Word from TPCi about the VGC in Canada

[Feathers]

A couple of days ago, I sent the following email to The Pokemon Company:

Hi, this year I attended the Seattle Regional qualifier for the Pokemon VGC. I had a wonderful time, as usual, and I thank you very much for your efforts at making the tournaments a fantastic experience.

However, since last year, I have been wondering why there have been no Regionals in Canada. I actually live in British Columbia, and have made the drive to Seattle every year for Pokemon events, usually quite frequently for downloads. I also belong to an online forum that is heavily involved in the VGC, and many of them are from Vancouver or Toronto, and end up having to drive to Seattle and Newark (this year) respectively. To me it would make sense to have at least two qualifiers in Canada, in two major cities.

But there is probably a reason why there aren't, right? So for curiosities sake, what is that reason? Is it a cost problem? Considering the amount, of Japan qualifiers, I don't believe that is the reason.

So it's just a wandering question, and I appreciate that you took the time to read it.

All the best, Feathers.

I finally received a rather reassuring reply. It looks like they haven't forgotten Canada exists!

Sadly, what makes sense isn't always what is possible.

The Japanese events are operated by our parent company, which has significantly greater resources than we do. Their budget for their VGC events is substantially larger than ours, and the manpower available to them dwarfs what we have available to us. Comparing the Japanese VGC events to the US and European events is comparing apples to oranges.

We do have plans to expand in North America, and those plans do include Canada. Unfortunately, just not for this year.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Michael Liesik
The Pokemon Company International
333 108th Ave NE Suite 1900
Bellevue, WA 98004
www.go-pokemon.com/op

So it's not this year, obviously, maybe not even next year. But there will eventually be locations in Canada. You hear that, Yeti? YOU WON'T HAVE TO SEE OUR SORRY CANADIAN ASSES IN SEATTLE EVERY YEAR.

So where do you guys think are the most reasonable Canadian locations? Right off the bat I say Vancouver and Toronto. Maybe Edmonton?
And do you think they'd have a separate National tournament from the States, or would that only apply to other continents?

Any other thoughts?

 

[Firestorm]

If they can do four events, Vancouver, Calgary or Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal probably make the most amount of sense. If only two, Toronto and Vancouver. If only one, then Toronto.

I would love a Vancouver event. If there's one in Vancouver, some of you people better come up here!

I doubt they'd do a Canadian National. It would more than likely just be added onto the US one due to the proximity. Or they'll only have Toronto and that'll be the National =/

Metro Vancouver has 2,116,581 people. (3rd largest city in Canada)
Metro Montreal has 3,635,571 people. (2nd)
Metro Toronto has 5,113,149 people. (1st)

Calgary and Edmonton have about a million each. Metro includes the areas just around the city.

In comparison, Seattle has about 3,407,848 people (15th in USA) and San Francisco has 4,203,898.

 

[uninstructed]

Lack of man power? If I knew where to apply I would volunteer to be a VGC employee in a heartbeat.

 

[Feathers]

@Firestorm

Makes sense to me. If they did that, then I could easily go to every single Regional in Canada. And wow that would be fantastic.

I can see the usual Seattle participants coming up the extra two hours to Vancouver.

I suggested the idea of a Canadian National because of the amount of people that might end up at a single National depending on how many Canadian stops they do. I guess it wouldn't really make a difference, though. I'd be fine with Toronto being a single National event. I could gather up all the Vancouverites and fly them there. 80

 

[Feathers]

Lack of man power? If I knew where to apply I would volunteer to be a VGC employee in a heartbeat.

I think it's more like lack of 'inner circle' people who are actually willing to fund more locations with no arguments. They need more people willing to put down the money. As you read, Japan has no problem with manpower simply because of it's popularity. It's easily one of the most popular events, and so they can afford to do more with it there.

 

[Firestorm]

Well, remember that the population of our entire country is about the same as that of California. A lot of the time video game companies seem to think of Toronto as the sole Canadian city because of that =/ The Greater Toronto Area alone has more people than British Columbia. That's why I'm always wary when companies talk about a "Canadian" event. More cases than not, they mean Toronto *coughMLGcough*!

Yeah, by manpower I think they mean moneypower!

 

[Team Rocket Elite]

Good to hear they remember us here in Canada. Hopefully we'll get Canada stops next year.

 

[Feathers]

Well, remember that the population of our entire country is about the same as that of California. A lot of the time video game companies seem to think of Toronto as the sole Canadian city because of that =/ The Greater Toronto Area alone has more people than British Columbia. That's why I'm always wary when companies talk about a "Canadian" event. More cases than not, they mean Toronto *coughMLGcough*!

Yeah, by manpower I think they mean moneypower!

