Friendship NDA from Friendda.org

A good friend who frequently discusses ideas that we can’t share publicly (its a job hazard) just sent me this. Its a NDA thats non disclosure agreement for those who haven’t worked for anyone corporate. Only this one is for friends and I find it funny.

If you haven’t ever read a NDA you might want to pass as you likely won’t get the joke – but if you have this is great.

from http://www.friendda.org/ 

FriendDA

This agreement is entered into this ___ day of ___ 20__ by and between _____________ (hereinafter “The Advisor”) and _____________ (hereinafter “The Keeper of the Idea” or “I”) regarding information The Keeper of The Idea is choosing to share with The Advisor (hereinafter “The Idea”).

WHEREAS I possess a bright idea that I am choosing to disclose to you, The Advisor, with the mutual understanding that you are my friend and that you will not screw me.

Manners of screwing include, but are not limited to:

1. Adapting some or all of The Idea for your own purposes.
2. Choosing to share some or all of The Idea with those who are not bound to this agreement.
3. Failing to do your best to protect The Idea.

This is a “warm blanket” agreement with which, by requesting your agreement to it, I am helping myself sleep at night by placing a small amount of formality on the sharing of The Idea. I believe The Idea will only improve as a result of having solicited your honest and clear feedback.

TermThe term of this agreement shall continue until The Idea is no longer confidential.

BreachThis agreement has absolutely no legal binding. However, upon breach or violation of the agreement, I will feel free to do any of the following:

1. Curse you under my breath.
2. Publicly disclose the manner of your screw-i-tude.
3. Write about your transgressions in ALL CAPS.
4. No longer consider you a person with whom I can share my ideas.

SharingSharing of some or all of The Idea with third parties may occur provided that you have cleared this with me and the third parties agree to the principles of the FriendDA.

TerminationTermination of this FriendDA can be executed by either party, but don’t be a douche.

You are acknowledging and agreeing to this disclosure by reading it. If you find any part of this agreement uncomfortable or confusing, don’t sweat it. We’ll talk about something else.

Just got back from GDC and my brain is full

I spent much of last week the the computer game convention – GDC and I want to share some of the ideas I learned and some of the thoughts that it sparked. 

However my brain is full today and I have a bunch of logistical issues to handle for the GP and events this week.  So I hope to find time over the next couple weeks to share my thought and I apologize for the delay.

Tim

GP Seattle – Hotel info

If your going to GP Seattle we have arranged for a discount at the hotel next to the venue.  They are currently holding 100 rooms for the GP. These could sell out in which case they will not be able to add more.Hotel Reservations – Courtyard Tacoma Downtown

To book reservations for the event call: Marriott reservations at (800) 321-2211 or Courtyard Marriott hotel directly at (253) 591-9100

 

Please request the special rate for “Grand Prix Seattle”. Reservations by attendees must be received before 5:00pm, Friday, May 1, 2009

 

Magic decklists???

Magic players – how deep do you want up to publish decklists? Currently top 8 are on the wotc site. We could go deeper and publish to 12, top 18, top 20, top 40, all of em.

 

Just let me know and I will take your input into account as I make my decision.

 

Tim

Decipher – Former VP guilty of embezzlement

I saw this on Icv2.com this AM. 

 

Guilty Plea in Decipher Case

Former VP Embezzled $1.5 Million

Published: 03/11/2009, Last Updated: 03/12/2009 02:49am

Rick Eddleman, former vice president of finance for Decipher Inc., pled guilty to 12 counts of embezzlement in Virginia Circuit Court Monday. Eddleman, who had direct control over the game company’s finances and financial records for nine years, faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison (see “Decipher Troubles Continue”).

 

According to the Virginian-Pilot, Eddleman paid himself double his salary, “loaned” himself money from the company (which was never repaid), and wrote checks to his wife and children. Decipher President Cindy Thornburg said that Eddleman’s actions contributed to several rounds of layoffs with the company that resulted in 90 employees losing their jobs in 2005 (see “Decipher Downsizes”) and resulted in Decipher writing off $8.9 million in losses. In March 2008, a judge ordered Eddleman to pay that same amount to Decipher.

 

Decipher was once a huge player in the CCG business, with powerhouse properties including Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, MegaMan, and Beyblade.  Decipher has been quiet on the CCG front since ending The Lord of the Rings TCG in mid-2007 (see “One Set to End It All”) but has recently released a direct-to-consumer trading-card game, Fight Klub. The game draws from a number of licensed properties, such as Rambo and Evil Dead, and is marketed using a player-centric referral system.

Please support your local shop

This was reported in Card Trade online magazine. Although its focused on Sorts Card shops the results are likely to be at least an indicatory of Game stores.  Over the last 7 years the separation between card and game stores has dwindled.  This is especially true for trading card game sales.

As I read this the message I take is that if you value having a place to play then you should support your local shop. BTW – you should do the math sometime. Paying an entry fee at a stores tournament almost never covers the actual expense of the event.  If you add the expense of the employee and the cost of the space – retailers frequently lose money on events. They hope to make that money back from sales of the customers who come in for the event. For this to work – customers have to actually spend money when they come into the event.

Tim

http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com/article/hobby_shops_report_decline_in_sales

 

78 Percent of Hobby Shops Report Decline in Sales in 2008

March 04, 2009

Nearly 78 percent of all hobby retailers reported a decline in gross sales last year, according to the results of Card Trade’s 12th annual retailer survey. That figure represents a significant jump from the 47 percent who reported a decline in 2007. Profits declined at more than 73 percent for all stores. 

While the number of stores reporting a decrease in sales and profits was stunning, it’s not surprising in light of how bad the economy was last year. The one bright side is the average decrease in gross sales reported by store’s was 23.5 percent, which was only slightly higher than the previous year’s average decrease of 20.5 percent. The fact one in five stores was able to hold the line on sales or report an increase is probably a pretty good ratio compared to other retail categories.

