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Yu-gi-oh! Structure deck: Albaz Strike

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49543/yu-gi-oh-tcg-structure-deck-albaz-strike

Konami Digital Entertainment will release the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG – Structure Deck: Albaz Strike on March 11.

Albaz Strike centers on Fallen Albaz, which originally appearing in Rise of the Duelist. The monster uses Fusion Summoning effects that allows duelists to absorb enemy monsters and transform it into new forms. The structure deck includes new Tri-Brigade and Springan monsters as well as reprints from Phantom Rage and Blazing Vortex sets. The deck includes five Tokens that feature new art that tell the stories of ‘Fallen of Albaz’. Cards that offer additional support for the deck can be found in Burst of Destiny and the recently announced Battle of Chaos (see “Konami Announces First Core ‘Yu-Gi-Oh!’ TCG’ Set of 2022”).

Albaz Strike will contain 46 cards (a 40-card Main Deck and 6-card Extra Deck), including 5 Ultra Rares, 3 Super Rares, and 38 Commons; 5 special Token cards; and a double-sided deluxe game mat/dueling guide.

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Wizards of the Coast unveils Secret Lair Extra Life

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49569/wizards-coast-unveils-secret-lair-extra-life-2021

Wizards of the Coast unveiled Secret Lair: Extra Life 2021, a drop series set that benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which will be on preorder November 5-8.

WotC continues their Extra Life annual fundraising event (see “‘Secret Lair: Extra Life 2020’“) where gamers come together to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with a new Secret Lair set. This year, the set features two different copies of the three cards offered: one copy with art rendered by young artists from Seattle’s Children’s Autism Center and one copy with artwork that is a professional artist’s interpretation of the rendered card. The set includes the following cards: 1 Mulldrifter by Aliya, age 5 and a half;1 Mulldrifter by Magali Villeneuve, age 41; 1 Craterhoof Behemoth by Kira, age 5 and a half; 1 Craterhoof Behemoth by Lars Grant-West, age 52, 1 Metalwork Colossus by Hyan Tran, age 6; and 1 Metalwork Colossus by Chris Rahn, age 36.

These sets can be purchased in foil for $49.99 or non-foil for $39.99. 50% of the sales proceeds go towards the Extra Life fundraising event.

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[MP21] Tin of Ancient Battles Spoilers

