Tag Archives: card game

Exploding Kittens launches first licensed title Exploding Minions with Illumination and Universal Brand Development

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The hit tabletop games publisher, Exploding Kittens has launched its first licensed game, Exploding Minions, developed in collaboration with Illumination and Universal Brand Development.

The new game is a Minions-inspired take on its flagship Exploding Kittens card game, drawing on the appeal of one of the most successful animation franchises of all time, to bring an ‘easy to learn, quick to play’ game for kids and adults to enjoy together.

Read the full interview with Exploding Kittens’ Joeri Hoste here or in the Spring/Summer issue of ToyNews.

“We’re excited to combine one of the biggest card games with Illumination’s global pop-culture phenomenon, the Minions, to create a new family game night essential,” said Elan Lee, co-creator and CEO of Exploding Kittens. “Exploding Minions marries these two universes to create a simple yet strategic game for all to enjoy.”

Aimed at players aged seven and upwards, Exploding Minions is a family-friendly spin-off of the core Russian Roulette-style game that includes new card types and fun illustrations of Minions as imagined by The Oatmeal. Participants take turns drawing cards while trying to evade the Exploding Minions.

Players can avoid exploding by using clever strategies and favourite cards such as ‘Defuse’, ‘Nope’ and ‘See the Future’, as well as the new ‘Clone Card’. The last player who hasn’t exploded is declared the winner.

The partnership with Illumination and Universal Brand Development marks the first licensing partnership for Exploding Kittens who, until now, has seen most of its licensing activity take the form of outbound licensing, expanding its own IP into the likes of video games for the Nintendo Switch.

In an exclusive interview with Licensing.biz’ sister title, ToyNews, Exploding Kittens’ director of international sales, Joeri Hoste revealed that should the partnership prove to be successful, then further licensing options will be an avenue the firm will continue to explore for its titles.

Steamforged Games partners with SEGA for Sonic the Card Game launch

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Steamforged Games, the tabletop gaming specialist behind hit titles like Monster Hunter, Dark Souls, and the Peaky Blinders card game, Faster Than Truth, has set tongues wagging once more, with a tease of a new card game based on SEGA’s iconic Sonic franchise.

The announcement of a new partnership between the games publisher and the video game studio, SEGA, arrived via what it being billed as a ‘stealth drop’, quietly listing the new Sonic title among a long-list of new titles to launch from Steamforged this year.

In fact, so stealthy was the announcement that details of the new title have been kept to just the title itself, as chatter among fans across the globe begins to pick up over just what Steamforged’s Sonic The Card Game will deliver to the playing space.

Fans across the scene have begun speculating what the game may entail, with drawing conclusions that given the nature of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, a racing card game can best be expected, playing into the similar vein of the family-friendly Sonic game, Sonic Crash Course that charges players with racing each other on the tabletop.

“Sonic’s the name, and speed is the game—literally! Join the beloved blue blur in a competitive card racing game where you’ll collect power-ups and rings to win,” read a short description of the game on Steamforged’s website.

Among the list of announcements, Steamforged also released reminders about is catalogue of video game inspired tabletop titles, including PacMan and its several beast-themed expansions for Horizon Zero Dawn: The Board Game.

Mattel and rapper Lil Yachty to co-produce UNO live-action comedy heist film

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Mattel’s best-selling family card game, UNO has landed its own live-action motion picture, the global toy maker has revealed, tapping the Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Yachty to co-produce.

The toy maker’s entertainment division, Mattel Films has confirmed that the production will work from a screenplay for an action heist comedy, set in the underground hip hop world of Atlanta. Robbie Brenner, executive producer, and Kevin McKeon, supervising producer, will lead the project for the company.

In addition, Quality Control’s Kevin “Coach K” Lee, Pierre “P” Thomas and Brian Sher will produce for Quality Films.

