Empire Games

Pokmon League

Vol. 1 Issue 1

Calling All Pokmon Trainers

October 28, 2014

Where the Journey Began

By Benjamin Orr
For league leader and owner Derek Coontz, Pokmon
has become more than just a hobby; its become an opportunity.
Pokmon League is a very interesting part of my life, Coontz
said, it brought me the opportunity to bring the community
closer in the area.
The Empire Games Pokemon League however has had a few
transitions in the past two years. Coontz originally received
the approval to start the league back in November of 2012, and
soon found a place at the Game Emporium in Garrettsville, OH.
The Game Emporium had become a home for Coontz and his
league, but within two years, he would have to find a new home
A group of fans play the Pokmon video games and trading card game. Photo
for the league he created as the venue he was hosting the league
courtesy of Michelle Rosenbaum.
at had unfortunately closed. Thats when he stumbled across speaks to a friendly level and to those who wish to compete. The
using Empire Games in Streetsboro, OH, which is where the Pokmon community as a whole likes to compete, but also the caleague is currently held.
maraderie built plays a vital role into what draws so many people in.
The location I chose was great. There are other leagues around, Ive made tons of friends through running it and have been able to
but at a good distance and mine put a location up right in the
void, Coontz said, people now have access to a place to come open people up to a new hobby, Coontz said.
and get better and enjoy their hobby within reasonable distance.
Coontz began getting involved in Pokmon leagues back in 2011
Because most of the league goers live in relatively the same area, when he attended one in Rootstown, OH. In that particular league,
the group that Coontz played with attended tournamets in Philadelorganizing for events has become much easier for Coontz.
phia, PA and Indianapolis, IN in 2011. After that summer though,
People now have access to a place to come and get better and less and less people attended the league in Rootstown, which evenenjoy their hobby within reasonable distance, Coontz said, to- tually led to Coontz starting up his own league.
gether weve been able to travel to many tournaments around
In addition to his own league, Coontz wrote for Six Prizes, or as you
the country we wouldnt have been able to reach on our own.
Pokmon fans of the trading card game know, a website designed
for the tips and tricks of the game. Coontz wrote eight articles for
What the league prides itself on is being a community for the website, while trying to help
Pokmon fans across Northeast Ohio. It doesnt matter if youre current gamers and get potential
young or old, Coontzs league accepts all new, current, and for- gamers invovled.
mer players to duke it out whether its through the Pokmon
trading card game, or on the video games such as Pokmon X Coontz also runs a YouTube
and Pokmon Y for the Nintendo 3DS.
channel called TrainerDerek, in
When people think Pokmon, they see it as a kids game by
Nintendo, Coontz said. While true, both games have a very
competitive side to them. The trading card game has a lot of
intricate set ups and strategies and the video game has a lot of
stat manipulation and mind games.
He is of course referring to the very nature of the league which

which he will update his followers

about all the latest and greatest
Pokmon news. When he went to
the tournaments back in 2011,
Coontz posted videos, updating
his fans about what was going on
Derek Coontz has run his league since late
during the tournament.
2012. Photo courtesy of Derek Coontz.

How do YOU feel about the league?

Whats coming up?

As for upcoming events such as tournaments, youll have to be sure to check
out the Facebook page, Empire Games
Pokmon League.
Coontz went into some of the specifics
about what is happening tournament
wise along with upcoming releases for
both the trading card game and video
game.
Regionals are in the midst of happening
for both as we speak, Coontz said.
This years regionals for the autumn were
held in two different locations, Philadelphia, PA and San Jose, CA. Though they
both have passed, the winter and spring
regionals are upcoming for players across
the country. They havent announced any
specific dates yet, but look at February
for the winter regionals and May for the
spring.

Garrett Kustra (left) and Josh Buzbee (right) play the Pokemon Trading Card game. Photo courtesy of Lisa Campbell.