https://img.yugioh-card.com/uk/news/detail.php?id=11237

MP21-EN001 “Pikari @Ignister” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN002 “Doyon @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN003 “Achichi @Ignister” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN004 “Arcjet Lightcraft” (Common)
MP21-EN005 “Sky Striker Ace – Roze” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN006 “Witchcrafter Genni” (Common)
MP21-EN007 “Gismek Kaku, the Supreme Shining Sky Stag” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN008 “Jack-o-Bolan” (Common)
MP21-EN009 “Ibicella Lutea” (Common)
MP21-EN010 “Obsessive Uvualoop” (Common)
MP21-EN011 “Daruma Dropper” (Common)
MP21-EN012 “Transcicada” (Common)
MP21-EN013 “Squeaknight” (Common)
MP21-EN014 “Battle Survivor” (Common)
MP21-EN015 “Wind Pegasus @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN016 “Light Dragon @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN017 “Dark Templar @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN018 “Cross-Sheep” (Secret Rare)
MP21-EN019 “Aussa the Earth Charmer, Immovable” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN020 “Gravity Controller” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN021 “Ignister A.I.Land” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN022 “TA.I. Strike” (Common)
MP21-EN023 “A.I.dle Reborn” (Common)
MP21-EN024 “A.I. Love Fusion” (Common)
MP21-EN025 “A.I.’s Ritual” (Common)
MP21-EN026 “Ghost Meets Girl – A Mayakashi’s Manuscript” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN027 “Disposable Learner Device” (Common)
MP21-EN028 “Kuji-Kiri Curse” (Common)
MP21-EN029 “A.I. Shadow” (Common)
MP21-EN030 “Sales Pitch” (Rare)
MP21-EN031 “Armory Call” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN032 “Mutually Affured Destruction” (Common)
MP21-EN033 “Fiendish Portrait” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN034 “Feedran, the Winds of Mischief” (Common)
MP21-EN035 “Nine-Lives Cat” (Common)
MP21-EN036 “Execution of the Contract” (Common)
MP21-EN037 “Shiny Black “C” Squadder” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN038 “Marincess Pascalus” (Rare)
MP21-EN039 “Bellcat Fighter” (Common)
MP21-EN040 “Code Talker Inverted” (Common)
MP21-EN041 “Linguriboh” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN042 “Link Party” (Common)
MP21-EN043 “Parallel eXceed” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN044 “Salamangreat Zebroid X” (Common)
MP21-EN045 “Gouki Iron Claw” (Common)
MP21-EN046 “Gouki Guts” (Common)
MP21-EN047 “Marincess Basilalima” (Common)
MP21-EN048 “Noctovision Dragon” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN049 “Deep Sea Artisan” (Common)
MP21-EN050 “Deep Sea Sentry” (Common)
MP21-EN051 “Deep Sea Minstrel” (Common)
MP21-EN052 “Red Familiar” (Common)
MP21-EN053 “Crimson Resonator” (Common)
MP21-EN054 “Lantern Shark” (Common)
MP21-EN055 “Buzzsaw Shark” (Common)
MP21-EN056 “Girsu, the Orcust Mekk-Knight” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN057 “King Beast Barbaros” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN058 “Trias Herarchia” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN059 “Union Driver” (Rare)
MP21-EN060 “Malice, Lady of Lament” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN061 “Ghost Mourner & Moonlit Chill” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN062 “Animadorned Archosaur” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN063 “Magical Hound” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN064 “Invoked Augoeides” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN065 “Dragonmaid Sheou” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN066 “Deep Sea Prima Donna” (Common)
MP21-EN067 “Ravenous Crocodragon Archethys” (Common)
MP21-EN068 “Traptrix Allomerus” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN069 “Proxy F Magician” (Common)
MP21-EN070 “Gouki The Powerload Ogre” (Common)
MP21-EN071 “Marincess Great Bubble Reef” (Common)
MP21-EN072 “Eria the Water Charmer” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN073 “A.I. Contact” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN074 “Burning Draw” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN075 “Link Burst” (Common)
