 WIZARDS
PLAY NETWORK GROWS…Wizards of the Coast has announced
it has registered over 138,500 active players for Magic: The
Gathering on it’s Wizards Play Network. The term “active
player” is designated as one who has registered for a DCI-sanctioned
tournament in the previous 12 months. This new system was put
in place last June to streamline the tournament organization
process using new digital technology and resources. The
Wizards Play Network has added new formats to the list of
officially recognized tournaments and places a greater
emphasis on grassroots tournament organization. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
051509 |
 HEROCLIX
STILL DEAD…In the last month Topps has been close to
finalizing deals to sell off their WizKids’ assets to either
Pinata Games or Catalyst Games. However, in both cases the
potential sale has fallen through due to financing issues on
the part of each of these buyers. With these two gaming
companies now apparently out of the bidding, negotiations are
expected to pick up with other companies that had been
“outbid” for the property to date. But it would be tough to
close any possible deal in time for any company to get out new
product by this summer or to capitalize on Gen Con. The
“Hammer of Thor” set was the next scheduled product release
last fall before Topps pulled the plug on the line. In order
to keep interest in the product, Topps may opt to release
“Thor” themselves for this summer. This would be done not to
restart the line but to keep interest in the ‘Clix line alive
for a possible future sale to a prospective buyer. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Various Sources |
Posted:
041509 |
 BLEACH
CCG'S DEAD…Score Entertainment has announced the
cancellation of its planned Bleach Trading Card Game:
Infiltration launch. With card sales dropping an estimated
26.5% so far this year, Donruss was purchased by Panini
America, Inc. last week. Unfortunately, Score Entertainment,
the TCG division of Donruss Playoff, LP, was not part of the
Donruss assets purchased by Panini As a result, the upcoming
Bleach Infiltration TCG launch will be cancelled. The Bleach
TCG Infiltration expansion was supposed to have been released
in March. Score Entertainment produced a number of trading
card games, most of which, like its Bleach, DBZ, Inuyasha,
Case Closed, Sonic X, and Yu Yu Hakusho games, were based on
anime/manga properties. Score Entertainment also created the
Buffy the Vampire Slayer CCG, the Epic Battles TCG, and
Afterworld. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
040709 |
 NO
WARCRAFT UNTIL 2010…Blizzard and Legendary Pictures'
feature film adaptation of the Warcraft franchise isn't likely
to arrive next year as was previously announced. Blizzard
president Mike Morhaime told Shack News that "I don't know
about the 2009 start date, but it is still something we are
very excited about. We do have a draft of a script, it isn't
final. I think we still need to do a lot of work." A week
later Blizzard rep Frank Pearce announced to MTV News hat
writers are currently being sought for the movie: "Legendary
Pictures is currently trying to assign some names to write the
screenplay and find someone to direct it, so it's still really
early in production. They want to make sure they get the right
talent for those different parts, especially the screenwriting
because that's the foundation for the movie." As to the format
of the film he told the site that the film is likely to be
live action instead of CGI due to the amount of time it would
take to do the animation. |
|
Submitted by: Larry "Bocepheus" Evans
Source: MTV News |
Posted:
033109 |
 A
ZENDIKAR AUTUMN...Wizards of the Coast has revealed the
name and some background information on its October 249-card
large set for Magic The Gathering: Zendikar . It will have a
street date of October 2nd, with pre-release events planned
for September 26-27, and launch parties on October 2-4.
Zendikar’s lead designer is Mark Rosewater, with Doug Beyer,
Graeme Hopkins, Kenneth Nagle and Matt Place on the team.
Henry Stern is the lead developer, with Aaron Forsythe, Mark
Globus, Erik Lauer, Devin Low, Matt Place, Mike Turian, and
Steve Warner on the team. The tag line for Zendikar will be:
“Deadly Perils, Priceless Treasures” and look for it here at
the store in the early Fall. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
032609 |
 LEGION
ON THE MARCH...Upper Deck will be rolling out major
promotional tour behind its World of Warcraft TCG. The "March
of the Legion" Tour events will be hosted at a limited number
of local hobby/comic stores across the U.S. beginning in
April. These events will feature players going up against
Upper Deck "Legionnaires," in competition for exclusive
prizes. Legionnaires will be drawn from Upper Deck's WoW TCG
research and development and organized play teams. Players who
beat a Legionnaire will win a Varimathras Extended Art card
and a Leeroy Jenkins t-shirt. All participants will receive a
new Weeble Extended Art card from the March of the Legion set.
Five events will be held in each of six different areas around
the country and stores will be chosen based on the strength of
the existing WoW TCG organized play base. Upper Deck plans
marketing and outreach programs to publicize the tour, and
Legionnaires will blog about each event as they take place. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 032508 |
 MAPLE
THE THIRD...Wizards of the Coast will release the third
set for the MapleStory iTCG this spring. Last November WotC,
in partnership with Nexon America, launched the MapleStory
Internet Trading Card Game, which is based on Nexon's popular
2D MapleStory MMORPG. The MapleStory MMORPG is free to play,
but players can buy character and game enhancements at online
shops. WotC's MapleStory iTCG includes special cards with
exclusive codes that can be redeemed online for virtual goods
that can be used in the MapleStory MMORPG. Each nine-card
MapleStory P3TS booster pack contains an online code card. The
P3TS Booster Packs are available in both booster displays and
in single boosters that are blister-packed. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 032508 |
 23
MILLION? A MERE BAG OF SHELLS...4Kids released
its fiscal 2007 end of year report last week and the news was
not exactly rosey. In the 4th quarter of 2007 they lost $16.8
million, vs. a $2.3 million loss in same quarter of 2006. For
the year, 4Kids' loss was $23.3 million vs. a loss of $1
million in 2006. Overall sales dropped from $71.8 million in
2006 to $55.6 million in 2007. 4Kids reported that $7.8
million of its 2007 loss was attributable to launch costs of
the Chaotic TCG and Chaotic Website. In spite of this
the Chaotic launch is seen as a positive for 2008 and beyond.
