Card Company Reveals Trading Cards with Embedded HD Video

[Scott Bullock]

Card Company Reveals Trading Cards with Embedded HD Video

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Sure, holographic cards are cool, but you can't beat a trading card presented with a tiny HD screen stuck in it.

Panini HRX, purveyor of fine trading cards, recently released a video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWqD_p6cmao] on YouTube revealing what the company is calling the Worlds First Video Trading Card. While it's certainly innovative, perhaps putting an HD screen, 2 gig flash drive, and 30-minute rechargeable battery in an iPhone-sized cardboard case seems a bit bulky to be technically called a "card."

Jason Howarth, Panini's marketing VP, said the company "wanted to make sure that there was a level of uniqueness and collectibility." They had better be unique, with a 5-card pack of Panini's Totally Certified Basketball line setting you back $20 with no guarantee that you'll actually pull one of these newfangled cards/video players from the pack.

All the video shown on the "cards" will be Panini-exclusive interviews and showcases of player talent, which would add collectability to the cards. Additional utility will be granted to the final version of the cards, which will be able to plug into your computer via a mini-USB cable to recharge and acts as a portable flash drive.

While it's an interesting technology to apply to collectible cards, I think the full potential of it won't be realized until it comes to strategic card games. Sure, Magic: The Gathering is fun now, but imagine how much more fun it would be if you could watch your zombies kick the crap out of elves in Hi-Def.

Source: Wired [http://www.wired.com/playbook/2011/05/video-trading-cards/]

Permalink

 

[Sparrow]

Oh man, that player really didn't care what was going on did he?

On a more serious note, that has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen.

 

[Michelle Weiss]

what cards are cards their cardboard and cheap
if it ain't broke don't fix it

 

[therandombear]

It's just a new way to make booster packs even more expensive, without having to give away these cards guaranteed...

fun... I much prefer "Eye of Judgement"'s style, or ARGs in general, to this kind of thing. And until we get massive holo-field or wrist-projectors... or motorcycles with built in projectors... I won't be interested...

Cardgames on motorcycles!

OT: It would look pretty awesome if you could get Yu-gi-oh cards like that, but imagine the price =/

 

[Omega Pirate]

That is a bit too fat to be a card. Im not familiar with how the sport cards are sold, but wouldn't you be able to tell if a pack has the video card. Since you know, its as think as 20 normal cardboard cards...

 

[Tzekelkan]

Useless, bulky, expensive etc.

The real question I'm asking myself is why does it need HD resolution if it's a one-inch screen? If they have 1080p or 720p down in that shit, that's just wasteful since no one could possibly see the difference on such a small screen. And if the resolution isn't that high, why would it be called HD?

 

[intheweeds]

Really? It took Panini 18 months to come up with a small video screen in a box? This has got to be the stupidest waste of 18 months ever.

*Yawn*
Call me when they use those flexible paper screens.

Captcha: sishief couldn't
My reply: I guess Panini can! *rimshot*

 

[AvsJoe]

It's neat and all but the novelty will wear thin about 2 days after you get one unless you're the type who would try to collect them all. I was a hockey card collector for close to 10 years and I wouldn't want a hockey version of that anywhere near my collection.

 

[Shale_Dirk]

I never would have expected to have been able to say that Yu-gi-oh was actually partially right as to where trading card technology was headed.

 

[Akytalusia]

what's the word i'm looking for... it's a good idea, but our technology just isn't ready to implement it properly yet. these current generation 'cards' are an embarassment. they should continue development without the publicity and gather funds for said research with more established markets.

 

[de5gravity]

First Rage now this, this guy is all over the place!

 

[gigastrike]

Call me when holographic, 3D monsters come out of my Yugioh cards and then we'll talk.

 

[Wicky_42]

Really? It took Panini 18 months to come up with a small video screen in a box? This has got to be the stupidest waste of 18 months ever.

*Yawn*
Call me when they use those flexible paper screens.

Captcha: sishief couldn't
My reply: I guess Panini can! *rimshot*

Yeah, whatever happened to that tech? I swear I saw footage of a working prototype; seems pretty fucking cool - and much better than this pos :/

 

[Rad Party God]

This has to be the most awesomely stupid idea I've seen this week, or even the whole month.

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

It's just a new way to make booster packs even more expensive, without having to give away these cards guaranteed...

fun... I much prefer "Eye of Judgement"'s style, or ARGs in general, to this kind of thing. And until we get massive holo-field or wrist-projectors... or motorcycles with built in projectors... I won't be interested...

Damn straight.

Even then, i want a yugioh ARG game.

We have the technology.

 

[Rene Brungs]

This is one of the most stupid and useless inventions of all time

 

[Megacherv]

Want this in Magic, playing Kuldotha Red makes it difficult to keep track of how much I'm swinging for with about 3 battle-cry effects and a bunch of tokens

 

[Scrythe]

I'm sure it was awesome and all, but I was too distracted by Blake Griffon.

I'm not really a "sports guy", but something about Griffon's appearance puts me off, and I don't know why. I'm sure he's a nice guy in real life, but every time I look at him, I'm constantly reminded of one of those genetically engineered soldiers from the Kurt Russel film Soldier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldier_(film)].

.

After watching the video:

Ehh, they seem like a niche item. I really don't see these things becoming a huge collectors items. Even as a flash drive, they'd be way too bulky and unergonomic. I think hologram card thing was way more impressive. I'll try to dig up a link if I can find it.