Promotional Powerless Piece of Garbage: Difference between revisions

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You've seen it. A special trading card gets released. There's only one copy of it in existence, it's got flashy holofoil all over it, it's worth millions...the question is, is it actually useful in the card game? Hell, no. That million dollar card or item or whatever costs a lot and is a prime collector's item, but it's useless.
You've seen it. A special trading card gets released. There's only one copy of it in existence, it's got flashy holofoil all over it, it's worth millions...the question is, is it actually useful in the card game? Hell, no. That million dollar card or item or whatever costs a lot and is a prime collector's item, but it's useless.


Promotional Powerless Pieces of pi-[[Last-Second Word Swap|Garbage]] are one of the more infuriating types of [[Revenue Enhancing Devices]] when they are sold and purchased in [[Real Life]].
Promotional Powerless Pieces of pi-[[Last-Second Word Swap|Garbage]] are one of the more infuriating types of [[Revenue Enhancing Devices]] when they are sold and purchased in [[Real Life]].


[[Tropes Are Not Bad|On the other hand]], if ''all'' of the [[Revenue Enhancing Devices]] are like this, cheapskate gamers may appreciate the subversion of [[Bribing Your Way to Victory]].
[[Tropes Are Not Bad|On the other hand]], if ''all'' of the [[Revenue Enhancing Devices]] are like this, cheapskate gamers may appreciate the subversion of [[Bribing Your Way to Victory]].
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{{examples}}
{{examples}}


* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game]]'' has plenty of em'.
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh Card Game]]'' has plenty of em'.
** The Card of Sanctity removes every last card on your field and in your hand from play, all so you can draw a measly 2 cards. Yeah, that's useful. It had a ''much'' more useful effect in the anime: both you and your opponent draw cards until you have 6 each.
** The Card of Sanctity removes every last card on your field and in your hand from play, all so you can draw a measly 2 cards. Yeah, that's useful. It had a ''much'' more useful effect in the anime: both you and your opponent draw cards until you have 6 each.
** The "Blue Eyes Shining Dragon" who can only be summoned by sacrificing Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, who in turn can only be summoned by fusing three Blue Eyes White Dragons. The kicker? At the time it came out, you couldn't even summon it, since BEUD didn't come out until almost a year and a half later.
** The "Blue Eyes Shining Dragon" who can only be summoned by sacrificing Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, who in turn can only be summoned by fusing three Blue Eyes White Dragons. The kicker? At the time it came out, you couldn't even summon it, since BEUD didn't come out until almost a year and a half later.
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** The promo card you got when you went to see ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh Tenth Anniversary Movie|Bonds Beyond Time]]'', which had a limted theatrical run to say the least? Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon. Which is better than most of the cards above... but the problem was that it was released ''after'' two more powerful Malefic promos in Shonen Jummp ''and'' a mass-release pack full of stronger Malefics, meaning better options were all-too-readily available. To make matters worse,''Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon was also in said pack, just printed in a different rarity''... Which makes it both a [[Promotional Powerless Piece of Garbage]] ''and'' a [[Junk Rare]]!
** The promo card you got when you went to see ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh Tenth Anniversary Movie|Bonds Beyond Time]]'', which had a limted theatrical run to say the least? Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon. Which is better than most of the cards above... but the problem was that it was released ''after'' two more powerful Malefic promos in Shonen Jummp ''and'' a mass-release pack full of stronger Malefics, meaning better options were all-too-readily available. To make matters worse,''Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon was also in said pack, just printed in a different rarity''... Which makes it both a [[Promotional Powerless Piece of Garbage]] ''and'' a [[Junk Rare]]!
** For Europe, a lot of the Shonen Jump magazine and manga promotional cards have now been deemed illegal for use in TCG events due to a new ruling by Konami saying that only cards that have been printed in that country can be used. Several years ago when the TCG first came out, cards from the American boosters were banned outright in tournaments until Upper Deck/Konami removed that ruling. Long story short, atop of other things it means that the Legal God Cards are now banned in Europe until Konami prints them in a booster pack.
