A collaboration between SOE and trading card company Topps, the Free Realms collectible card game mirrors the one built-in to the PC game. A point's based creature-dueling title, the first physical release features more than 180 colorful cards that are sure to have children annoying the hell out of their parents every time they wander by the card aisle at their local Target. Making things even worse, each set contains virtual loot cards, redeemable for exclusive in-game pets and items.

Booster packs and starter decks should be trickling into retail locations this week, priced at $3.99 and $9.99 respectively. The starter deck comes with a 40-card deck; a playmat; and exclusive black Labrador in-game pet; and exclusive in-game t-shirt; and an exclusive in-game racing cart. There goes my disposable income for the month.

I mean, there goes parents' disposable income for the month. I would never spend good money for an in-game pet. Not when Baron Von Fluffy is already decked out as a kitty dump truck.

Yes, Legends of Norrath is an online collectible card game with a story, Against the Void is the second chapter in a three-part epic involving the Ethernauts, with elements that should be familiar to players of the Everquest 2 expansion The Shadow Odyssey. Along with advancing the story, the new expansion adds new [;ayer avatars, 16 new loot cards, new game mechanics, and of course, more than 280 new cards.

With the Legends of Norrath card game proving so popular, SOE is also extending it's 5 booster pack per month promotion for current paying Everquest and Everquest II subscribers, meaning that even if you don't wish to participate the cards are still there...waiting....watching.

THE ODYSSEY OF THE ETHERNAUTS CONTINUES IN LEGENDS OF NORRATH AGAINST THE VOID

Five Booster Pack Promotion to Continue

DENVER, COLO. – Jan. 15, 2009 – Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today that the Ethernauts’ journey continues with the sixth Legends of Norrath™ set, Against the Void.

Scheduled for release next month, Against the Void pushes the epic story of the previous set, Ethernauts, into dark new territory, while also adding more than 280 new gameplay cards, 16 new loot cards for both EverQuest® and EverQuest® II, two new playable avatar races, and 10 brand-new scenarios.

In response to Legends of Norrath’s overwhelming success, SOE is also extending its five booster pack promotion so that all EverQuest® and EverQuest® II subscribers with paid subscriptions in good standing will receive five digital Legends of Norrath trading card booster packs per month at no additional cost.

“The response to the five booster pack promotion has exceeded our expectations, which is why we’re continuing it with Against the Void,” said Scott Martins, director of development for SOE Denver. “We love seeing all the new faces in our lobbies and tournaments, and there really is no better time for new players to try Legends of Norrath.”

Against the Void Features:

The Story of the Ethernauts Continues – Against the Void is the second of three chapters in the epic Ethernauts storyline! Players of EverQuest® II The Shadow Odyssey™ will instantly recognize the characters and settings from Ethernauts and Against the Void, and learn more about the backstory of the most recent MMO release.

New Cards – More than 280 new gameplay cards are available through booster packs, tournaments, promotions and scenarios.

New Gameplay – Cards with the new keyword “Attuned” change factions to match the player’s avatar, opening up exciting new gameplay strategies.

New Loot! – How would you like your very own traveling band? Or turn yourself into a Voidman Warrior? Or ride through Norrath on a Fiery Dire Bear or White Lion? This is all possible with 16 new loot cards each for EverQuest and EverQuest II.

New Playable Avatars and Characters – Against the Void introduces new Fae and Arasai playable avatars, and features units representing Knights, Gnomes, Orcs and Iksars.

New Scenarios – Against the Void will offer 10 brand-new scenarios, continuing the story of the Ethernauts and offering exciting loot for completing certain milestones. You’ll have to fight your way through a variety of different enemies before the final battle with Sartar the Unrivaled, a mighty Iskar hero!

Five Booster Packs per Month Extended! – SOE is extending its five booster pack per month promotions to EverQuest and EverQuest II subscribers with current, paid accounts in good standing. This is a great way to quickly build a collection of cards to bring into Legends of Norrath and begin playing.

Legends of Norrath Against the Void will be available in February in 15-card booster packs for $2.99 USD (plus applicable taxes). Also look for the Ethernauts Legendary Starter Pack for $19.99 USD (plus applicable taxes).