The TCG is now in over 15,000 outlets, and reorders are being
received from many of these retailers. TV ratings for the
Chaotic animated show are also improving, with Chaotic being
the top Saturday morning show on broadcast TV for boys 6-11 in
two of the last three weeks. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 032508 |
 HOLY
CROSS PROMOTION...Hoping to cash in on this summer's
Batman flick, WizKids will release a DC HeroClix: Batman
Four-Figure Booster on June 4th. The window box will display
one of four Batman figures, with three other figures hidden.
The 30-figure set will include Batman allies such as Robin and
Commissioner Gordon, and villains such as Joker and Two-Face.
The boosters will also include four character cards, a fully
playable Gotham City map section (two sections can be used
together for a huge play map), rules sheet, and two dice. The
booster set will have an MSRP of $9.99. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: WizKids |
Posted: 031708 |
|
THE
CHAOS GROWS...The second installment in the Chaotic
Trading Card Game, Zenith of the Hive Boosters, is set to ship
in late March and 4Kids Entertainment has announced the
next Chaotic release, Silent Sands Booster Set 3, which will
ship to hobby/comic shops in May and to the mass market in
June. As with Zenith of the Hive, Silent Sands Booster packs
will have an MSRP of $3.99, and like Zenith, the Silent Sands
expansion will add 100 new cards to the game, thus opening up
countless new deck possibilities. The Silent Sands Booster set
will include 35 new Creatures, 30 new Attacks, 15 new Mugic
cards, 10 new Locations, and 10 new Battlegear cards. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 031708 |
 NO
BALLS ON THIS DRAGON...20th Century Fox has announced
that it is moving the premiere of the live action Dragonball
movie from August 15th, 2008 to April 3rd, 2009. A number of
films are slated to open on August 15th, most notably the Star
Wars: The Clone Wars animated feature, which would compete
directly for the same youthful demographic that would be
attracted to the live action Dragonball. So far the Dragonball
movie has no announced competition on its April 3rd, 2009 date
and should do much better in this slot with so few genre films
currently slated for next year. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Variety |
Posted: 031708 |
|
WotC
GETS A NEW PREZ... Loren Greenwood is stepping down as
President and CEO of Wizards of the Coast and leaving the
company on March 21st. Greg Leeds, who has headed Hasbro's
international marketing for the past seven years, is moving to
Wizards of the Coast headquarters in Renton Washington and
assuming the presidency of WotC. Prior to developing Hasbro's
global brand management methodology as head of International
Marketing, Leeds headed up Hasbro's Boys group. Greenwood, who
joined WotC in 1996 well before the Hasbro takeover, was named
President in April of 2004. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Various Sources |
Posted: 031708 |
 YOUR
TICKET IS IN THE CARDS….Days of Wonder has announced
the May release of a Ticket to Ride Card Game. Designed by
Alan R. Moon, who designed the original Ticket to Ride board
game, the Ticket to Ride Card Game (MSRP $25.00) is a
stand-alone game that offers several twists on the original
board game that should have aficionados of that game excited
about purchasing the card game. In the card game players work
to collect sets of illustrated Train cards, which can be used
to complete Destination Tickets, but before the Train cards
can be used, players face the prospect of "train-robbing,"
where another player can force them to give up their
hard-earned cards. The Ticket to Ride Card Game was designed
for 2-4 players, ages 8 and up -- and it can be played in 30
minutes. The deluxe full color box includes 96 Train cards, 6
Big Cities Bonus cards, 46 Destination Tickets, and a rule
book. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 030608 |
 AEG'S
NEW WARLORD...AEG has
signed a long term deal with PHOENIX Interactive GmbH to
publish and support the Warlord CCG. PHOENIX president Arne
Reuter was in large part responsible for the surge of player
interest in Warlord in Europe over the years. He plays host to
the largest Warlord event each year, KoHiT, which draws
hundreds of players from around the world. “Arne has put
together a good team and good plan for moving forward with
Warlord,” said Brent Keith, Lead Game Designer for AEG. “Arne
has already proven to have a very deep love for the product
and property as well as the tools to build a strong, well
supported customer base. We at AEG believe there is no better
home for the game.” The official transfer of data and
information will happen during this month. From now until end
of June AEG will continue to send out support and event kits,
and will work closely with PHOENIX Interactive GmbH to give
them all the tools they need for a successful re-launch of the
Warlord game. John Zinser, President of AEG, added “This deal
represents more than just a good business for AEG. It is also
an opportunity for me, as a fan of Warlord, to enjoy the game
as a player and not a publisher. This may not sound like much,
but publishing your favorite game and playing your favorite
game are very different things. I look forward to sitting on
the other side of the table, dice in hand, just for fun.” |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: AEG |
Posted: 022408 |
 NARUTO
STAGGERS THE CHOSEN...Bandai
has announced a staggered release for its Naruto CCG Set 9:
The Chosen: The Chosen Theme Decks will hit retail on April
25th, while the Boosters will follow a month later on May
23rd. The Chosen reprints some of the best cards from the
first five Naruto CCG releases, which makes it an excellent
"jumping on point" for new players and Bandai will be running
a special new player organized play promotion, "Ninja Academy
Open Enrollment," during the one-month gap between the release
of the Theme Decks and Boosters |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 022408 |
 YUGIOH
ON CN ALL WEEK...Starting
tomorrow (022508) on Cartoon Network, Upper Deck's new TV
commercials for its upcoming Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG release Phantom
Darkness will add a special interactive Internet dimension.
