Noah Broessel of Pop Culture Paradise in Tempe, Arizona saw the debate on Topps' Blockbuster exclusive for its new CCG, The Dozens (see 'Ira Friedman from Topps on The Dozens,' 'Bob Cosner of Bob's Baseball Cards, Comics, and Gaming on CCG Retailer Exclusives,' 'Len Osborne of Cardhaus Games on CCG Retailer Exclusives,' and 'Pat Fuge of Gnome Games on TCG Exclusives'), and says he can see both sides:

After reading the comments about The Dozens, I can see both sides and if the game becomes popular I believe it can help stores such as myself.

I don't have a ton of advertising and if The Dozens becomes popular and I decide to carry it, I think customers being aware of the product's initial release from Blockbuster can help me if the following are true:

Topp's gives a retail locator card (or info) in or on the packs.

The game does well enough to create several expansions.

If Yu-Gi-Oh!'s first set was a Blockbuster exclusive three years ago but people came to my store to play tournaments and then started buying the majority of their following expansions from me, I profited from the Blockbuster exposure because they will only  have the newest Yu-Gi-Oh! set, offer no tournaments, get the cards one week after I get them directly from Upper Deck, have no singles (unlike me) and won't have any knowledge of the cards.

Myself, I am skeptical that the game will be a hit.  I think it will be more of an impulse buy, which is perfect for people waiting in line to get their DVD since it's more culture than Pop Culture.

Seeing so many games come out and fail makes me skeptical (like Creepy Freaks, GI Joe TCG....hell even the Wizards Star Wars TCG doesn't sell for me!).