Developed at SOE’s Denver studio, Legends of Norrath is the only online trading card game based on and playable from within SOE’s popular EverQuest and EverQuest II MMOs, as well as from a free stand-alone client using a free SOE Station Account ID (available at www.station.com). Players can challenge opponents on their game server and across other EverQuest and EverQuest II servers.

To get started, players can for free, test their skills 24 hours a day against AI and real opponents, and then head over to the tournament lobby to compete. Tournament eligibility is limited and subject to Official Rules. Residents of certain territories are ineligible to participate in LoN tournament play. Please see the for details. For a schedule of events, rules and further details, see the or the . For more information on Legends of Norrath, visit the website at www.legendsofnorrath.com.

“We look forward to reaching out to an array of players of all ages and sharing the excitement of the group-oriented role playing card game, Blue Dragon. It is our expectation that the character designs of esteemed creator Akira Toriyama, combined with the unique game play of Blue Dragon, will create countless new fans within the card game community."

Make no mistake, Blue Dragon was an extremely proficient, well-crafted RPG. It just happens to also be so by-the-book and boring that even writing about a CCG based off of the game is putting me to sleep.

VIZ Media Licenses BLUE DRAGON Trading Card Game Rights To Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. For North America

San Francisco, CA, June 18, 2008 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), one of the entertainment industry's most innovative and comprehensive publishing, animation and licensing companies, and Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE), a leading publisher of mass market video games and manufacturer of trading card games (TCG), today announced that KDE will exclusively manufacture and distribute the BLUE DRAGON Trading Card Game and Trading Card Game Accessories in North America. The agreement further extends the scope and popularity of the BLUE DRAGON franchise. VIZ Media is the master North American licensor for the television, home video and non-video game merchandising rights for BLUE DRAGON.

The BLUE DRAGON animation is based on the Xbox 360 video game Blue Dragon, developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of “Final Fantasy”, and featuring character designs by Akira Toriyama, the creator of the best-selling DRAGON BALL series of manga (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and featured in SHONEN JUMP Magazine). The new trading card game is also based on the Xbox 360 video game.

The animated series debuted in Japan on TV Tokyo on April 7, 2007 and is produced by Studio Pierrot, which is well known for its work on NARUTO and BLEACH, also licensed by VIZ Media. The highly anticipated BLUE DRAGON animated series, rated TV Y7FV, debuted across the United States on Cartoon Network on Saturday, April 5, 2008 and now airs regularly at 9 a.m. on Saturday mornings.
The BLUE DRAGON video game and animated series is a classic adventure story of magical Shadow powers, flying air fortresses, and unbounded heroism! Brought together by fate, Seven Soldiers of Light must awaken the Shadow within themselves in time to overcome a despotic power and bring peace to their land. Their ensuing journey through a rich fantasy world is also an internal journey to awaken the great power within each of them. Journey with them into the world of BLUE DRAGON!

“Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. welcomes the opportunity to further build the popularity of the BLUE DRAGON franchise with this licensing agreement with VIZ Media and is thrilled to have the opportunity to work on its first ever role playing card game with a dynamically advancing game mechanic,” said Yumi Hoashi, Vice President, KDE’s Card Division. “We look forward to reaching out to an array of players of all ages and sharing the excitement of the group-oriented role playing card game, Blue Dragon. It is our expectation that the character designs of esteemed creator Akira Toriyama, combined with the unique game play of Blue Dragon, will create countless new fans within the card game community."

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher and manufacturer of card and electronic entertainment properties. The most notable of KDE’s card genre is the wildly popular Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game, which is welcoming its 10th anniversary this year. In addition to Yu-Gi-Oh!, KDE’s other titles, although released only in Japan, include such hits as The Prince of Tennis, D. Gray-man, MÄR, Eyeshield 21 and more.

“The creative forces behind BLUE DRAGON include some of the most notable talents from the worlds of gaming, animation and manga/graphic novels,” says David Rewalt, Senior Director - Licensing and Retail Development, VIZ Media. “The continued development of BLUE DRAGON from a video game to an animated series and now a Trading Card Game demonstrates the successful convergence of all these entertainment and media genres. With established legacies in these arenas, VIZ Media and KDE will continue to develop the BLUE DRAGON brand through a variety of innovative and fun products.”

