Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

[Tyrannacon]

RollingStone has an interview out with one of the creative minds of Wizards of the Coast, the company president Chris C o c k s. Wizards of the Coast, as you know, is a subsidiary of Hasbro and producer of collectible card games such as Magic: The Gathering as well as role playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. While we are waiting on an official announcement of sorts, it was mentioned in this interview with Chris C o c k s that the Transformers card game is gestating now and is on its way. Here is what we learned from the interview itself, strictly the Transformers bits of relevance for us:

“With the Transformers trading card game, we can be nimble,” he says.

The game hasn’t been formally announced yet, but C o c k s says it’s a title aimed both at young teens and the collector and toy audience. It will come out in September or October. “We think Transformers are cool and the game has interesting, unique mechanics,” he says. “All cards are two-sided, over-sized and feel bigger, weightier in your hand.” C o c k s says the game has a relatively light learning curve, but a lot of depth. “It should take one or two times to understand how to play,” he says.

The game, which has a unique rule set, is built around two decks. One of the decks is a hero deck and the other is a powers and abilities deck used to “amp up heroes.” The strategy around play, he says, is to choose the right hero with the right abilities and powers. They’re also considering making a digital version of the game, once it launches, depending on how it is received. “Transformers will be brand new to Wizards.”

You can read more from the interview here about the other properties they work with and keep your optics focus here as we uncover additional information as it becomes available to us.

[Dan14thPrime]

I recognize that artwork from a Transformers card game app from a couple years ago. I can't recall the name of the game.

[Sarahthecutevixen]

I recognize that artwork from a Transformers card game app from a couple years ago. I can't recall the name of the game.

Transformers legends

[Deadput]

I feel sorry for that guy's last name. (Kinda funny how you had to space it out to avoid the censors)

[Lorekeeper]

I had sworn not to dip into any ccg's other then Magic the Gathering since the disappointments of Young Jedi and Harry Potter... but I might just buy the out of this game.

[Tyrannacon]

I feel sorry for that guy's last name. (Kinda funny how you had to space it out to avoid the censors)

XD Yeah. I know! I kept trying to figure a way around it and this was suggested to me by Va'al. So I did and it worked. Talking about "funny last names" though I swear. Feel bad for the guy on that note.

Also, yeah, the artwork for the preview stuff does seem to be Transformers Legends. I feel like I've seen that Optimus Prime artwork on his Power of the Prime toyline card too or something similar.

[Sunstar]

I had to laugh... that poor poor guy.

[Sunburnninja]

I can't imagine what school was like for this dude. Welp, at least the cards will have good art.

[Deadput]

I feel for the guy my initials are BJ, I had a presumably similar situation with Chris in middle and high school.

Edit: Anyways looking forward to a legit non electronic card game that can actually stay around and not get deleted off the face of the Earth.

[Nexus Knight]

...this is the most amazing thing I've learned all day. The only CCG I've played the Star Trek: Next Generation game and... yeah, it's not cheap to find more cards for the collection.

[durroth]

XD Yeah. I know! I kept trying to figure a way around it and this was suggested to me by Va'al. So I did and it worked.

[onewaydown]

Also, yeah, the artwork for the preview stuff does seem to be Transformers Legends. I feel like I've seen that Optimus Prime artwork on his Power of the Prime toyline card too or something similar.

Yup. Meg's bot mode art is: http://transformers-legends.wikia.com/wiki/Megatron_(1) His alt mode seems new. The Prime bot seems new, but the alt art is: http://transformers-legends.wikia.com/w ... s_Prime_(3)

So... LOL at "Art for upcoming game" - more like 'here's old art from an old game we repurposed for a new one'.

[onewaydown]

...this is the most amazing thing I've learned all day. The only CCG I've played the Star Trek: Next Generation game and... yeah, it's not cheap to find more cards for the collection.

Duuude. I loved that game - or more that I loved TNG and treated them more like collectibles than a card game. I stopped collecting when they went to V2, though. But have a ton of those sets in my storage.

[WreckerJack]

As a person who has played a lot of TCG's over the years. We all know the big 3 are Magic, Yugioh and pokemon. Being that Transformers has a big fanbase I don't see why the cardgame wouldn't be successful especially if WOTC is running things. However WOTC has run some cardgames that don't exist anymore (Like duel masters). Success of a cardgame depends on a lot of factors.

The first thing is that the game itself has to be fun to play. That is on the development team so not much we can do there. The second thing is to market the game so it is accessible. I used to play Cardfight Vanguard, which died in my area because people didn't know it existed. The parent company (Bushiroad) didn't do a good job promoting the game and as a result people don't know what it is, despite it being a blast to play.

