Nintendo of America isn't making it easy, and doesn't seem to care.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/editorial/31791
Kid Icarus: Uprising came out in March. Even before the title hit store shelves, the official game trailers teased an AR card collecting element included in the game. Nintendo continued to whet the appetite of players hungry for AR cards by including sample cards with every copy of the game.
In the beginning, things didn’t look so bad for those wishing to collect Kid Icarus: Uprising AR Idol cards in North America. Multiple magazines gave out promo cards. The official Kid Icarus: Uprising strategy guide even included some. To be honest, giving out these cards was a great marketing tool to get people interested in the game.
Not long after the game released Nintendo of America began to give out Series 1 (and more recently, Series 2) card packs at events like ComicCon, PAX, WonderCon, etc. If you couldn’t make it to one of those big events, though, then you were almost screwed. Luckily, NOA gave out Series 1 card packs at different Best Buy and GameStop locations for a limited time a few select days earlier this year. NOA promises to do the same for the Series 2 cards in the near future. The problem is that the Nintendo reps handing out cards received a limited number of packs, and would only hand out one per person at each event. This amounts to 10 random cards, out of over 400 available, per person at each event.
The simple fact is Nintendo of America has made the cards in their region extremely limited in nature; trying to get them all at this point is nearly impossible unless you’re going to spend a ton of money. Anyone keeping tabs on the sale of Kid Icarus: Uprising cards on eBay knows the truth: the demand for these cards exceeds the supply, making some rather simple pieces of cardboard worth more than they should be. One card in particular, Three Sacred Treasures, was only handed out to the first 250 people who purchased the game at Nintendo World, and has been regularly selling for over $200 on eBay.
At PAX a few weeks ago, Nintendo of America even held a Kid Icarus: Uprising tournament with a nearly full set of cards as the grand prize. NOA continued to tease this on their Facebook page with a picture showing the special set, complete with a specially designed box to house all the cards. Great for one person, but what is everyone else supposed to do? With the professional look of the already designed box, I’m sure manufacturing more to sell at various retail outlets wouldn’t be difficult for NOA.
Nintendo has handled the situation in other regions in a completely different way. Card packs can be purchased in both Japan and in Europe. It’s slightly more complicated in Europe, with cards purchased being marked with a rarity and those received at promos not, but that’s another story. The point is that Kid Icarus: Uprising cards aren’t impossible to obtain in these regions.
In the end, Nintendo of America has once again dropped the ball. The company could have used these cards as a way to make more money off a big 3DS release. Instead NOA has opted to make collecting these cards a nightmare for their fans. It’s still not too late for NOA to turn this around and make some money, but I’m sure the demand isn’t as high now as it was immediately following the launch of Kid Icarus: Uprising. Still, I really hope NOA decides to start selling the nearly complete set, or even just packs, in stores. Some people may say it should be a Club Nintendo reward, but I don’t think that’s right; fans shouldn’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to fully take advantage of a simple feature in a game they already purchased.
When it comes down to it, I still love Kid Icarus: Uprising. The AR card feature might not be the best, but collecting the cards can be fun and brings fans of the game together. I just hope Nintendo of America does something to make collecting these cards easier. If they don’t, I may pull out all my hair in frustration: I’ve already spent way to much on these cards and only have around 120 so far.
Does your name mean Just To Be Rude?
I know, effing NoA... releasing something for free in a market that was never truly going to care about it. What the hell is that? Some kind of bone they are throwing us? EFF THAT! It's like you said, they should be selling them to "make money" on it. That way, an extremely small percentage of the audience could "collect 'em all" at prices much more reasonable than eBay.
That way everyone could have them and they wouldn't be collector's items! Win-win! So, let's give one more middle finger to NoA for "dropping the ball" yet again. When will they ever learn?
Vita4Life
PeaceI'mOut
*drops mic*
Is it worth it to collect European or Japanese cards instead of North American ones?
@ejamer
um, what? You say yourself that Nintendo's assumption is perhaps justified. So... that's why they do what they do!|
...
