SECTOR SPECIAL: PLAYING CARDS/TCGS 47 A winning hand
With the likes of Moshi Monsters and Match Attax currently notching up significant sales at retail and riding high in NPD, the trading card and traditional playing card sector is one to watch. ToyNews highlights some of the firms currently in the category and what they have to offer…
ESDEVIUM
Esdevium is best known as the exclusive UK supplier of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, but is also a key
supplier of other TCG properties including Moshi Monsters, Yu-Gi- Oh, Match Attax and Magic the Gathering.
The Pokémon
TCG looks set for another busy period with the August release of Pokémon TCG Black & White – Dragons Exalted. The game includes the launch of a brand new Dragon- type Pokémon, providing both exciting characters and new ways to play the game.
CARTAMUNDI
Cartamundi’s flagship playing card brand, Royal Flush, is the UK’s bestseller. “Alongside a new
branded playing card range (Ace, Diamond and Joker), Royal Flush was primarily developed to replace the evergreen Cartamundi playing card, Stratus,” says Jonathan Rose, the firm’s UK sales and marketing director. “It has since become the leading branded playing card in the UK, with distribution in every High Street and positive feedback from retailers. Brand growth will come from targeting new distribution channels, packaging refinements and new product launches this year. “In a tough market, we are justifiably
proud of achieving our goal to make Cartamundi the number one playing card company in the UK.” A range of children’s card games completes the set: lion, giraffe, gorilla and snake. In addition, the firm has
01420 593593
As Topps’ toy trade partner, Esdevium always lists core TCG product in he form of both starters and boosters. In
addition to this, the firm supplies gift tins of Topps’ TCG product exclusively, most notably for Moshi Monsters and Match Attax. A third series of Moshi Monsters is due for launch in November. This will also include a
gift tin exclusive to Esdevium. In addition to TCGs, the company offers a wide range of playground crazes and general collectables including Tomy’s Gacha toys and Gogo’s among others.
01268 511522
Jungle Snap, Pairs on Wheels, Happy Families and Farmyard Donkey. Cartamundi also has
a range of licensed cards. These include Ice Age Continental Drift card games – Playing Cards (£2.99), Pairs and Donkey Game (£2.99) and a 2-in-1 Game Set (£4.99). To celebrate the 50th anniversary of James Bond and the release of Skyfall, the firm is launching the 007 50th Anniversary
Playing Cards (£3.99), plus the 007 50th Anniversary Compact Poker Set (£34.99), while there will also be Skyfall playing cards and poker sets launching later on in the year.
On top of this, the company has a Madagascar 3 collection, including Happy Families (£2.99) and a Gift Set (£9.99). Other family friendly releases include the Brave 4-in-1 Game Set (£4.99) due in August, a special Christmas gift set of Star Wars 3D Playing Cards in Metal Box (£9.99) and card games to coincide with the film, Rise of the Guardians.
THE POKÉMON COMPANY
The fifth Pokémon TCG: Black and White expansion pack is called Dark Explorers and introduces the new Darkrai-EX plus a line-up of Darkness- type Pokémon, such as Zoroark, Umbreon and Sableye.
In addition, the pack includes a run of Unova and non-Unova region Pokémon-EX cards, which are more powerful Pokémon that can deliver attacks on opponents. Darkrai-EX is joined by Tornadus-EX, Kyogre-EX, Raikou-EX and Groudon-EX, all featured as Pokémon-EX cards and rare Ultra full-art Pokémon-EX cards. Other features include over
100 cards (including three Shiny Secret rare cards), more restored Pokémon options and a parallel foil card guaranteed in each booster pack. Each new theme deck and boost pack also includes an in-pack code which unlocks virtual cards for play in the Pokémon Trading Card Game online.
SPIN MASTER
Boys’ action property Redakai features Blast 3D technology and stackable
gameplay that shows the impact of each move as it happens. There are two
versions of
gameplay – Basic and Advanced – with the goal being to defeat opponent’s characters by playing attack cards. Stack attacks damage opponents, while stack monsters power up defences. The Redakai product range was launched in the spring and includes a Starter set for basic gameplay, booster packs containing additional X-Drive cards including rare and super rare, and a Dual pack for two player gaming. The X-Drive cards will be refreshed with new sets throughout the year.
01628 535000 01420 593593
Once the basic game is mastered,
players can move up to advanced Redakai gameplay with a tournament- ready deck of Blast 3D X-Drives. The Structure Deck comes with an
exclusive Monster card, while for intense battling action, the Redakai Championship Set is a battle-ready pack with comes complete with a card screen, draw deck, battlefield and 44 X-Drive cards.
JULY 2012
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