After sleeping off jet lag yesterday, I signed up for Toppstown, like I said I would. And I have to say, it's not bad.
Granted, it's geared towards children, and the sound effects are really loud, and there's no way to turn them down without muting the whole computer system, and it's a little hard to navigate, but the graphics are cool and there seems to be a lot to do.
But perhaps the best thing about it is that it's not tied to reality. My character, er avatar, is Dr. Satchel Taco. He's funny looking, kind of like Ed Kranepool on a bad day. I made the team affiliation 'St. Louis' as an homage to Paige's tenure with the Browns, and I plan on trading in ToppsPoints for the ability to jump teams for more money (if the game will offer such an historically-accurate item).
Other things I like:
• The presentation of the cards. The binder idea is great; I like seeing that there are many cards I don't have, like a visual checklist. It harks back to the Panini sticker book. In fact, I almost wish the visual arrangement mimicked a sticker book. As it is, the black and red scheme is very grown-up and serious; the sticker book visual would bring that down a notch or two.
• The no-pressure trading zone. Back before I didn't give a damn with what I got in a trade, each trade was an opportunity for me to stress out over getting equal value. Trading virtual cards seems like it would be stress-free. I'd have to think that a collector would be able to disassociate him or herself from a virtual card simply because they can't hold it.
• The anonymity. Truthfully, this service isn't about camaraderie with your fellow collectors. It's about building a collection in a no-pressure situation. It's about grooming young collectors into future eTopps buyers.
And it's about a relatively staid company like Topps going electric, I mean, connecting with their core customers (children) in a way that would suggest they know how they think. It's not completely the same promotion that Upper Deck runs with codes on the backs of every card (that lead to cool prizes like actual stickers and cards), but it's a start.
To read
• Head over to Slate.com to read Darren Rovell's piece on the glory that is the '89 Upper Deck Ken Griffey.
• Start reading Sportscards Uncensored if you don't already. The writer has a voice that should definitely be heard. Also, as the title suggests, he likes to swear. A lot.
• Read Adam McFarland's Sports Lizard Rant. He's much more eloquent than I'll ever hope to be.
To monitor
• The general consensus is that Toppstown is going to be stupid. But let me say this: if and when I start buying Topps Series 2, I'm going to start entering codes, if only to see if I can find the secret hatch that makes the thing disappear. (By the way, if Toppstown is a hit, that probably means The Upper Deck ain't too far behind. Also, an enterprising card blogger would get him or herself in there on the ground floor and start the Toppstown alternative weekly. Call it something like The Michigan Test-Wax Tribune and I might have my anthropomorphic baseball cards read it.)
