Pat Fuge of Gnome Games in Green Bay, Wisconsin saw the comments by the representatives of Topps (see 'Ira Friedman from Topps on 'The Dozens'') and Score (see 'Jason Taitano of Score Entertainment on CCG Retailer Exclusives') on their limited-term Blockbuster exclusives and responded:

I read with great anticipation the responses about why Blockbuster will make their new properties fantastic sellers for the small retailer.  Sad to say I am constantly amazed and disappointed by the lack of understanding at the manufacturer level of how hobby really works.  Gentlemen, it's all about perception so let's put on the hobby goggles:

Everything we do in the quest for success is about perceptions.  We sell little pieces of paper or plastic that people think are valuable.  We try to make a business out of being the best place in our towns and neighborhoods to find these special pieces of paper before or at least at the same time as anywhere else.  We are perceived by the local populace to be the experts in what we do - sell these little pieces of paper and plastic and know everything there is to know about them.

The perception that many of our customers have is that any new game we don't carry on the first go around isn't worth the paper it's printed on.  If Gnome Games doesn't think it's worthy of shelf space - something must be wrong with it.

Hobby needs the first exclusive to remain successful.  That's what we specialize in, what we are known for and what we are good at.  When a new product gets mass marketed first then goes to hobby it makes our stores look bad to new customers.  Makes me look like I don't know my business, can't afford to buy in to the new product and my customers start to question my expertise in other areas as well.

Here is how we believe it should be done:

Give releases to brick and mortar venues that run organized play for the game first.  Give them the exclusive for two weeks, then release it to the Internet and mass market and retailers that don't run and report in-store events.  Restrict online sales for the first 2 weeks to encourage sales at the venues that run events.  Cut off supplies of future releases to any retailer that breaks the release date in either early sales over the counter or online.

What will you lose in sales?  Nothing - if the property is good the excitement generated by local small releases will actually increase mass-market and Internet discount sales.  Mass-market sales won't suffer in the least and you'll have venues get excited about carrying your product rather than begrudgingly bringing in a few boxes so they don't appear to be missing something.

Plus you'll gain the trust and favor of the hobby merchant; something that Score and Topps companies have lost.