Wizards of the Coast has announced the June 2nd release of the Transformers 3-D Battle Card Game, a constructible card game that allows players to build their favorite Autobot and Decepticon characters using punch-out pieces from plastic cards and then battle with them against their opponents.  Each Transformers character can be built in either robot or vehicle form using the same pieces.  The WotC Transformers game will be out a full month before the big budget Transformers live action movie, which will debut on July 4th.

The Transformers 3-D Battle Card Game features 26 different Transformers figures.  The figures come randomly inserted in Battle Packs ($3.99), each of which contains 4 cards, enough to make 2 different Transformers figures plus two stat cards, a token card, and complete game rules -- everything needed to play the game right out of the box.

WotC plans releasing the Transformers 3-D Battle Card Game simultaneously in both the hobby and mass market channels.  While WotC has previously expanded from the company's CCG roots into RPGs (with the acquisition of TSR's D&D) and then into 'collectible miniatures games' (with Star Wars, D&D, Dreamblade, Axis & Allies CMGs etc.), the Transformers 3-D Battle Card Game will mark the company's first foray into constructible strategy games (though WotC refers to it as a 'constructible card game').