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[Justin O.]

Hey guys,

Been away from the hobby for a while, but came back to visit and see what the hobby looks like these days and see these Anyone decks all over the place, really generic boring designs, low effort and uninspired. They make Mueller's decks look, well I can't bring myself to say anything too positive about them, but you get the idea. However people seem to really want them. What's the story here?

[STLBluesNut]

They are just shit hype decks imo that all the fan boys like just because other people think they are cool and that isn't the only brand out there like that.

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[Justin O.]

They are just shit hype decks imo that all the fan boys like just because other people think they are cool and that isn't the only brand out there like that.

What are they fans of? What is 'Anyone'?

[STLBluesNut]

I'm not really sure beyond they are a cardistry brand that somehow became popular with their basic designs. I don't get it at all. I'm sure someone else could shed a little light on who and why.

I never cared enough to research their origin. Could be one of those like NOCs that were started by a popular personality that already had a following that would buy anything they made if their name was attached.

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[Räpylätassu]

They suck

[hsbc]

Anyone makes much more interesting decks than Fontaine

[Harvonsgard]

anyone worldwide is a cardistry brand formed by Tobias Levin, Nicolai Honore Pedersen and Noel Heath.
They are in the top20 of cardist out there and if you like thier style of cardistry, (Tobias and Nicolai mostly packet cuts - Noel pretty original with sleight concepts mixed into cardistry; he is pretty much blurring the line between cardistry and magic) they are the best in their own style. Ergo, they have a lot of fans so the demand for there decks is high.
Then the typical spiral of resellers and inflated prices kicks in and then the next deck is even more hyped.
When the hype cools down a bit, they sprinkle in a deck, like the latest Hundstooth which is only a 1,000 print run and yah, some folks have a problem with that strategy and some folks blame them for being uninspired as deck designers (which they never claimed to be but yah, some folks need to make the same uninspired, redundant comments whenever the question about A1 pops up - that sweet irony ).

[theCapraAegagrus]

Hey guys,

Been away from the hobby for a while, but came back to visit and see what the hobby looks like these days and see these Anyone decks all over the place, really generic boring designs, low effort and uninspired. They make Mueller's decks look, well I can't bring myself to say anything too positive about them, but you get the idea. However people seem to really want them. What's the story here?

The answer is, basically:

Idiots who buy hype.

[theCapraAegagrus]

...(which they never claimed to be but yah, some folks need to make the same uninspired, redundant comments whenever the question about A1 pops up - that sweet irony ).

How do you even sleep at night after making a meaningless comment like this?

You expect "inspired" criticism of an inspiration-less deck? Get the Hel out. That idea is so dumb that it's worth the Billy Madison quote. Crap is quite simply crap. No need to dissect it.

[Harvonsgard]

How do you even sleep at night after making a meaningless comment like this?

Simple - a good matraze, low to the ground bed, and the fact that the same redundant comments are even more meaningless. But we had this before, no need to meaninglessly circle jerk around the same topic again. Some don't like them, I like some of them and some like all of them.

[Bradius]

Crap is quite simply crap.

Oh that is just not true. Ask any good gardener. Some manure is much better than others. Fresh cow manure is great. I have heard that Elephant manure is like the best ever. Back when there was Barnum and Bailey Circus, after the performances, they would allow gardeners to come and pick up the animal manure, and folks would come in droves to get the elephant manure.

Then there is some manure that is so bad, you would NEVER put it on your garden unprocessed (if ever). So vile and smelly and so bad for anything...I mean there is good crap and really bad crap. Seriously.

That said, most people really don't elaborate on the qualities of dung. I get that. Most don't want an essay on the stuff.

In the case of Anyone. They're crap. At least they are printed by USPCC. Aside from that, crap.

On a side note, I have been handling an opened deck of Ephemera by Mr. Cup made by NPCC. The art work is so good and the handling of those cards is so bad. Wow. Why did he print with them? The cards look great, but there handling is atrocious.

[Adonael]

The answer is that many many people consume things for reasons other than the quality (visual or otherwise) of or effort put into the product itself. In the case of cards like Fontaines or A1 etc, the product itself is not the driving force, it's the intangible concepts attached to it. As someone who has always been anti-conformist and immune to peer pressure, it's not something I can ever understand, but from the outside I see it everywhere. Of course it will also present itself in the playing card world, if you can take advantage of that and live with yourself after, there is a lot of money to be made (I refuse to believe passion had anything to do with products like these), and if these people didn't do it someone else would have.

