Card games have been around for what feels like forever. They are a basic games that anyone can play and they also come in a different forms. A standard playing card deck contains 52 cards with 4 different suits containing 13 cards each. While there are simple games like "Go Fish" there are also more mind empowering games like "Bridge". Then there are the games played for money like "Poker" and "Blackjack". There literally are so many card games, some probably can be made up on the spot, however whatever the form, in order to win it all comes down to playing one's cards right.
Moving away from basic cards, when I was a kid, trading card games were all the rage. Especially, the "Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG)". Originally, when there was only 150 Pokémon, it was a lot easier to collect them all; now with over 700 Pokémon there are tons of different cards with different artistic designs and abilities. There are multiple cards of the same Pokémon, but in a variant form. Pokémon TCG wasn't the only popular card game in the late 90s/early 2000s, it's just the one I actually played, so I know more about it! Like regular card games, these were to be played against other people, but added more spice to the typical game. Since, everyone's deck could be unqiue, they were not restricted to the same deck of 52. In fact, all TCG have their own unique rules making them so fun.
This rave of the Pokemon TCG caused strange problems like the primary school Pokemon TCG ban. Many schools banned the activity of playing TCG, it wasn't just Pokemon...Yu-Gi-Oh and pretty much any other "game" was banned. Most of them were banned because of card stealing and cardsharking (pressuring into doing a bad trade), pretty much bad sportsmanship and out of control competition. There was a lot of issues, but like all things I don't really see why they should ban a card game, instead teach the children to be civil and have manners. They're not weapons or a threat to children, it is property and like most items if they are stolen you brought it to school at your own risk. Of course, since it was mostly little children bringing their cards to school it would in turn end up in tears and tattle-tailing. By now this rule has faded and new fads come and get to be banned. The most recent case of a 9 year old boy writing a letter to overturn the Pokemon TCG ban in 2011. Only 3 years ago and this card game still holds so much power.
All card games a skill based, although many people (especially parents and teachers fail to see that value.) Instead, they see it as a silly distraction with no value. However, most card games, have mathematical values to it and require quick thinking. Not only that, but most cards will have some type of description, help those youngsters learn to read! It also encourages imagination and creativity, usually a healthy sense of competition, social interaction, and amongst all having fun!
Physical games are still popular, but when virtual card started to surface it opened a whole new door for the card game industry. The GameBoyColor and it's successors, had a plethora of card games. For some reason, simply just playing against an AI was just as satisfying as playing against a real person. Games like "Pokemon Trading Card Game" for the GBC and "Yu-Gi-Oh: The Sacred Cards" for GBA were extremely popular. In a way, virtual card games were a good thing for people who didn't have enough money to invest in the little packs of cards or for those who had no one to play the physical card games with.
Trading card games continue to be popular, however now in days online card games have become extremely popular. When the tides turned to the digital age, virtual card games were (and still are) all the rage. There is literally a virtual card game for pretty much every standard card game. Games like "Magic: The Gathering" (MTG) created an online version of itself in 2002, but also has simple dedicate video games with it's current series "Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalker" still going strong since 2012. Having PvP as easy access has made card games a hit. Not only that, but it is still a game that requires patience, time, and skill. Card games are not only about who has the better deck, but about who knows how to play their cards to their advantage.
If you're one who likes playing online casino card games, well then that is mainly luck just like in real card games. However, it is possible to do mathematical calculations to predict the next card. Virtual casino card games also require time, patience and skill. However, a lot more people feel safe playing the online version because it is not real money. There is less of a commitment or fear of losing everything, pretty much there are no repercussions for losing besides not being able to play for a bit. Note that not all virtual casino games use fake currency, there are plenty of online tournaments for real cash.
Moving onto today's card game industry, it seems PvP card games have been revised. I'm not sure the genre ever really died out, I may just not have been into it. For instance, Magic continues to be around both virtually and physically and kids still collect Pokémon cards. However, now there is even more technology than a decade ago. When Blizzard's "Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft" came out, it was an instant success. Why? The game had an addictive approach like most card games; collect them all, build the best deck, test out other people's skills to see who's the best. The basic foundation has been around since the beginning of card games, but Hearthstone adds flare to it. I cannot compare to MTG for I have not played it, but many people argue that Hearthstone is a lot more simplistic. Simple or not, there are still playing factors that people have to recognize. Like any collectable card game, once one understands how to play and trusts their deck, the game because pure fun rather than frustration.
Following the release of Hearthstone, other companies tried to appeal to the card genre frenzy. Looking at large publishers like Ubisoft who released "Assassin's Creed: Memories" and The Pokémon Company who released "Pokémon TCG Online" for mobile play. More cards to collect and more people to play against. Both are free-to-play games that most likely rely of micro-transactios in order to get more cards. Consumers will be able to pick one that suits them the best. For instance, I used to play Pokemon TCG physically with my sister, I had the mat and everything, but eventually she stopped playing with me so I upgraded to the GameBoy version of it; now even though there is an online version, I have come to prefer playing Hearthstone rather than trying to catch em' all again. Though I love and understand how to play Pokémon TCG, I really like the mechanics of Hearthstone. But that's just me, I have a friend who doesn't play any online card game and still gets together with his old high school friends to play MTG.
Card games will be around forever since there are so many variations of it. Each one requires a different skill which is admirable. Obviously the main skill is trying to predict the next card or your opponents plan; a tactician'e eye would be helpful indeed.
So tell me,
- What are some of your favorite card games?
- What do you think of card games in general?
I started writing this in July 2014...but for some reason never finished it. I apologize for this, but I don't remember what my actual point of the article was supposed to be! Not sure if it was suppose to be a history lesson on the evolution of cards, a statement about card games today, or what...so sorry about that!
Also, sorry I haven't posted anything since October. The Fall school semester was a harsh one and wintertime I always just want to be in hibernation mode. I've been playing a lot of games lately like "Pokémon: Alpha Sapphire" and "Sunset Overdrive" and just enjoying my new WiiU! Also, I've been binge watching the anime Fairy Tail that my friend got me hooked on. Hopefully, I'll get back into the swing of writing things.