This coming weekend, the Big Three are all celebrating upcoming set releases.

The Big Three of course, are the three biggest Collectable Card Games that have ever been, and at this stage, it looks as though no other game will ever unseat them.olivia voldaren

Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh! all have a prerelease/sneak peek this weekend. Or, as we prefer to call it, a Pre-Sneak-Release-Peek.

Rise up and celebrate, fellow Duellists, Trainers and Planeswalkers, for our trinity has aligned!

One thing is for sure: It’s going to be one helluva weekend at your local Good Games store. So whether this is your first prerelease weekend, or your fiftieth, it still pays to be prepared!

Let’s look at a few of the things they have in common that you need to be on top of to make sure you have the best weekend and the best events.

 

1. Preregister

There is nothing worse than getting super hyped to play with new cards for the first time, only to arrive at Good Games, giddy as hell, and be told that the event you wanted to play is sold out.

The best way to avoid this disappointment is to preregister! While the preregistration process can differ slightly from store-to-store, the best thing you can do is pick up the phone or head on down to your local store and put your name down in person.

Seriously, I know from experience that you don’t want to end up kicking yourself for not taking the time to secure your spot in the event you’re pysched for!

2. Gather Your Things

Regardless of whether you’re an up-and-coming Duellist, an aspiring Pokemon Trainer or powerful Planeswalker preparing for the War of the Spark (or maybe you’re all three!), you’ll need to make sure you’re prepared for a big day of gaming.

Second to being turned away due to events selling out (see step 1, above!), the other easily preventable mishap at a Pre-Sneak-Release-Peek is making sure you have everything you need!

The evening before a big event, I go through a little check-list to make sure my bag is packed and I’m ready to go. Make sure you have the following: 

– A sturdy and secure bag.

– A packet of new sleeves (more than the minimum deck size, so you have spares if you lose one or break any!)vivien

– Dice, counters, paper and pen.

– An empty deck box or two to store all your new cards and your sealed deck.

– Your most favourite playmat (don’t pack the wrong one. It’ll ruin your whole day if you’re anything like me).

– Your trade binder, preferably with a few empty slots inside for you to put some of the great new rares, foils and chase-cards you might open at the event!

– Money for snacks, water and soft drink to keep you going through the big day.

3. Follow The Rules

This may seem obvious, but we’re not just talking about the rules of the game! At the start of the prerelease, your friendly local Good Games Tournament Organiser will run you through how the event works. It’s important to remain quiet, and to listen during these announcements- not just because sometimes things change, but there may be new players on the scene who need to know the valuable information.

Most importantly, if you’re the winner of your match, be sure to report your result! It sounds strange, but often you can forget to go up to the counter and let the staff know who won- this keeps the rounds running smooth and helps the event end on time!

4. Be Happy

This may sound like a strange one, but it’s important to remember.

Pre-Sneak-Release-Peeks are some of the best events run, and the reason for that is because everyone is there for a good time.

There are no huge stakes games. People just want to open their packs, build their decks, have some laughs and make some trades.

It feels good to win, and sometimes it feels bad to lose. But remember that of all the events to relax about, Pre-Sneak-Release-Peeks are top-tier.

You want to make sure everyone has a good time. Not just yourself, but the person across the table, and especially the young kid who is coming along for the very first time.

So don’t sweat it- be happy and remember you’re there to have a good time!

 

Get on over to your local Good Games store right now and arrange your preregistration- and don’t forget to sound off and let us know about your favourite matches, best rare pulls and great opponents from the big weekend!

From everyone here at Good Games, happy Pre-Sneak-Release-Peek!