The world of trading and collectible cards

The world of trading cards has certainly come along quite a ways since 1887. For many years the only trading cards were the baseball cards that would come with a stick of gum. Fans of one particular team or another would amass huge collections of cards, and mothers across the nation would throw them away every spring cleaning. But a few managed to keep their cards, and grew to value other cards that would complete a collection or detail the career path of a favorite player. From this simple beginning grew the sports trading cards industry in earnest.

And then in the 1990’s a new idea came out that really shook up the industry. Collectible tradable cards. The first in this line of ideas was Magic: The Gathering. The game system featured easy play, in depth strategy, and numerous cards with original artwork that could be combined in numerous ways under dozens of strategies. The game was a hit with kids and adults, outselling many other games of skill and chance.

Adding to the playability and trading of the game is the fact that expansions were designed for the game and individual cards were made with different degrees of rarity. As an example cards such as the extremely rare Black Lotus were printed in scant quantities, while land cards were common and in massive quantities. Thus several dozen cards became quite valuable in the secondary markets, and as expansions were made and some cards discontinued trading became very active.

While other cards systems have come and gone since Magic: The Gathering (MTG) – this one system remains the leader in the market. Other game systems with popularity include games based on cartoon programs – Naruto, Pokemon, Digimon, movies and television shows – Highlander, and various sci fi themes – Net Runner, Doom Trooper, Jyhad, Vampire: The Masquerade and so on.

How popular are some of these cards? Well I can say from my own personal experience of selling some of my own MTG cards on eBay that most cards sell for about $1 each. But I do have cards that have been around almost from the beginning (started my collection back when I broke my leg in a motorcycle accident and had nothing else to do). Several of these individual cards are worth between $5 - $130.

So the next time spring cleaning comes around, and you run into a trading card or two, I suggest you check eBay first. [And if you really are interested you can always check out what I am offering under Mvass68 on eBay.]

Culdcept Saga - video game review - 2.8.2008.2

For those video game fans that enjoy a bit more strategy over action, and fans of the various collectible cards games like Magic: The Gathering, Naruto, and others there is a new game out that you may want to buy. Well it’s not exactly new. Culdcept Saga is the followup to the original game Culdcept that was on the PS2. The current version, which I own for the Xbox 360, became available this week.

Here are the basics. It costs $40, can be played via Xbox Live, and is rated Teen. You can play up to 4 players and it was the brainchild of BANDAI NAMCO.

The real questions though have nothing to do with the above. The game is based on a storyline where your character discovers they are a culdcept, essentially a magic user whose magic is based on cards in a deck that you use. As the game progresses you learn more of the destiny that you have as you battle to become the most powerful in the world. In-between plot progressing scenes, which are predetermined, is the meat of what the game is.

You will be lead by the plot to events where you and 1 or more culdecepts fight in a battle. Unlike RPG’s and other games this is not a physical fight. It might be best described as a combination between Monopoly and Magic. At the start of a battle you are transported to a battlefield comprised of colored squares arranged in multiple configurations. You roll dice to travel around the board, as you would in Monopoly, passing forts along the way back to your starting point. Each fort you pass adds a small amount of money to your pool, as does passing the starting point. If you land on any square that is empty you have an option, leave it be or claim it.

This is where the Magic portion of the game begins to appear. You have up to 6 cards in your hand. They are made up of creatures, spells and items. Creatures are used to capture colored squares, items are like buffs that allow increases to hit points and/or attack strength, and spells can have many effects, like increasing cash or throwing a lightning bolt. It’s all pretty straightforward.

If a square is empty you use a creature card and claim it. If your creature matches the color of the square you get a bonus. If another player lands on a square you have a creature on they can either pay you the rent (which increased as you up grade it – like adding houses or hotels in Monopoly) or battle your creature for the square.

In a battle there are several effects that can affect your winning or losing. Attacking first, special bonuses against certain colors, upgrading creatures, Items cards, and other factors can all help/hurt your chance to win. The actual battle is pretty direct with each card taking damage based on the creature/item used and the losing card being burned, smashed, or otherwise appropriately destroyed.

It sounds simple, but ask anyone that has played a collectible card game (CCG) and they will tell you that the strategy employed can be wrenching. As your character develops the playing field they gain value for all their properties and the first to hit a certain level (which increases as the game progresses) and reach the start point wins. The prize includes new cards for your deck, and upon reaching certain objectives gear that you can use to modify the appearance of your character in the plot scenes.

The cards for your deck can be modified by you in-between battles. So you can set it to specialize for a particular battle or your own preferences. The better you win the rarer and powerful the cards you can win, as well as a higher number of cards are provided. At a maximum you can get 12 new cards for an outstanding win, and there are hundreds of different cards available. It’s unlikely you will win, or even see every card available in the first run through.

The graphics of the game are most noticeable in the illustrations used to show the card effect/creature/item. Like with Magic they are fantasy oriented and highly stylized. The artwork is very improved from the prior version of the game. The artificial intelligence of the game is also much better, increasing in strength more evenly as you progress. While the first couple of battles will be very easy, and the game will give you a tutorial as you engage in the battle (which makes logical sense as they tell you about new abilities and options), later battles will become more of a challenge.

Each battle can take up to about an hour to finish. Like I said it’s not as simple as checkers, but far easier to learn than Chess and more engaging than Monopoly, I think.

If you like hack and slash, FPS, real time strategy games or anything that needs to involve spies, rifles, world wars, or aliens wielding ray guns you may not enjoy this game. If you like to work through puzzles, outthink opponents, and tweak your performance with upgrades and substitutions to your strategy, this is your game.

Fans of the original will like the increase of creatures and items, plus the improved AI. New players that are even moderate CCG players will enjoy the animation ability to play online. Complete neophytes to either will likely enjoy this as a great change of pace game.

I have been looking forward to this game, and thankfully it has lived up to my expectations. I expect this to be a sleeper, and a hit, much like the first was. Check it out and let me hear what you think of it.

Can you handle the Eye of Judgement?

**This was originally posted by me at Video Gaming Blog, where I am a contributing author.**

Well if you are looking for a unique game that is different and challenging, I think I have just seen the right thing for you. Eye of Judgement.



Now I know some of you say that you are too old for collectible card games. Some may have missed out on the Magic: The Gathering crazy of the 90’s. But it’s not too late for either group.

Strategy is the heart of any card game. It just isn’t as simple as checkers, but it’s easier to learn than chess and you can be good faster than you can master Guitar Hero. You can play against kids or friends. And it just looks cool.

The downside, if it can be called that, is that this needs the PS3 and the Eye Toy. The online play is a bit quirky. Plus it’s nowhere near as fun or interesting playing alone. The benefit is that the Eye Toy comes included in the price, and of course having a PS3 is worth it anyway. Plus you get to watch the well done animations of blasting your opponents creatures to the netherworld, or wherever they came from. And the creatures react to your actions to a degree.

This may be the start of a large genre, and I think it may be one of the early winners in this holiday season. I think parents will love it, and gamers looking for something new will be quite happy. As a friend of mine said,

“I don’t want the kids to just play a mindless shoot ‘em up. It doesn’t take any thought to just shoot everything in sight. I want them to have to think”

Now I like a good blast them all til their dead game as much as the next guy. But sometimes a little thought is great as well. Fans of Culdcept, Resident Evil or Disgaea should enjoy this. If you own a card game, you really will enjoy this.

Try it and let me know if you like it as well.