MP21-EN076 “Deep Sea Aria” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN077 “Resonator Command” (Common)
MP21-EN078 “Torpedo Takedown” (Common)
MP21-EN079 “Heavy Forward” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN080 “Witchcrafter Unveiling” (Common)
MP21-EN081 “Fusion Deployment” (Prismatic Secret Rare))
MP21-EN082 “Flourishing Frolic” (Common)
MP21-EN083 “A.I.Q” (Common)
MP21-EN084 “Red Reign” (Common)
MP21-EN085 “Witchcrafter Patronus” (Common)
MP21-EN086 “Gravedigger’s Trap Hole” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN087 “Titanocider” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN088 “Rose Girl” (Common)
MP21-EN089 “Superheavy Samurai Wagon” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN090 “Rain Bozu” (Common)
MP21-EN091 “Performapal Turn Trooper” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN092 “Gussari @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN093 “Gatchiri @Ignister” (Common)
MP21-EN094 “Machina Metalcruncher” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN095 “Superheavy Samurai Swordmaster Musashi” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN096 “Gaia the Fierce Knight Origin” (Rare)
MP21-EN097 “Gaia the Magical Knight” (Common)
MP21-EN098 “Curse of Dragon, the Cursed Dragon” (Common)
MP21-EN099 “Artillery Catapult Turtle” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN100 “Soldier Gaia the Fierce Knight” (Common)
MP21-EN101 “Dogmatika Ecclesia, the Virtuous” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN102 “Dogmatika Theo, the Iron Punch” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN103 “Dogmatika Adin, the Enlightened” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN104 “Dogmatika Fleurdelis, the Knighted” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN105 “Dogmatika Maximus” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN106 “Dogmatika Nexus” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN107 “Fallen of Albaz” (Ultra Rare))
MP21-EN108 “Infernoble Knight Astolfo” (Common)
MP21-EN109 “Infernoble Knight Ogier” (Common)
MP21-EN110 “Infernoble Knight Oliver” (Common)
MP21-EN111 “Infernoble Knight Maugis” (Common)
MP21-EN112 “Melffy Rabby” (Common)
MP21-EN113 “Melffy Fenny” (Common)
MP21-EN114 “Melffy Catty” (Common)
MP21-EN115 “Melffy Puppy” (Common)
MP21-EN116 “Melffy Pony” (Common)
MP21-EN117 “Capricious Darklord” (Common)
MP21-EN118 “Indulged Darklord” (Common)
MP21-EN119 “Darklord Nergal” (Common)
MP21-EN120 “Thunder Hand” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN121 “Gizmek Okami, the Dreaded Deluge Dragon” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN122 “Lifeless Leaffish” (Common)
MP21-EN123 “Dracoon Lamp” (Common)
MP21-EN124 “Gaia the Magical Knight of Dragons” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN125 “Titaniklad the Ash Dragon” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN126 “Infernoble Knight Captain Roland” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN127 “Infernoble Knight Emperor Charles” (Rare)
MP21-EN128 “Chaos Ruler, the Chaotic Magical Dragon” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN129 “Melffy of the Forest” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN130 “Melffy Mommy” (Common)
MP21-EN131 “Rikka Queen Strenna” (Common)
MP21-EN132 “Drill Driver Vespenato” (Common)
MP21-EN133 “Spiral Fusion” (Rare)
MP21-EN134 “Dogmatika Nation” (Common)
MP21-EN135 “Nadir Servant” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN136 “”Infernoble Arms – Durendal”” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN137 “”Infernoble Arms – Hauteclere”” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN138 “”Infernoble Arms – Joyeuse”” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN139 “Melffy Tag” (Common)
MP21-EN140 “Melffy Hide-and-Seek” (Common)
MP21-EN141 “Magellanica, the Deep Sea City” (Common)
MP21-EN142 “Adamancipator Friends” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN143 “Triple Tactics Talent” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN144 “Blizzard” (Common)
MP21-EN145 “Fury of Kairyu-Shin” (Common)
MP21-EN146 “Diced Dice” (Common)
MP21-EN147 “Dogmatika Punishment” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN148 “Dogmatika Encounter” (Common)
MP21-EN149 “Horn of Oliphant” (Common)
MP21-EN150 “Melffy Playhouse” (Common)