** For Europe, a lot of the Shonen Jump magazine and manga promotional cards have now been deemed illegal for use in TCG events due to a new ruling by Konami saying that only cards that have been printed in that country can be used. Several years ago when the TCG first came out, cards from the American boosters were banned outright in tournaments until Upper Deck/Konami removed that ruling. Long story short, atop of other things it means that the Legal God Cards are now banned in Europe until Konami prints them in a booster pack.
* ''[[Pokémon]]'':
* ''[[Pokémon]]'':
** In the first generation, Porygon costs 9999 coins (6500 in the ''Blue'' version... lucky bastards) to buy. And the only way to get a lot of coins is to gamble them or buy them (1000 yen for 50 coins). All this for a generally useless Pokemon. Porygon later got two evolutions added to it which are significantly more useful, but by then you didn't have to buy it for obscene amounts of coins anymore (in ''Platinum'' you get one ''for free'').
** In the first generation, Porygon costs 9999 coins (6500 in the ''Blue'' version... lucky bastards) to buy. And the only way to get a lot of coins is to gamble them or buy them (1000 yen for 50 coins). All this for a generally useless Pokemon. Porygon later got two evolutions added to it which are significantly more useful, but by then you didn't have to buy it for obscene amounts of coins anymore (in ''Platinum'' you get one ''for free'').
** Also in the first generation, Farfetch'd, who is useless (except for being taught HM moves so they can be used out of battle), but there's only one of him in whole entire game. About as much use as you'd expect a duck wielding a giant leek to be. At least it's easy enough to get a Spearow to trade for it. For what it's worth, this was intentional; as Farfetch'd is based on a Japanese proverb about a duck carrying an onion leek, both ingredients in duck soup. The proverb can be taken to mean a lucky opportunity like finding duck ''and'' onion together (being able to get a rare Farfetch'd for an incredibly common Spearow), or being a sucker like the duck that's just begging to be eaten (I traded a perfectly good Spearow for ''this''?).
** Also in the first generation, Farfetch'd, who is useless (except for being taught HM moves so they can be used out of battle), but there's only one of him in whole entire game. About as much use as you'd expect a duck wielding a giant leek to be. At least it's easy enough to get a Spearow to trade for it. For what it's worth, this was intentional; as Farfetch'd is based on a Japanese proverb about a duck carrying an onion leek, both ingredients in duck soup. The proverb can be taken to mean a lucky opportunity like finding duck ''and'' onion together (being able to get a rare Farfetch'd for an incredibly common Spearow), or being a sucker like the duck that's just begging to be eaten (I traded a perfectly good Spearow for ''this''?).
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*** "If you won this card at the 20XX Pokemon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 20XX+1...CONGRATULATIONS!"
*** "If you won this card at the 20XX Pokemon Trading Card Game World Championships, you may return to battle the best in 20XX+1...CONGRATULATIONS!"
** The special Event Pokémon given away at Nintendo events tend to avert this, due to the Pokemon being given away generally being one of two things: a [[Infinity+1 Sword|really powerful Legendary Pokémon]] or a regular Pokémon with a unique move on it (e.g. Surfing Pikachu.)<br />Of course, there has been one example of this: the Spiky-Eared Pichu in HG/SS - a ''baby Pokémon'' that, while cute, has awful stats, can't even evolve or be traded/transferred to any other games at all, and doesn't even come with any unique features aside from ''a slightly deformed ear''.
** The special Event Pokémon given away at Nintendo events tend to avert this, due to the Pokemon being given away generally being one of two things: a [[Infinity+1 Sword|really powerful Legendary Pokémon]] or a regular Pokémon with a unique move on it (e.g. Surfing Pikachu.)<br />Of course, there has been one example of this: the Spiky-Eared Pichu in HG/SS - a ''baby Pokémon'' that, while cute, has awful stats, can't even evolve or be traded/transferred to any other games at all, and doesn't even come with any unique features aside from ''a slightly deformed ear''.
** From June 17 to July 7, 2011, McDonald's gave away one of twelve Generation V Pokémon trading cards with one of eight toys. However, none of the cards have more than 100 HP or an attack with more than 60 base power.
** From June 17 to July 7, 2011, McDonald's gave away one of twelve Generation V Pokémon trading cards with one of eight toys. However, none of the cards have more than 100 HP or an attack with more than 60 base power.
