Sienna's Adventures In Cyberspace

[Sienna]

Hi

In this thread I will endeavour to unravel many mysteries that surround us today. Throw some "light" on certain things that some people find confusing and mind blowing.

I invite others, with their expert knowledge and points of view regarding the subjects I intend to unravel in hope that we can understand just what is going on.

My first subject is...

Yu-Gi-Ho!

What is it all about?

This Christmas I watched my 7-year old nephew playing by himself in the corner of a room. He held a stack of picture cards with amazing drawings on them. I studied them closely and instantly I was struck by how much they reminded me of my old "Pokemon" collection, only these were different...

"There was a game here," I told myself and persued to find out. Together we looked at the cards and discussed their various colourful reasons for existing. But the big questions were... Why and how did this "game" phenomenon begin?

 

[Sienna]

The History:

http://www.bookcase.com/~claudia/mt/archives/Yugi.jpg


Yu-Gi-Oh! is the story of Yugi and his friends who are caught up in the game craze that is sweeping the nation. Yugi's grandfather manages a gaming shop and introduces him to an ancient Egyptian card fighting game called "Duel Monsters". The game pits different mystical creatures against one another in magical duels on a shifting battlefield filled with traps and magical pitfalls. When the haze of battle clears, only one can be called Yu-Gi-Oh!, - King of Games. Yugi unlocks the secret of the ancient Egyptian Millennium Puzzle that releases a powerful spirit of an Egyptian King, Yami Yugi. When Yugi solves the Millennium Puzzle, he is awarded with the spirit of the all-powerful game king. And he starts on a path to become the King of Duelists!

After Yugi unlocks the puzzle's secret, his life changes. He becomes Yami Yugi, a powerful spirit, and starts to duel with many rivals. He'll fight with opponents, sometimes even while playing by their rules, and, of course, beats them at their own game. Since Yugi is shy and kind in his normal state, he is lucky to have some strong friends like Joey, who is possibly his best friend, and others such as Tristan and Téa.

And Yugi's enemies: Seto Kaiba. He can't live with the fact that Yugi beat him. His ultimate goal in life is to beat Yugi using whatever means necessary. Kaiba has a younger brother named Mokuba, who shares Kaiba's passion of gaming. When Kaiba and Mokuba were raised in an orphanage, Kaiba promised Mokuba that he would take care of them no matter what. Even though Kaiba is the wealthy executive of his own multinational high-tech corporation, KaibaCorp, his real passion lies in the world of Duel Monsters. There, he uses his ruthless business drive to overcome any who challenge him. He is an expert in the art of dueling and challenges Yugi as a rival.

So, there we have it, the basis for the game and storyline. And as well as the cards, this game sparked off a video game too, such as, Yu-Gi-Oh!: Seven Trials To Glory, including warnings to parents that it could be addictive.

But, what of those cards? How many in all and what do they mean exactly?



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[Sienna]

The card decks:

This is were the collecting craze really takes off. The object of the game is to win a match against your opponent. But first those cards or "decks" as they are called, very similar to Pokemon.

Two "starter" decks are available (1) The Yugi deck and (2) The Kaiba deck...the whole set up comes with a rule book and a game mat. These are essentials for serious game players.

There are in total 46 game cards, including their various sections of Monster Cards, Magic cards, Trap cards and just three Foil cards...

Getting complex already? Well, that's just the beginning. Each section have their own basic interpretations which requires some training, not only to know the cards, but even the rules.

Yes! Like all games, there are strict rules

But... we are told that the rules on the cards actually conflict with the rules in the rule book? Now it's complicated and at this point I think most people give up on the whole idea. I, however, will continue...

What strikes me is the amazing artwork that goes into these "decks"...

As in the Monster cards, there are different types:

Normal Monster Cards... [20]
Sub-Types: Dragon • Spellcaster• Zombie • Warrior• Beast-Warrior • Beast • Winged Beast • Fiend • Fairy • Insect • Dinosaur • Reptile • Fish • Sea Serpent • Machine • Thunder • Aqua • Pyro • Rock • Plant

All of these have six seperate attributes: Earth, Fire, Light, Water, Wind and... Dark.



The attributes are given symbols which must be learned. The details on each card such as, name, attribute symbol, attack and defense points, rule guides and levels are clearly shown.




