CCG (collectible card game) is a strategic game that uses customized decks of cards for multiplayer play against another opponent. CCGs often focus on popular genres like fantasy.
Garfield combined his love of games and fantasy into Magic, an immensely popular board game that quickly went viral and endured for decades after it first came into being. While other similar titles may have existed prior, none had such an enduring legacy as Magic did.
Origins
Magic: The Gathering was one of the first card games to become truly viral, pioneering a whole new genre. Due to its immense success, the genre spread into other media such as movies, TV shows and comic books.
Pokemon also inspired numerous copycat CCGs, like Yu-Gi-Oh! which first hit shelves in 1999 to take advantage of its booming popularity at that time. Other CCGs based off existing franchises followed like Harry Potter, Star Wars and A Game of Thrones.
While the term CCG can be defined broadly, one definition specifies that cards be mass produced for trading or collecting and must have rules to facilitate strategic game play. Since Magic’s introduction in 1993, though its rules have remained relatively constant, other elements have changed; some changes were minor while others have stretched what is considered a CCG to its limits; designers experiment with changing illustrations on cards, adding or subtracting storylines, altering planeswalker lore and even making some cards uncollectible or collectable; some of these changes have caused much debate.
Mechanics
Like its cousin Dungeons and Dragons, Magic was designed from its inception as a card game format. Its core gameplay focuses on reducing opponent life totals to zero with an array of fantasy tropes mixed with truly innovative world building, customizable decks that can be personalized as needed, and endless customization opportunities.
Magic remains one of the world’s most beloved card games today. Tournaments regularly draw crowds of players, and top events draw millions of views on Twitch and YouTube.
However, card gaming is no longer limited to gamers alone – even celebrities have taken up this hobby! YouTuber Logan Paul is known for collecting rare trading card games and hosting livestreams in which he “unboxes” them live on stream – this has resulted in speculation and increased prices for these cards as part of what is known as “card culture”. Card culture continues to expand and show no sign of stopping! The world of card games continues its evolution and shows no signs of stopping.
Influence
After Magic’s success, other gaming companies produced trading card games similar to Magic. Most were based on popular properties like Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh!; some featured unique mechanics; for instance, Final Fantasy TCG by Square Enix took inspiration from their RPG video game series while providing its own gameplay elements.
Many collectors of trading cards approach their collection as an investment; rare cards can fetch hundreds of dollars on the secondary market. This has given rise to new trends like storing cards in protective cases for public viewing.
Some individuals are even making an attempt at earning their living through collecting and selling trading card collections, like Logan Paul from YouTube who has made millions by collecting rare cards and trading them for exorbitant amounts of money. His success has inspired younger generations to take up trading card games; more may take advantage of blockchain technologies in future editions of such games.
Collecting
Contrasting traditional card games where players compete directly against one another, CCGs can be played online. These digital game worlds and mechanics designed specifically for an online environment offer different experiences than the classic variety.
Though its initial print runs were relatively modest, Magic was an immediate success, quickly outstripping supply and prompting retailers to run out of cards within hours after receiving new shipments. Players quickly took to creating their own decks while enjoying all of its subtleties.
No matter the setting or role they take on in a trading card game, players are immersed in its narrative and strategy development process. Social interaction combined with unique strategy creation leads to a fascinating gaming experience that many have come to love – something Magic: The Gathering has had an indelible mark upon. Today it continues to influence designers and players alike.