This is what it breaks down to:
You've got those lucky enough to attend these special events who actually care about getting the cards. Yay for them.
You've got those who attend the events, perhaps to participate, but with the complete intention of selling the cards they get on eBay. Did you know the packs of cards from GDC are going for $50+ right now? Yeah. Hope none of the events runs out before those who actually want the cards can get them. :(
You've got those who simply want the content from the cards for the game. Of course, I fully expect to find the cards scanned in and printable about two days after they're released... so these folks get to enjoy the cards without spending a dime on them or putting any effort into them.
Then, you've got the poor slobs like me - who aren't going to be anywhere near any official events and will have to be buying the cards for inflated prices on eBay. This means I have less disposable income to spend on Nintendo products that actually benefits you, as a company. This means I'm only encouraging the folks who go to the events for the purpose of getting the cards and re-selling them, potentially hurting others who actually want to get them.
This, alone, isn't what annoys me the most. I think the worst part is the fact that YOU have the channels necessary to produce and sell these cards through regular methods. First and foremost, you've got everything set up through your Pokémon Trading Card game. Everywhere that sells trading cards sells Pokémon cards. Perfect distribution method for the cards via retail sales. If that's not good enough, then there's Enter-play. They've released some really great quality Nintendo cards in the past few years. They have the retail channels for selling the cards at Target, Toys R Us, Walmart, online, etc. Aside from the stickers I had to import because they weren't sold in the US, I had *no* issues finding Enter-play's cards.
If none of that works for you, then there's the online Nintendo store - which sold all kinds of e-Reader cards (I think there's still some up there actually). You could just put the cards up there like you did Xenoblade.
What my bottom line here is... you're killing me. Slowly and painfully, destroying my soul.
They are hard to collect because Uncle Bob keeps buying and hoarding them all. :P:
Collecting these cards have been a fun and rewarding Challenge.
This is my first experience with card collecting - well, besides Pokemon in 1999, but thats beside the point. The feeling of safe card handling, checklists, doubles list, sleeving, hard casing, professional card grading – wow. Truly enjoyable.
In the end, I in fact agree with the way Nintendo limited its distribution of these cards. Its not about making money, they have Paninni and AKDJ cards that are raking in the dough. IMO, of all three sets (AKDP/AKDJ/AKDE) AKDE's are and will retain its value over time.
Forget that 402 card box set on ebay, I have been collecting KI:U (AKDE) Cards since day one and have had little to no problems obtaining the cards to add to my collection.
Part of the fun is wheeling and dealing through the dark regions of the interwebs and connecting with true AKDE collectors (around the world) that have the cards you need and vice versa.
Yes, Ive dropped some bills on ebay like the rest of you.. But that initial investment has paid off with nearly a complete set of all cards and promos. Feels like I started with a book of matches and have wheeled and dealed into owning a 4 wheel camper. Then again, this is my experience with trading. Those 15 or so Series 1 Boosters I bought back in April’12 have more than paid for themselves and have allowed me the leverage card for card trades - successfully completing series 1 and on my way to a complete Series 2.
Also, hardcore fans should knuckle up and actually go to conventions. First hand, I can say - Nintendo was VERY generous with its distribution of Booster packs. In fact, I am still sitting on 80 or so unopened Series 2 boosters and nearly 200 S2 doubles with no plans to sell on ebay. I have stopped opening packs and continuing the tradition of finding global collectors to barter with. These cards are meant to circulate, not fetch top dollar online. Then again, Supply and Demand right?
Lastly, NOA will not see a retail these cards stateside. A knowledgeable NOA rep told me first hand after a lengthy discussion about AKDE-025 Three Sacred Treasures. FYI – If your 3ST card is SEALED, congratulations – KEEP IT THAT WAY. This is definitively a deciding factor for present and future value of cards. *that 402 Card boxset contains a 3ST card (unsealed) of course. I digress. Just wanted to add my 2 cents. Best of Luck and Keep Collecting.