*** Though most of them can be used for evolving anyway. One can say that blinging out your Emboar or Zoroark deck with holographic McDonald's Tepigs or Zoruas can make it a bit more interesting.
*** Though most of them can be used for evolving anyway. One can say that blinging out your Emboar or Zoroark deck with holographic McDonald's Tepigs or Zoruas can make it a bit more interesting.
*** Relatedly, McDonald's also had a give away of the aforementioned ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' cards. Pretty much all of them were useless at best.
*** Relatedly, McDonald's also had a give away of the aforementioned ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' cards. Pretty much all of them were useless at best.
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* One of the ''[[Mega Man X]]'' games came with a promotional card for Decipher's Mega Man TCG -- a Navi card of X. Unfortunately, this card had no effect, had the exact same stats as another Navi card (Bass), and did not have any added compatibility with any cards in the game. There was nothing you could do with X that you couldn't do just as well (or better) with Bass. And that's ignoring the fact that the card game in question tanked...
* One of the ''[[Mega Man X]]'' games came with a promotional card for Decipher's Mega Man TCG -- a Navi card of X. Unfortunately, this card had no effect, had the exact same stats as another Navi card (Bass), and did not have any added compatibility with any cards in the game. There was nothing you could do with X that you couldn't do just as well (or better) with Bass. And that's ignoring the fact that the card game in question tanked...
* Holiday items in MMORPGs in general will never be given out ever again past a certain date. Among players, these items are worth millions of gold (or whatever the currency is) since they're so rare, but NPCs will only pay one or two coins for them, since they're [[Cool but Inefficient|worthless.]]
* Holiday items in MMORPGs in general will never be given out ever again past a certain date. Among players, these items are worth millions of gold (or whatever the currency is) since they're so rare, but NPCs will only pay one or two coins for them, since they're [[Cool but Inefficient|worthless.]]
** ''[[Eve Online]]'' takes this a step further with its zero-damage Snowball Launchers, released around Christmas: they use special ammo of which each player is given a limited amount, and the snowballs all permanently melt at a set date, rendering the launchers even MORE useless.
** ''[[EVE Online]]'' takes this a step further with its zero-damage Snowball Launchers, released around Christmas: they use special ammo of which each player is given a limited amount, and the snowballs all permanently melt at a set date, rendering the launchers even MORE useless.
*** Believe it or not, players actually found a use for them; fire at an unsuspecting player in high-security space, trick them into returning fire with live ammo, watch CONCORD show up and blow them into oblivion.
*** Believe it or not, players actually found a use for them; fire at an unsuspecting player in high-security space, trick them into returning fire with live ammo, watch CONCORD show up and blow them into oblivion.
** ''[[Air Rivals|Ace Online]]'' holiday items are less useless off-season, averting this trope somewhat:
** ''[[Air Rivals|Ace Online]]'' holiday items are less useless off-season, averting this trope somewhat:
*** Old Valentine's Chocolates are eternally edible, and are between A and B type Shield Kits in effectiveness.
*** Old Valentine's Chocolates are eternally edible, and are between A and B type Shield Kits in effectiveness.
*** Thanksgiving Turkeys have equal amounts of eternal life, and will always provide their 5 minute's 5% buffs.
*** Thanksgiving Turkeys have equal amounts of eternal life, and will always provide their 5 minute's 5% buffs.
*** Christmas 2008, New Year's 2009 and ''Bloody Valentine's 2009'' Present Components, Holographic components, and Broken Valentines will have their recipes permanently effective. The completed presents and Valentine's Event Mystery Capsules can be opened any time, and the Event-exclusive marks will always work as a decoration.
*** Christmas 2008, New Year's 2009 and ''Bloody Valentine's 2009'' Present Components, Holographic components, and Broken Valentines will have their recipes permanently effective. The completed presents and Valentine's Event Mystery Capsules can be opened any time, and the Event-exclusive marks will always work as a decoration.
*** However, leftover event components may play this straight, if the leftovers in the server don't make enough to form one last Event Capsule or Mark.
*** However, leftover event components may play this straight, if the leftovers in the server don't make enough to form one last Event Capsule or Mark.
** ''[[Kingdom of Loathing]]'' plays with this this: Though are many useless holiday and event items, many of them are actually genuinely useful.