"While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that's creative and witty, but still safe. We've set the bar high for this game."

Teens and tweens? Is there some sort of verification in place, because between the feature list and combat video I've posted after the jump, I might want to play the darn thing. Such a card battle junkie.

KingsIsle Entertainment Announces Wizard101

Ravenwood School of Magical Arts Opens for Enrollment this Summer

Virtual World Designed Especially for Teens and Tweens

Plano, Texas - May 22, 2008 - Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today announced plans for Wizard101, an elaborate 3D virtual world in which magic and sorcery come to life as players embark on a quest that involves a massive cast of good, evil and frequently silly characters. Designed to fill the void between online play sites for the very young and Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) games with mature adult interaction, Wizard101 (www.wizard101.com) puts players in the fantasy role of a Wizard apprentice at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts.

"While the fantasy adventure storyline and collectible card elements of Wizard101 have broad appeal, as a parent I take the responsibility of creating a positive online environment for younger players very seriously," said KingsIsle CEO Elie Akilian. "Wizard101 is a destination for tweens and teens that's creative and witty, but still safe. We've set the bar high for this game."

J. Todd Coleman, an MMO veteran and the creative mind behind Wizard101, is heading up development of the game, which has been in the works for three years. In the game, players will adventure through magical 3D environments as they learn, collect and cast spells summoning fantastic cinematic creatures. Players can also collect bizarre pets and magical artifacts, solve puzzles, make friends, play mini games, and more.

Features include:
• Extensive magical 3D world where players team up with friends and carry out quests to save Wizard City from the forces of Evil.
• Collectible card-style duels that come to cinematic life as players cast spells alongside fellow and rival students.
• More than 101 collectible spells summon zany creatures such as Humongofrog, Evil Snowman and Stormzilla.
• Seven different schools of magic, each with its own unique style and storyline.
• Many witty scenarios and characters based on history, mythology and pop culture.
• The ability to adopt magical pets, like a tiny dragon or flying pig.
• Puzzles and mini-games that challenge the player to earn crystals and enchanted items.
• New outfits and accessories to earn for your customizable Wizard character.

Wizard101 will launch in the third quarter of 2008 and is not yet rated. For additional details go to www.wizard101.com.

"BattleForge is the next step in compelling RTS gameplay by taking the battles completely online," stated Executive Producer & Vice President Richard Leinfellner. "With co-op play, challenging tournaments, Guilds, chat rooms and a robust marketplace for trading and buying your cards; BattleForge is the first RTS to add integral social and community components to an exciting fantasy RTS."

EA's BattleForge Catapults PC Gamers into Multiplayer Online Melees Build Unique Armies and Team Up for Epic Battles in a New Fantasy RTS Game

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that the multi award-winning EA Phenomic Studio based in Germany is developing BattleForgeTM, a new fantasy online real-time strategy game where you assemble your own army with collectible trading cards. Win, trade and buy your cards online to create your ultimate deck.1 Mix and match the elements of your cards to play with your friends online and conquer massive online battlegrounds.

For mortals caught in a clash between insane gods and ancient giants, standing together is the only option. Using the forces of Fire, Frost, Nature and Shadow a mysterious Forge which makes legends come to life, is their single hope to create armies powerful enough to overcome these impossible odds. It is now time to set out and reclaim an epic fantasy world which has been overthrown by sinister powers in the twilight of a dying sun.

"BattleForge is the next step in compelling RTS gameplay by taking the battles completely online," stated Executive Producer & Vice President Richard Leinfellner. "With co-op play, challenging tournaments, Guilds, chat rooms and a robust marketplace for trading and buying your cards; BattleForge is the first RTS to add integral social and community components to an exciting fantasy RTS."

Under development at EA Phenomic, BattleForge is expected to ship in Fall 2008 for the PC. This product is not yet rated by PEGI or ESRB.

