Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Game Brainstorming: Trading Card Game

I suppose it is time for me to come out of the closet, and I might as well make my confessions on my blog. It is time for me to admit publicly that I have started playing Magic the Gathering. I always envisioned this type of game as too "geeky" for me, but in all honesty, I kind of enjoy it! But, the game tends to be dominated by men. And with good reason. The game has very masculine game play. It is all about killing your enemy as quickly as you can.

Magic the Gathering: Boros Reckoner
I think it would be enjoyable to build an online game with trading card mechanics that would appeal to the gals. It would be a sort of...parody game, where the goal is to make your opponent lose their "cool points" rather than "life points." Some of the traits that could be included might be "bitchiness" and "fierceness," while game mechanics such as "battalion" (where you get extra abilities for attacking with multiple creatures) could be replaced with "entourage." Well, it might not be the best idea around, but it could be fun. Besides, doesn't this image look like a PMS-storm!?

Magic the Gathering: Blustersquall

7 comments:

  1. This sounds like an excellent idea and I love the choice of images - I also wonder if something like this might exist already ...?

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  2. I believe it does, and it's called "Pokemon" lol

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  3. Pokemon has cards and is a TV show right - does the computer game already have card stuff in it?

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  4. Model it after the old Star Trek CCG instead of Magic. The goal isn't battling and killing, instead the goal is to earn a certain number of points by completing missions. Each mission has a certain skill requirement (engineering, diplomacy, etc) which is met by having the right crew complement (who each have unique skills) on the "away mission". The mission is accomplished by the "away team" after they meet the requirements and overcome any dilemma cards that are under the mission card (e.g. "trapped in a maze: must have map or SCIENCE x2"). Also, there are ship cards which are required for moving your crew from mission to mission.

    Basically, take that concept... move it from space to the mall. Instead of points, use money as the win counter. Lastly, instead of earning points, make the goal to complete a certain number of shopping tasks without going broke (starting cash of $300, and have effects/events/accessories that either boost or deplete funds).



    And if you need inspiration, I still have my entire deck of Trek CCG cards which I'm thinking of putting up on eBay or something.

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  5. I actually have absolutely NO idea about anything about Pokemon. And honestly, very little idea about trading card games in general.

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  6. Thanks for the tips! If I choose this as my semester project, I'll contact you about those cards.

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  7. Haha dungeon masters probably don't fit the idea of this feminine deck, but there definitely would have to be a good story involved in this sort of game, especially since the target audience would be people who don't generally get involved in trading card games.

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