[theCapraAegagrus]

How do you even sleep at night after making a meaningless comment like this?

...the fact that the same redundant comments are even more meaningless. But we had this before, no need to meaninglessly circle jerk around the same topic again. Some don't like them, I like some of them and some like all of them.

What's the point of bloviating about crap? There's literally no way that comments about them are "more meaningless".

Flies like crap, so it's not like I'm insinuating that crap doesn't have its fans.

[Bradius]

Flies like crap, so it's not like I'm insinuating that crap doesn't have its fans.

[Justin O.]

Crap is quite simply crap.

On a side note, I have been handling an opened deck of Ephemera by Mr. Cup made by NPCC. The art work is so good and the handling of those cards is so bad. Wow. Why did he print with them? The cards look great, but there handling is atrocious.

I remember when Noir made it's debut, their quality was on par with Makeplayingcards.com, now I suspect even Makeplayincards has likely surpassed them. Similar story with Bone and Ebon, gorgeous artwork, but NPCC just doesn't make very good decks.

[Justin O.]

anyone worldwide is a cardistry brand formed by Tobias Levin, Nicolai Honore Pedersen and Noel Heath.
They are in the top20 of cardist out there and if you like thier style of cardistry, (Tobias and Nicolai mostly packet cuts - Noel pretty original with sleight concepts mixed into cardistry; he is pretty much blurring the line between cardistry and magic) they are the best in their own style. Ergo, they have a lot of fans so the demand for there decks is high.
Then the typical spiral of resellers and inflated prices kicks in and then the next deck is even more hyped.
When the hype cools down a bit, they sprinkle in a deck, like the latest Hundstooth which is only a 1,000 print run and yah, some folks have a problem with that strategy and some folks blame them for being uninspired as deck designers (which they never claimed to be but yah, some folks need to make the same uninspired, redundant comments whenever the question about A1 pops up - that sweet irony ).

I appreciate the information, if not the impudence. This is what I was trying to find out, what name or situation justified the demand, where the decks themselves never could.

[montenzi]

It happens as (unfortunately) most of cardists are kids and their taste is developing. There is nothing wrong with it.

My reaction I visited their site for the first time: a. GOPNIKS b. FML c. LOL

[BaconWise]

Definitely different tastes involved when you compare A1WW decks to the plethora of amazing designers who do fully-custom decks. I'll take Montenzi's Red Tiki V2 ($13) over A1WW Checkerboard ($14) any day of the damn week.

It's Inspired Art vs. Clipart.

[Eric Lee]

IMHO, it's all about the branding. Just like the distinct Fontaine F and the Anyone logo. Show off your moves with a "branded" deck. Also serves to show who's your idol,inspiration. Same with Nike/Adidas shoes and Beat headphones. Even though there are better, smaller, less well known brands like Skeechers for walking, New Balance for running, Grado or any other specialist headphones for non- rap music.

It's "cool" for the kids, a cheap, easy money grab for the designers. They worked hard to build their fanbase with their skills and tutorials. Now they're reaping the rewards with their "branded" decks. Just wish they would venture more into the creative sides. Like Zach with Chinatown and RipnDip, Anyone with the checkerboards and 6006 (at least they fit theme into the courts with a recoloring and checks).

[Harvonsgard]

Same with Nike/Adidas shoes and Beat headphones. Even though there are better, smaller, less well known brands like Skeechers for walking, New Balance for running, Grado or any other specialist headphones for non- rap music.

No, No, No... Nope!

The branding part is indeed true, If you have a reputation it makes it easier for you to sell products and I also agree that less known brands have often better products.
Your shoe example though is just aweful. First of all, Asics makes the best running shoes every runner will tell you that and if Nike wouldn't pay better, every marathon runner would wear them.
Now to the one of the worst things I've ever had to read - Skechers... seriously? As a sneaker-head I just cry in vain reading this. Design-wise they are the Bocopo of shoes (yah, they don't even deserve to be called sneakers), technology-wise no innovation at all. Marketing-wise the Ellusionist of shoes (Check the weight-loss claim shape-ups story) - so overall just trash, trash, trash. They are trash, period. Just like beats headphones aswell.
/rant over

... if not the impudence.