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS™, EA™, EA SPORTS BIG™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2007, EA posted revenue of $3.09 billion and had 24 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS BIG, POGO and BattleForge are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

1 Disclaimer: Complete game available with box copy purchase. Microtransactions not required to play game, only for new cards

Thanks to the FalseBlue Magic: the Gathering Card Generator

"World of Warcraft is a global phenomenon that boasts a large base of people who not only actively play the online game and TCG, but who also really enjoy the artwork in the games," said Tim Muret, Vice President of Upper Deck Authenticated. "We wanted to release a book for these players as well as celebrate the great work of these artists."

UPPER DECK ENTERS THE PUBLISHING WORLD WITH BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT® TO RELEASE FIRST-EVER HARDCOVER BOOK SHOWCASING ARTWORK FROM AWARD-WINNING WORLD OF WARCRAFT® TRADING CARD GAME

'World of Warcraft: The Art of the Trading Card Game' Will Be Available at Major Retailers in January 2008

CARLSBAD, Calif.- Upper Deck and Blizzard Entertainment® today announced the January 2008 release of a new hardcover book titled World of Warcraft®: The Art of the Trading Card Game, which will feature artwork created for the highly popular World of Warcraft Trading Card Game (TCG). Published by Chronicle Books, the 288-page, 11"x9" book will include more than 300 full-color iconic pieces of art featured during the first year of release of the World of Warcraft TCG.

World of Warcraft: The Art of the Trading Card Game will feature a collection of sketches, paintings and finished artwork highlighting a selection of World of Warcraft's most valiant heroes, devastating spellcasters and bloodthirsty creatures created by some of today's top fantasy artists. These artists include Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Greg Staples (Judge Dredd), Zoltan Boros and Gabor Szikszai (InQuest Gamer magazine's "Artists of the Year" recipients), Marcelo Vignali (Disney Animation), and Todd Lockwood (Forgotten Realms), among others.

"World of Warcraft is a global phenomenon that boasts a large base of people who not only actively play the online game and TCG, but who also really enjoy the artwork in the games," said Tim Muret, Vice President of Upper Deck Authenticated. "We wanted to release a book for these players as well as celebrate the great work of these artists."

Insightful forewords are given by Blizzard's Senior Art Director, Samwise Didier, and Art Lead Glenn Rane. Jeremy Cranford, Art Acquisitions Manager for Upper Deck Entertainment, provides the book's introduction.

Based on Blizzard Entertainment's hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), the TCG allows players to experience the action and adventure of World of Warcraft in a new format. Released in October 2006, the TCG's premiere set quickly became the hottest and most-sought-after trading card game in the industry, prompting UDE to print additional quantities to support the overwhelming demand.

World of Warcraft is the most popular MMORPG in the world, with more than 9 million subscribers playing the game in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Europe, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau. In World of Warcraft, players assume the roles of legendary heroes and interact with thousands of other players online as they explore, adventure, and quest across a vast realm. Whether journeying together or fighting against one another in epic battles, players form friendships, forge alliances, and compete against enemies for power and glory.

For more information on World of Warcraft: The Art of the Trading Card Game, log onto www.upperdeckentertainment.com.

Since the very beginning of the company back in 1990, Wizards of the Coast has always been about community involvement. From letting players of Magic: The Gathering craft how card strategies and deck building evolved, to listening to players suggestions for expanding their various game mechanics, to letting players design their own cards via the Wizards website, WotC has always seen the players as one of the most important parts of their business.

Take Randy Buehler, for instance. A student who stumbled upon the professional Magic tournament scene, he was eventually hired by Wizards and is now the Vice President of Digital Gaming. I recently had a chance to speak to Randy regarding the next evolution of the Wizards of the Coast community a online store unveiled by the company today called Gleemax.

Introducing Gleemax

Gleemax is, at its core, the ultimate hobby store online.

Wizards has always done the majority of its business through a core network of hobby stores and the communities those stores create. When my friends and I got into gaming, we walked into a hobby store and found a world of awesome games, a guy behind the counter who knew everything about them, and a bunch of people just like us who wanted to play.

I've known the feeling myself. Having my own local store, where I can not only count on finding the latest in strategy and card gaming available, but people to play and discuss those games with. Gleemax aims to bring that same sense of community into the online world, creating a community that is for all intents and purposes the single largest hobby store ever created, combining games, community-generated content and Wizards own content into *the* online destination for strategy gaming.