MP21-EN151 “Darklord Uprising” (Common)
MP21-EN152 “Shaddoll Schism” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN153 “Dragonmaid Tidying” (Rare)
MP21-EN154 “Redeemable Jar” (Common)
MP21-EN155 “Ice Dragon’s Prison” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN156 “Junk Sleep” (Common)
MP21-EN157 “Odd-Eyes Revolution Dragon” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN158 “Wynn the Wind Channeler” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN159 “Seleglare the Luminous Lunar Dragon” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN160 “Ret-time Reviver Emit-ter” (Common)
MP21-EN161 “Speedroid Block-n-Roll” (Common)
MP21-EN162 “Speedroid CarTurbo” (Rare)
MP21-EN163 “Rampaging Smashtank Rhynosaber” (Common)
MP21-EN164 “Linkerbell” (Common)
MP21-EN165 “Superheavy Samurai Scarecrow” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN166 “Raider’s Wing” (Rare)
MP21-EN167 “The Phantom Knights of Stained Greaves” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN168 “The Phantom Knights of Torn Scales” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN169 “Tri-Brigade Nervall” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN170 “Tri-Brigade Kerass” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN171 “Tri-Brigade Fraktall” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN172 “Dogmatika Ashiyan” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN173 “Virtual World Mai-Hime – Lulu” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN174 “Virtual World Roshi – Laolao” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN175 “Virtual World Xiezhi – Jiji” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN176 “Virtual World Kirin – Lili” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN177 “Awakening of the Possessed – Gagigobyte” (Common)
MP21-EN178 “Awakening of the Possessed – Rasenryu” (Common)
MP21-EN179 “Alpha, the Master of Beasts” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN180 “Prufinesse, the Tactical Trapper” (Common)
MP21-EN181 “Rock Band Xenoguitar” (Common)
MP21-EN182 “Magical Broker” (Common)
MP21-EN183 “Gluttonous Reptolphin Greethys” (Common)
MP21-EN184 “Hinezumi Hanabi” (Common)
MP21-EN185 “Brigrand the Glory Dragon” (Rare)
MP21-EN186 “Virtual World Kyubi – Shenshen” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN187 “Infernity Doom Archfiend” (Common)
MP21-EN188 “Infernoble Knight Captain Oliver” (Common)
MP21-EN189 “Penguin Brave” (Common)
MP21-EN190 “Raider’s Knight” (Rare)
MP21-EN191 “Arc Rebellion Xyz Dragon” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN192 “Virtual World Shell – Jaja” (Rare)
MP21-EN193 “Virtual World Phoenix – Fanfan” (Rare)
MP21-EN194 “Joyous Melffys” (Common)
MP21-EN195 “Divine Arsenal AA-ZEUS – Sky Thunder” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN196 “Tri-Brigade Ferrijit the Barren Blossom” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN197 “Tri-Brigade Rugal the Silver Sheller” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN198 “Tri-Brigade Shuraig the Ominous Omen” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN199 “Geonator Transverser” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN200 “Phantom Knights’ Rank-Up-Magic Force” (Rare)
MP21-EN201 “Tri-Brigade Stand-Off” (Common)
MP21-EN202 “Tri-Brigade Airborne Assault” (Rare)
MP21-EN203 “Dogmatikacism” (Common)
MP21-EN204 “Virtual World City – Kauwloon” (Rare)
MP21-EN205 “Virtual World Gate – Qinglong” (Rare)
MP21-EN206 “Charge Into a Dark World” (Common)
MP21-EN207 “Rookie Fur Hire” (Common)
MP21-EN208 “Xyz Import” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN209 “Jack-In-The-Hand” (Common)
MP21-EN210 “Raider’s Unbreakable Mind” (Common)
MP21-EN211 “Raidraptor’s Phantom Knights Claw” (Common)
MP21-EN212 “Tri-Brigade Revolt” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN213 “Tri-Brigade Oath” (Common)
MP21-EN214 “Virtual World Gate – Chuche” (Rare)
MP21-EN215 “Free-Range Monsters” (Common)
MP21-EN216 “Warning Point” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN217 “One or Eight” (Common)
MP21-EN218 “Mahaama the Fairy Dragon” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN219 “Jabbing Panda” (Common)
MP21-EN220 “Periallis, Empress of Blossoms” (Common)
MP21-EN221 “Virtual World Beast – Jiujiu” (Rare)
MP21-EN222 “Virtual World Dragon – Longlong” (Rare)
MP21-EN223 “Virtual World Hime – Nyannyan” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN224 “Adamancipator Seeker” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN225 “Adamancipator Researcher” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN226 “Adamancipator Analyzer” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN227 “Adamancipator Crystal – Leonite” (Common)
MP21-EN228 “Adamancipator Crystal – Raptite” (Common)
MP21-EN229 “Adamancipator Crystal – Dragite” (Common)
MP21-EN230 “Adamancipator Risen – Leonite” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN231 “Adamancipator Risen – Raptite” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN232 “Adamancipator Risen – Dragite” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN233 “Adamancipator Laputite” (Common)
MP21-EN234 “Adamancipator Signs” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN235 “Adamancipator Relief” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN236 “Adamancipator Resonance” (Common)
MP21-EN237 “Drytron Beta Rastaban” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN238 “Drytron Gamma Eltanin” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN239 “Drytron Delta Altais” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN240 “Drytron Zeta Aldhibah” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN241 “Cyberse Accelerator” (Common)
MP21-EN242 “Gouki Destroy Ogre” (Common)
MP21-EN243 “Qadshaddoll Keios” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN244 “Reeshaddoll Wendi” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN245 “Naelshaddoll Ariel” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN246 “El Shaddoll Apkallone” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN247 “El Shaddoll Construct”” (alternate art) Prismatic Secret Rare
MP21-EN248 “Raviel, Lord of Phantasms – Shimmering Scraper” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN249 “Dark Beckoning Beast” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN250 “Chaos Summoning Beast” (Super Rare)
MP21-EN251 “Opening of the Spirit Gates” (Ultra Rare)
MP21-EN252 “Uria, Lord of Searing Flames” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN253 “Hamon, Lord of Striking Thunder” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN254 “Raviel, Lord of Phantasms” (Prismatic Secret Rare)
MP21-EN255 “True Light” (Ultra Rare) NEW
MP21-EN256 “Magician’s Salvation” (Ultra Rare) NEW
MP21-EN257 “Piercing the Darkness” (Ultra Rare) NEW
MP21-EN258 “Crossout Designator” (Ultra Rare) NEW

