Have UD/Topps run out of ideas?

[Allstar cards inc]

I was just looking at the thread that featured the sell sheet for the 06/07 UD Ultimate and it got me thinking that they really are just re-hashing last years product.
This might be a bit simplistic but stick with me....they get a graphic artist to change the look a bit....a few new players in...a few old players out and whammo there's a "new" set for this year.
I'll admit that Topps Turkey Red was a bit of a different concept as was Exquisite at the time, but we've come up with a heap of ideas and concepts on this forum....how hard could it be for the card companies to do a bit of brainstorming?
Is it that UD/Topps have found that collectors feel comfortable buying the same product year in, year out?

We've become pretty jaded with GU's, #'d parallels, #'d RCs, 1/1's, Printing Plates, autos etc.....what will be the next big innovation in cards be?

 

[hsv006]

Have to agree with ya on this 1 bud.... its all been flogged to death.
Same variations of the same old inserts etc.
Mind you the ud black was great...
Topps dont seem to be doing anything original...that ive seen anyway.
They need to bring it back down a level ..probably not possible now but so many collectors just want cream cream cream....
I suppose in a way even ive changed... wouldnt even concider buying a box if it didnt have a least 1 auto and a gu guarenteed...
AHHH anyway back on track....ye surly there must be some great ideas getting around within the collectors market.
As for the poll i voted yes....but more a case of there just not asking the right people

 

[DGCollectables]

Where else can card companies go with cards?

 

[ace e]

i think they have, one idea is free ticket to a game where you get to meet a certain player (that would suck for overseas collectors) or redeem auto jsys of players or team balls auto'd.

 

[nandalinnaung]

they certain have

actually, i cannot understand their ideas of introducting a new product every month... it's like cannibalising their own products..

 

[wjrwebber]

Where else can card companies go with cards?

With the futuristic trends over the last few years, I wouldn't think that digital technology is something too far ahead of us. I don't know how it could be incorporated, but I'm sure there has been some ideas thrown about.

 

[Allstar cards inc]

Where else can card companies go with cards?

IDEA -

How about a personalised auto card? As in have the card made out to your name from the player? (Great on an 8x10 UD Portraits card!!) It'd have to be a redemption...which I know the card companies are trying to avoid...but it would be cool in your PC.

You couldn't sell it...unless someone of the same name wanted it!! And the value of the card would be too difficult to call due to the card being a true 1/1.

 

[Funkadelic]

The personalised auto idea is very cool. Alot of resellers would probably not agree but that sucks for them. They can have the card made out to: Dear Random Collector.. I also like the idea mentioned a while back about having game dated game used cards so we know exactly what game the swatch is from, if the player's team won or lost, how many points, assists, rebounds they had etc.

I agree that alot of UD's designs have become recycled and some new releases remind me of older ones. Bring back the SPX-type holograms and die-cuts Die-cuts are so overlooked these days and holograms never go out of date right?

 

[ljandkg]

I also like the idea mentioned a while back about having game dated game used cards so we know exactly what game the swatch is from, if the player's team won or lost, how many points, assists, rebounds they had etc.

I agree that alot of UD's designs have become recycled and some new releases remind me of older ones. Bring back the SPX-type holograms and die-cuts Die-cuts are so overlooked these days and holograms never go out of date right?

The game dated was what I wanted!! Would love to have a GU where KG had a TD or somathing like that.....lots of other collectors thought it'd be too difficult - especially since UD would actually have to buy Gu jerseys rather than the 'said to us to have been game used' crap they have on the back of their cards now...

Funk - I love those die cut cards too - I'd also love to see a 'Behind the glass' set like they had about 94-95 or 95-96 - featured dunks from photos taken on those backboard cameras - they were awesome photos!!

Or some kind of set to do with emotion - I liked that Skybox emotion set and a lot of collectors like their guy b/c of the way they play the game - I know I love that about KG.

I'M COMPLETELY SICK OF PLATES! Especially those backwards ones.... [-X [-X

 

[jimboiitmac]

i guess they've released a lot of the same products, but then they've released a lot of different products too! and it's good to continue the set names after year after year!

 

[Richo]

I also like the idea mentioned a while back about having game dated game used cards so we know exactly what game the swatch is from, if the player's team won or lost, how many points, assists,

Agree totally Funkman ! Select did this with the Jersey cards they produced for AFL Cards - they actually named the game the jersey was worn in

 

[TCAC]

Funnily enough I voted no, only due to the UD black success.

I'm sure there's plenty of ideas floating around.

It's making it viable, cause after all Upper Deck and co are all businesses who need to make profit to stay in the game. A few wrong decisions could turn into the next Fleer.

The most obvious idea would be to make use of the iPod, but there's probably copyright and trademark laws etc etc.

The personalised card is a brilliant idea

They semi did in baseball, where via redemptions you got to choose what players you wanted on the card - quad and octo patches of UD contracted players