A Simulation Game About Spotting Scalpers and Running a Healthy Business
Some people buy up limited-edition products and hard-to-find popular items for their own profit, then resell them at prices far above retail.
They are known as scalpers.
In recent years, scalping has become a serious issue in the trading card game industry…
In this game, you become the owner of a card shop and aim to build a popular, well-loved store.
As the player, you will handle everything from purchasing packs and boxes to gathering information on recent card market trends through social media and video platforms. Use that knowledge to buy and sell wisely, and work your way toward becoming one of the top shops in the card game industry.
How to Play ① Information Gathering: Research the Market and Scalper Activity
Gathering information before opening the shop is an important part of running a card store.
On the video-sharing platform “WowTube,” new videos are posted every day covering recent card price trends, trending packs, must-watch cards, incidents involving scalpers, and even disputes at local shops.
Which cards should you stock?
What items are likely to spike in price?
And when a suspicious customer visits your store, what questions should you ask to expose contradictions?
Hidden within those videos are hints for increasing your sales, as well as clues for identifying scalpers.
Simply selling cards is not enough to protect your shop.
Gather information, read the mood, and predict the next wave before it hits.
Your decisions will affect both today’s sales and your shop’s reputation.
How to Play ② Purchasing Stock: Visit Wholesalers on Your Days Off
Your days off are the time to prepare for your next business day.
Visit multiple wholesalers within a limited amount of time and search for products that match the current market and your customer base. Popular cards, trending packs, hidden gems — what you choose to stock can greatly affect the following week’s sales.
However, your usual wholesalers will not always have the items you want.
If your timing is bad, your regular supplier may barely have anything in stock.
In those situations, you can visit wholesalers you do not yet have a relationship with and try to negotiate a deal. Whether they are willing to sell to an unfamiliar shop depends on them. But if you have built up a strong reputation through your daily business, new doors may begin to open.
Which wholesaler will you visit?
Which products are worth your time and money?
And when will you take a risk?
How you spend your limited days off will shape the future of your card shop.
How to Play ③ Business Days: Buy and Sell While Spotting Scalpers
On business days, you place the packs and boxes you purchased on the shelves and sell them to customers who visit your store.
At times, you may also appraise and buy cards that customers bring in.
However, not every customer is a genuine card game fan.
Some customers may be scalpers trying to buy up products for their own profit.
Pay close attention to what they are buying, what they say, and any unnatural behavior. Do not overlook even the smallest sense that something is off.
When a customer seems suspicious, you can ask them questions yourself.
Why are they buying it? Which cards are they collecting? Why do they need that many?
If their answers begin to contradict each other, you can confront them directly.
“You’re a scalper, aren’t you?”
They will not admit it easily.
Listen carefully as they try to talk their way out, expose the contradictions in their words, and uncover who they really are.
However, what you do with a customer once you know they are a scalper is up to you.
You can kick them out of the shop, or you can knowingly accept them and continue trading.
Some scalpers may have circumstances that pushed them into reselling.
Will you forgive them? Judge them? Choose profit? Or protect trust?
Your choices will greatly change both your shop’s reputation and the direction of the story.