Collectable
Card Games , or CCG`s to give them their shortened title , are a relatively
recent off shoot from the role-playing game market . The first CCG appeared in the early
1990`s and since then a whole new area of gaming and collecting has appeared becoming one
of the largest growing hobbies in the world .
CCG`s are , by definition , card based games that are collectable . They are usually
purchased in one of two formats : The starter deck & the booster each containing a
mixture of cards from a possible set size of several hundred and usually split down into
rarities of the cards , such as common , uncommon or rare. |
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First of all, the Starter
Deck is the first contact most players have when buying into a new CCG . These
days the deck is a ready to play mix of cards along with a rulesbook and anything else
that can be crammed in the box(playmat,counters,dice,etc.). The idea is you don't NEED to
buy anything else and it introduces the game mechanics , setting and ideas to you . These
Starters usually consist of 60-75 cards with varying mixtures of common, uncommon &
rare values . The next step is to buy more cards to change the feel and purpose of the
deck to your specific strategies . This is done by the purchase of Booster Packs.
Booster Packs are a sealed packet of cards in which quantity varies from
game to game . In Magic The Gathering boosters there are usually 15 cards with the
following distribution : 1 x rare , 3 x uncommon ,11 x common . Whilst in Pokemon there
are only 11 ; 1 x rare , 3 x uncommon , 2 x energy & 5 x common (on average 1 in 3
packs contains an ultra - rare foil card which replaces the ordinary rare) . As they are
sealed purchasers are not aware of the exact contents they will be getting - the cards
could be good ,bad or just plain average . This also means that unless you have either a
local shop that does swaps on single cards or a large group of friends who play and swap
you can end up buying loads of packs to get the cards you want for your play deck . |
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The hobby of CCGs has
currently developed into quite a large market . Originally players tended to be RPG
enthusiasts who wanted a break from roleplaying , but doing something not too different ,
or those who no longer had the time to commit to long term campaigns and the like . These
days the players cover all age groups from 6 to 76 (and beyond) and all walks of life . As
well as this some large companies have set up both National & World tournaments for
the various games witth prizes heading towards the $500,000 mark and up . Support like
this only increases the visibility of these types of games and can only be good . On the
downside you do get the debunkers - usually misguided & supposedly Christian ministers
- who claim that CCG`s are the work of the Devil and anyone who plays one is damned for
all eternity - Sad ! I have no other comment to make on these claims . |