A little tease doesn't hurt

[Eric Lee]

My apologies. Not a runner, I was trying hard to recall Asics, but only New Balance came to mind at that time. Still NB is better for running than Nike, no ? That was my point.

Wow, didn't think you felt so strongly about Skeechers. But I didn't call them sneakers. For me sneakers are your general purpose cross trainers. But I love your comparisons. Bocopo and Ellusionists! Hahaha

So what would you recommend for general walkers? My absolute fave is Rockport at the moment, but not easy to find here in Malaysia and rather pricey with no factory outlets selling them.

[Harvonsgard]

My apologies. Not a runner, I was trying hard to recall Asics, but only New Balance came to mind at that time. Still NB is better for running than Nike, no ? That was my point.

Haha, no worries at all mate. No need to apologize. For comedy purposes, I like to exaggorate in my posts . As mentioned, the core point of your post is 100% true.

I'm not a runner myself but I have some friends that are runners (some just for fitness, some attend at half-marathons and marathons) and I've read some runner's magazines and Asics is always highly recommended and praised. since adidas has boost and nike has react, I wouldn't put NB over them in a technological comparison, but since the top tier models are heavily prized, I can see that hobby runners would put a NB over nike/adidas.

As for general walkers. The less cushioned, the better it actually is for your feet/legs. In leisure time as much bare foot as possible, would be my recommendation.

[Outsider]

I haven't taken a survey of other runners or anything, but from my experience most serious athletes aren't particularly brand loyal unless they're sponsored. Most of the big names offer comparable models of trainers, and regardless of brand or model running shoes last a few weeks of high volume training before being converted into vaguely shoe-shaped garbage. For this reason probably most high mileage runners without a sponsor providing unlimited free shoes pick up whatever is on clearance, sometimes in bulk. If you see a guy running in shoes in a color you can't believe ever got manufactured, he probably runs his ass off and those are last year's unsold leftovers bought for a third of retail.

There are also some brands well liked by runners and athletes that are barely on the radar for the general public, like Mizuno, Brooks, Hoka One One, etc.

As well, there's sort of a question about who we're talking about when we say "runners", the same way UC isn't necessarily a perfect sample of worldwide card buyers. If we're defining runners as people who buy running shoes [ignoring for the moment the huge market for people who buy athletic clothing but don't work out at all], then probably the most money is being made off of newbies who buy a brand they've heard of and associate with athletics - like Nike - and intermediate runners who go through 2-5 pairs a year, may have some kind of preference, may listen to what's said in running magazines, etc. Usually if they find a brand they're okay with, they stay with it because they don't go through shoes fast enough to bother experimenting, and they don't mind paying full price because they only buy a pair every few months.

Finally, trail shoes are a whole 'nother ball of wax. Street brands are mostly all the same because pavement is always pavement, but trails are highly variable and different companies specialize in different types of terrain and everyone comes up with their own balance of priorities. A lot of these brands are barely heard of outside of the outdoor sports community, like La Sportiva and Salomon. Trail runners tend to find what they like and stick with it, especially if they run on technical terrain. Nobody wants to find out this brand doesn't quite stick to rock like the other does, right when you're rock hopping over an exposed ledge, ya know?

[Bradius]

If you are getting into trail running. REI is a great retailer in this space. I use them for high end backpacking boots, but they have a lot of trail running shoes.

[Justin O.]

Anyone decks are so lame there is more conversation about the best shoes for walking in this thread.

[Harvonsgard]

Anyone decks are so lame there is more conversation about the best shoes for walking in this thread.

Could you please stay on topic and write something about shoes!

Saucony is pretty big in running aswell, at least in Europe. They're the French aquivalent to Mizuno.

[theCapraAegagrus]

Anyone decks are so lame there is more conversation about the best shoes for walking in this thread.

Honestly, I'd rather talk about "what's the best cat litter?" than A1 decks.

[Harvonsgard]

Anyone decks are so lame there is more conversation about the best shoes for walking in this thread.

Honestly, I'd rather talk about "what's the best cat litter?" than A1 decks.

Guys, for real. If you wanna write about cat litters and/or A1 decks hijack another thread! This is a running/cross-running shoes thread now!

[STLBluesNut]

Honestly, I'd rather talk about "what's the best cat litter?" than A1 decks.

Fresh step with the Hawaiian Breeze febreze scent is my choice.

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[Harvonsgard]

Hawaiian Breeze febreze scent is my choice.

Works great for used running shoes aswell.