I’m just about 42. I was a senior in high school when Pokémon came out. I remember my little brother playing Pokemon with his buddies. RIP. I came across some of his old beat up cards about a year ago. I have them stashed and sleeved in a box. I’m glad I came across your public YouTube channel after going through so many blabber mouths. Being apart of Patreon is a privilege. I find Japanese old back the most aesthetically pleasing. I never thought Pokémon cards would be an outlet and I’m sure I’d make my brother proud. Hopefully this is uplifting and not a downer. Alright. Take it easy everyone and thank you. Brandon.
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Congrats on 15 years—strange for me to say since July 26, 2009 is also my anniversary and is the day I got married! I think I finally joined efour around Jan or Feb 2020-right before the start of the boom—what a late but great time for enjoying that ride! I shared then that I became interested in learning more about Pokémon not due to my own nostalgia, but my young son’s interest in it. And as a lifelong collector of many different niches but mostly vintage video games, and also as an art and lit type person, Pokemon collecting hooked me instantly and gave me a shared and sometimes parallel collecting experience along with my son’s interest.
My son is now 14 and in the dormancy of his collecting as he’s full on soccer and social now, but he will be back, as many if not most of you have done, and I have safely squirreled away his collection of binders, slabs and loose cards to hold for his return. My collecting continues, and I look forward to sharing this passion again with my son in another 10 or 15 years when nostalgia hits him. And when he comes back in, we are going to have a ball opening all the booster boxes I squirreled away in the heart of his collecting (Sun and Moon/SWSH).
Scott, your videos highlighting cards and sets are gems, and we need more like them to introduce collectors to gems they have no idea even exist. That and Gem Mint’s older videos and especially vintage box breaks by Primetime Pokémon and others like Rusty and mad Maxmoefoe are really something special. The hobby has more depth to it than newer collectors could ever imagine, and I hope sites like efour continue on to add to others’ collecting journey.
Congrats and thanks for allowing me to jump on board for this fun little ride!
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Interesting story man.
I have to say, I didn´t like your video´s very much.
But, what you (maybe) lack in videomaking skills, you certainly don´t lack in forum-building skills.
I was already active on Reddit where it´s a mix of people actually caring for Pokémon and people just saying … , so what this forum definitely has over Reddit is that everyone really loves/knows Pokémon.
Congratz on making this happen man!
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Cool write-up! It’s interesting how you mention the part of having to literally seek out collectors and how it was just not that popular at all back then which motivated you to expand on the collector side of things and seek others out. That’s actually what I noticed when I first got looking at TCGs again in 2014/2015 or so when I was still in school, it just seemed so niche still for the most part.
Back then I bought just a small amount of MTG cards instead and never even really considered Pokemon (even though I liked it as a kid). I just thought no one would ever care about them again, since it was always just seen mainly as the ‘game for kids’ compared to MTG or even Sports cards for collecting. I also didn’t have a lot of money of course, so my mindset towards this just wasn’t really there like it is now.
A lot sure has changed over the past 5-10 years now. I really feel what will continue to drive Pokemon and other collectibles higher in value and interest is the sheer love people have for it, which to me is basically immeasurable.
Being part of E4 so far has been a lot of fun, it’s one of the few places where I feel I can escape a lot of the ‘noise’ of other online sites. Overall it really feels like home each time I’m here. I look forward to the years ahead & completing my collecting goals and also continuing to learn from this great community!
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My sincere thanks to Scott & admin team for making this forum the most enjoyable place to be on the internet. Congrats!
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So very cool. The history, effort, and spirit of the thing.
IDK why I never searched for anything like the “where the collectors at?” Thread, even though I was also collecting. I just wasn’t that engaged, I guess… IDK. But I’m so glad the community you built has continued to grow to what we have today.
edit: Thinking to back then, 2000-2010, I didn’t really see the internet as more than an encyclopedia. I didn’t really see much potential for social value in it, and didn’t think to seek it out. BUT I’m happy to see I was wrong, at least, I’ve been proved wrong now. This community is one of the rare truly wholesome GEMS that the internet has fostered.
Props, thanks, and cheers, Scott, and the admin team HERE who make this community possible!
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Happy Anniversary Scott! This was a great synopsis of your one of a kind journey with Pokemon. A journey that has influenced the journeys of so many others, including me. Thank you for sharing. Here’s to fifteen more.
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Collecting is something you can do whole your life.
I’m selling parts of my collection because my children don’t want it, but I still do collect a little here and there. Not complete sets of cards anymore.
Almost hard to believe for me it’s 25 years ago I started and I’m still around.
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I somehow missed this thread when it was posted but I’m very glad to see it bumped a week down the line. It was a lovely read and the puns were really enjoyable!
“Where are the collectors at?”
Well, they’re right here and have been for a long time now.
Happy Anniversary and thanks for having us.
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Without E4, collecting would be much less fun for me. I’m glad I found this forum back in 2016, but regret lurking for two years before making my account.
I guarantee I wouldn’t have the collection or passion I have today if it wasn’t for E4.
I’m happy this forum still exists and hopefully it remains for another 15 years!
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I love learning about the history of this hobby. Theres no doubt e4 has had sweeping positive impacts for the Pokemon tcg. You guys should truly be proud of what youve done here. This community is an incredibly valuable, special thing in the growing expanse of Pokemon. I look forward to continuing to be a part of it for many, many years moving forward! Cheers!
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This place is great and feels very welcoming. There is so much toxtricity out there, but here feels much more relaxed and genuine.
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Firstly, thank you for sharing the history of the E4 community! I joined here in search of a place where I could share my memories and passion for collecting, in a world that was obsessed by the monetary value of the cards. You’ve built up a friendly and supportive community, and proven that forums definitely still have a place in the modern world.
Keep up the great work!
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