Upper Deck will be running a 30-second spot throughout the
week that will feature a live action actor revealing "how to
Duel" tips and urging viewers to log on to the Carton Network
Website and play a memory game that uses cards from the
Phantom Darkness expansion. The memory game, which involves
matching various Phantom Darkness card images, will have three
levels of difficulty and each time a player completes one
level, he or she will receive additional Dueling tips. The
Phantom Darkness memory game will also be promoted via banner
ads on the Cartoon Network Website. With 100 new cards the
Phantom Darkness booster set is the largest Yu-Gi-Oh! set in
years, and it contains the elusive "Ghost Rare" 3D card. The
Phantom Darkness expansion sold out at the manufacturer last
week. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 022408 |
 GIRLS
LOVE HORSES AND NATIVE CULTURE...Hidden
City Games is preparing to release of its fifth series of
cards for its Bella Sara Trading Card Game: Native Lights The
series includes 72 new cards (45 regular horse cards, 10 rare
energy cards, and 17 extra-rare shiny horse cards) and the
series pays tribute to Native Americans and Native American
culture. Hidden City was assisted by consultant Tom Grayson
Colonnese, chair of the American Indian Studies Department of
the University of Washington and a member of the Santee Sioux
Nation, who noted that: "Bella Sara Native Lights represents
Native American stories, images and traditions in a
responsible and sensitive manner." As with previous Bella Sara
sets, the horse cards in the Native Lights set include
computer codes that allow customers to activate their equines
online at the Bella Sara Website, but for the first time in
the Bella Sara TCG, the Native Lights horses and their
corresponding virtual horses come with companion animals that
function as guides and friends and are linked to the spirit of
nature and to the horse. New horses in Native Lights set
include many which are named after Native American tribes such
as Osage, Chumash, Cheyenne, Navajo, Apache, Comanche, Mohawk
and Shawnee, plus updated versions of the iconic Bella Sara
horses such as Bella, Fiona, Jewel, and Thunder. Each Native
Lights pack (MSRP $2.99) includes seven randomly-packed horse
or energy cards. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Bella Sara |
Posted: 022408 |
 GONE
BEFORE IT GETS HERE...Bandai America has announced that
the soon to be released Naruto CCG release, Naruto Series 8:
Battle of Destiny, has sold out at the manufacturer level well
before its comic book and hobby street date of January 25th ,
(although there may still be product available at the
distributor level.) Boosters from this series will also be
available in the Secrets of Masters Collectible Tins streeting
in February. Bandai has indicated that it will not reprint
this series, so what’s out there at release may be all there
will be. James Takenaka, Bandai’s National Hobby Sales Manager
said: "We apologize for the inconvenience but we are pleased
with the fact that Naruto CCG sales have increased from the
pre-Christmas time period." Bandai will be supporting the
release of Naruto Series 8 with television advertising on both
the Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon during February and March.
The February advertising campaign, which will run from the 7th
through 21st, will promote Naruto CCG Series 8: Battle of
Destiny booster packs, which street at comic book and hobby
shops on January 25th. Then in March from the 1st through
23rd, a new set of will run for Naruto CCG: Secrets of the
Masters Collectible Tins, which street in comic book and hobby
shops on February 22nd. The tins will be available in three
configurations for the tin and promo cards: Naruto Uzumaki &
Jiraiya, Rock Lee & Might Guy, and Sasuke Uchiha & Kakashi
Hataki. Each of the three will include one Series 1 booster
pack, one Series 2 booster pack, and two Series 8 booster
packs. Each tin will come with a different set of three
Preview Cards of Series 9, The Chosen. MSRP will be
$14.99.“Battle of Destiny“ is the eighth release for the
Naruto CCG and introduces 141 new cards. This set is a
combination of cards from the original Japanese sets and U.S.