The Pokmon League has generally become a lifestyle norm for some goers as
they enjoy the time they can spend with
others. League goer David Horchler said
likes hanging out with friends when he
attends the weekly league.
Im a more social person and [I] love the
social interactions with people who have
shared interests, Horchler said.
Like him, league goers Stephen Glova
and Garrett Kustra are also drawn in by
the ability to be around their friends.
[I like] making some very good friends,
and having a great time in (my) nerdvana
of sorts, Glova said
Kustra said he likes hanging out with
people, but some constraints outside of
the league have been making it hard for
him to enjoy his hobby.
The discussion [of Pokmon with
friends], which Im lacking so much

because of work, fuels my brain and I

love [that discussion], Kustra said.
However, meeting up with friends isnt
all that gets peoples attention, just ask
league goer Cameron Baker. Competition is another factor with the Pokmon
trading card game and video games that
attracts many people to leagues across
the country.

For trading card players, Coontz mentioned that a change is coming soon for
them, which even features a new mega
evolution.
A new Pokmon set is coming out called
Phantom Forces featuring Mega Gengar,
Coontz said.

You can look for cards from the

Phantom Force set starting on November 5.
Video game fans will be excited to
learn that the remakes of Pokmon
Ruby and Pokmon Sapphire will be
coming out. Pokmon Omega Ruby
and Pokmon Alpha Sapphire will
be hitting the shelves on November
21, which can open up new possibilities for trainers worldwide.
As for what the new games will bring
for competitors, Coontz mentioned
that new legal lists of Pokmon can
help them utilize their teams even
more.
ORAS [Omega Ruby and Alpha
Sapphire] will bring new and exciting changes in VGC play by extending the list of legal Pokmon, meaning teams will be more varied and
unpredictable, Coontz said.
Gamestop is still taking preorders
for Pokmon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, so be sure to preorder
a copy of a game, or both, today.
Gamestop is also runnig promotion for a new Pokmon to North
America.

You can get the legendary Pokmon

Diancie for your copies of Pokmon
X and Y from now until November 16,
so be sure to get your new legendary
today.
Occassionally, Coontzs league will
run sealed tournaments for the card
game, which usually cost around $20.
In it though, the players receive packs
of Pokmon cards that they are able to
keep. When they build their decks, they
can only use the cards they received to
play matches against other people in the
tournament. The top three winners will
typically get in-store credit to buy cards
and or other merchandise.
In addition to the trading card game, the
league also runs video game challenges
where players typically get a team of four
Pokmon and battle other players. The
prize layout is typically the same, but its
usually just for bragging rights.
Though there havent been any tournaments scheduled for the future, Coontz
makes sure that theres an active interest
in the tournaments before running them.
When theres a tournament, theres typically a nice turnout for the league, which
helps show that the interest in Pokmon
is growing.

[Im] looking forward to playing on a

more competitive scale, Baker said.
The league overall has seen a rather positive reaction from Pokmon fans alike.
Many do come for the social interactions
as they are able to battle amongst friends,
but also to get an edge for their team,
whether its in the trading card game or
in the video games.
While Coontz likes to see competitions
going on, he also prides himself in the
fact that so many people are able to come
and enjoy themselves.

Look for Pokmon Omega Ruby and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire for the Nintendo 3DS on November 21. Photo courtesy of IGN.

We want you!
The league is always looking for new
players, young and old, to join us and
have a great time with friends. We go
to tournaments and host our own at
the league, such as sealed tournaments
for the trading card game and online
battles with the video games. Its an
amazing time and we would hope you
feel the same about it. We have a great
time doing this, so we hope youll
be a part of the action. The league is
absolutely free to anyone who wants
to join and were always looking for
members.

You can find Coontzs league on

Facebook at Empire Game Pokmon
League. If youre interested in stopping by and playing a game or two,
you can find Empire Games Center
in Streetsboro, OH at 9258 Market
Square Drive. The Pokmon League
runs on Saturdays from 4 p.m. until
10 p.m. If for any reason that a particular outing is canceled, be sure to
check the Facebook page for all of the
latest news about Pokmon and whats
going on at the league!

Empire Game Center as seen from the parking lot. Photo courtesy of Empire Game Center.

Contact us:
By phone: 330-346-0847
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GEPokemon/