Q&A Session with Alex from ESP - Answers are in! (Page 7)
- Thread starter Matt26
- Start date
Hi everyone,
Please see below the answers from Alex at ESP. Again we thank them for taking the time to answer them!
1) The Elite NRL #001 Signature redemption cards have been much sought after by collectors, are you able to provide an update on which cards have been redeemed so far?
The cards that have been redeemed so far are; Dragons, Eels, Bulldogs and Manly.
2) Following this, when will ESP be able to provide an image of what the framed Jersey/#001 cards will look like?
This was done earlier in the week
3) There are a lot of passionate team collectors out there, are ESP looking at releasing Club Branded Folders for collectors to store their cards in?
No, not at this stage due to minimum order quantities for the albums being too high from the factory.
4) Would ESP consider expanding the Traders base set to 18 players per team (including a team logo card) to allow more players to be included in the release?
Increasing the set size would alter the ratios, therefore decreasing the value proposition. For now, we won’t be doing that but will be including a team logo card in 2015.
5) Some NRL Teams wore Marvel inspired jerseys this year (e.g. the Roosters wore a Captain America jersey). Any chance of an insert card set based on this idea?
We are investigating jersey patch cards. We prefer to use match worn products and will have more information about this prior to the Elite 2015 release.
6) Could ESP do Club bobbleheads like the State Of Origin ones previously released?
We are working with all NRL Clubs regarding bobbleheads and using 3D scan technology
7) Nostalgia is huge within NRL collectors; does ESP have any plans to release signature cards of club legends outside of the 2 legends signature cards released in Traders each year?
At this stage, we have no plans to release any signature cards of club legends outside of the 2 legends signature cards.
8) Will ESP consider having dual/triple signature cards in future releases?
Yes
9) Would ESP look at doing an all-time record breakers insert set featuring players who hold NRL records in different statistical categories? (e.g. All time Points Scorer, All Time Games Leader etc.)
Yes
10) Will ESP look at releasing parallel cards that feature different images to the standard base cards rather than having the same image across multiple cards?
No, this is not something we would be looking at doing.
11) Is there going to be a 2014 Limited Edition Representative set released this year?
Yes – 2014 Premiers Set. This product is scheduled to arrive 31/10
12) Is ESP Planning on releasing a commemorative set for Queensland winning 8 Origin series in a row?
We will be reviewing this concept in 2015.
13) Is ESP still considering doing a redemption prize card for a motor vehicle which had been mentioned in the past?
At this stage, we have been unable to reach an agreement with Toyota.
14) Is there any reason why ESP didn’t serial number the World Cup parallel cards like the Elite signature cards?
No, no reason.
15) Does ESP ever plan on releasing checklist cards in releases?
Yes, we will be doing this in 2015 Traders.
16) Lots of members loved seeing the images of players signing their cards for Elite this year. Any chance of releasing more behind the scenes images including what goes into making a set e.g. the production process.
Yes, much more images will be released from behind the scenes this year. We will have people in China taking photos of the production process.
17) Would ESP ever consider introducing premiership predictors or prize cards that can be redeemed for a master set of particular release?
Yes, this is something we would consider.
18) Some collectors noticed that signature cards were placed at the front of some packs meaning there was a higher likelihood of damage to these cards. Is there anything ESP can do to ensure the signature cards are placed in the middle of the packs to lessen the chance of damage?
We instruct our factories not to place any signature cards on the top. We will investigate this further with the factory.
19) Are ESP able to do Generation type insert cards (Father/Son) in future releases?
Yes
20) Are ESP able to make the base sets in alphabetical team order (Brisbane, Canberra, Canterbury, Cronulla etc)?
We are happy to investigate this, but will not be occurring in 2015.
21) Are ESP able to create an insert set which shows a player like Billy Slater shown in his Storm/QLD and Australian jersey all on the one card?
Yes, we will investigate. Would be a cool idea.
22) While not NRL related, the question was asked if ESP were able to produce a Rugby Union World Cup set?
We are unable to do this because of a range of player image restrictions.
23) One nostalgic collector asked if Bubblegum can be reintroduced into packets like the releases of the 80’s and 90’s. Has this ever been considered?
We are considering this for 2015 Power Play.
24) Finally, the single most asked question we have seen is around the inclusion of Game Used materials incorporated into NRL Trading Cards. Does ESP have any plans to do this for any 2015 releases?
As per question 5, we are investigating jersey patch cards in 2015 Elite. However, keep in mind that we rely on clubs and players to surrender a jersey, which isn’t always easy.
Please see below the answers from Alex at ESP. Again we thank them for taking the time to answer them!
1) The Elite NRL #001 Signature redemption cards have been much sought after by collectors, are you able to provide an update on which cards have been redeemed so far?
The cards that have been redeemed so far are; Dragons, Eels, Bulldogs and Manly.
2) Following this, when will ESP be able to provide an image of what the framed Jersey/#001 cards will look like?
This was done earlier in the week
3) There are a lot of passionate team collectors out there, are ESP looking at releasing Club Branded Folders for collectors to store their cards in?