** ''[[Kingdom of Loathing]]'' plays with this this: Though are many useless holiday and event items, many of them are actually genuinely useful.
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** The ''Shogun'' and ''Deus Ex'' packs avert when it comes to weapons, which all have unique effects, most of which are at least usable.
** The ''Shogun'' and ''Deus Ex'' packs avert when it comes to weapons, which all have unique effects, most of which are at least usable.
* During the early days [[Neopets]] had began selling real life products (such as plushies, stickers and school supplies, then later trading cards and other toys), most products came with a promotional note or card with Virtual Prize Codes printed on them, which members of the site can enter to gain a free item of some sort. The problem comes in that the item in question is random, with some appearing for almost every Prize Code while others don't appear at all (one of the more common booby prizes being the Scorchio Bank). Nearly all of these items are completely useless for anything other than [[Bragging Rights Reward|to show off]] or to sell, and with how frequently some of these items popped up, it was much easier to shell out a reasonable amount of NP for the item if you really wanted it rather than buy the real merchandise in hopes of getting lucky. They were getting a little better as time went on and more items could be obtained through the Prize Codes, but not by that great of a margin.
* During the early days [[Neopets]] had began selling real life products (such as plushies, stickers and school supplies, then later trading cards and other toys), most products came with a promotional note or card with Virtual Prize Codes printed on them, which members of the site can enter to gain a free item of some sort. The problem comes in that the item in question is random, with some appearing for almost every Prize Code while others don't appear at all (one of the more common booby prizes being the Scorchio Bank). Nearly all of these items are completely useless for anything other than [[Bragging Rights Reward|to show off]] or to sell, and with how frequently some of these items popped up, it was much easier to shell out a reasonable amount of NP for the item if you really wanted it rather than buy the real merchandise in hopes of getting lucky. They were getting a little better as time went on and more items could be obtained through the Prize Codes, but not by that great of a margin.
* ''[[Eve Online]]'' players who purchased the retail box got the Interbus Shuttle, a gold reskin of the Gallente Shuttle with double cargo room. It's still a shuttle, which means it's useless in combat, and even with the extra cargo space it's 1/5 of the cargo a frigate can carry while still being useful in combat. The Apotheosis shuttle given out for the 4th anniversary event has the same problems, but at least it has a cool original model.
* ''[[EVE Online]]'' players who purchased the retail box got the Interbus Shuttle, a gold reskin of the Gallente Shuttle with double cargo room. It's still a shuttle, which means it's useless in combat, and even with the extra cargo space it's 1/5 of the cargo a frigate can carry while still being useful in combat. The Apotheosis shuttle given out for the 4th anniversary event has the same problems, but at least it has a cool original model.
* ''[[Star Pirates]]'' creates items for occasions sometimes. These are generally useful, but not as useful as the scarcity causes the market price to be.
* ''[[Star Pirates]]'' creates items for occasions sometimes. These are generally useful, but not as useful as the scarcity causes the market price to be.
* Some extra-expensive editions of ''[[Titan Quest]]'' came with special codes that you could use to "unlock extra content". The extra content? Certain armor sets that spontaneously appear at your feet. Sets that require you to be level 30 or above... and are ''ridiculously underpowered'' at that level. Looks nice, but... fortunately the codes can be found on the Internet if you want to see what you might've paid good money for.
* Some extra-expensive editions of ''[[Titan Quest]]'' came with special codes that you could use to "unlock extra content". The extra content? Certain armor sets that spontaneously appear at your feet. Sets that require you to be level 30 or above... and are ''ridiculously underpowered'' at that level. Looks nice, but... fortunately the codes can be found on the Internet if you want to see what you might've paid good money for.
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* In the Rage CCG, each set had a few foils in it that came one per booster box or so and ONLY came in foil version. The War of the Amazon set was badly underprinted making its foils exceptionally hard to collect. One of them, the Conquistador's Sword, removed 2 of the other 4 Amazon foils from the game... and that was all it did. Despite being a sword, it couldn't even be used as a weapon! Why it didn't work on the other two Amazon foils is also a mystery...
