Altered, an upcoming trading card game (TCG), aims to address the frustration of chasing hard-to-find cards in booster packs by allowing players to print as many copies of a card as they like. The game is designed by Régis Bonnessée, who previously ran Dixit studio Libellud and includes staff who worked on games like Hearthstone and Magic: The Gathering. The creators want to recapture the “nineties feeling” in a TCG and bring back a sense of surprise that they believe has been lost in modern TCGs.
Altered’s gameplay draws inspiration from MTG and The Witcher’s Gwent. Players compete over a central line of biome cards, using characters in their deck to claim domination. The goal is to unite the deck’s leader and their companion by playing more cards matching the characters’ current biome than the opponent. The game aims to have a positive tone and inclusive representation of disabilities, diversity, and character depictions.
Altered’s approach to collecting cards is revolutionary. Physical cards will be obtained from starter decks and boosters, and each card features a QR code that can be scanned to access more information and register it to the player’s collection via the game’s app. The app serves as a marketplace for buying and selling the rights to specific cards. Once a player owns the rights to a card, they can print unlimited copies for a small fee tied to the printing and shipping process.
The game also includes unique cards that are singular in the world, created using an algorithm similar to Keyforge. These rare cards will have different gameplay stats, abilities, and artwork compared to their common counterparts. The ability to buy cards and print on demand aims to solve availability issues and high prices faced by popular TCGs.
The app element of the game is optional, with deck registration only necessary for official tournaments. Casual players can enjoy the game without using the app.
Read Full Article