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[Nightbird]

I'm not sure what your looking for exactly here Sienna but I can tell you the Yu Gi Oh game can be quite fun if played with the right company.

The big challenge is to create a good deck with the right mix of monsters and magick and trap cards. If you get it right, victory will surely be yours.

The artwork on the cards is very good, up there with the artwork on Magic The Gathering cards for sure.

 

[Sienna]

I'm not sure what your looking for exactly here Sienna but I can tell you the Yu Gi Oh game can be quite fun if played with the right company.

The big challenge is to create a good deck with the right mix of monsters and magick and trap cards. If you get it right, victory will surely be yours.

The artwork on the cards is very good, up there with the artwork on Magic The Gathering cards for sure.

Did you clearly understand the rules and were they confusing?

The Object of the game:

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters, two players face off in an all-out battle, engaging in a Match consisting of three duels. It will take skill, practice, strategy and luck to emerge victorious from the match, as there are many factors players can manipulate to vanquish their foe. The main battles are waged between incredible monsters split into an amazing 20 types, each with their own unique skills and fighting styles. In addition, players can use magic, set traps, change the battlefield itself, and even fuse two monsters together to form a monster of immense power!

The winner is the player to either win 2 duals out of three or has one win and two draws out of the three duals... a draw, however, is one win, one loss and a draw, or three draws in a row.

Winning a dual is decided by a strict set of rules laid out by the rule book itself.

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[Nightbird]

Actually I found some of the rules to be a little confusing. I still do. They have printed rule books, but the rules don't cover all circumstances.

I think sometimes you have to kind of make up your own house rules, that everyone playing agrees upon.

Kind of like how when I was a teenager we had to make up some of our own rules while playing Dungeons and Dragons.

 

[Sienna]

Actually I found some of the rules to be a little confusing. I still do. They have printed rule books, but the rules don't cover all circumstances.

I think sometimes you have to kind of make up your own house rules, that everyone playing agrees upon.

Kind of like how when I was a teenager we had to make up some of our own rules while playing Dungeons and Dragons.

I agree Setting your own rules makes it easier to understand. I think games like these, as in Pokemon, they became too complex to understand for beginners and children, hence the reason why serious players study the rule book and actually go through the ritual of training.

You can find out more about the game on this website...

Yu-Gi-Ho!


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[Nightbird]

Well now that you mention that it makes me think that I suppose it would also all depend on what you play the game for.

Do you play for fun? Or seriously in Tournaments where you can actually lose something of value?

I agree Setting your own rules makes it easier to understand. I think games like these, as in Pokemon, they became too complex to understand for beginners and children, hence the reason why serious players study the rule book and actually go through the ritual of training.

 

[Sienna]

Well now that you mention that it makes me think that I suppose it would also all depend on what you play the game for.

Do you play for fun? Or seriously in Tournaments where you can actually lose something of value?

The tournaments are mentioned on the website. There are even cards which are additional to the common decks which "specialist players" use...and even seperate rules.

Is there anyone out there who considers themselves a serious tournament player?

Inventing your own game or even adventures:

In a way, one could start off a game of their own very similar to Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh!... all that it needs is imagination I suppose.

When I was younger, one of the things that inspired me to write and use my vivid imagination was Pokemon and I still have the card decks somewhere. I am told that one day they could be worth something should the game evaporate into oblivion... if ever?

These ideas turn quickly into "electronic" games, written and designed to be played more easier on game systems. It is certainly a thriving industry. And what about stories that go with them? A book, a movie even?

Interesting


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[Nightbird]

Funny, there are a couple of Yu Gi Oh Decks being made in the same room as me as we speak.

 

[Sienna]

Funny, there are a couple of Yu Gi Oh Decks being made in the same room as me as we speak.

Who is playing? And, are they making up their own rules?

 

[Nightbird]

This is one of my favourite cards. With it, and some TOON MONSTERS I can do a lot of damage.

http://www.pojo.com/yu-gi-oh/cotd/Oct2002/toonworld.jpg

 

[Nightbird]

They aren't playing yet. Just going through their cards discussing strategy and making up their decks.

Who is playing? And, are they making up their own rules?

 

[Sienna]

This is one of my favourite cards. With it, and some TOON MONSTERS I can do a lot of damage.