exclusives. Series 8: Battle of Destiny covers the destined
battle between Naruto and Sasuke where they each learn to
access their “Special Power”. Also, this set includes all the
Four Sound Ninja and Kimimaro in their State 2 Forms with all
of their powerful Jutsus. New versions of your favorite
characters such as Gaara, Kakashi, Sakura Jiraiya, etc. make
this another powerful set. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Bandai |
Posted: 012108 |
|
GEOFFREY'S
CHAOTIC....4Kids Entertainment has announced that on
Tuesday, January 8th, 500 hundred Toys "R" Us stores began
selling the Chaotic Trading Card Game: Dawn of Perim boosters
and starters. After launching in the comic/hobby market back
on October 24th, 4Kids expanded the distribution of the
Chaotic TCG to F.Y.E. specialty stores in December. Toys "R"
Us is the first mass market chain to receive the game, which
has an Internet component and is backed by an animated series
that airs on 4Kids' Saturday morning block carried on the Fox
TV network. In addition to carrying the Chaotic TCG, Toys "R"
Us is setting up a dedicated Chaotic TCG boutique at its
flagship Times Square store where kids will be able to learn
about and actually play the game. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 012108 |
 ORDER
66 IN MARCH...WizKids has announced that the next Star
Wars PocketModel TCG release will be Star Wars: Order 66,
which will street this March. The set will include over 40
PocketModels and 60 cards, and for the first time will include
details with which players can customize their fleets with
faction-specific symbols and striping. In addition to
boosters, the release will also include Elite Assault theme
decks, which will include 30-card pre-constructed decks, eight
alternate-art PocketModels, strategy guide, set checklist and
decal sheet. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 012108 |
 SLIDE
YOUR CARD ACROSS THE TABLE AND GO ZOOM...Imagination
Entertainment will release the first series of cards for the
Need for Speed TCG in February 2008. The game will adapt the
action of the Electronic Arts Need for Speed videogames into a
two-or-more player trading card game duel in which each player
uses his own car (card) and racing deck. Each car is rated for
"acceleration," "handling," and "top speed". Additionally,
players face tactical challenges throughout the game that copy
those in the Need for Speed videogames. The first Need for
Speed release contains 148 cards and will be released in
Starters (2 pre-constructed decks, and a rulebook), Theme
decks (3 different pre-constructed 43-card decks), Booster
Packs (containing 15 cards in varying degrees of rarity), and
Pennyboosters containing 5 cards). Imagination has set up a
cross-promotion with Electronic Arts, which will include
sample TCG cards in its Need for Speed video releases. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted: 012108 |
 YOU'RE
ABOUT TO HAVE A GREAT ENCOUNTER....Pokemon USA
has announced its next Pokemon TCG expansion, Pokemon Diamond
& Pearl: Great Encounters, which will street on February 13th.
The 100-card set will be sold in three 60-card theme decks
(Eternal Time, Endless Night, and Infinite Space), each with a
unique coin, updated rulebook, card list, one-player playmat,
and damage counters. Ten card booster packs will retail for
$3.79.Look for pre-release tournaments on the weekends of
February 2nd and 3rd, and February 9th and 10th. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Diamond Distribution |
Posted: 012108 |
 IT'S MAGIC
TIME...Wizard's of the Coast Has made a series of
announcements over the last few weeks concerning their
products and game procedures.
RULES CHANGE...Wizards of
the Coast has announced that beginning December 20th, 2007
all new Magic the Gathering releases will be legal for
Constructed play on the day of the product's release. The
new policy replaces the previous strictures under which new
cards would not become legal until the 20th of the month
following their release. The first new set to be affected by
this change will be Morningtide, which will be legal for
Constructed play on its release February 1st, 2008.
CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT...Wizards
of the Coast will host its Magic: The Gathering World
Championships December 6th (today) through 9th at the Javits
Center in New York City, during New York Anime Festival.
Magic players from around the world will attend for not only
the Championships, but also the annual Hall of Fame
induction ceremony, games demos, and public events all four
days. With both events at the Javits on the same weekend,
fans will get an opportunity to sample related hobbies. The
Magic World Championships are free; NYAF has an admission
charge.
A NEW PORTAL...It may sound
like the return of Portal but never the less Wizards of the
Coast is once again making an effort to reach out to more
casual gamers for Magic: The Gathering through the release
of its first deck product and a casual gamer event program.
The Tribal Wars Open Play Promotion launched December 1st
and will run until January 3rd. The appeal of Tribal Wars is
that you can play anytime, there are no rounds, no keeping
track of losses, no net-decks and no stress. Player's decks
will have to include one of Lorwyn's eight tribes from
Standard legal sets. At least 1/3 of the deck must have the
creature type from the tribe the player chooses. Players
will also be able to download flags, posters, insignia and
other materials from the WotC site to show their tribe
affiliations. Tribal Wars comes in a Duel Decks format which
is a first for WotC. For $19.99, purchasers will get two
60-card theme decks, one elf and one goblin. The set will
also include two exclusive alternate art premium cards:
Siege-Gang Commander (goblin) and Ambush. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
 TOP
TEN...ICV2 recently released their top TOP TEN list
for CCG’s and TOP FIVE for CMG’s and other miniatures games.
Here’s what’s hot in the market right now:
TOP TEN CCGs
1. Pokemon
2. Yu-Gi-Oh!
3. Magic: The Gathering
4. Naruto
5. World of Warcraft CCG
6. Star Wars Pocket Model
7. Legends of the Five Rings
8. Universal Fighting System
9. Bella Sara
10. Bleach
TOP FIVE CMGs
1. ActionClix
2. Dungeon and Dragons
3. HeroClix
4. Star Wars Miniature Game
5. Pirates
TOP FIVE NON-COLLECTABLE MINIATURE
GAMES
1. Warhammer 40,000
2. Warmachine
3. Hordes
4. AT-43
5. BattleTech |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
 THE
PREQUEL, PART ONE...Tenacious Games will release
Seed: Children of the Lingamorph, on December 11th for the
Spoils Tournament Card Game. This is the first release in a
3-part standalone expansion and this latest set is actually
a prequel to Spoils First Edition Parts 1 & 2. This new
release takes place a hundred and fifty years before the
events depicted in the First Edition prior to the founding
of voidal science and the rise of micromajigs.. The Seed:
COTL will be available in 13-card Booster Packs (MSRP
$4.00), 53-card Pre-constructed Decks ($8.00), and 69-card
Competition Packs ($13.00). |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: Upper Deck |
Posted:
120607 |
|
SOUNDS
LIKE A BOOK FOR A COFFEE TABLE...In January Upper
Deck and Blizzard Entertainment will publish “World of
Warcraft: The Art of Trading Card Game” (SRP:$50.00), a
lavish 288-page compendium of art created for the WoW TCG,
including contributions from Todd McFarlane (Spawn) Greg
Staples (Judge Dredd), Zoltan Boros and Gabor Szikszai (InQuest
Gamer's "Artists of the Year"), Marcelo Vignali (Disney
Animation), and Todd Lockwood (Forgotten Realms). Chronicle
Books is publishing the 11" x 9" hardcover, which will
include 300 full color art pieces specifically created for
the WoW TCG. Blizzard Entertainment's Senior Art Director
Samwise Didier and Art Leader Glenn Rune each provide
forewords for the deluxe volume, which also includes an
introduction by Upper Deck's Art Acquisitions Manager,
Jeremy Cranford. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
 SHOULDN'T
THEY CALL IT MARVEL ADVENTURES...On April of 2008
Upper Deck Entertainment will release the Marvel Ultimate
Battles Trading Card Game, a new multi-player superhero card
game designed especially for kids. The initial series of
Marvel Ultimate Battles includes 165 cards. Two 48-pack
Starter Sets, one themed around Iron Man and one based on
The Hulk, will be available and each Starter Set will come
with an Ultimate Rare card, a fold-out playmat, and a
rulebook. The release will also include nine-card booster
packs that will include common, rare, and Ultimate Rare
cards. The first series will contain all the major Marvel
superheroes including Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and
Iron Man. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
 END
OF AN ERA...Comic
Images has announced that it will cease publication of the
Raw Deal TCG as of December 31, 2007. According to the
announcement, this was a mutual decision by WWE and Comic
Images, and was based on declining interest in Raw Deal.
Comic Images has been publishing Raw Deal for over seven
years. While it didn't sell in all stores (depending on the
clientele), for a significant subset of hobby stores it was
a steady, predictable seller for much of that time. That
type of longevity is extremely rare in the TCG business,
where new games can come and go in a year or two. In its
announcement, Comic Images thanked WWE, its retailers and
distributors, devlopers, playtesters, and players that made
it such a success for that long period. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
|
LIVE
ACTION SPEED LINES...Twentieth Century Fox is moving
ahead with the production of a live action Dragonball movie.
Justin Chatwin (who played Tom Cruise's disaffected teenage
son in War of the Worlds) is already in training with the
stunt performance company 87Eleven (The Matrix, 300, The
Bourne Supremacy) for the role of Goku, while James Marsters
(Spike on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will portray the
villainous Piccolo. James Wong (a writer/exec on the
X-Files) is directing with Stephen Chow (Kung Fu Hustle,
Shaolin Soccer) producing. Production is slated to begin
later this year with the goal of an August 15th, 2008
release. Akira Toriyama's Dragonball is Japan's most
successful cultural export of all time -- it has generated
more than $4 billion in merchandising sales. More than a
decade after DBZ's first home video release in the U.S.,
FUNimation's Dragonball Z Season Sets are still among the
top 5 anime releases of the year. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman" Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
120607 |
|
WoW
IN YOUR FUTURE...On
November 21st Upper Deck Entertainment releases the “March
of the Legion” Expansion
for the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game. Designed to be
the perfect vehicle for players to collect strong cards for
deck building, The “March” release, which features the Aldor
and Scryer subfactions, new keywords and demonic allies,
includes both Starters and the new 19-card Booster Packs,
which will have the same SRP but will contain four more
cards than the previously standard 15-card packs. The new
19-card configuration, which includes three extra common
cards and one uncommon, will be featured in all World of
Warcraft expansions released in the future. The bigger packs
also provide consumers with more opportunities to acquire
the set's three new randomly inserted “Loot” cards that give
players access to unique World of Warcraft online in-game
items. The "Loot" cards include a Paper Airplane card, a
Robotic Homing Chicken card, and a Kiting card all of which
will provide players increased opportunities to collect any
or all of the three new cards that not only can play a
powerful role in the trading card game, but which also
provide players with useful and fun perks in the online
World of Warcraft game. Then in April 2008 Upper Deck will
release the fifth expansion of the World of Warcraft Trading
Card Game “Servants of the Betrayer”. This will be a
boosters-only edition and feature the same 19-card booster
pack configuration and each pack will include three
additional common cards and one uncommon card. In addition
to the 19 playable game cards, booster packs will also
contain one UDE Points card (players can amass points and
trade them in for special TCG cards, promo materials, and
distinct upgrades for online characters). The “Servants” set
will feature all new content and introduces sub-factions, a
new type of allies as well as unreleased abilities for
players' decks. The new set also includes new uniquely-coded
Loot cards that provide players with upgrades to their
characters in the online version of the game. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: Upper Deck |
Posted:
111507 |
|
YOUR
AVATAR WILL SMILE...In
related news Upper Deck announced that it is providing World
of Warcraft TCG players with another way to step up their
game with a new "Crafting Redemption Program." Using a
mechanism that parellels what players can do in the WoW
online game, Upper Deck is allowing players to collect
various "crafting materials" that can be combined (according
to special recipes) and then redeemed for exclusive
equipment that can be used in the trading card game such as
Netherdrake Gloves, a Felsteel Reaper, or the Girdle of
Ruination. Upper Deck began inserting crafting materials in
the recently-released Fires of Outland expansion and UDE has
posted five different recipes for Fires of Outland, with
each recipe requiring 20-30 crafting materials cards.
