Subject: [ISSUE REPLY] Why Pre-Releases are sanctioned.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 11:03:39 -0500
From: "Wakko Djinn" <wakko_djinn@airmail.net>
To: <fkusumot@ix.netcom.com>

Hello Frank,
Just a brief reply to the article I saw on the front page today from my
experience.
Why will the Urza's Saga Pre-Release be sanctioned?  Simple.  That is what
the people want.

I recall back to the Mirage Pre-Release Tournaments, really the first
wide-scale prereleases.  Combined with the excitement generated by
PT-Atlanta, the one here in Dallas drew around 300 people and was a huge
hit.

Next came the Visions Pre-Releases.  They were unsanctioned, and featured a
system that "focused on the fun aspects" of a pre-release, according to
Wizards of the Coast's ads.  It was X rounds of swiss play according to the
number of players, with no break for a top 8, and prizes given out
according to your final record (7-0 worth 30 packs, 6-1 worth 10 packs,
etc, down to 1 loss and one tie I believe).  Turnout was just bad.  Here in
Dallas we pulled about 70 players, with many players complaining about the
format as well as the non-sanctioned setup.  Part of this may have been the
number of events, as there were multiple Visions Pre-Release events in
Texas, but time has shown since then attendance shouldn't even be this low
in that case.

So the Weatherlight Pre-Releases came around, and it was in PTQ format.
Swiss breaking off a Top 8 and sanctioned.  While there was no Pre-Release
in Dallas, I judged at the one in Oklahoma City, and attendance was around
130, not great, but much better than Visions.

Tempest, Stronghold, and Exodus Pre-Releases have all been sanctioned, and
attendance reflecting not only players enjoying the sanctioned main
tourney, but multiple sanctioned side events as well.

Simply put, a non-sanctioned pre-release was tried, and it failed.  TO's
make more money, and more players seem to want their pre-releases
sanctioned if you look at the attendance figures.

Tim "Wakko Djinn" Stoltzfus
DCI Certified Level II Judge
Member of The Texas Guildmages
"People accuse me of being an elitist.
I live in a country where over half the population can't point out China on
a blank map of the planet.
I think I have a right to be an elitist."
                       --  Harlan Ellison