Written by Jim Ziegler

Magic players know all about product fatigue: Wizards of the Coast has been releasing new sets across multiple formats at a breakneck rate, to the point that “preview season” for a new set can start just a couple days after the last tentpole set, Secret Lair, or Universes Beyond precon set came out.

 

It’s good publicity for Hasbro, though: my Twitter timeline is filled with discussion about new Magic cards, combos, and deck ideas thanks to the constant product flow, and I don’t get anywhere near as much content for Pokémon, D&D, or Star Wars: Unlimited, despite following all three.

 

A similar type of fatigue is one of the things that makes a lot of mobile games unappealing to me: a lot of games have overlapping events in order to keep players coming back, because it’s not enough to log in a couple times a day to get your free spin or start the next construction project. Constant engagement means more opportunities to score advertising revenue, and more opportunities to sell in-game currency and cooldowns.

 

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket seems to be following the same model, with four active events just over a week after its worldwide launch. The Wonder Pick Event (parts 1 & 2) and Lapras ex Drop Event both added new promo cards into the game (although only two of the seven are mechanically new), while the Genetic Apex Emblem Event asks you to win up to 45 matches to earn emblems to display on your profile.

 

Pokémon TCG Pocket can feel very pay-to-win: I got the game two weeks before most players, and still felt like every other match was against someone at a higher level and with better cards than me. But if you keep pressing on and build the best deck you can with the cards you have, you’ll hit your goal before time runs out without dropping any more money on the game.

 

SUPER SMASH BROS ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT

Saturday, 1:00 PM

Gam3Escape is proud to once again host Super Smash Bros tournaments, in conjunction with the UH Hilo Super Smash Bros Club! Bring your own Joy-Con, and play in casual games between rounds. Entry: $10

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Pokémon Standard Constructed Tournament

Sunday, 3:00pm

Show everyone that you’re the best! Like no one ever was! Join the battle at the weekly Standard Constructed Tournament! Regulation F, no deck list required. Entry fee: $7.

 

Pokémon League Casual Play

Monday and Saturday at 6:30 PM, Sunday at noon

Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool. Entry fee: $10

 

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet VGC Casual League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

Explore the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Meet new Pokémon, and battle it out with other Trainers at Gam3Escape’s VGC Casual League. Entry fee: $5

 

Pokémon GO Great League Blind 3 & Trade Night

Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 PM

Do you play Pokémon GO? Interested in meeting up with other players and playing in sanctioned Pokémon events? Gam3Escape hosts Pokémon GO League events. Stop in from 6pm to 9pm for our Great League blind 3 casual play and trade night. Entry fee: $5.00

 

Pokémon GO Scavenger Hunt

Grab an achievement sheet in-store and GO out to collect them! Complete the scavenger sheet to earn a booster pack and a promo pack, and to be entered into a drawing for an Elite Trainer Box and other prizes. Entry fee: $10 

 

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Foundations Release Weekend Draft

Friday & Saturday, 6:00 PM 

Celebrate the new Foundations set with a Foundations Draft! Pick your best cards and build a deck from your draft pool. Don’t know where to start? Check out the Foundations Draft Archetype Guide! Entry: $22

 

Commander-Ish League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

Build a commander deck using only commons & uncommons in the 99. Build from in-store bulk, or bring your deck, and compete against others with similar decks. Each week you’ll earn a pack and a pull to add to the deck. Ban list applies, proxies not permitted (but c’mon, they’re commons), and deck list required. Entry fee: $10

 

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM.

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

 

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Annual Yu-Gi-Oh! Holiday Charity Event

Friday, 7:00 PM

Show some heart, play some cards. Bring five nonperishable food items weighing at least 10.5 oz (about the size of a Campbell's soup can) to play!

 

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday, Friday, 7:00 PM, Saturday, 2:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Azurite Sea Release Celebration

Friday, 6:00 PM

Set sail across the Azurite Sea! Pick up a starter deck and some boosters to learn to play, and receive a promo card for participating. 

 

Azurite Sea Starter Deck Tournament

Saturday, 6:30 PM

Pick up a starter deck, booster pack, and 400-count box and play against other starter decks. These decks can be used in your Lorcana League games! Entry fee: $25

 

Azurite Sea Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Casual Play League

Tuesdays, 6:00 PM, Saturdays, 1:00 PM, Sundays, 5:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form. 

 

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Casual Warhammer

Friday & Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

 

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!

Divinez Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

Check out Jim's articles at The Gamer:  https://www.thegamer.com/author/james-ziegler/ and like, follow, and subscribe to his Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Alolan_Professor