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‘MAGIC’S’ COMMANDER RC BANS ONE CARD AND UNBANS ANOTHER

The Commander Rules Committee (RC) updated their banned list for Magic: The Gathering’s Commander/EDH format on September 13.

In the update, the Commander RC banned Golos, Tireless Pilgrim from the Commander/EDH format. Golos was released in Core Set 2020 in 2019, and had actually previously been a problem card for the Standard format alongside Field of the Dead (see “Announcement’ Date Moved Up“). The RC gave the following reason for finally banning Golos in EDH:

“Its presence crushes the kind of diversity in commander choice which we want to promote.  You can drop in Golos and a few 5-color lands into a random deck and get all the ramp and card advantage you would ever want from a commander, with no worries about your mana base.  Golos’ ability effectively reduces the commander tax to one and once you hit seven mana…“

The Commander RC also made a decision to unban Worldfire, a mythic rare from Magic Core Set 2013. This card was previously banned because of problems it created an unfair advantage for the caster who could float mana and cast their commander after Worldfire resolved. It was unbanned because the 2021 Commander environment features cheaper ways, mana-wise, of producing a similar effects.   

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ICV2 INTERVIEW: COVID SAFETY AT GEN CON

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49282/icv2-interview-covid-safety-gen-con

Given the rapidly changing pandemic situation nationally and in Indianapolis, we reached out to Gen Con with questions about how Covid safety is being handled at Gen Con Indy, which opens Thursday.  For context, Marion County, where Gen Indy is being held, has high rates of Covid transmission (522 new weekly cases per 100,000 population) and a high positivity rate (11.67%), according to the state of Indiana’s website.  Around 47% of county residents are vaccinated, below the national average of 55%.

Although there is no mask mandate in Marion County, Gen Con has instituted a mask requirement for the convention center, (see “Gen Con Reverses Course on Maskless Attendance“), and also plans a number of other safety measures (see “Gen Con Announces Updated On-Site Health Safety Protocols“).  A Gen Con spokesperson provided answers to our questions.

Why didn’t Gen Con institute a vaccination requirement, or a vaccination or negative test requirement, for attendees?
Throughout the pandemic we have been working closely with public-health officials in Indianapolis and following their guidance.  Due to the nature of our production schedule and sales cycle we had to make a decision on a proof of vaccination or negative test requirement very early in the summer.  At the time, there were very few precedents for proof of vaccination at large public events.  We are very supportive of vaccination and our internal polling indicates that over 90% of our attendees are vaccinated.

Who is responsible for enforcing Gen Con’s mask rule and other special precautions at the show, and how many of those people will there be?
Gen Con convention staff will enforce our mask rules, as they enforce all other rules of the convention.

How will those responsible handle people who refuse to properly mask?
We will take all necessary action to assure compliance with our rules, including removing non-compliant individuals from the convention center.

