Pokemon No Pokémon for Croatia

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Cetanium

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As some of you might know, I am from Croatia. I will tell you, it (edited) being a croatian pokemon fan. You can only play TCG tournaments in Zagreb (capital city) and there are only 10 players. 10 players! We don't even have a sponsor! There are no city or state tournaments, we can't even go to the Worlds. We don't even have Prereleases. Those who play pokemon are called geeks. Do you know when did hg and ss came to Croatia? Septemer! We don't even have the anime any more! We stopped in season 7! Oh, and how happy were we when they were removed to make place for yu-gi-oh and bakugan (if you could here me you wold know I was being sarcastic). I remeber, when I was little, pokemon were the best thing ever. Pokemon movies in the cinemas, children on the sidewalk playing pokemon, pokemon costumes, everyone singing the team rocket song. Now, it's all gone:(. So think for a second: what if that was your town, your country, wouldn't you be sad? I guess what I want to say... Don't take pokemon for granted.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I think you bring something very poignant to light. Most Pokemon players live in the US, and they usually take Pokemon as something that is prevalent and is going to be around for a long time. And for the most part it will be, because that is where the biggest fanbases lie.

The only other big fanbases out there are Canada, the UK, Australia, Korea, and Japan (a-doi). For the most part I know Europe doesn't get that much Pokemon product, except possibly for places like Italy/France/Spain.

Pokemon started big, but its era is slowly dwindling. There might come a point, we know not when, that Pokemon might cease from large places even as the US. Thank you, Cetanium, for your insight.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Wow, man. Thanks. You know, most people don't care for this. You are a great guy.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Pokemon has become commonplace enough here that I know a lot of people don't really think twice about it, but I know not every place gets this kind of thing. I first thought about this when I was told that there weren't any Nintendo Events in Canada (I don't know if they are now, but there weren't back in 2007 or so), but even so it has reminded me of what a privilege the US gets being able to enjoy Pokemon, and how most of the rest of the world doesn't even get half the stuff we do.

I also know a few people across the globe (one in Turkey, one in Venezuela), and they've said much the same thing as you have about Pokemon in their country.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I live in a very rural area of Wisconsin and anything huge that's Pokemon related is extremely rare to hear about. Yes, there are things that happen, but not in my immediate area. So I kind of understand where you're coming from, Cetanium. If I want to get involved with the fandom period, I have to do it almost completely over the internet because traveling's a hastle and slowly people are loosing even more interest in the series. Fanbases really only survive in areas as long as there's enough people into a franchise. If there aren't enough fans, the series dies entirely. Sure, there will always be hardcore fans that will never let things completely die (look up Star Trek, and you'll see it's still going despite the actual TV shows having long since ended).
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

You know what else? Many people can't send cards to Croatia. It (edited). After I find a card that I want on ebay or somewhere else, usually it can't be shiped to Croatia. Why? One guy told me that his mommy forbiddes him to. What is up with that? What's wrong with Croatia?
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Sometimes, laws prohibit certain items from other countries from recieve packages and products from being imported. I'm not sure how it is for Croatia, but there may also be illegal to send goods period from certain countries due to international disagreements, i.e. Pokemon cards might be embargoed (sounds silly, but it could happen).
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I find this story terrifying yet slightly humerous, but not in an offensive way.
If I am honest when I think of Croatia, I think of the unique flag. When I think of Pokemon, the last thing on my mind is why don't we start shipping stuff to Croatia.
In Britain we get stuff bad but not as bad as this. As far as I know, there were barely any downloadable events that connected to the handhelds, but finally there is wi-fi.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Well, I'm from Portugal and despite the fact that aren't many fans right now and the fad died a long ago, there are still a lot of shoppings (in the great cities) that sell pokémon products. The anime still airs, and I have no problem in buying card (either buying from ebay or buying directly here, only thing is that cards are more expensive here). Actually, I frequent a portuguese Pokémon forum that has a lot of members. Although, the other day, I went to a hyper market(I don't know if you say that in america) and in the toy section (christmas time), there were no pokémon products, despite having seen them there the whole rest of the year... Also, there are no game events in Portugal as far as I know...
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Although, the other day, I went to a hyper market(I don't know if you say that in america) and in the toy section (christmas time), there were no pokémon products, despite having seen them there the whole rest of the year...
Click to expand...

