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Madden NFL 12 video highlights Madden Ultimate Team changes
Since debuting in Madden NFL 10, EA Sports' card game version of football, Madden Ultimate Team, has apparently resonated with fans as it will be returning for a third year in Madden NFL 12. In this trailer, EA Sports highlights some of the changes in this year's version.
KingsIsle brings Wizard101 goodies to Canada
KingsIsle Entertainment, maker of the very popular card-based freemium title Wizard101, announced today that it will be releasing a brand-new mega-bundle pre-paid card to stores across the country. Here's how the cards work: Players pay a set amount and receive a card with a code that, once redeemed in-game, can add all sorts of gold, goodies, and other options. The new card features a new flying carpet mount, a massive sultan's palace complete with a mirage, 5000 crowns to be used in the cash shop, and several other fun items. It's no wonder the cards have become one of the best-selling cards at Gamestop -- they offer an all-in-one package that is easy to pick up. Canadians worried about getting their hands on these cards can rest easy -- KingsIsle is pushing the cards into major Canadian retailers this fall. Concerned players who have been "surprisingly vocal" about the lack of card access will also get the chance to own exclusive pets available only in their area. This move will bring Wizard101's combined retail presence to over 50,000 stores. Not bad -- not bad at all. So, what's next for the freemium giant? Well, KingsIsle just partnered with Gameforge to bring the game overseas. Interesting things happen when you have to port a fully voice-acted game like Wizard101 to a place like Germany. The UI and map has to be tweaked to allow room for the longer written language, and everything needs to be localized. There are also cultural differences to consider, and the cash shop can be received differently than here in the U.S. The new game cards will be offered for $39, but the items included are valued at over $100.
Official trading card art gallery updated
I've always been a huge fan of game art in all its forms -- the walls of my house are literally covered in framed game posters, instruction booklets, and fan art. That, in part, is why I was so glad to see Blizzard update its Trading Card Game art gallery today with 10 new pieces of art. Whether you play the card game or not, the (now) 40-piece WoW TCG gallery is definitely worth taking a look at. This update includes Booty Bay denizen Landro Longshot, a gnome impaling an orc, and (ever a fan favorite) scantily clad women holding weapons. %Gallery-123401% World of Warcraft: Cataclysm has destroyed Azeroth as we know it; nothing is the same! In WoW Insider's Guide to Cataclysm, you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion, from leveling up a new goblin or worgen to breaking news and strategies on endgame play.
WoW TCG art gallery updated
Do you love absolutely awesome art? Good news! Blizzard has updated the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game art gallery. The folks at Cryptozoic have some amazing artists putting out gorgeous character pieces and card art. Of this batch, I am particularly in love with the art of Myzrael, the titan watcher and princess of the earth.
WoW TCG: War of the Elements worldwide release April 26
Cryptozoic has just announced that War of the Elements, the first WoW TCG Worldbreaker expansion, will be released worldwide on April 26, 2011. The expansion is being released in four languages at the same time around the world, a first for the trading card game. War of the Elements also features loot cards, as usual, for WoW players to redeem cool pets, mounts, and other in-game items from WoW TCG cards. War of the Elements will include Landros' Lichling, Fool's Gold, and the Savage Raptor mount. War of the Elements will also feature two new dragonflights: the bronze and blue flights, with respective leaders Nozdormu and Kalecgos. What is interesting is that the TCG has solidified Metzen's statement that Kalecgos would become the new leader of the Blue Dragonflight and plays up the importance of these two flights in the coming patches and content in Cataclysm. %Gallery-119621%
Review: WoW TCG Assault on Icecrown Citadel Four-Player Game
Ever since acquiring the license to the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game, Cryptozoic Entertainment has been making a huge push to make the game even more accessible. This doesn't mean just accessible for people familiar with hobby games -- it also means accessible to someone who's a huge World of Warcraft fan, but never got into hobby games. One of the steps in this process was the release of the Assault on Icecrown Citadel Four-Player Game. You might be familiar with the "raid deck" format (utilized previously with Molten Core, Onyxia's Lair, Magtheridon's Lair, Black Temple, and Naxxramas), wherein a group of players play cooperatively against one of their friends, who's controlling the boss(es) of the dungeon. But there's a stumbling block for those who want to just jump right in and play a raid: you have to buy your own cards and construct your own deck if you want to play as anyone but the bad guy. Assault on Icecrown Citadel changes up the format slightly, instead putting players in the roles of Tirion Fordring, Jaina Proudmoore, and Sylvanas Windrunner as they battle the Lich King. Each hero has their own themed deck included in the box, along with Arthas' boss deck, meaning that the moment you pick up the game, you can crack it open and play. I'm not a huge hobby gamer. I played Magic: The Gathering in middle school, but the WoW TCG is pretty much the only card or board game I play with any regularity. And I have to tell you: Assault on Icecrown Citadel is an absolute blast.