One of the biggest things is card games need communities in real life - if there is no one to play with the game won't exist. I have seen many cardgames based on successful franchises die because there wasn't enough organized play or none at all. (Like DBZ, Harry Potter, Neopets ect) No one wants to buy cards to a game they can't play because it's hard to find someone to play. Most gamers will decide to go with one of the big 3 because it's easier to find someone else to play with.

[lakebot]

I would definitely check this out but unfortunately I doubt it will have staying power. There have a been a ton of games based on very successful franchises and at best, they tend to last a couple of years and then go by the way side. You could say it has to do with game play etc. but I think the problem exists in creating a CCG for an entity that is already, and has been for quite some time, popular in other forms. Pokemon, Yughio, and MTG always have been card games(despite having cartoons and video games of the first two) and the card game itself always seemed to be the corner stone of the popularity. With Yughio, you have an original concept which was, sort of like Pokemon, in that it was a game. Yughio is a game about a game which really blows my mind but whatever. And with Pokemon, you had the video game and the card game come out not far from each other so I don't think there was enough footing for the video game aspect to solidify itself as the the corner stone. And Magic is and always has been a card game(even with the weak attempts at other merchandising aspects).

If Star Wars, Marvel(in multiple incarnations), and LOTR couldn't pull it off or maintain it, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Transformers but not holding my breath.

[WreckerJack]

There are always niche communities that will play and collect the cards. I'm sure that at Transformers conventions there will be people who play. I'd say if you like the TF card game then play it and seek others who play to grow the game. But also don't be too surprised if it doesn't work out.

[Nexus Knight]

...this is the most amazing thing I've learned all day. The only CCG I've played the Star Trek: Next Generation game and... yeah, it's not cheap to find more cards for the collection.

Duuude. I loved that game - or more that I loved TNG and treated them more like collectibles than a card game. I stopped collecting when they went to V2, though. But have a ton of those sets in my storage.

My collection currently sits in three tiny holders. EBay is the only place I can find more sets. I try to only find from the original sets, just because I'm too lazy to try and learn the new rules for the expansion packs.

There are always niche communities that will play and collect the cards. I'm sure that at Transformers conventions there will be people who play. I'd say if you like the TF card game then play it and seek others who play to grow the game. But also don't be too surprised if it doesn't work out.

That's why I was gifted a twin brother with similar interests.

[Michael Alex Kawa]

This is pretty awesome news
And if the art on the actual cards is anything like the preview pics (I know some are from the Legends mobile game, which I miss playing) that will be so SWEET.

[Va'al]

We reported not long ago on the plans by Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast to create and release a trading card game of the Transformers, much like the classic and Hasbro big seller Magic: The Gathering. We now have confirmation of those plans still moving ahead, with the US Patent and Trademark Office showing a filed case for 'Transformers' in the category 'Card games, trading card games, playing cards and accessories for use therewith'.

Take a look for yourselves below, and follow the link above for more, as we take another look at some of the artwork initially provided when the story broke!

Serial Number: 87758803
Word Mark: TRANSFORMERS
Status: 630 – New Application – Record Initialized Not Assigned To Examiner
Status Date: 2018-01-20
Goods and Services: Card games, trading card games, playing cards and accessories for use therewith
Party Name: Hasbro, Inc.
Party Type: 10 – Original Applicant

[WreckerJack]

I already couldn't sleep and now I am excited. Look what you did!

[Epsilon Delta]

I hope they package alt-art cards in the main toyline. They can go back to cutting out the "collector's card with stats" on the box and add a TCG card in there. Maybe even add TCG cards in the comics.

[ZeroWolf]

I hope they package alt-art cards in the main toyline. They can go back to cutting out the "collector's card with stats" on the box and add a TCG card in there. Maybe even add TCG cards in the comics.

That would be the route to take to help cross sell. Though for all of this to work, they need the card game to be decent.

[dragons]

As excited I am for transformers I don’t play trading card games any more I don’t see this lasting as long as Pokémon and yugioh

[Kyleor]

Fingers crossed this new game doesn't suffer any of the same card manufacturing quality/quality control issues and community issues currently affecting Magic the Gathering.

Hopefully the card game will be cool/fun, but I'd 100% rather see a Heroclix/Mechwarrior: Dark Age type collectable figure based game come out though.

[ZeroWolf]

Fingers crossed this new game doesn't suffer any of the same card manufacturing quality/quality control issues and community issues currently affecting Magic the Gathering.

Hopefully the card game will be cool/fun, but I'd 100% rather see a Heroclix/Mechwarrior: Dark Age type collectable figure based game come out though.

It did have one before didn't it? Around the time of Energon/Cybertron I believe. I don't know how a miniature game would work as far as alt modes would go, as being a core component of the franchise, it would need to be incorporated better