If you have never been to a video game discussion forum, consider yourself lucky. Even moreso if the game itself is targeted at/played by a pre-teen or teen crowd. In tons of instances, half of the discussion about a certain topic centers around who commented first or second just to be the first or second at the top of the thread. I have gone looking for answers on Madden questions and come up wondering why I even went to check in the first place. Its that bad in some cases.
Over the last few weeks, there has been a relative pot-shot/counter pot-shot propagated by Panini and Upper Deck over the release of their video card programs that will be running in a few different products over the course of the next year. Although, Upper Deck’s video card is in the hands of collectors before those of Panini, the HRX cards were “announced” before Upper Deck thanks to some bad PR decisions to hold on the release of the news that Evolution was on its way in 2011 UD Football.
Secondly, Panini’s card was originally released as Panini HD or something like that, a card which has now been re-adjusted to more closely resemble what Upper Deck released last Wednesday. Personally, I don’t really think either of these release methods are all that important in the grand scheme of things, and each have a claim to being “FIRST!!!1111!!” in the discussion in some way.
The problem really stems from this whole debate that has summarily been raised by each of the companies through their social media outlets, most recently with a completely inflammatory post on Upper Deck’s blog. Again, as it is with everything, the companies are focusing on something other than outdoing each other with quality products. Because both of the IDEAS were released in a similar timeframe, they will forever be tied together, even if HRX (or whatever name it is called upon release) was announced first, or Evolution is released first. At this point, the discussion is pretty much worthless, because it DOESN’T MATTER WHICH CARD CAME FIRST. Both of the cards, as said numerous times before this point, are five years too late, and really have not been selling for the extreme prices that people expected them to.
Check out what I mean:
Adrian Peterson Evolution Video Card
Tony Romo Evolution Video Card
Adrian Peterson Evolution Video Card 2
What really makes this post by Upper Deck even more ridiculous, is some of the inferred points made by Nick Leslie regarding the relationship between Beckett and Panini. Its one thing if it comes from someone like me (which it has on numerous occasions), but its completely different to hint at those points in this manner from an actual manufacturer. The bottom line is that the Beckett/Panini connection has always been there, but the relationship and/or possible favoritism really has no relevancy to this discussion from UD’s end. Its just a complete turn off to read that from the official blog of a company. Up until earlier this year, both companies and Topps have had a no-comment sort of manner when addressing their competition, and really it made things a lot easier to read on their marketing stuff. It forced them to pimp the quality of their own wares, rather than take pot-shots at the quality of the other company’s. I don’t need to read about this stuff from Upper Deck, especially when we have a lot of it from other sources. I guess professional courtesy is dead.
In the end, this debate will be nothing more than a footnote in the history of things, if even that. However, I can see that UD may have opened a can of worms they may not want to continue dealing with. Those in glass houses, shouldn’t throw stones, right? Although both companies have had MAJOR, and when I say major, I mean MAAAAAJJJJJOOOOOORRRR marketing disasters recently, so why invite the full contact? It doesn’t make sense to me.
For a company who is trying to grow a niche market into a major competitive force, I really don’t think it was handled correctly. Panini’s claims aren’t much better, outside of Beckett obviously egging on each party, and hopefully this dies soon. Maybe both companies should go back to making cards. I know that there are much more important things to deal with.
OMFG…. why the hell can’t these people get into fights about something that actually matters? Hey, listen up fools, here’s one for you… try to be the “first1111!!!!11qw9y824t)” to get a set out that contains on card autographs of all players, all eras, no redemptions! Aaaannnndddd…. go! I’ll die before this happens… 🙁
How Panini and Upper Deck focus their money and effort in providing a database with pictures of every auto patche card that is produced so we can end this fake patch crap!!!!!HOW ABOUT THAT…….I GUESS THAT WILL MAKE TOO MUCH DAM SENSE
I am a dealer for sports cards and collectables. Beckett has so many people that has no idea what they are doing. They are sending me the wrong becketts , billing me wrong, customer service is just plan lost , there management team will not call me back, i am done selling any beckett product also the collect and save web site is owned by beckett and they are the highest priced web site there is for sports cards. THERE HAS TO BE ANOTHER PRICE GUIDE TO USE FIND IT AND USE IT
Yup, there is, its called eBay completed auctions.
Video cards are not that cool. I don’t know why this sparks any controversy. Both companies are indeed at least 5 years too late. Where is the novelty in having a little video?
Upper Deck consistently puts out higher quality and better looking cards than Panini. Why are they at all concerned with what Beckett and Panini do? How much influence does Beckett actually have? I hope people aren’t swayed by what a magazine says. Just go to your local hobby shop and you will see that Upper Deck is a superior product.