Jason Taitano, Director of Games for Score Entertainment, saw the comments from independent retailers on the retailer exclusive for Score's upcoming Epic Battles TCG (and other TCGs from other companies, see 'Rich Biedrzycki of Dreamland on CCG Retailer Exclusives' and 'Bob Cosner of Bob's Baseball Cards, Comics, and Gaming on CCG Exclusives'), and responded:
We would like to respond to the comments made about the release of the Epic Battles Trading Card Game. In contrast to the release of Shaman King, the intended method of distribution for the Epic Battles TCG has always been retail exclusive. This is akin to a trading card product on the sports side of the business, in which a product is sold exclusively in retail.
The demographic for Blockbuster customers is different from that of a hobby retail store. Their customers are not the traditional game enthusiast and are apt to not be a part of a trading card game community. The first part of Score Entertainment's strategy is to create a symbiotic relationship between Blockbuster and hobby retailers in which Blockbuster drives those customers who want to become active in a playing community to one of many hobby retail stores in close proximity by use of point of purchase displays. This translates to approximately 3,700 Blockbuster locations driving traffic to hobby retail stores across the country as a destination to play. This brings us to the second part of our strategy. Score Entertainment will offer Epic Battle TCG tournament kits to hobby retailers that are registered in Score Entertainment's Verified Events Network (SEVEN). Tournament kits will consist of enough product to support up to 20 players and will be sold at a discounted price of $72.50.
Score Entertainment acknowledges that is up to each individual hobby retail store to carry the products that cater to its stores customer base. Although we would like for every hobby retailer to carry all of our products, we also acknowledge that most often they don't. We have diversified our offering and ask that you give each game a fair shot and consider each of our products on merit and in relation to your customers' needs.
The opinions expressed in this Talk Back article are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff of ICv2.com.
