From Temple of Ra / HOUDINI Magazine (July 2024) – a conversation with the organizer who built Atlanta's Goat Format community from the ground up.
HOUDINI: Who are you, and how'd you end up making waves in the Atlanta Goat scene?
Kerem:
I have been a long-time Yu-Gi-Oh player who really fell in love with Goat format. There hadn't been a GOAT scene in Atlanta since probably the SJC days, so I took it upon myself to build one. I tried initially with local stores, but none were open to the idea. So, I contacted my now-venue host, Charlie of Charlie's Collectible Show, and he has provided me with a top-tier venue to host premier tournaments.
HOUDINI: If someone's never heard of Goat format, how would you sell it to them? What makes it its own beast compared to modern Yu-Gi-Oh?
Kerem:
It is PEAK Yu-Gi-Oh to me. There are only a few handful of formats that pique my interest, let alone the player base interested in past formats. It plays like a finely tuned machine, with intense nuances that may initially deter newcomers. However, sticking with it, growing with the game, its competitive sphere, and learning the ins and outs of the format are some of the most rewarding things.
Modern's issue is that the formats are so unhealthy generally that they push out players constantly—players who inevitably come back to the game later on. There's too much going on, and the matchups feel more like solitaire than a game of deck-building.
Battle Ox
A monster with tremendous power, it destroys enemies with a swing of its axe.
HOUDINI: Out of all the games and formats out there, what pulled you into Goat? What's the spark?
Kerem:
GOAT is pure nostalgia that dragged me in. I was sick and tired of modern and the short games. GOAT offered a balance of:
HOUDINI: These days, everything's online—but in-person events still hit different. What's the magic of IRL tournaments, and why's it worth putting in the work?
Kerem:
I don't know if it's worth putting in the work necessarily, but the rewarding thing is hanging out in a space you built—for others with similar interests to come together and compete.
HOUDINI: Atlanta's got this long history of subcultures—music, art, gaming, you name it. Do you think the Goat scene here taps into that vibe? How does it fit into the city's cultural DNA?
Kerem:
There is a sense of pride that fills Atlanta. The pride and egos of Atlanta and its players drive this. It creates a unique experience of rivalries and drama that fills the air at these events, leading to exciting outcomes and storylines.
Enraged Battle Ox
If a Beast, Beast-Warrior, or Winged Beast-Type monster you control attacks a Defense Position monster, inflict piercing battle damage to your opponent.
HOUDINI: Running events without big corporate dollars backing you can't be easy. How do you keep it all going?
Kerem:
Honestly, just barely. Everything falls upon my shoulders at the end of the day. The thing that drives me, again, is the community.
HOUDINI: In a grassroots scene like this, where the community holds it all together, what's been the biggest challenge for you as an organizer? How have you worked through it?
Kerem:
Appeasing players. There's a fine line to walk—there are players who will always support you and show appreciation, and then there are those who try to be the most vocal and bring you down. A lot of people just don't want to see others succeed and revel in praying on others' downfalls. With anything, you have to block out those trying to bring you down and surround yourself with a core of players who believe in you and your vision.
Rabid Horseman
FUSION: "Battle Ox" + "Mystic Horseman"
HOUDINI: If someone's never checked out the Atlanta Goat scene, why should they? What's waiting for them if they show up?
Kerem:
Because we offer the most and best when it comes to:
We're a destination for players, even collecting a lot of outside travelers who make the pilgrimage to compete in Atlanta.