One of the many Magic Cards...

Normal Magic Cards, Continuous Magic Cards, Equip Magic Cards, Ritual Magic Cards, Field Magic Cards and Quick-Play Magic Cards...

There are several types of Magic Cards. Magic Cards can only be played during a Main phase. The only exception to this rule is a Quick-Play Magic Card.





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[Sienna]

They aren't playing yet. Just going through their cards discussing strategy and making up their decks.

Game plans?

Trap Cards: three types...

Normal, Continous and Counter Trap Cards.



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[Nightbird]

Heres a couple of cards to show more appreciation of the art work.

http://www.pojo.com/yu-gi-oh/cotd/2004Jul/VampireLady.jpg

http://us.st11.yimg.com/store1.yimg.com/I/pokeorder_1877_934646112

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Hi

In this thread I will endeavour to unravel many mysteries that surround us today. Throw some "light" on certain things that some people find confusing and mind blowing.

I invite others, with their expert knowledge and points of view regarding the subjects I intend to unravel in hope that we can understand just what is going on.

My first subject is...

Yu-Gi-Ho!

What is it all about?

This Christmas I watched my 7-year old nephew playing by himself in the corner of a room. He held a stack of picture cards with amazing drawings on them. I studied them closely and instantly I was struck by how much they reminded me of my old "Pokemon" collection, only these were different...

"There was a game here," I told myself and persued to find out. Together we looked at the cards and discussed their various colourful reasons for existing. But the big questions were... Why and how did this "game" phenomenon begin?

This is a cult phenomenom and certainly not new. About five years ago my eldest son, Mark, was into this in a big way; I even had to drive him down to Oxford to play in a tournament (a 100 mile round trip).
But this was Magic The Gathering (MTG for short) and has been on the market for the last 12 years. Different cards have different powers and a well stocked deck is the game's strategy. To this day I have never beaten my son.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering

 

[Sienna]

Heres a couple of cards to show more appreciation of the art work.

Is there just one artist, or many? And are they well-known?

 

[Nightbird]

Magic the Gathering.. Now there is a game with confusing rules.

I tried playing that once and got totally lost.

 

[Nightbird]

There are many different artists and I'm not sure if they are well known or not.

What is interesting is that there are variations on the same card. For example the North American cards have different artwork on them then the European ones.

Is there just one artist, or many? And are they well-known?

 

[Nightbird]

Uh oh dog attack!

So much for all the neat piles of cards..

 

[Sienna]

Magic the Gathering.. Now there is a game with confusing rules.

I tried playing that once and got totally lost.

There is obviously an intelect involved in these games, both Magic, The Gathering and even Yu-Gi-Oh!...

Tournaments for scholarships and money make them deeply serious with young people and adults, yet children are also drawn into their "addictiveness" as avid collectors without knowledge of the game involved.

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

There is obviously an intelect involved in these games, both Magic, The Gathering and even Yu-Gi-Oh!...

Tournaments for scholarships and money make them deeply serious with young people and adults, yet children are also drawn into their "addictiveness" as avid collectors without knowledge of the game involved.

MTG-:
Players 2
Age range 13 and up
Setup time < 5 minutes
Playing time < 30 minutes
Rules complexity High
Strategy depth High
Random chance Some
Skills required Card playing
Arithmetic

 

[Gaia_Lorraine]

Is there just one artist, or many? And are they well-known?

MTG -:

Each card has an illustration to represent the flavor of the card, often reflecting the setting of the expansion for which it was designed. Since its inception, Magic has used exceptionally high-quality art on its cards, by many well-known fantasy and science-fiction illustrators. Notable artists who have contributed art for Magic cards include John Avon, Brom, John Coulthart, Mike Dringenberg, Kaja Foglio, Phil Foglio, Frank Kelly Freas, Donato Giancola, Rebecca Guay, John Howe, Bill Sienkiewicz, Ron Spencer, Bryan Talbot, Christopher Rush, Kev Walker, Michael Whelan, and Keith Parkinson.

 

[Nightbird]

You know Lorraine you mentioned skills required and I just realized.

Between the Harry Potter books, YU GI OH and MTG I bet there are a ton of young people out there who are reading and learn to read from those three things.

And that is something that is beyond measure.