“At Mattel Films, we are looking to explore stories that bring our brands to life in unexpected ways,” said Brenner. “UNO is a game that transcends generations and cultures and we look forward to partnering with Lil Yachty, as well as with Coach, P and Brian Sher, to transform the classic UNO game into a comedic action adventure.”

“I’m so excited to be part of this film with Mattel,” added Yachty. “I played UNO as a kid and still do today, so to spin that into a movie based on the Atlanta hip hop scene I came out of is really special. It hits close to home for me.”

Conceived in 1971 in a barbershop in Cincinnati, Ohio, UNO was created as a way for families to spend time together, and quickly became a household staple. Five decades later, UNO, now available in over 80 countries, has grown into a global sensation that offers fans of all ages a variety of innovative card-based and digital games.

In celebration of UNO’s 50th anniversary this year, Mattel is releasing one of the brand’s largest product lines offering new twists on gameplay, is planning a global UNO Tournament and is collaborating with a variety of iconic names across art, fashion, sports and more.

UNO joins other Mattel Films projects in development including movies based on American Girl, Barbie, Barney, Hot Wheels, Magic 8 Ball, Major Matt Mason, Masters of the Universe, Thomas & Friends, View Master and Wishbone.

Wizards of the Coast brings Godzilla to Magic: The Gathering in groundbreaking deal with Toho Co

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Wizards of the Coast has struck a groundbreaking new collaboration with Toho Co that will see the King of Monsters, Godzilla, make its debut in Magic: The Gathering this year.

Godzilla will be joined by the other iconic monsters from the franchise, marking a special feature of the upcoming premiere card set, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths.

“Magic: The Gathering’s rich and engaging multiverse offers such unique opportunities to explore new worlds like Ikoria, filled with incredible monsters that are larger than life,” said Kyoko Yoshida, senior manager, Japan sales and marketing, Wizards of the Coast.

“Collaborating with Toho Co to bring the Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah and more onto the same world to battle with Magic’s Planeswalkers and new creatures for a first-of-its-kind collaboration is an extraordinary experience that we can’t wait for players to enjoy.”

 Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths is the spring 2020 premier card set for Magic: The Gathering and introduces players to a new world full of incredible monsters and the humans that bond with them. The set introduces players to Lukka, a proud member of the Coppercoats, the military unit that protects the city of Drannith from Ikoria’s savage monsters.

Lukka’s world is forever changed when he forms a connection with a ferocious, winged cat. Such bonds are treasonous in Drannith, forcing Lukka to flee from the very home he was sworn to protect. Now an outcast monster “bonder,” Lukka must survive the wilds of Ikoria with the help of planeswaker Vivien Reid.

Each Godzilla Monster Series card will feature a monster from the pantheon of the Godzilla franchise as a Magic card from Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths. There will be a total of 16 Godzilla Series Monster cards available in English, with three more available only in Japanese.

Anguirus – Armoured Killer, Babygodzilla – Ruin Reborn, Biollante – Plant Beast Form, and Bio-Quartz Spacegodzilla will feature alongside Destoroyah – Perfect Lifeform, Dorat – the Perfect Pet, Ghidorah – King of the Cosmos, and Gigan –  Cyberclaw Terror.

The line up will be completed by Godzilla – Doom Inevitable, Godzilla – King of the Monsters, Godzilla – Primeval Champion, King Caesar – Ancient Guardian, King Caesar – Awoken Titan, Mothra – Supersonic Queen, Rodan -Titan of Winged Fury, and Spacegodzilla – Void Invader.

Fans will only be able to obtain Godzilla, King of the Monsters (while supplies last) by purchasing a draft booster pack display through a Wizards Play Network store. Each sealed draft booster pack display will contain a random Godzilla Series Monster card.

The Godzilla Series Monster cards will also appear in Magic: The Gathering Arena as card styles. Players will receive the card styles as a special bonus when purchasing Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths bundles of six or more booster packs inside the Magic: The Gathering Arena client.