Players can find one of twelve different crafting materials
featured on the redesigned UDE Points cards that are
included in every WoW TCG booster pack. Upper Deck has
retired the Pirates and Ninjas mini-game that was previously
found on the UDE Points cards. From now on new crafting
materials will be featured in every booster pack and new
recipes will be posted. WoW TCG players can start crafting
their recipes now and will be able to redeem their cards in
November. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
111507 |
|
WoW
TOURNAMENT NEWS...Upper
Deck will be hosting the World of Warcraft TCG World
Championships in San Diego beginning November 30th. The
winner of the tournament will receive a $100,000 check, the
largest tournament payout in TCG tournament history. Other
winners will receive $25,000 for second place, $10,000 each
for third and fourth place, and lower amounts out to $1000
each for the #17 through the #100 ranked player at the
event. The event will also include Upper Deck's popular
Darkmoon Faire, which replicates the traveling carnival from
the MMORPG. It will include over 20 tournaments throughout
the weekend. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: Upper Deck |
Posted:
111507 |
|
WHAT
ABOUT PIKACHU....Pokemon
USA has begun its 2007-2008 organized play season, which
will run until next August with the Pokemon TCG World
Championship event. There will be four pre-release events
over the course of the year beginning with City
Championships beginning November 23rd, followed by
State/Province Championships in March, Regional
Championships in April, Battle Road Tournaments, and
National Championships in the second quarter of 2008 with it
all leading up to the World Championship event. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: Go-Pokemon |
Posted:
111507 |
 WELL
IT IS A WORLD WIDE WEB…The
number one online fantasy card game in Japan is Alteil and
Media Blasters and Dex Entertainment have created an
American version. The game features a continuously expanding
storyline and uses virtual cards representing characters and
spells to create a hybrid that combines elements of a
Japanese fantasy RPG with elements of a dueling card game.
Alteil is 100% Web-driven and is free to play, though
players can purchase cards to augment their free starter
set. Media Blasters plans to launch the Alteil game in the
spring of 2008 at which time online card packs will be
available for purchase The entirely "virtual" Alteil cards
feature art from leading Japanese illustraitors including:
Katsuya Terada (Hellboy, Tekken 5) and Hitoshi Yoneda (Phantasy
Star, Xanadu II). |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
111507 |
|
CHAOTIC
FINALLY OUT...4Kids
Entertainment shipped out the first wave of the Chaotic
Trading Card Game on October 24th to hobby and comic shops
only (the mass market will not receive shipments of the game
until early 2008). The release of the delayed game coincides
with the launching of the public beta version of the Chaotic
Online Game Experience Website. The Chaotic TCG was designed
from the very beginning with a crucial online component and
has more interactive elements than other TCGs. The reasons
for the delays in the launching of the game have almost
entirely to do with getting the Website ready for the
onslaught of interactivity that should follow the launch of
the game. The Chaotic TCG will be released in the
traditional starters and boosters format with two starter
decks, Chaotic OverWorld: The Dawn of Perim and Chaotic
UnderWorld: The Dawn of Perim, as well as The Dawn of Perim:
Secrets Booster Packs. The pre-constructed Starter Decks (MSPR
$13.99) contain 52 cards including 6 creature cards, 6
battle gear cards, 6 Mugic cards, 10 location cards, 20
attack cards, 4 rare chase foil cards, a Bonus Tin card and
a Master Upload card plus a rule book and a battleboard. The
nine-card Booster Packs ($3.99) include 7 common cards and 2
rare foil cards. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: 4Kids Entertainment |
Posted:
111507 |
|
BECAUSE
HORSES ARE LIKE CRACK TO LITTLE GIRLS...On
October 15th Hidden City Games began its third series of
national TV advertising behind the Bella Sara trading card
game. This series of ads supports the “Ancient Lights”
expansion and will run through the end of December on
Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, ABC Family, Toon Disney, and
YTV in Canada. Hidden City ran two earlier series of TV ads:
March 12th to June 10th ads ran supporting the launch
product and from July 15th to September 30th, ads supporting
the “Northern Lights” also ran on Cartoon Network,
Nickelodeon, and ABC Family. The company attributes the TV
advertising, in-store retail incentives and an updated
retail locator for helping the Bella Sara Website top 1
million active users in September. To pay for these and
future commercials Peter Adkison's Hidden City Games has
raised $15 million in venture capital to develop the
potential of its Bella Sara collectible card game for girls.
Two California firms, Rustic Canyon Partners of Santa Monica
and Trinity Ventures of Silicon Valley, contributed the bulk
of the financing. Hidden City has sold more than 30 million
Bella Sara cards and has more than 1.2 million registered
users. The new capital investment will allow Hidden City to
expand its online operations (the Bella Sara CCG has an
extensive online component) as well as increase advertising
and promotion such as the recently announced TV advertising
campaign. Meanwhile, Masterpieces Puzzle Company is
releasing products based on Hidden City's Bella Sara TCG.
Masterpiece will release over a dozen products, including
puzzles, art and craft sets, journals, scrapbooking kits,
and a board game. The board game, Bella's Magical Adventure
Game, will include molded horse figurines, a spinning wheel,
a 3-D board with pop-up pieces, and a spinning wheel and
movable jumps at a $14.99 MSRP. Masterpiece's line will get
broad distribution in outlets including K-Mart, Toys R Us,
Walgreens, Jo-Ann, Michael's, ShopKo, and Hobby Lobby.
