Interview with Elite Fourum
An interview with smpratte of Elite Fourum, a Pokémon card collecting community which dates back to 2008. He shares his thoughts on card collecting, the history of the forum, and its community.
Elite Fourum is a Pokémon information and discussion website focused on Pokémon card collecting. Its origins can be traced back to a 2008 forum thread on The PokeGym. It eventually became Elite Fourum. In this interview, I speak to Scott Pratte (smpratte) about his community and his impressive collection of Pokémon cards.
It’s great to be speaking with you, Scott! Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
smpratte:
My name is Scott Pratte (smpratte). I've been collecting, buying and selling Pokémon cards for almost 20 years.
How did you first become interested in the Pokémon series and start collecting Pokémon cards?
smpratte:
I started collecting like most ‘90s kids during the original release of Pokémon. I took a break in high school and got back into collecting during college, probably around 2006. It started as a hobby that snowballed into a full-time job and identity.
You joined the PokéGym forums in August 2008, one of the original Pokémon Trading Card Game strategy websites. Then, in July 2009, you created a thread on the forum, hoping to reach fellow collectors. A year later, you created The Ultimate Pokémon Card Collectors Club (UPCCC). What prompted you to create a whole new community in the first place?
Smpratte:
PokéGym will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the first website I ever joined, and [it] was intimidating, as I was level 1. I lurked there for probably a year before posting. Once I did, I realized the website was mainly for playing the actual game. That was the primary motivation to create the thread "Where are the collectors at?". I just wanted to talk about collecting, and that thread was a beacon for collectors.
That ran for over a year, but it wasn't enough, not only for discussion, [since] even the staff of PokéGym were primarily involved with [playing] the TCG rather than collecting. This was the motivation to create a website dedicated to collecting!
In 2016, UPCCC changed its name to Elite Fourum, the community we know it as today. What was the idea behind the name change?
smpratte:
The name E4 was something I came up with years before actually making the change. It was a way to formalize the site. I came up with the name as I like puns, and [I] thought [of] Elite Fourum as a nice play on words of Elite Four and Forum. It’s also easier to just say E4, efour, or the fourum. 2016 was a big year for Pokémon, so it felt like the right time!
According to your forum’s statistics, Elite Fourum has almost 13,000 users signed up, who have made over 660,000 posts. You have also stated that the website receives over two million views per month at the time of interview. What do you think is the reason people flock to the website?
smpratte:
Knowledge. E4 has a wealth of knowledge. It's the final frontier, and the hardest aspect to replicate, in any hobby or industry. The knowledge can range from a simple question to the most niche variation of a card. There have been countless discoveries on E4 over the years. Even the fake Logan Paul box was known on E4 before it went public.
As a member of your community, I have been pleasantly surprised to find a very warm and welcoming group of people in the threads I have visited. How have you been able to stay on top of this to ensure it remains that way?
smpratte:
I try to focus on the positive and remember this is supposed to be a hobby. Naturally I am laid back, so that plays a role. The other motivator is [that] the internet today is highly negative. People are more combative, and that influences me to go the other direction. In fact I would say E4 today is perhaps the most calm it’s ever been. I want to maintain that calmness so someone who is brand new or level 100 can coexist.
One of my favourite threads on the forum has to be the E4 Chain Letter Across The World, where members of the community send the same Energy Card to each other and add their name to it. Some have included handwritten notes and gifts, making it a very wholesome experience. What other examples have you seen that have reflected this community spirit?
smpratte:
There are so many threads that capture that spirit, but some of the big ones that come to mind are Secret Santa, Signature exchange, and as you mentioned the E4 Chain Letter. Secret Santa is genuine magic. It’s so fun checking someone’s collection goals to find the perfect gift. Seeing everyone’s drawings is great as well! Honestly, these types of threads are special, and you don't see [them] anywhere else!
In recent years, the availability of Pokémon Trading Card Game products has been a common topic, with players and collectors unable to obtain cards, due to an increase in demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and profiteering. While things have calmed down by the time of this interview, I am curious to hear about your experiences of this and its impact on the Elite Fourum community.
smpratte:
There are years that stand out in history; 2020 is easily [among the] top 5 of our lives. It completely changed not only Pokémon, but the entire world. There was a lot of animosity during that time; people looking for a boogeyman to blame for why they couldn't buy products at the price they wanted, or at all, when in reality, it was simply a massive wave of demand on previous supply. I remember making videos trying to soothe that frustration by explaining that supply is the only remedy, which is where we are today. The scales have balanced, to a point where there may be a slight oversupply. Shining Fates ETB's were the poster child for scalpers in 2020. I think they were over $100. Today they are half that price. Ultimately I think 2019 was the end of the collectible era. 2020- is the commodity era, where collectibles now have so much financial focus attached to them in a way they didn't prior.
