Results 11 to 20 of 43
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05-30-2012, 07:35 AM #11
I think we'll have to wait and see how 11-12 SPA goes this year before taking sides, but just to add some bias into this, I don't think SOTT's will look anywhere as good as NHL Ink cards do.
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05-30-2012, 08:50 AM #12
Are you comparing 10/11 contenders to 10/11 SPA?
Or are you comparing 11/12 Contenders to what we imagine 11/12 SPa will look like since it hasn't been released yet and won't be for another Month + a week. So, comparing a set to nothing right now... I'd have to say that the released product wins.
Vs my imagination of what SPa will look like, 11/12 Contenders >= SPA with virtually similar design, more patches (with nice contrasting black background like the UD Black Ice jersey autos that first appeared and were pretty popular), more multi autos and better base inserts (specifically contenders legacies).
Cheers,
reoddai
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05-30-2012, 09:32 AM #13
I think it could contend (pun intended!) with SPA. It is nice see some similar competition so there is more choice. Not everyone will fall in love with SPA over Contenders so to each there own. I personally like both. I also agree with the comment about the sharpie being too thick, the silver is nice but the thick sharpie makes it look more messy than it could be with a thinner sharpie or pen.
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05-30-2012, 02:50 PM #14
At this point.....SPA by a few hundred country-miles......
Personal preference, I still think SPA is much cleaner and sharper.
SIDE NOTE: Panini needs to create a new product, that is just theirs (yes I know that former employees of UD work for Panini...but thats in the past). Too much copying of other prior brands and competition. I actually like last years contenders, different from other hockey products with the ticket idea....Prime looks interesting, wait and see on that.
But the reasoning is as simple as market value. Panini doesnt hold a candle to UD, whether it be comparing SPA or any other comparable products. This is present, in future releases...who knows....but it will take some time. If that day comes, I will warm up to Panini a touch more.
Just my 2cents.....
Take care.
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05-30-2012, 03:20 PM #15
I mean, you know what UD is going to come out with. SPA hasn't really changed for years. You can expect all of the same things.
Panini stepped it up big time. I think it's reasonable to compare both products for this year. It doesn't matter how long a product has been out, you need to see what each company is doing right now. Contenders is great and if UD doesn't change anything...do you really think that UD is still that far ahead? Not at all. Those who would still think that are blind to what is actually going on. Open a box of both products (when SPA comes out) and assuming SPA stays the same, tell me how far apart they are. It's actually going to be quite close and closer than everybody thinks.
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05-30-2012, 03:28 PM #16
I think the Contenders auto rookies last year were ugly and busy, as compared to the clean and simple design we always get with SP Authentic. They have improved this year, but they're still very bland and I despise the large white stripe.
The booklets in Contenders are a nice touch, but they still can't compare (in my opinion) to the Sign of the Times duals, triples, etc., which I think are some of the best-looking cards in the whole hobby. As multi-auto cards go, I'd take them even over many offerings from The Cup. The NHL Ink cards are nice, and I would have admit that they do match the single SOTT autos.
Do I think Contenders has improved from last year? Yes. However, it has a long way to go before matching what might be the most reliable, consistently well-done product in the hobby, which is SP Authentic. I think Contenders fares well when compared to SPGU and SPX, but it's not yet on the level of SPA.
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05-30-2012, 03:32 PM #17
How can you compare Contenders with SPGU which a hit per pack product with loads of plain old $1 jersey cards and 1 or 2 autos? I can at least see comparing it to SPx, but SPGU is crazy talk.
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05-30-2012, 03:45 PM #18
Players on the card>look of the card.
The SOTT of SPA are much better than the NHL INKS. Wayyyyy to many NHL INKS.
SPA is great. 10/11 SPA is one of the best boxes ever. Case closed.
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05-30-2012, 04:07 PM #19
I was just stating that it's a better product than either of those. I'm not trying to draw any parallels between it and either SPX/SPGU, neither of which I'd choose over Contenders.
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05-30-2012, 04:16 PM #20
Put the checklists side by side, then revisit this. There are way more SOTT, and they have around the same amount of duds and stars. The only thing that varies in the checklist is the strength of rookies, and SOTT has way more veterans. Also, I like how they include every team on the checklist for Contenders (there are Wild fans who want the autos of Almond, Clutterbuck, etc.). It's not like they are all 4th line scrubs either. They include players who don't always have autos in products, which is kind of cool because you may only see a few autos of players like Giordano, who is a very solid defence man, and Calgary fans probably want an auto of him
The player selection for duals is INSANELY better for NHL INK Duals and Triples. You can't even argue that. No offence, but the duals of the same players are really, really lame. Why have a Toews/Toews card? To me that's a joke.
SPA has major dud boxes and players as well. Once again, wait until this year, but how often do you pull different autos of different players rather than the same players year in and year out? I like the variety Panini brings, while keeping the stars in products. The gold and black versions of NHL Ink are very attractive.
Oh yeah? since when in SPA do you have a 50/50 shot at getting a RPA or dual or more auto card/Booklet again?
Like I said earlier, if this year's Contenders was Upper Deck's SPA, everyone would love it. It's just who makes the bread that causes the distaste.
Also look at the price points, Contenders is cheaper than SPA by $10-20 at least depending on who you deal with. Something to consider.
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Originally Posted by spoodini 
