GTM #134 - Redakai: Conquer the Kairu
Get ready for the next big thing in collectible gaming! This summer, Spin Master will introduce Redakai, a truly innovative trading card game franchise that introduces a whole new dimension of play.
Spin Master is best known for Bakugan, a figure-based game that became a global phenomenon. Now the company is out to create another success by combining the magic of never-before-seen technology with intuitive yet sophisticated gameplay.
Revolutionary Collectibles:
Redakai's first major innovation is a visual breakthrough that puts holofoils to shame: 3D cards called "X-Drives." Redakai's Character and Monster X-Drives use stereoscopic lenticular technology to create 3D images on paper-thin cards. X-Drives truly have to be seen to be believed - no 3D glasses required! Redakai also uses lenticular cards to deliver amazing animations. The game's Attack X-Drives feature animated images - swinging plasma swords, surging flames, shattering ice crystals - that truly bring the game's action to life! Because X-Drives are printed on clear plastic, the cards have another surprising feature: stackability. This allows for play that's as fresh as the game's visuals.
Innovative Gameplay:
Redakai's "Stack to Battle" gameplay is incredibly intuitive. Play an Attack X-Drive on an opponent's Character, and you immediately see the damage you're doing to that Character's health bar. Stack a Monster card on your own Character, and it bolsters your defenses or heals damage.
This simple stacking mechanic is just the foundation for a sophisticated game. To design the gameplay, Spin Master partnered with Justin Gary, a former Magic: the Gathering World Champion and creator of the hit deck-building game Ascension. Gary has focused on fast-paced but complex play. "Redakai is easy to learn, but the advanced rules are designed to support tournament play. Reacts, deck building and strategic decision points are all crucial parts of the game."
Hobby Stores First:
Redakai will be sold at mass-market retailers this fall, but Spin Master knows that launching a successful TCG requires a focus on hobby stores. As Redakai Senior Brand Manager Johnny O'Neal promises, "Making this a hit in hobby stores is our top priority. We're launching first in hobby stores, we have great hobby exclusives, and we'll have Organized Play from day one."
Redakai is launching at hobby stores this June, two months ahead of mass retailers. While Redakai will be sold everywhere in 11-card Power Packs, only hobby stores will sell 6-card Gold Packs that contain a higher proportion of rare X-Drives, including totally
exclusive "Gold Pack Rare" X-Drives. Other items in the line include tournament-ready Structured Decks and a deluxe Championship Set, which includes a blind-draw deck box and a screen to shield your hand - helpful accessories to have when you're playing with partially transparent cards.
Organized Play:
Spin Master is committed to offering a full Organized Play program, beginning with launch events in June. While full details are forthcoming, expect Redakai OP in 2011 to be focused on casual play. According to O'Neal, "Redakai Saturdays are all about giving players a safe, fun place to play the game every week. You get more points for winning, but you're also rewarded just for participating."
Hobby stores that support Redakai will be able to obtain league kits that include everything required to teach gameplay and set up in-store events. Prize cards will be a key component, with foil and alternate-art cards that reward different levels of participation. A robust website at www.REDAKAI.com will support Organized Play, allowing players and retailers to track league scores, train judges, and organize tournaments.
Beyond the Game:
Redakai is more than just the next hit trading card game - it's an entertainment franchise. The Redakai animated series will air on Cartoon Network, starting this summer. It tells the story of Ky, Boomer, and Maya, three teens racing to gather mystical Kairu energy from around the globe. As Kairu warriors, Ky and his teammates can channel the energy into super-powered martial arts attacks. When they become fully "metacharged," they can even transform into powerful monsters. As the heroes of the animated series train and battle, their goal is to achieve the ultimate level of Kairu mastery - to become Redakai. But in their race to collect Kairu energy, they must face Lokar, a fallen Redakai who seeks to enslave the galaxy. The fate of the world rests on Ky's mission: to collect Kairu energy, harness its power and defeat Lokar's evil forces.
Redakai fans can look forward to action figures, web videos, publishing and more, but it all starts with the card game. The phenomenon begins this June!