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: Hidden City Games |
Posted:
111507 |
 GETTING
INTO CCG...Privateer
Press will produce a kaiju-inspired CMG, Monsterpocalypse,
in 2008. The new game, Privateer's first entry into the CMG
market, will be designed by Matt Wilson, who also designed
Privateer's successful Non-Collectable Miniature Games,
Warmachine and Hordes. The storyline of the game will be a
tribute to Japanese monster movies (kaiju). The first set
will include over 80 figures, with large-scale monsters,
destroyable city structures, and vehicles. Figures will be
sold in the traditional starters/boosters configuration.
Special figures will be distributed at events. |
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
111507 |
 PICK
YOUR FIGHT...Upper
Deck is asking Vs. fans on its Website what should be in
its next expansion, a "players choice" set. Fans will be
allowed to vote on rotating categories, including teams,
characters, mechanics, and storylines. Upper Deck is
expanding it’s Vs. organized play in 2008 with the
addition of Mega Weekends, tournaments that will lead to
the Vs. System World Championship Tournament in August.
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis
Source: ICV2 |
Posted:
111507 |
 LORWYN
TODAY, SHADOWMOOR TOMORROW...Wizards
of the Coast has major plans to make the today's launch of
Lorwyn the biggest set release event in the history of Magic the
Gathering. Building on the success of Magic Game Day, WotC is
promising more support for stores and more free promotional
stuff for consumers during the Lorwyn release weekend. In
addition to promotional posters for stores, there will be lots
of Lorwyn promo items including t-shirts, promo cards, life
counters, deck boxes, score cards and pens. WotC is planning to
have MTG demos, league play, as well as special tournaments at
participating stores during the Lorwyn release weekend. WotC is
also planning more ad support for the Lorwyn launch including TV
ads for the Lorwyn Expansion which began running on Adult Swim
(where the viewer demographic closely mirrors the MTG player
profile) on September 30th and will continue for the next two
weeks. Future releases will build on the momentum WotC is hoping
to build this month with Lorwyn. Its May 2008 release for Magic
the Gathering, (until now codenamed "Jelly,") will be known as
Shadowmoor. The release of Shadowmoor will follow the February
2008 release of Morningtide, which is a small set that
complements Lorwyn. As previously reported (080707's MAGIC'S NEW
BLOCK), WotC is ditching the old 3-set block format (a big set
followed by two small sets) in favor of a new format consisting
of two inter-related mini-blocks consisting of a large set and a
smaller release. Thus Lorwyn (a large set) will be followed by
the smaller Morningtide, just as Shadowmoor (also a large
release) will be followed by a smaller release (still code-named
"Doughnut"). The Lorwyn mini-block and the Shadowmoor mini-block
will each have its own theme, its own mechanics, and its own
creative design. However, the two blocks are designed to be
synergistic and intentionally interconnected. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
101207 |
|
A
SECOND CHANCE TO FIGHT THE JOKER...This
December Upper Deck Entertainment will release a DC Comics
Legends Expansion set featuring all the top DC heroes and
villains for the first time in one set. The DC Comics
Legends Expansion, which contains 273 cards, is a base set
which will give current and potential players a fresh start.
For the first time in a Vs. system release Batman, Superman,
and the rest of the Justice League are available along with
the Teen Titans to face off against The Joker, Lex Luthor,
and Ra's al Ghul. The DC Comics Legends cards have a new
look thanks to a new card face with a larger art box to show
off the series' stunning artwork. Each booster pack of DC
Comics Legends cards includes 15 cards including one UDE
points cards (players can collect UDE points and redeem them
for Vs. game accessories). Some packs will also contain a
randomly inserted foil card from a complete parallel set.
All the cards in DC Comics Legends are compatible with other
cards in UDE's Vs. system. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
101207 |
 WHEN
YOU WISH UPON A CARD...Fantasy
Flight Games is preparing to launch the Kingdom Hearts TCG
at the end of the month. The Starter Sets (MSRP $11.99)
include 41 cards, rules, a playmat and an instructional DVD
that explains how to play the game. Fantasy Flight plans to
keep the Starter Sets available as subsequent releases will
be booster only. FFG's first Kingdom Hearts TCG booster
release includes 91 cards, 61 individual cards and 30 foil
card versions. The first series of Kingdom Hearts cards will
include Disney Heroes characters such as Donald, Goofy,
Ariel and Bambi along with cards for the Heartless and Dark
characters that function as the game's villains. Characters
from Final Fantasy and Disney villains such as Maleficent
and Monstro are introduced in subsequent series. Series 1
Booster Packs (MSRP $3.99) include 10 ten cards. Series 2,
which includes 157 cards, will be entitled "Dawn of Friends"
and will be released in early 2008. It will contain
characters from Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas as
well as from Square Enix's Final Fantasy. Fantasy Flight
Games is planning to create an ambitious organized play
program for the Kingdom Hearts TCG as well as provide a
vigorous online presence with a dedicated Kingdom Hearts
forum. FFG has hired two coordinators to work on organized
play programs for the Kingdom Hearts TCG and the upcoming
Mutant Chronicles CMG. FFG is also planning a major
marketing campaign for its Kingdom Hearts TCG that will
include ads in console gaming magazines as well as possible
TV spots. Based on the popular property, which combines
Disney characters with those from video game giant Square
Enix (Final Fantasy), the Kingdom Hearts TCG has gone
through seven series in Japan. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
101207 |
 AND
THEN GO TO FLORIDA...WizKids
Games has announced the grand prize for its Disney Pirates
of the Caribbean Pocket Model Sweepstakes -- a trip for a
family of four to a Disney Theme Park including roundtrip
airfare, hotel room, tickets to the resort, and $1,000 in
spending money. In addition to the grand prize there are
thousands of other prizes including "Instant Win" prizes.