* In the Rage CCG, each set had a few foils in it that came one per booster box or so and ONLY came in foil version. The War of the Amazon set was badly underprinted making its foils exceptionally hard to collect. One of them, the Conquistador's Sword, removed 2 of the other 4 Amazon foils from the game... and that was all it did. Despite being a sword, it couldn't even be used as a weapon! Why it didn't work on the other two Amazon foils is also a mystery...
* [[Warhammer Fantasy]] and [[Warhammer 40000]] both have promotional figures, mainly for gamesday, magazine subscriptions and other events. Most notably are the figures given out for the White Dwarf subscription and the White Dwarf anniversary figures. While the White Dwarf Anniversary figure (which is a statue of the titular White Dwarf being born upon a shield carried by two other famous dwarves from Warhammer lore) does actually have rules, it was released in a plated gold version (which is valued at one point to be 400 dollars by collectors). This however rendered it illegal for play, since it had no basing and only one color (while you could paint it, you can also buy a white-pewter version just for much less), not to mention its rules were unofficial for tournament games anyhow. White Dwarf subscription models often came on round bases (which made them illegal for fantasy), but are obviously dwarves (which have no rules in 40k ever since the infamous Squats fiasco). Didn't help that they tend to have crossover parts with 40k, making them unsuited for Fantasy Tournament play since you'd either have to convert the model so much that it'll be near-indistinguishable from a standard one or buy a normal model.
* [[Warhammer Fantasy]] and [[Warhammer 40000]] both have promotional figures, mainly for gamesday, magazine subscriptions and other events. Most notably are the figures given out for the White Dwarf subscription and the White Dwarf anniversary figures. While the White Dwarf Anniversary figure (which is a statue of the titular White Dwarf being born upon a shield carried by two other famous dwarves from Warhammer lore) does actually have rules, it was released in a plated gold version (which is valued at one point to be 400 dollars by collectors). This however rendered it illegal for play, since it had no basing and only one color (while you could paint it, you can also buy a white-pewter version just for much less), not to mention its rules were unofficial for tournament games anyhow. White Dwarf subscription models often came on round bases (which made them illegal for fantasy), but are obviously dwarves (which have no rules in 40k ever since the infamous Squats fiasco). Didn't help that they tend to have crossover parts with 40k, making them unsuited for Fantasy Tournament play since you'd either have to convert the model so much that it'll be near-indistinguishable from a standard one or buy a normal model.
** Games Workshop also usually gave out Christmas models to it's higher up employees, and often release in-house rules for these models (most notable is the Ogre Slaver model). However due to the exclusiveness of these models (literally only GW Employees could get them) they are worth quite the premium on the net if they were ever to be sold, but almost no one would have ever heard about their rules (not to mention them being illegal again for tournament play).
** Games Workshop also usually gave out Christmas models to it's higher up employees, and often release in-house rules for these models (most notable is the Ogre Slaver model). However due to the exclusiveness of these models (literally only GW Employees could get them) they are worth quite the premium on the net if they were ever to be sold, but almost no one would have ever heard about their rules (not to mention them being illegal again for tournament play).
* The Baseball Bat in ''[[Left 4 Dead 2]]'' was given to players that pre-ordered the game. While it is a decent melee weapon, it is held back by several factors. One, if a player that obtained the bat plays with people that didn't pre-order the game, the bat is made available to the whole group, which kills the exclusivity of the bat. Two, because all melee weapons have the same killing power and are only differentiated by reach and swing speed, the bat isn't anything special and is basically the same as the Katana with a different skin. Third, The Passing DLC made the bat be open to all players (regardless if they had pre-ordered the game or not) and the weapon no longer spawned at the start of the map.
* The Baseball Bat in ''[[Left 4 Dead 2]]'' was given to players that pre-ordered the game. While it is a decent melee weapon, it is held back by several factors. One, if a player that obtained the bat plays with people that didn't pre-order the game, the bat is made available to the whole group, which kills the exclusivity of the bat. Two, because all melee weapons have the same killing power and are only differentiated by reach and swing speed, the bat isn't anything special and is basically the same as the Katana with a different skin. Third, The Passing DLC made the bat be open to all players (regardless if they had pre-ordered the game or not) and the weapon no longer spawned at the start of the map.


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