Konami has been strengthening the connections between the videogame and tabletop versions of its Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG, Vice President of Card Business Yumi Hoashi told us in a recent interview. One way the two platforms connect is through sampling of physical cards with the video game. Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution, the new game for Nintendo Switch released Tuesday, includes three cards available exclusively in the game pack: "Progleo," the Link Monster, "Micro Coder," the Cyberse Monster, and "Cynet Codec," the Spell Card.
Meanwhile, the new tabletop Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel game, launched in January (see "New Details, Pic for ‘Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Dueling Launch"), is based on the play of the mobile game Duel Links, and is a much simpler on-ramp for new players. "We released Speed Duel with the sole goal of trying to bring in new players,” Hoashi said. "The TCG has gotten so complicated with over 9,000 cards and six different types of summoning mechanics, so it was very difficult to teach new players how to play. Speed Dueling is based off of the mobile game, Duel Links. You start off, and it's a simpler way to play. You have fewer monster zones and fewer life points as well."
"For people who are familiar with Duel Links, it will be an easy way to get into the physical card game by playing Speed Duel," Hoashi continued. "If you played Duel Links before, you can pick up Speed Duel very quickly. Also, at the same time, if you're not familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh! at all, Speed Duel is a great way to bring in new players."
Hoashi said retailers focused on casual play and recruiting new players are finding Speed Duel a good fit. "The stores that are geared towards more casual players and actually actively going after new players are finding it much easier to demo and teach new players how to play," she said.
An ongoing product stream is supporting the new line. A new expansion is due out in December (see "New Booster Set for ‘Yu-Gi-Oh! Speed Duel").
Free Cards with New Switch Game; Mobile-Based Speed Dueling Easy-to-Learn Option
Posted by Milton Griepp on August 21, 2019 @ 9:04 am CT
MORE GAMES
From Fantasy Flight
April 24, 2024
Fantasy Flight Games will release a new deck for Marvel Champions: The Card Game based on the X-Men character Jubilation (Jubilee) Lee.
'Agueda: City of Umbrellas' from 25th Century Games
April 23, 2024
The theme of an arts festival with colorful umbrellas was chosen by 25th Century Games for its new tile laying game, Agueda: City of Umbrellas.
MORE NEWS
With 'Darkest Hour' One-Shot
April 23, 2024
BOOM! Studios will end its Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ongoing monthly series, followed by a Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Darkest Hour one-shot.
People on the Move
April 23, 2024
ICv2 reports here on people on the move, with long-time VIZ Media Vice President Kevin Hamric moving on, an IDW Publishing Group Editor to Mad Cave Studios, and a new leader of comics at Kickstarter.