No, not at this stage due to minimum order quantities for the albums being too high from the factory.
4) Would ESP consider expanding the Traders base set to 18 players per team (including a team logo card) to allow more players to be included in the release?
Increasing the set size would alter the ratios, therefore decreasing the value proposition. For now, we won’t be doing that but will be including a team logo card in 2015.
5) Some NRL Teams wore Marvel inspired jerseys this year (e.g. the Roosters wore a Captain America jersey). Any chance of an insert card set based on this idea?
We are investigating jersey patch cards. We prefer to use match worn products and will have more information about this prior to the Elite 2015 release.
6) Could ESP do Club bobbleheads like the State Of Origin ones previously released?
We are working with all NRL Clubs regarding bobbleheads and using 3D scan technology
7) Nostalgia is huge within NRL collectors; does ESP have any plans to release signature cards of club legends outside of the 2 legends signature cards released in Traders each year?
At this stage, we have no plans to release any signature cards of club legends outside of the 2 legends signature cards.
8) Will ESP consider having dual/triple signature cards in future releases?
Yes
9) Would ESP look at doing an all-time record breakers insert set featuring players who hold NRL records in different statistical categories? (e.g. All time Points Scorer, All Time Games Leader etc.)
Yes
10) Will ESP look at releasing parallel cards that feature different images to the standard base cards rather than having the same image across multiple cards?
No, this is not something we would be looking at doing.
11) Is there going to be a 2014 Limited Edition Representative set released this year?
Yes – 2014 Premiers Set. This product is scheduled to arrive 31/10
12) Is ESP Planning on releasing a commemorative set for Queensland winning 8 Origin series in a row?
We will be reviewing this concept in 2015.
13) Is ESP still considering doing a redemption prize card for a motor vehicle which had been mentioned in the past?
At this stage, we have been unable to reach an agreement with Toyota.
14) Is there any reason why ESP didn’t serial number the World Cup parallel cards like the Elite signature cards?
No, no reason.
15) Does ESP ever plan on releasing checklist cards in releases?
Yes, we will be doing this in 2015 Traders.
16) Lots of members loved seeing the images of players signing their cards for Elite this year. Any chance of releasing more behind the scenes images including what goes into making a set e.g. the production process.
Yes, much more images will be released from behind the scenes this year. We will have people in China taking photos of the production process.
17) Would ESP ever consider introducing premiership predictors or prize cards that can be redeemed for a master set of particular release?
Yes, this is something we would consider.
18) Some collectors noticed that signature cards were placed at the front of some packs meaning there was a higher likelihood of damage to these cards. Is there anything ESP can do to ensure the signature cards are placed in the middle of the packs to lessen the chance of damage?
We instruct our factories not to place any signature cards on the top. We will investigate this further with the factory.
19) Are ESP able to do Generation type insert cards (Father/Son) in future releases?
Yes
20) Are ESP able to make the base sets in alphabetical team order (Brisbane, Canberra, Canterbury, Cronulla etc)?
We are happy to investigate this, but will not be occurring in 2015.
21) Are ESP able to create an insert set which shows a player like Billy Slater shown in his Storm/QLD and Australian jersey all on the one card?
Yes, we will investigate. Would be a cool idea.
22) While not NRL related, the question was asked if ESP were able to produce a Rugby Union World Cup set?
We are unable to do this because of a range of player image restrictions.
23) One nostalgic collector asked if Bubblegum can be reintroduced into packets like the releases of the 80’s and 90’s. Has this ever been considered?
We are considering this for 2015 Power Play.
24) Finally, the single most asked question we have seen is around the inclusion of Game Used materials incorporated into NRL Trading Cards. Does ESP have any plans to do this for any 2015 releases?
As per question 5, we are investigating jersey patch cards in 2015 Elite. However, keep in mind that we rely on clubs and players to surrender a jersey, which isn’t always easy.
Just to clarify the answer to question 11 as it seems to have been misunerstood.....No, there will not be a Limited Edition Representative set this year as per 2012 and 2013 (which is what the question asks). The only set still to release this year is the Premiers Box Set which is what the answer is referring to.
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Victor The Viking
Green Eyed
Is there a reason this is not something they would be looking at doing. Cost, can't be bothered, limited player image availability etc.
Rocket1908
some guy who likes the rabbitohs
6) Could ESP do Club bobbleheads like the State Of Origin ones previously released?
We are working with all NRL Clubs regarding bobbleheads and using 3D scan technology
wooo club bobbleheads might be a thing!
also gum with power play cards...nice!
I personally am not a fan of the checklist cards though, I think they should be taken out of power play, they don't really have a value to kiddy collectors who are after cards they can actually use to play the game.
We are working with all NRL Clubs regarding bobbleheads and using 3D scan technology
wooo club bobbleheads might be a thing!
also gum with power play cards...nice!
I personally am not a fan of the checklist cards though, I think they should be taken out of power play, they don't really have a value to kiddy collectors who are after cards they can actually use to play the game.
troy titans douglas
Nrl Titans Collector
Some great questions and great answers,
Not a great response for question 14: no no reason
Great to see there looking at game used gear for 2015