Yeah, in the US we call them dept. stores (Macy's for instance) or supercenters (Walmart, Target, K-Mart for some examples), but the idea remains the same I guess. In any case, the only Pokemon related merchandise I see in stores anymore are trading cards. Walmart used to carry some of the Manga but suddenly stopped a while back. I used to see second-hand items like plushies and bedding from the days of RBY/GSC in thrift stores, but those have become almost rare if non-existant from what I've seen.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Sometimes, laws prohibit certain items from other countries from recieve packages and products from being imported.
Click to expand...

Er-hem... Not to sound rude, Cetanium, but you should check into your government's policies on Japanese or foreign products. The most likely thing is that Pokemon has just phased out that much in Croatia, but it's also possible that Pokemon (and other franchises) are prohibited from having products with their names on it sold or imported to the country (I believe I said that earlier) and as such things related to them have dissappeared too. There's not much that can be done if it's the first, and the second...meh, I don't know what to say...
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I checked. There are no policies that prohibit selling pokemon stuff. I guess that it isn't the point. Maybe just some people can't send pokemon from their own countries.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I'm pretty sure Pokemon isn't completely dead in Croatia, as I remember seeing many traders fro Croatia in trade corners across the web. It's most likely your particular region that is dead. The best thing to do, would be find others who would be willing to play. If you get a good amount of people, (Like 25+) try talking to your local supermarket. (I assume they have those in Croatia? /noob) If you can show that there's interest, the store would be more willing to import them, and maybe even start a league.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I am not saying that there are no fans in Croatia. There are at least a thousand fans, but we are all scattered around the country. I don't want to be rude Juliacoolo, but how do you expect us to play like that? I mean, if there are like 10 people in each city that are willing to play (only in larger cities), how are we suppose to gather around? See, that's the problem. No one wants to travel I don't know how many miles for a regular pokemon tournament.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

I have to drive about 45 minutes to get to league. If the distance between your people is an hour +, you may be out of luck. A business won't invest in importing the cards if they won't get sold. It's unfortunate, but it's how things work.

If people aren't willing to travel, then you're intentions are pretty much dead from the start. If they'll travel say, 45 minutes, try finding a location that is fairly central. Even if you can get 5 or 6 regular people, that's enough to start an unorganized league. meet at someones house, a park, or some other free public space. Once that happens for a while, start inviting neighbors and friends to come too. Starting a new "fad" in your area isn't too terribly difficult, it just takes some time. Just keep trying to get others to play, and hopefully, things will work out.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

Ya, I guess. But still, the main reason is that no one wants to play. There used to be 30+ of us playing the TCG, but then It happened. In the period between 2005 and 2006, busters stopped arriving in the shops. People started to lose interest and stopped coming. There was practically no one there to see that the new busters came. That was also the period when anime stopped. Pokemon practically died in 2006:(. But then, a miracle. Diamond and Pearl. New players came. There weren't as many as before, butt still it was better then none.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

off topic: When I think of croatia..I think of the character Luko Kovacth from ER (spelling?)

on topic:

I drove 2 hours+ for a cities tournament last weekend. Granted there are/will be others closer but I'm just giving you an example..if no one really wants to drive even 45 minutes (which I too do for leauge), then no offense but pokemon isn't that popular in croatia and those who play don't put enough effort into actually Wanting to go to tournaments..then they/you/others shouldn't complain. I'm not trying to sound rude..but most people travel at least 30 minutes if not more for leauge..even here in the United states..it's just a fact of life/playing pokemon.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

To mlouden03:
off topic: we write it Luka Kovač

on topic:
First, Croatia is a poor country, we are practically bankrupt. Not everyone has a car. And the trains are very old and they take forever to arrive somewhere. Second, as I said there are many fans in Croatia, but people stopped playing. It's not because they don't like pokemon anymore, it's just that pokemon are held here as childish game and people lough at pokemon fans. And smaller kids don't even know what a pokemon is. Some of them heard from their older brothers or sisters and they started playing (like my little cousin). Pokemon should be concentrating on the next generation and how to show them to kids. Like Black and White, where there are no old pokemon.
 
RE: No pokemon for Croatia

off topic: I knew the spelling was off..I was too tired to look it up

on topic: do You have a car? you said you had some friends/people you know etc. that play do They have cars? try and get more fans back into the game. carpool to league if necessary. People here are made fun of for playing pokemon too. same with most anywhere if you do something that isn't popular by everyone's standards.
 
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