Upper Deck has announced that it will release its new Marvel Trading Card Game (see 'Upper Deck Gets Marvel CCG') in November, featuring all new original artwork by some of the biggest names in the industry.   The Upper Deck Marvel CCG will allow players to assume the identity of their favorite superhero and will incorporate high-strategy game play, evolving game mechanics and an extensive national organized play program that will feed into a nationwide tournament structure.  The most recent attempt at a Marvel CCG, Marvel Recharge, had simplistic playing mechanics and no national organized play.  In-store gaming has proved to be a key ingredient in the recipe for successful CCGs and CMGs (see 'The Ins and Outs Of In-Store Gaming, Part I' and Part II).

The Marvel Trading Card Game will launch with two SKUs--Starter Sets with 55 cards, a playmat, and a rulebook; and 9-card booster packs.