WoW TCG Assault on Icecrown Citadel 4-player game now available
Grab three friends and roll the dice to see who gets to be the Lich King -- Cryptozoic Entertainment just released the Assault on Icecrown Citadel four-player game! The game is built on the WoW Trading Card Game, but rather than having to build and use your own deck, you take control of decks themed around Icecrown's biggest heroes: Tirion Fordring, Sylvanas Windrunner, and Jaina Proudmoore. Each hero plays differently, and you'll need all of their unique abilities and weapons to defeat the Lich King, also controlled by a player. To top it off, it's packaged with a special Treasure Pack containing cards unique to the set and Worldbreaker loot cards. I was lucky enough to get to play the game before its release, and I can vouch for its fun factor. Being able to play as a lore hero instead of an average Joe gives the game a really epic feeling. The Assault on Icecrown Citadel game retails for $39.99 and is available at retailers now.
Pokemon Trainer Challenge brings the trading card game online
The problem with trading card games is that you have to have friends around to play them -- and, a lot of times, that means you actually have to leave the house. In a video game, roaming the world in search of Pokémon may be relatively safe, but out in the real world, there are certain dangers that need to be taken into consideration. Bears, diseases and cosplayers are all real threats. That's why we're excited about the Pokémon Trainer Challenge, a new Flash version of the TCG coming to the internet near you this April. Using three pre-constructed decks, you'll be able to face off against 12 virtual trainers across three leagues in the online game, hopefully learning enough to keep you from embarrassing yourself at the next Saffron City Social. Pokémon Trainer Challenge will require a free Pokémon Trainer Club account to play. You can find more details on Pokemon.com. %Gallery-116787%
CardMon Hero offers up colorful new trailer
While CardMon Hero went into open beta last week, the teams at Hanbitsoft, T3fun, and Redbana have just put out a new video offering up some gameplay from the game for you to check out. Why did they wait so long? Well, perhaps they hoped to lure you in to all the card-building dueling action, or maybe they just wanted to film some fun fights featuring players running around the world. Whatever the companies' reason, if you are curious for a look at this fast-paced free-to-play MMO, and haven't had a chance to check it out, we've tucked the newest video behind the break. With complex card strategies, crafting, and some pretty wicked-looking henchmen to collect, it's a brightly-colored MMO-offering for those who remember playing insane amounts of TCGs in their youth. Also, we've added our gallery full of concept art, screenshots, and more from CardMon Hero for you to enjoy. If you're ready to get into the action, head over to the CardMon Hero site and get signed up! %Gallery-107151%
Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition
For those who might not know, it was decided last week that my Wizard101 character was to be a boy from the school of Death. On top of that, he was ordered to get around town by using a pair of beautiful white wings. I heard a few comments in different places about how the wings would not look cool with a Death student or about how a horse mount or broom was better. I held fast and nabbed a pair of the white, fluttering back pieces. I had to obey orders! Once I made my character and put the wings on, though, I looked completely metal. For those younger players who might not understand what that means, Google "Dio" and watch a few videos. Avoid Slayer -- your parents would not like that. (Note: If you come across a band called Queensryche, that's not metal.) Anyway, my white wings only accentuated my dark intentions. It was a fantastic choice. But what else did I do over this last week besides wait for the vote to end? Well, click past the cut and I'll let you know. %Gallery-114601%
Wookiees, witches and (Star) Wars: SWG breaks out Game Update 19
It's a busy day for Star Wars Galaxies, as Game Update 19 jumps to lightspeed with a trio of exciting events. First up is the return of Wookiee Life Day, "a time to reflect on the renewal of life and to remember those who have passed on." Wookiee Life Day was first introduced in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special and has become a beloved fixture of SWG since its inception a few years ago. New features to the holiday this year include the ability to plant a Life Tree anywhere you like, four new paintings, a Wookiee Life Day robe, a collectible badge, and an R2-D2 ornament. Game Update 19 also brings the next chapter of the Witches of Dathomir, which began a little over a month ago. Players can travel to the planet of Dathomir and decide which clan of Force-sensitive Witches they'll align with: the Nightsisters or the Singing Mountain Clan. Finally, a new expansion pack to the trading card game is available, titled The Price of Victory. You can read up on Game Update 19 at Star Wars Galaxies, and travel back in the Massively time machine to revisit our chat with SWG's Teesquared on the patch.