What safety measures will be taken to ensure social distancing while waiting in line at ticket windows, to get into the exhibit hall (especially at opening on the first day), and at booths at the show?
We are taking steps to mitigate crowding where possible, including moving opening ceremonies away from the exhibit hall opening, extra spacing at gaming tables in event areas, and other steps.  We have signs throughout the convention center encouraging social distancing.

At one point, Gen Con was going to offer wristbands to attendees with proof of vaccination.  Is that still the case (even though there’s no impact on masking, it could help attendees identify those with whom they want to game)?
We have chosen universal masking as the most effective safety measure we can implement at this time.

Will masks be required on the bridges to the convention center?
No.  We recommend attendees use street entrances to the convention center.

Has Gen Con negotiated with their hotel partners to require masks in common areas such as lobbies and elevators?
We are working closely with Visit Indy and our hotel partners to encourage mask wearing in all hotel common areas; however, each hotel will implement their own policies.  Gen Con rules will be enforced in all Gen Con-controlled hotel spaces.

What support has the City of Indianapolis offered Gen Con to help with COVID-19 safety protocols?
The city has been very proactive in connecting us with Marion County Public Health and other resources to ensure that Gen Con is operated as safely as possible under the circumstances, and to encourage safety policies in those areas of the city outside of our direct control.

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THE POKEMON COMPANY INT’L AND CREATURES INC. ANNOUNCE AN ILLUSTRATION CONTEST

Source: https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/49284/the-pokemon-company-intl-creatures-inc-announce-illustration-contest

Winner’s Art will be Featured on an Upcoming ‘Pokemon TCG’ Promo Card

The Pokemon Company International and Creatures Inc. announced the Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022. This is the first time this contest has been offered in the U.S.

The Pokemon Trading Card Game Illustration Contest 2022 is a fan artwork contest that gives Trainers from the U.S. and Japan a chance to have their talents featured in an upcoming promo card for Pokemon TCG. Trainers’ submissions will feature a “the daily life of Pokemon” theme and include a rendition of one of the following Pokemon as focal point: Bulbasaur, Charizard, Pikachu, Arcanine, Galarian Rapidash, Scizor, Greninja, or Cramorant. The Grand Prize winner gets $5000 in addition to their illustration showcased on a promo card.

Entries will be accepted starting October 13, 2021 and end January 31, 2022. Winners will be announced over the summer. For full details, see the Pokemon TCG or Creatures Inc. websites.

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MY HERO ACADEMIA CCG RIVAL DECKS

Source https://www.jascogames.net/2021/05/11/my-hero-academia-ccg-rival-decks/

With the upcoming release of the full line of the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game inching closer, let’s take a look at the first introductory product, the 2-Player Rival Decks, featuring Izuku Midoriya and Katsuki Bakugo!💥

Izuku Midoriya is the chosen successor of his idol All Might, the world’s Number 1 Hero, who passed his Quirk “One for All” to the quirkless Midoriya by letting him eat a strand of hair. After training hard with All Might to condition his body to handle his inherited ability, Midoriya joined U.A. High where he began to grow and take his first steps as a Hero. Midoriya’s gifted Quirk, when used at full power, allows him to unleash an incredibly devastating burst of strength. As the intensity of One for All is damaging to his own body, Midoriya prepares for this by using his advanced analytical skills prior to confronting his opponents. Clever players will be able to utilize One for All at just the right time to ensure Midoriya is victorious!

Katsuki Bakugo is determined and driven to be the Number 1 Hero! Bakugo’s Quirk, Explosion, allows him to ignite his explosive sweat on command, granting him incredible offensive might. Bakugo is always on the attack, as the more he exerts himself, the more he sweats, granting him even more powerful explosive abilities. While playing as Bakugo, players will unleash a continuous barrage of strikes, overwhelming their opponents with explosive power!

This Rival box contains two 51-card Rival decks and 2 random Ultra Rare cards from the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game (104 cards total!) Use these decks as a building block in your training and take another step towards becoming the ultimate UniVersus Fighter!

