SOE partners with trading card game group

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is partnering with a trading card game developer to design a PS3 and PC turn-based strategy game.

However, the announcement of the partnership did not directly imply that the new game would use trading cards, suggesting instead that the gameplay itself would use virtual cards.

SOE’s development partner is Wizards of the Coast, a Hasbro subsidiary that holds “an exclusive patent” on trading card games.

The game, known as Magic: The Gathering – Tactics, will be an online, 3D turn-based strategy game. It is set for release in the early months of 2010.

“Magic: The Gathering – Tactics will allow players to command forces of dramatic 3D figures and powerful spell cards pulled from the Magic: The Gathering Multiverse,” read a company statement.

"By collaborating with Wizards of the Coast, we’re able to combine the strengths of both companies to develop an innovative, online, 3D game based on an extremely popular IP," said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment.

The title will be developed at SOE’s Denver studio.