinely already answered your question as to whether the game was dead (a resounding no) I thought it would be nice if I mentioned a convention near you that I myself would be attending, and offer my hand in friendship as a fellow bleach TCG enthusiast...

thank you for teaching me my lesson about showing kindness to people on a forum. I now hope to see you there just to have the sincere pleasure of beating you in whatever tourney they have.

Sincerely,

Psy "harshly Sarcastic" Chosis

(Edit: ok I was wrong about the date, its May 30,31st,June 1st, but still by then we will prolly have set 4 or 5, so If you were commenting about how far away it is (timeline wise) I guess I see your point... it was a sincere post so whatever)

So are you still mad at me about that ordeal? I apologize assuming that I thought you we're being rude to me and I was wrong. I didn't realize that DieCON was an actual event so please forgive me for not knowing that.

So are we cool?

Oh and as much as I hate to admit it now that I'm back on topic, there's hardly anyone in my area that plays Bleach because Naruto is more popular which I'm not surprised that it is cause it's more mainstream to the general public.

The prize support for the Bleach TCG is not that good despite just promos, I mean where's the playmats? Naruto's also popular for the playmats cause I don't see why other TCG's shouldn't cause it would be awesome.

Plus you have to have exactly 7 people for a Bleach Tournament and in Naruto you don't have to have exactly that many just to hold one.

I'm starting to actually decide whether or not If I wanna sell my Bleach stuff cause there's only like maybe 2 other people besides myself that play. Plus I think Naruto is alot easier to get into than Bleach cause some of the cards you need for a deck aren't that hard to get.

I'd hate to quit this great TCG but here in Kansas City, MO it isn't looking too good to be honest. I've tried to spread the word but Naruto still prevails over it.

I'm not bashing Naruto or anything like that it's also a great TCG as well, it just would've been nice If Bleach had the same kind of treatment that Naruto has.

soviet prince · 09-05-2007, 07:04 PM

atleast you have someone who plays it could be worse

`Phenom · 09-05-2007, 07:09 PM

lol.
The game just started and already someone has a "Dying" thread up. At least wait until the game actually as a life to speak of, before you start burying it.

Psychosis · 09-05-2007, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justmcnew

So are you still mad at me about that ordeal? I apologize assuming that I thought you we're being rude to me and I was wrong. I didn't realize that DieCON was an actual event so please forgive me for not knowing that.

So are we cool?

yuppers ^_^

its not a huge event, but its still pretty good size... especially now that I got the guy who runs its son into bleach mwahahahaha

I expect to see u there, u show, I'll buy lunch

Justmcnew · 09-05-2007, 07:30 PM

I can't make it to St. Louis, so I can't attend DieCON.

Also what did you mean by the guy who runs it's son into Bleach?