You started collecting Pokémon cards when they originally released in the late 90s, but got back into collecting around 2006. What encouraged you to get back into the hobby again?
smpratte:
Honestly, the biggest motivation [was that] I didn't know what I wanted to do in college. Collecting gave me purpose and structure, and eventually a livelihood. As with E4, my YouTube, and anything I've done in collectibles, it started on an emotional whim. The beginning of it all was purely me looking for comfort in the unknown of my future as a kid/young adult.
Some collectors have a ‘holy grail’ item that they would love to own. What would your grail be, and have you been fortunate enough to obtain it already?
smpratte:
Yes, I have been fortunate enough to obtain my grails. I bought my first Pikachu Illustrator in 2011, along with many of the other big goals. Ultimately it's an idea that I'm after. The cards represent that idea, and the hunt is the thrill! I still have a few lofty binder goals that purposely will take years/a lifetime to complete, as it keeps that fire burning!
What are some of your favourite items from your collection?
smpratte:
One of the cards I have on my desk is a Ledyba from the 1999 Japanese Southern Islands set. Back in 1999, this was a Japanese-exclusive set, and I saw it for the first time at a weekend Toys “R” Us meetup. I immediately fell in love, mainly because there were other Pokémon in the background. That was a big deal for ‘90s kids! I ended up trading for the Ledyba, along with the Jigglypuff and Butterfree to complete the three-card set. I had them in my cargo shorts as a kid and ended up creasing the corner of the card. I value that creased Ledyba more than the highest graded version! Some other cards that come to mind… my first Pikachu Illustrator card. My lucky University Magikarp card that I found in the bulk of a collection purchase! The Sugimori signed 1st edition Blastoise is another one!
Also, Splendid Genesis is a special MTG [Magic: The Gathering] card I hunted for ages and finally acquired. It was made by Richard Garfield, the creator of MTG, in honor of his first child, and was only given to WotC employees! Speaking of MTG, I have a couple of original arts, [as well as] a repaint from my favorite MTG artist who got me into collecting MTG, Amy Weber.
Do you have a card, or precious item from your collection, that you wish you had kept hold of?
smpratte:
Early on I tried to buy doubles of every card I sold, even Pikachu Illustrators. This allowed me to sell while still maintaining my personal copy. However, there are some cards where either the offer was too good or the grade premium wasn't as relevant. Here are some I sold that come to mind: a PSA 10 Shadowless Charizard, which I graded myself, numerous PSA 9 1st Edition Charizard cards, [and] multiple PSA 10 1st Edition base holo cards. I could go on about items I sold years ago for a fraction of their current price. Even some of these cards mentioned you could add 0's to the price tag! Ultimately I don't regret any of these sales as that was a lot of money at the time, and they helped me get to where I am today!
What do you think the future holds for the Pokémon TCG, and for the Elite Fourum community?
smpratte:
The future of Pokémon and trading cards as a whole is promising. The market is so large there isn't a general consensus. Naturally, when the hobby was smaller, E4 represented more of the market. Moving forward it will be the destination for serious collectors, like [the] Elite Four in the game – yes, that dad joke was a reason for the name! But in all seriousness, people who are further along in their collecting journey tend to treat E4 as their home.
Scott, it has been great to speak with you and learn more about your community and your experiences with Pokémon! Do you have any closing comments you would like to make to our readers and members of Elite Fourum?
smpratte:
If I could say anything it’s just to remind people this is supposed to be a hobby. I am saying that to myself as well. It’s very easy to get lost in the price charts and financial pressures. Why this is even something that can be successfully traded today is because of the emotional value. I've met many people through this journey and if I could say something to all of them it would be to remember, it’s just a hobby.
A huge thanks to smpratte for taking the time to talk about his community and his collection. It’s great to see a group that welcomes all kinds of fans of the TCG and makes them feel at home. I wish Elite Fourum all the very best for its future!
Interview conducted on: October 21st, 2024
Interview published on: December 5th, 2024
Really great interview and also nice to read Scott's thoughts! E4 holds a very special place in my heart as a collector. I think just this past year, I have made some really great friends on E4, whom I have never met but share a deep connection as people who are passionate within the hobby. It truly is a wonderful place to be as a Pokemon card collector.
Thanks for the great interview!
Cheers!