Customer traffic also declined at the majority of stores, and nearly 60 percent of those businesses reported a loss in youth traffic, dealing a blow to the industry’s efforts to recruit new customers. 

While an unknown number of hobby shops closed last year, that number appears likely to grow in the near future, as 10 percent of retailers who responded to the survey said they were “very pessimistic” about the future of their businesses. 

More than 250 retailers took part in the survey, which was conducted last month.

Great news for YGO Regionals winners

This is briliant. Helps the YGO winners. Makes Magic Nationals even more fun. Adds drama to Magic Nationals. Wizards looks great.  Only question I have is how does someone prove they qualified.

Also I have not seen anyone from Konami sat that YGO Nationals are canceled.  So that part may or may not be correct. It seems likely to me that Konami WILL hold Nationals, but I don’t know for sure.

http://ww2.wizards.com/Company/Press/?doc=20090302

Wizards of the Coast Extends Nationals Invitations to Yu-Gi-Oh! Players

 

March 2, 2009 - Renton, WA – Wizards of the Coast today announced that invitations to the Magic: The Gathering® Nationals tournament will be extended to qualified Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game players in response to the recent announcement that their National Championships are cancelled.

“We respect the accomplishments of all high-level tournament players,” said Chris Galvin, VP of Organized Play for Wizards of the Coast. “We’d like to do what we can to honor their achievements and keep them gaming.”

Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game players who hold an invitation to the Yu-Gi-Oh! US or Canadian Nationals that were scheduled to take place this year will be welcomed to come play Magic at the equivalent Magic: The Gathering Nationals in summer 2009. Interested players can simply contact the Wizards Game Support team by visiting customer support or by calling 1-800-324-6496.

About Wizards

Wizards of the Coast is the leader in entertaining the lifestyle gamer. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, MAGIC: THE GATHERING®, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as DUNGEONS & DRAGONS®, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at www.wizards.com.

The trademark Yu-Gi-Oh! is owned by Shueisha, Inc. in the United States and may be pending or registered in other countries. Wizards of the Coast is not endorsed or sponsored by, or affiliated with, Shueisha or Konami.

Just to confuse YGO players

I am sure I’m going to get a million phone calls about this press release.  Heres the deal guys – this one is EUROPE and pacific ISLANDS – not the Pacific coast of the US.  Again if you are in the US or Canada this just doesn’t apply to you.

Yes I know that its a bummer having to wait for Konami to roll out its OP system.  I will post details on whatever Konami does as it makes announcements.

Tim

Upper Deck International (UDI) organizes OP-events for Yu-Gi-Oh!™ as scheduled.Following the successful outcome of the injunction against Konami, in which the Dutch court decided in favor of Upper Deck Panoceanic CV and Upper Deck International BV, we are pleased to announce that UDI launches expansions and events as planned. This means that the following expansions will be released:

Duelist Pack – Yusei (DP8):  February 24th, 2009 
Crimson Crisis Booster:  March 3rd, 2009

As with all new booster releases we scheduled a sneak preview for Crimson Crisis. This event will be held on February 28th and March 1st.

“Thanks for your continuous support. It is highly appreciated! We will continue to provide you with the best possible support for Organized Play, as you are accustomed and entitled to.”, says Nico Blauw, CEO Upper Deck International.

Upper Deck clarifies – International vs US (and Canada)

Thanks to Mr Trevor Baker for this press release, The quick summary is that they are stating that Upper Deck International is in the same company as Upper Deck (US). Upper Deck International will continue distributing YGO in Europe and Africa.

However as a judge has ruled against UD (States and Canada) they are done here – at least for now.

 

Tim

 

http://www.upperdeck-international.com/tabid/56/language/en-US/Default.aspx?AnnouncementID=14

Upper Deck International and The Upper Deck Company clarification.One of the assumptions being made by several media and consumers is that Upper Deck International (UDI) and The Upper Deck Company (UDC) are one and the same company. This is however not the case. UDI has no legal, fiscal, management and/or financial ties to UDC. UDI is not a subsidiary or a sister company of UDC, but a total separate organization. Even though some licenses and practices are shared, UDI operates on a total different level having its own mission statement and vision. For example UDI’s focus is sole entertainment business, being primarily toys, puzzles and games, amongst which trading card games, whereas UDC business is primarily sports collectibles.

As the UDI head office is situated in The Netherlands, the recent injunction against Konami was filed in a Dutch court. UDI has a separate agreement with Konami, acting as the exclusive 
Yu-Gi-Oh!™ distributor in various international territories. Primarily Konami brought in that UDC and UDI are one and the same company as the main reason for the termination of the UDI agreement, however evidence proved different and therefore the judge denied Konami’s reasoning for terminating the agreement with Upper Deck International BV.

Following the successful outcome of the injunction against Konami, in which the Dutch court decided in favor Upper Deck International BV, we have announced that UDI launches expansions and events as planned across all territories (where applicable) that UDI is currently distributing the Yu-Gi-Oh!™ TCG: Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Oceania.

Nico Blauw, CEO of Upper Deck International BV : “We are very loyal and dedicated to the 
Yu-Gi-Oh! brand. With our offices and excellent staff in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden and Australia and our distributors in the territories where the company does not hold offices, we will continue to give full support to the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand as we have always done and work closely together with Konami Europe to create the best possible synergies to maximize customer and consumer satisfaction”

Cascade Games judges who won the Upper Deck drawing on Upper Deck day

In case you hadn’t seen it.

http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/op/judge/article.aspx?aid=5302

 

Curtis Schultz, Aaron Hamer, Randy Wilkinson, and Sam Elicke

Tim