Square Enix working on a Final Fantasy trading card game (not Triple Triad, sadly)
Square Enix has already proven itself entirely capable of creating compelling collectible card games within the virtual worlds of its Final Fantasy franchise -- in fact, occasionally, those mini-games became more engrossing than the adventures which surrounded them. That's why we can't wait to see what Square and CCG manufacturer Hobby Japan can do with the recently announced Final Fantasy Trading Card Game when it launches February 25, 2011. Potential players can start bolstering their collections by picking up the Japanese version of The 3rd Birthday, which will include a promotional card. Though a handful of samples have been revealed (pictured above), the actual rules of the game haven't been detailed. We're going to assume that you have to play it over and over and over again until you're strong enough to win. Also, playing summon cards will take three to six minutes, depending on the strength of said summon. Also, Chocobos have gots to be up in the mix.
SWG to release seventh trading card game expansion
It has been nearly eight months since Star Wars Galaxies has seen a new Trading Card Game expansion, but this week, Sony Online Entertainment has announced the seventh expansion: The Price of Victory. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Empire Strikes Back, this expansion includes gameplay scenarios, and of course, loot cards that revolve around the second movie release in the Star Wars saga. After the crushing blow to Imperial morale with the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire strikes back hard by weeding out Rebel insurgents galaxy-wide. The Price of Victory features 10 brand-new story-arc scenarios, which delve deep into the story of the Empire's revenge. The new and unique 175 playing cards are all highly detailed and inspired by the Empire Strikes Back. Then, of course, there are the loot cards inspired by Episode V. They include cards for the tauntaun armor statue, the cloud car vehicle, and the Cloud City-inspired player house. You can catch more information about this new expansion on the official Star Wars Galaxies website or by visiting the Trading Card Game forum. So what is the price of victory? $2.99 a pack.
WoW Insider reviews the WoW TCG Icecrown Epic Collection
Having recently released Icecrown, the third and final set in the WoW Trading Card Game's Scourgewar arc, Cryptozoic Entertainment is ramping up for the upcoming Worldbreaker set. But taking the reins from Upper Deck means more than just continuing to release expansions for the TCG -- it also means community-building, drawing in new players and supporting players who stuck with the game through the license-holder switchover. That's the goal of the Icecrown Epic Collection. So what's in this plus-size box? 6 Icecrown booster packs (19 cards each) playmat with rubberized bottom 15 dividers deck box with sidebar divider 1 common loot card 5 foil hero cards But is it worth the money? Let's take a look.%Gallery-105935%
Dress up in new costumes with Super Hero Squad Online!
Children of all ages (yup, that includes most of the adults out there) have dressed up for Halloween as their favorite super hero. The Super Hero Squad Online from Marvel and Gazillion is giving out new costumes for the kids (and adults) this trick-or-treat season. We all know what the classic Spider-man costume looks like, right? Well, why not try the black costume? Or maybe a red Hulk fits you better? Whatever best helps you to hero up! Each costume is not just a cover to wear over your existing costume, but they are full-fledged heroes with their own emotes and superpowers that are different from any other hero. After the costume try-ons are over, go play the amazing online trading card game or save Super Hero City from evil. What? You haven't signed up for beta yet? Well, get over there an do it now, and while you're at it you can sign up your children, too. Gazillion is looking for a whole range of different testers! And if you haven't seen the "spooky" Halloween trailer, you can watch it by hitting "Read More" below. 'Nuff said.
Squaring off with SWG's producer, Teesquared
The fans of Star Wars Galaxies are stalwart. Despite all the trouble the game has gone through, it features one of the most active communities in the Sony Online Entertainment library of MMOs. The developers have noticed this and have continued to work diligently on new content for the loyal players. Recently, we took the opportunity to ask SWG's current Producer Tony "Teesquared" Tyson some questions about the present and future of the title. He answered all our inquiries about holiday events, future updates, the Galactic Civil War, and the Trading Card Game. Some exciting things are coming! Follow us after the break to find out what future holds in a galaxy far, far away...
