We sat down with Micah Lewis, better known as EastML online. His channel boasts a modest 5k subs at the time of writing, and is the go to place for results compilation and data on the eastern format of the game, which is approximately two to three releases ahead. The interview has been edited for brevity. Full video interview linked below.
How and when did you start playing Digimon?
I started in Japan. When the whole lockdown happened, I was like for some reason “you know what I haven’t done in like ten years? Play a card game.” I think that [was] the third or second set release. I picked it up because, brand recognition, I’ve seen Agumon before, from when I was a kid, and I see it again, so I tried it out. And also it was dirt cheap in Japan. Like, starter decks were less than 5 bucks. Its stupid cheap, I cannot stress that point enough. One of the reasons its so easy to pick up and play and people like to try it out is because the barrier to entry is so low.
We asked EastML the differences between Eastern and Western Digimon TCG
The group that plays the game here in Akihabara, they’re really kind hearted, really great people but they’re also very serious about [the game]. Even when a new person comes up, they’ll never outright trash a deck. I don’t want to cast shade on an entire half of the globe but I feel like in the west, the ‘sweats’ are a little too sweaty… The guys that I know, they’ll sit down and purposefully drag the game out so that [new players] learn how to play the game.
How long does it take to make the average EastML Digimon Video?
[Laughs] My goal every time I make a video is to make something new. Most of that is done through editing. And so my editing process is a little bit longer than most people’s. I have a series that covers the weekly results for Japan and Asia. And those videos are typically about anywhere from 7 to 10 minutes long, and that’s about 5 hours. From start to finish.
Collecting the Data
Writing the storylines
Finding a good deck to talk about
Actually recording
Editing
Do you feel there’s a gap in Digimon Content Creation?
I think so. Match videos, Deck profiles, even the stuff I do – the meta reports, market stuff is pretty simple to do. But its only interesting to the people that are really in the scene. The biggest hole that’s left open is for people that just want to have fun with the game. Its hard because you have to think outside of the box, but I think that’s the biggest gap right now. You need sorts of content where people be a little fly on the wall. Tolarian college have a couple of friends that just get together and play a game, its just them having a conversation, messing around and playing Magic at the same time. Its just fun whether you’re heavily invested in Magic or maybe just once or twice a month go out to a local, I feel like everybody can enjoy that kind of thing.
What Digimon would you like to see added to the Digimon TCG?
Tentomon. The game has over 40 Agumon cards. As of the most recent set out right now in Japan, not [BT15], there’s 3 Tentomons.
If you could Unban, Limit to 1, and completely ban a card from the TCG, what would they be?
Unban
BT6-015 SaviorHuckmon. No doubts about it, power creep.
Limit to 1
The Training Cards. It turns out when you spend 2 memory to finish my turn, search 2 and add a card of the color, then the turn get back the 2 memory – that’s kinda strong. If you put all these to 1 it takes out a lot of the problematic OTKs.
Ban
That’s tough, man. If it was out now, it would probably be Apocalymon. Having to choose a card that’s actually in the game, I’m sorry FenrirLoogamon but you gotta go.
Full Video and Socials
Micah can be found on Twitter and YouTube.
Video 50 minute interview below.
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