Yes, it's been well over a year since my last article, but I'm still alive and I still love the game, so I'm going to hopefully help some of you out with what's been my greatest struggle with UFS: What to do in the case of a dead meta, or a dying interest in the game itself.

For those of you who constantly check UFScards.com hoping to have a glimpse of insight into my old, old article 'Justified Control' (HAHAHAHAHA I amuse myself), I'm sorry to say that after a year of inactivity and the release of the Ryu vs. Akuma battle box, the article really has no necessity. The guys over at STG have started to do a good job of making sure that the risk is well worth the reward on the 1 and 2 check cards, so I really don't feel the need to restate the obvious.

Games die. Such is the way of life. Some games live forever, but for every game that succeeds, many many more fall just short of the glory days. UFS has had one hell of a run so far, with it's unique game play, incredible prize support, and generally lighthearted and fun atmosphere that almost all of the gamers share amongst each other. Unlike most games, UFS had the difficulty of having to deal with another game that had a similar premise (Fighting style Video Games in a card game), however UFS proved that it was here to stay.

Unfortunately, not everything is dandelions and candy. There are a few of us dedicated gamers out there who live in an area where the game never really took off; or it did, but interest died later on for whatever reason. So, how does one deal with the loss of a competitive play scene for a game they love?

The first step that I've found to help keep my interest high is the forums. Being an active forum member allows me to keep up-to-date on what's new and exciting, as well as lets me meet and talk with the other players from various environments. Whenever I feel the need to 'retire' into just being a collector, there's always something there that hooks my interest back into being a full-fledged UFSer.

Another good idea is to always make sure your store carries product. If a game seems to die off, and your store doesn't sell much of it anymore, they'll stop ordering it and the game can't really get started again. However, even if you have to buy packs yourself constantly, and your store only gets like one box of each set, try to make sure that they never find UFS to be a losing investment. As long as the game is on the shelves, people have a chance to see it and become intrigued. By the same token, don't buy all of the product, either. Just a few packs here and there should be enough. If you buy all of it, then nobody new can buy packs and get into the game. I learned this the hard way in my area, but I waited a month or so and only bought SF stuff, so it's not entirely my fault.

Next, if you still have a buddy or two who plays with you at the local store, always make sure you keep a couple of lower speed decks that are balanced against each other with you. Demo decks are really good here. What happens is that if someone shows interest in the game you can bust the decks out and tutor them through the game, thus hooking fresh blood. However, it's a lot harder for someone new to learn the game (Especially if they have no prior TCG experience) if you're playing higher powered cards and ending games before they ever really know what's going on.

Also, when you have a person show interest in the game, make sure you show them to the STG website and tell them to sign up for demo decks of their own. There is nobody on the planet who doesn't love getting free stuff, and they can check out the site as well as the forums in the process. You can also direct them here, so that they can use the THD card database to view some of the older cards, and get a feel for how the cards look and work.

If you're really desperate for some competitive action, use the venue locater on the Gamer's Roundtable site to see if any of your surrounding towns have a tournament scene live and kicking. Yes, we all know that gas is expensive, but sacrifices must be made in order for your inner gaming monster to get his fill of UFS. Even if you still have a competitive scene, traveling to other stores every once in a while is a good way to keep your game fresh, and meet new people. Plus it helps show stores that the game isn't dead, and thus UFS can continue to live and grow.

My final piece of advice is to just make sure to keep your chin up. It's hard to live without a local meta, I know; I've been doing it for well over a year now. However, if you make sure to keep your game up-to-par, you won't be left in the dust when the game resurfaces later. This is why I think that rotation will be great for UFS: It will allow newer people to jump headfirst into the game and not be screwed because they missed out on two years of cards. Not everyone can drop money into the internet to buy up all the old singles again. Don't get me wrong, I love my old decks, I do, but I'm hoping that rotation allows UFS to perform like the Hydra of old: regrow two heads where the first was lopped off.

-Dozer