Hehe, exactly. Everything always happens in Toronto. >.>

I would have no problem going there though. It would actually be cheaper than me paying $60 for gas to go to Seattle every year, which I have to do anyway for events (okay so no farther than like Lynnwood, but still). And if anyone local ended up going to a possible Toronto location, I could easily cut airfare and hotel costs in half, maybe more. In fact, we've done that a couple of times. Escorting people to Toronto specifically, I mean.

 

[ultimatedra]

Lack of man power? If I knew where to apply I would volunteer to be a VGC employee in a heartbeat.

At Nationals and Worlds there is a volunteer booth. You get to volunteer there. For At VGC events you have to talk to Mike Liesik directly and ask if they could use your help. They have TONS of people at nationals and worlds who volunteer and that is why these huge events are such a success

There is always work needed to be done, and generally they welcome people who know the game as it makes the experience more pleasurable for other event goers.

So, if you want to help (Say you lose round one and want to hang around) just ask for an event organizer and ask if you can help.

 

[PhredLevi]

That does make sense to me. I feel like Japan can get away with doing things that we can't because it's so small but dense.
I bet any Canadian regional would still be quite a trek for me out here in Nova Scotia...
Nice to know they're thinking about us, though.

 

[Yeti]

Thing about Seattle is there's probably 1-2 million people within an hour driving distance across Lake Washington. Maybe even closer to 3. So there's the people within Seattle's bounds then the people across the rest of the state nearby. Even Spokane is only about 6 hours and that's probably the farthest major population hub in the state.

Not to mention Bellevue (the HQ of these bros) and Redmond (Nintendo of America) are both big, and like 20 minutes out. Maybe 30. If the bridges are clear.

I hope they give you guys a VGC event so you can stay out of my state!!

They will more than likely only have one in Toronto. Vancouver is too close to Seattle to overlap on, and all the European countries that have an event only have one. It wouldn't surprise me if Canada got the same treatment.

 

[Werecario]

I dont see them getting their own event like European countries do. There is no Canadian version of the game first of all so that lets any Canadian player play in the US and in Canada and vise versa for American player, might as well include it and make a North American Nats, or whatever it would be called. Possibly the Continental Finals. That would be a pretty awesome name.

 

[mattj]

Mike is a very relate-able guy. I'm sure he'll take your suggestion into serious consideration. Lots of people complained about not getting to play last year (me included at the Nashville stop) and *VIOLA* the participant cap was raised significantly. Hopefully he'll do the very same for you guys. Just make sure more Canadian VGC'ers do the exact same thing and email him about the situation. He seriously WILL listen to you guys.

 

[Jats605]

Well, at least you got a real person, unlike some other companies.
But I like the prospect of Canada getting VGC's...a lot more competition :p

 

[Pewqazz]

I know this thread is kind of old but . . . nice to know the VGC people didn't forget about Canada. A tournament in Vancouver would be perfect. :D

 

[soon]

It actually happen similar to my country, Singapore.
We have about 4 million population here, which a very small group of pokemon casual players and competitive player.
Our local distributor for Nintendo and pokemon organized a VGC alike event and the turn out is really great. I really hope more countries are added to the VGC list for 2010. :)

 

[~Golden Emp]

Hey Feathers, where did you sent the e-mail to??

 

[BlackHatGuy]

Nice to see that the haven't forgotten about us. The sad thing is that I still wouldn't go if it was in vancouver and Montreal. i would onl go if they had one in Saskatoon. (and possibly edmonton)

 

[Firestorm]

Hey Feathers, where did you sent the e-mail to??

customerservice [at] pokemon.com

 

[~Golden Emp]

thanks Firestorm ^^

I want a México event ._.

 

[EpicTurtle]

Sweet hope theres one in vancouver and if there is I wonder how many people will actually come..

 

[Firestorm]

Where the hell are all you Vancouver people coming from all of a sudden? o.o

 

[-X-Chris-X-]

If there is one in Canada, it will be probably in Toronto.

I doubt that there will be a second because they lack budget. If there is one by miracle, it will be in Vancouver to cover the two side of Canada.

There is not many chance that there will be one in Montréal because it is primary french and I doubt they have french employee.

 

[Firestorm]

Chris, that is some really terrible logic with Montreal.

Firstly, Montreal isn't primarily French. I don't think I met a single person who didn't know English last time I was there. Hell, I don't think there's anyone in Quebec who isn't bilingual... I often wish I'd stayed longer in Quebec so I could be fluent in both languages.

Secondly, they can easily grab local people as volunteers.

Thirdly, if they have one in Montreal I would do everything in my power to convince Vincent and Brain to play Pokemon again.

 

[Venser]

Toronto would be awesome!