Legend of the Five Rings fan shop is now open

Asmodee Entertainment has announced that the Legend of the Five Rings fan shop – the first in a multiple-IP partnership with Event Merchandising (EML) Limited – is now open at Shop.LegendOfTheFiveRings.com.

As featured in Fantasy Flight Games In-Flight report at this year’s Gen Con event in September, the fan shop is a dedicated online platform offering specially designed apparel, accessories and homewares such as pillows and mugs to fans and collectors worldwide. Legend of the Five Rings is the tale of the land of Rokugan and the rival samurai clans who fight with swords and magic.

“We’re so pleased to be able to offer so many different ways for Legend of the Five Rings fans to represent and celebrate their favourite Great Clans,” says Katrina Ostrander, Creative Director of Story & Setting at Fantasy Flight Games. “Whether it’s wearing your clan’s colours on tote bags and tees, decorating your space with beautiful prints and accent pillows, or recording your character’s journey in a themed notebook, this shop offers something for everyone, no matter whether you’re a fan of the card game, roleplaying game, or the fiction.”

At launch, fans can expect to see merchandise designed around art they might recognise from the games. EML designers have worked closely with Asmodee Entertainment and Fantasy Flight Games to design beautiful pieces that include art prints, tote bags, hoodies, notebooks, and more. Fans can share their love of the Legend of the Five Rings universe or announce their allegiance to specific clans as this initial launch also includes mini- collections for each of the Great Clans. The initial collections are now available on the site and fans can expect more exciting products to be added to the store regularly after launch.

Nick Hallet, lead designer from Event Merchandising on the project, says: “We are delighted to be partnering with Asmodee on designing and creating a fantastic range of products and an online store for Legends of the Five Rings. There is a rich collection of artwork which has been wonderful to work with.”

EML are based in the UK and their fan shops ship worldwide while a dedicated US store is also in development. The Legend of the Five Rings is the first of a number of online fan shops envisaged under their agreement with Asmodee Entertainment. An Arkham Horror store is coming soon with more details to follow.

Mattel partners with contemporary artist and activist Shepard Fairey to launch environmentally focused UNO

Mattel has partnered up with the renowned contemporary artist, activist, and illustrator, Shepard Fairey for the release of a new UNO deck made with sustainable materials and themed around the artist’s environmental activism.

The new deck has been designed by both Fairey and the UNO team at the artist’s LA studio, Studio Number One and features new, original environmentally-themed art in Fairey’s iconic graphic style and design elements. These elements include a consistent illustration style and colour palette to mirror the artist’s signature style.

The latest in Mattel’s UNO Artiste Series, the new launch – housed on Mattel Creations – joins a line up of previous artists to have featured in the UNO series, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Nina Chanel Abney.

Shepard Fairey’s collaboration with Mattel sees the toymaker deliver an UNO deck made entirely with sustainable materials, including recyclable cards, a paper belly band around the cards, wood-free paper for the instruction sheet and the removal of all cellophane wrapping.

This special deck follows an earlier launch of UNO Nothin’ But Paper, recognised as the first fully recyclable UNO deck that did away with its cellophane packaging materials as part of the brand’s plan to remove the cellophane from 100 per cent of standard, paper-based decks in 2021. This is also in line with Mattel’s goal to achieve 100 per cent recycled, recyclable, or bio-based plastic materials across its products and packaging by 2030.

To take the partnership to the next level, Mattel is also making a donation on behalf of Fairey to Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the oceans through federal and state legislation, in support of his initiatives.

Steamforged Games launches its bluffing and scheming card game Peaky Blinders: Faster Than Truth

The tabletop games publisher, Steamforged Games has launched its official Peaky Blinders card game, a new competitive title based on the multi award-winning television drama.

Aimed a three to six players, Peaky Blinders: Faster Than Truth forces players to keep their cards close to their chest as they navigate a gameplay inspired by the BAFTA award-winning TV drama. Set in 1920s Birmingham, the game features fan-favourite characters from the series.

Released worldwide on February 26th, Peaky Blinders: Faster Than truth centres on bluffing and tricking opponents. Like characters in the show, players can also choose whether to make alliances, break alliances, and even sabotage and steal from their rivals.

Mat Hart, co-founder and creative director at Steamforged Games, said: “When I first watched Peaky Blinders, I was instantly blown away by the vivid depiction of Britain after the Great War – a time of raw, bloody fighting for survival in an industrial landscape gripped by upheaval.

“We wanted to capture that feeling of playing your cards close to your chest, ever mindful of the razor-thin line between winning and losing. Blink first and you lose, and never forget that fortune smiles on the bold.”

Peaky Blinders: Faster Than Truth is available from game retailers in the UK priced at £14.99.

Steamforged Games teams with Bandai Namco to launch Pac-Man: The Card Game

Steamforged Games has partnered with Bandai Namco Entertainment to launch the iconic 1980 arcade game Pac-Man to the tabletop gaming space with Pac-Man: The Card Game.

The game is billed as an easy-to-learn family game that will see players gobble up fruit and Pac-Dot cards for points, while avoiding ghosts Blinky, Pinky. Inky, and Clyde at all costs. The title will be distributed in the UK and Ireland by John Adams Leisure and will hit stores in November this year.

With three game modes, players can get to know the game in Beginner Mode, level up for a greater challenge, or combine both decks in Bonus Mode to create an experience for up to eight players.

Mat Hart, co-founder and creative lead at Steamforged Games, said: “We’re stoked to be collaborating with our partner Bandai Namco on another household IP. The game will be a brand new experience that feels authentically like the PAC-MAN we all know and love, with art inspired by the retro arcade classic.”

Steamforged Games teams with Bandai Namco to launch Pac-Man: The Card Game

Steamforged Games has partnered with Bandai Namco Entertainment to launch the iconic 1980 arcade game Pac-Man to the tabletop gaming space with Pac-Man: The Card Game.

The game is billed as an easy-to-learn family game that will see players gobble up fruit and Pac-Dot cards for points, while avoiding ghosts Blinky, Pinky. Inky, and Clyde at all costs. The title will be distributed in the UK and Ireland by John Adams Leisure and will hit stores in November this year.

With three game modes, players can get to know the game in Beginner Mode, level up for a greater challenge, or combine both decks in Bonus Mode to create an experience for up to eight players.

Mat Hart, co-founder and creative lead at Steamforged Games, said: “We’re stoked to be collaborating with our partner Bandai Namco on another household IP. The game will be a brand new experience that feels authentically like the PAC-MAN we all know and love, with art inspired by the retro arcade classic.”