VS in Philadelphia

First, I want to say that I’m very happy to see how passionate everyone has been in these discussions about the game and its web presence. Unfortunately, word of this change got out before we had finalized all our plans, causing some incorrect assumptions to be made. Now that everything is squared away, I’d like to share our vision for the future of Vs. System on the web.

The most important thing to note is that the only major change is scaling back our daily strategy columns. VsSystem.com will still be kept up to date with all the latest news on upcoming products and programs. We’ll still have preview weeks for new sets. You’ll still be able to come to the website and find out what the prizes are this month at your local Hobby League, or information on this year’s Mega-Weekends. The brand website is still the place to visit for all official Vs. System information.

The only change in philosophy is that we feel Vs. System players are best equipped to share community news and strategy advice with each other. Rather than housing all this information on the website and having it absorbed by the player base in a passive way, we’d like to encourage everyone to be actively engaged in the game, and contribute where possible. We know that Vs. players are some of the most vocal and passionate voices in this industry, so why not bring out that energy and use it to benefit the community? Our columnists over the years have been great, and they’ll continue to make positive contributions to the game as we move forward (more on this later). But, it’s clear to anyone who visits this forum that Vs. has an intense, loyal following for its game that is unique to TCGs. And we think the future of any game is brighter when players are encouraged to participate.

Starting in March, VsSystem.com will switch to a new format for regular content. Rian Fike will write a weekly column called “Rallying Cry!”, which will highlight the best Vs. System content on the internet. It’ll be a great way for readers to get a snapshot of what’s going on in the community every week, and more importantly, it’ll provide independent Vs. websites with exposure. With this new format, every single member of the Vs. community will have a chance to have their voice heard on a larger scale. Start a blog, write some intriguing content, and you’ll get a mention in Rian’s weekly column on VsSystem.com. It’s as simple as that.

We’re also going to have a bi-weekly column that focuses on strategy, along with community happenings that may slip through the cracks. This column will rotate its authors, in an effort to get a fresh voice into the mix on a regular basis. Some columnists who have signed up for this role include Patrick Yapjoco, Steve Garrett and Miguel Rodriguez.

Finally, and most importantly, I’m pleased to announce that starting in March, we will hand out a cool prize to the Vs. Blogger of the Month. This is our way of recognizing and rewarding individuals in the community who work towards helping the game grow. Every month, we’ll keep a close eye on the Vs. blogs and websites fans work on, and we’ll send a prize to our favorite. For the month of March, the top blogger will receive a full set of Marvel Legends. We’re aiming to change this prize up every month, but we think this is a pretty good start.

To become a Vs. Blogger of the Month, you need to show dedication to quality content on a regular basis, and positivity within the Vs. community. There are a lot of great Vs. blogs out there already, so if you don’t get picked for March, don’t get discouraged! We’ll have another prize to give out in April.