Right now the tabletop and strategy gamers are scattered across many websites and they can have a hard time finding each other or finding information about good games to play. Gleemax fixes this problem.

It's All About The Everybody

The key to the entire Gleemax experience is community. Any site can sell you games or toss out some relevant news, but Gleemax aims to create a web destination that not only caters to the gaming community globally, but locally as well.

At the center of it all is the personal user page. Every gamer who signs up to the website will get to create and customize his or her page to their heart's content. Want to show off your D&D character? Your most successful Magic deck build? The tools will be in place to do al this and more.

Wizards of the Coast also wants local stores to sign up, promote themselves, and organize events through an online calendar that will automatically populate local players' pages with upcoming events.

The focus of the Gleemax project isn't on promoting Wizards' games, but on bolstering the strategic gaming segment across the board and reaping the benefits of a much healthier market. Because of this sweeping strategy, gamers will be able to find opponents or information on any number of popular games - not just the WotC ones.

Personally I think the community aspect is an excellent idea. As a strategy gamer who fell out of touch with the scene due to time restraints and problems finding people to play with, I'd love to be able to hop onto my home page and find a D&D group looking for more or a chance to dust off my large collection of Spellfire cards.

Yeah, I bought Spellfire cards.

The Games We Play

A home for gamers would be nothing without games, and Gleemax is looking to corner the market on strategy games. While details are still sketchy, Randy did drop some tantalizing tidbits that are sure to give the strategy and board game player pleasant little shivers.

At the forefront is an Indie Strategy Games Portal that will be populated with games that have been given the 'Wizards Seal-Of-Approval'...sort of like an employee's picks shelf at your local gaming store.

Then there'll be a Board Games Portal that will feature both new and classic board games available for online play, including titles from Avalon Hill, the creators of the Civilization game that inspired Sid Meier's PC classic.

All that on top of the ever popular Magic Online and a new title called Uncivilized: The Goblin Game, which is a turn-based web-based game that is played much like play-by-mail games of the past. Meant for gamers without much time on their hands, it sounds like a perfectly lovely way to waste time when you're supposed to be, say, writing a feature story.

Management Content

While the focus is on all games, the Wizards folks are still maintaining a heavy presence on Gleemax. On top of the same sort of news and reviews found at Wizards.com, users will be able to read blogs from Wizards' inside players, gaining insight into the game design process as well as opening a strong dialog between the game makers and the fans who play them. A "natural extension of things that Wizards has stood for since the early 90's."

One Board To Rule Them All

Furthering the notion that Gleemax isn't just for WotC games, Wizards is forming an Advisory board to help shape the future of Gleemax. Not only are they bringing together top thinkers and leaders from the tabletop and digital gaming industry, they're also looking to recruit regular gamers onto the panel, which will meet several times a year to discuss the direction Gleemax is taking.

The gamers themselves will be chosen via contests coming soon to the Gleemax website, starting with an open casting call next week.

And In The End...

If there is one thing I took away from our conversation, it's that Randy Buehler is passionate about the potential of Gleemax.

We think Gleemax is the right thing to do for Wizards of the Coast, the right thing to do for the tabletop hobby gaming industry, and the right thing to do for a sizable group of digital gamers who are being ignored by the mainstream computer gaming industry. We want to build a home that all three groups can feel comfortable in and I think it will change the face of the hobby gaming industry forever. If we pull this off, then Gleemax will become the center of the online strategy and roleplaying gaming universe.

Still, my interest has been piqued by PoxNora, a Magic: The Gathering style browser-based CCG game that has an open beta currently going down. And why is my interest piqued? Simple: not only is the game itself fairly cool and the art attractive and fun to look at, but they are giving everyone who signs up for the open beta $50 worth of free cards to get started.

That's 150 cards to get the ball rolling. Of course, I still suck at the game, but I'm pretty sure I suck a lot less than if I had zero dollars worth of free cards in my stack. If you've got an account, why not jump to the comments and try to organize some matches? Florian Eckhardt

PoxNora [Official Site]