Right out of the box, you and a rival can battle it out to see who will gain the upper hand and claim victory! Don’t miss out on this great item to start your epic journey into the My Hero Academia Collectible Card Game, releasing summer 2021!

#myheroacademia #funimation #jascogames #asmodeeusa #mhacardgame 

#anime #myhero #Crunchyroll

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HOBBY GAME SALES OVER $2 BILLION IN 2020

Source https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/48827/hobby-game-sales-over-2-billion-2020

Despite the many challenges of doing business during a global pandemic, hobby game sales in the U.S. and Canada grew 21% to $2.035 billion in 2020, up from $1.675 billion in 2019.  Every category of games was up, fueled by stay-at-home orders that limited entertainment options. Collectible games contributed the biggest portion of the dollar growth, and RPGs the highest percentage growth.

Results by channel were mixed, with the hobby channel (especially its online portions), Kickstarter, mass merchants, and large online retailers all up, and specialty retail chains down.

Collectible games went into 2020 with good momentum; the category grew 19% in 2019.  But 2020’s 24% growth eclipsed that rate, and it could have been higher if printing plants had been able to keep up with demand.

Games Workshop shut down completely for a period early in Covid and never caught up with demand, suppressing the non-collectible miniatures growth rate below what it could have been, but the category still grew 17% to $415 million.

Hobby board games had shown signs of maturing in 2019, but that was quickly reversed as board games emerged as one of the few activities that could be done by small household groups during a pandemic. The category grew 19% to $435 million.

The hobby card and dice game category was on a negative trend in 2019, but driven by the same Covid factors that affected board game sales, turned around in 2020, growing 19% to $155 million.

RPG sales grew rapidly in 2019, up 23%, but even faster in 2020, up 31% and breaking $100 million for the first time, at an estimated $105 million.

We define “hobby games” as those games produced for a “gamer” market, generally (although not always) sold primarily in the hobby channel of game and card specialty stores.  We define the “hobby games market” as the market for those games regardless of whether they’re sold in the hobby channel or other channels. Our estimates include sales in the U.S. and Canada.

The total hobby games market estimate is derived from estimates for five individual categories:  collectible games (which include Trading/Collectible Card Games, Collectible Miniatures Games, and Collectible Dice Games), miniatures (non-collectible), board games, card and dice games, and roleplaying games.

Our primary means of collecting data about hobby games sales is interviews with key industry figures with good visibility to sales in various categories and channels.  We also review data released by publicly traded companies, publicly available NPD data, and Kickstarter data and analysis, especially that released by ICO Partners.  There were no major changes in methodology for 2020.

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Z-MAN AND BLIZZARD OFFER MORE DEETS ON ‘WRATH OF THE LICH’ ‘PANDEMIC’ GAME

Source https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/48869/z-man-blizzard-offer-more-deets-wrath-lich-pandemic-game

Z-Man Games and Blizzard Entertainment offered up more details on World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King – A Pandemic System Board Game, which is set to release in November.

This game was originally teased back in early July (see “‘World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King’“). In Wrath of the Lich King, players venture into the frozen tundra of Northrend to battle the armies of the Lich King. It runs on the Pandemic System, which offers familiar gameplay to players who are acquainted with the Pandemic games, while adding the flavor of the Wrath of the Lich King world.

Players take on the roles of legendary heroes such as Thrall, Warchief of the Horde; Varian Wrynn, King of Stormwind; Sylvanas Windrunner, Banshee Queen of the Forsaken; and others to fight against the ever-growing undead scourge that progressively populates the game board. The goal of the game is to complete three quests while holding off the undead horde. The three quests, once complete, lead to a final quest which is an assault on the Icecrown Citadel. Once inside, they will have a final showdown with the Lich King himself to win the game.

The game box comes with 7 hero miniatures, a Lich King miniature, 3 abominations, 36 ghouls, an Icecrown Citadel, 3 strongholds, 100+ cards, and more. This game is for one to five players, ages 14 and up, and plays in 45 to 60 minutes. It will retail for $59.99.