With a total of 774,999 Disney Pirates of the Caribbean
cards in the initial release, the odds of becoming an
instant winner by purchasing a pack of the Disney Pirates of
the Caribbean cards are 249 to 1. No purchase is necessary
to win the sweepstakes. Coupons with the sweepstakes codes
can be found at local game stores or hobby shops carrying
the Disney Pirates of the Caribbean Pocket Model Game and in
the actual game packs. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
101207 |
|
AS
LONG AS THE BULB'S NOT BURNED OUT...Hidden
City Games has created launch kits to support its new
Ancient Lights set for Bella Sara, due for release this
month. The kits, will each contain 30 Euros cards (available
only as part of this promotion) and two posters. The 72-card
Ancient Lights set will include 45 regular horse cards, 17
extra-rare "shiny" foil horse cards, and 10 rare energy
cards. In addition to hobby stores, the new set will be sold
at Blockbuster, Kmart, Target, Toys R Us, Wal-Mart,
bookstores, and equestrian stores. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
101207 |
THE LOW
DOWN ON MAPLESTORY...WIzards
of the Coast's MapleStory iTrading Game, due out in November,
will be directed at a kids audience of ages 10 and up,
reflecting the audience for the MMORPG, for which over half the
North American players are under 17. The MMORPG audience is
currently about 60% male; Wizards expects the TCG audience to
skew more heavily male (around 70%), reflecting the
predominantly male players of TCGs.WotC's game functions as an
interactive extension to MapleStory, a massively multi-player
online game developed by the Korean company Wizet. Unlike
Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft, MapleStory players
don't pay a monthly fee in order to play the game, instead
playing is "free," though gameplay enhancements are offered to
the players who can purchase them from a "Cash Shop." The
MapleStory Cash Shop provides players with the option to use
real currency to purchase game enhancements that range from
clothing and haircuts to fire-breathing pets, allowing players
to create unique identities through "avatar customization." With
its dependence on purchases from its online shop rather than
subscription fees, MapleStory employs a business model that
requires (and attracts) a horde of players. MapleStory has an
estimated 67 million players worldwide in all of its versions.
Nexon's MapleStory Global, which serves players outside of East
Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe, has over 3 million members.
The MapleStory iTCG plays much like the online game as players characters
battle monsters and advance to higher levels, but it adds the
element of character vs. character combat. The game will be
released in the standard starter set and booster pack format.
The 34-card Starter Set includes a code, game rules and a CD-Rom
with the MapleStory online game client. Each 9-card booster pack
will also include a redeemable code. The iTCG is a real-world
trading card game with cards that contain codes redeemable for
exclusive virtual-world game content.WotC has previously
included redeemable codes for online games in its Neopets TCG in
2003, but with the MapleStory iTrading Cards WotC is taking the
concept to the next level with a fully integrated game that
bridges the online and offline worlds. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
100107 |
|
BECAUSE
PARENTS GROUPS LOVE HORSES TOO...Hidden
City Games' Bella Sara Trading Card Game, the equine-centric
card game that targets tween girls, has garnered a trio of
key awards from parenting groups including an "iParenting
Outstanding Product Award," a "National Parenting Center
Seal of Approval," and a "Seal of Excellence" award from the
2007 Creative Child awards panel. The "iParenting
Outstanding Product Award" is the only consumer award
program that has achieved ISO 9000:2000 certification, the
international standard for quality control and assurance.
Products attempting to gain this award are reviewed by a
diverse group of parents, childcare centers and schools from
across the country. The National Parenting Center was
founded in 1989 and conducts independent tests on products
with a special focus on interactivity and educational value.
The National Parenting Center has been awarding its "Seal of
Approval" since 1990. The Creative Child "Seal of
Excellence" awards program is an outgrowth of the bimonthly
Creative Child Magazine, which is focused on helping parents
nurture their child's creativity. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
100107 |
 SABERTOOTH
PUSHES UFS...All through
October (while supplies last), consumers who purchase six
booster packs of Sabertooth Games' Universal Fighting System
Trading Card Game (or 1 starter and 3 boosters) from their
local brick and mortar hobby game store will receive the
first tournament legal Darkstalkers card, which features the
fetching Morrigan. Earlier this year Sabertooth Games
announced the addition of the characters from Capcom's
Darkstalkers' universe to its UFS system, which allows
players to pit characters from a variety of different
videogame worlds against each other in exciting trading card
combat. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
100107 |
 TOPPS
FINALLY SOLD...Topps
Company announced at its shareholder meeting on Wednesday
September 19th that the sale of the company to a group led by
Michael Eisner's Tornante Group would be approved. The
meeting was postponed for a third and final time from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m. today to give the company more time to
collect votes. The sale price was $9.75 per share, the
original bid price for the trading card, candy, and game
company (WizKids) that Tornante made last March. The delay
of the shareholders meeting gave Topps management and its
dissident investor group one more opportunity to snipe at
each other. Timothy Brog, from Pembridge Capital Management
and a Topps director, said of the delay "They are doing
everything they can in their power to hijack corporate
democracy." To which a Topps spokesperson responded "What
nonsense. This is providing Topps stockholders ample time to
make a considered decision about the future of their
investment."The deal was nearly sidetracked by a rival offer
from Topps competitor Upper Deck. Upper Deck eventually
walked away, among various bitter mutual accusations. |
|
|
Submitted by: Tim "Comicbookman"
Davis |
Posted:
100107 |
|
|