Smith and Tinker talk of green goo, Marvel partnership
Smith and Tinker is a company that is building products for today's "roaming audience," such as 2009's collectible-monster game Nanovor. Essentially, tweens battled microscopic silicon-based monsters that lived deep within their PCs. While it garnered much attention, Smith and Tinker decided it was time for a re-do. Now, we have Nanovor Evolution, a newly rendered 3-D multi-platform version of the game that offers "every player complete gaming satisfaction anywhere and everywhere, and by evolving our Nanovor digital collective game and future titles onto multiple platforms, we are on track to making that a reality." The new version runs within a browser, with future versions available on iPhone and iPad. After our discussion, I decided to a look at the game myself. True to the company's word, it loaded and ran within my browser and looked great. I walked through an animated tutorial, customized my avatar, learned the basics of combat, and was introduced to the public area -- a square for players to chat safely and challenge each other to matches. Really, it's a miniature version of many full-scale MMORPGs, built to be played on many different devices and while on-the-go. Take a look after the jump to catch a glimpse at the action!
PAX 2010: It's clobberin' time with SHSO's PvP online card game
Massively has taken a swing at Marvel's Super Hero Squad Online several times in the last few months, now. So, on our trip to PAX, the boy-in-grown-up-shoes, Jay Minn, could not wait to show us the newly announced PvP portion of this dynamic game. Minn, who is the Director of Games for The Amazing Society, turned in to a giddy imp and directed me to a computer station that had a burning Human Torch on the screen, all prepared to fight some bad guys. Even though PvE wasn't what I was there to cover that day, Minn just had to show me anyway. "Click on a bad guy," he told me, "and good things just happen." I obliged; the Torch lit up and chased some bad guys away! At that point, we were told we had to move on to the PvP portion of the demonstration. Marketing people can be such spoil-sports sometimes. The giddy grin returned to Minn's face as he gave me instructions on how to get into the online card game. In the lower right-hand corner simply sat an icon that looked like fanned-out cards. As part of the demo I was able to pick my opponent, and since I just love seeing the Ol' Canucklehead Wolverine get beaten down, I picked him for my enemy. And who is the best Marvel superhero? Spider-Man, of course. I had to choose him as my character. Hero up with me after the break to find out the details of my adventure through this shiny and lively online card game.%Gallery-101337%
Dire Wolf Digital is building a Lego Universe trading-card game
Dire Wolf Digital and NetDevil have signed an agreement that will see the creation of a LEGO Universe trading-card game, due in 2011. (The Lego Universe MMO is set to launch on October 26.) What makes this deal interesting is the potential to create products outside of just the TCG. The agreement gives Dire Wolf Digital "a license to produce physical TCG products as well as digital products for PC, Mac and mobile devices." This could portend the TCG will come to digital spaces or it could simply refer to additional products outside of the card game -- as soon as we know something, we'll be sure to pass it along. Head past the break for the full press release.%Gallery-98015%
WoW TCG invites you on a Spectral Safari this weekend
Ah, the majestic Spectral Tiger. A truly rare sight, even in the ostentatious world of Azeroth. The loot cards sell for hundreds of dollars on eBay. If only getting one were as simple as playing the card game for a few hours ... Wait! It is! In fact, Cryptozoic Entertainment has distributed a bunch of Spectral Tigers to select hobby stores, and all you have to do for a chance to win is attend their Spectral Safari event. In Cryptozoic's words: A tournament friendly to players of all experience levels, the Spectral Safari participants will receive-at random-one of the 18 Class Starter Decks and compete in a tournament with that deck. The first 25 players to register for the event will pocket a Landro's Pet Box code. Players who do well will earn Wrath Gate booster packs, and the winner picks up a Blazing Hippogryph Loot card. The Spectral Tiger will be randomly won as a door prize at the end of the event, so every entrant has an equal opportunity to ride home in style! Sounds like fun to me. The WoW TCG is a very accessible game, and with the upcoming Class Decks, getting started is easier than ever. Check the Cryptozoic forum for details on the Spectral Safari location nearest to you!
