NEW WORLD SLURL: THE COLLECTIVE

Direct portal to The Collective here.

The Collective is the kind of card game for people who enjoy squaring off against a penguin with a samurai warrior and a black cloud of death, and calling that a fair fight.  You can also go up against a jellyfish and an exploding chicken, and once again, the trick is marshal an army of minions who are up to the task.  'Cause the chicken can explode at will, and you may need backup.

To be perfectly honest, The Collective, which is a kind of Magic: The Gathering for Second Life, is way too complex and slow-paced for my taste.  But as it stands, it's far and away the most popular title in the Game Developers' competition so far, selling thousands of cards, which players collect to create a pack of minions and magic spells that can be played anywhere in SL-- and that's saying something.  You also get game credit for keeping your Collective equipment on at all times-- for example, you get an experience bonus when you travel with it into another region.

Since I couldn't wrap my head around the idea of a pitched life-or-death battle involving a penguin, I instead watched a match between Collective co-creator Matthias Zander and hardcore player Sera Cela.  Their duel pitted Sera's firebird against Zander's three ice dragons, who seemed to be on the ropes from Sera's firey attacks, but before dying, laid a pile eggs which eventually hatched and wreaked revenge on Ms. Cela's lone phoenix.

"This is a card game that is influenced by your every day Second Life," Matthias says.  "You can increase your level not only by winning card duels, but also by exploring sims, shopping, meeting people, and once it's fully de-bugged, PHOTOGRAPHING LINDENS!  Soon, we're also adding fully-interactive pets, specifically cats. You have to give them food, water, litter, toys, etc."  Could be, but we'll cross that cat when we come to it.  For now, though, what we definitely have is a fantasy strategy card game that's steadily building a fanbase, some of whom will compete in the weekly tournaments where both L$ and unique cards are at stake.  Bring your penguins and combustible chickens, and hope for the best.

This SLURL valid until May 11.

Comments

[Matthias Zander]

Hehe, I'm sorry you found it a bit too complex and slow-paced for your tastes, Hamlet. Everybody has their own personal tastes.

It's been a LOT of fun developing The Collective and meeting players. I look forward to meeting even more as the Expo continues!