Ani-Mayhem
Encyclopedia
Ani-Mayhem was an anime
-based collectible card game
first released in 1996 in the wake of the CCG boom created by the popularity of Magic: The Gathering
. Produced by the merchandising arm of Pioneer Animation (now known as Geneon
) and published by Upper Deck
, Ani-Mayhem's cards featured images from a variety of anime series and movies. The first two sets were composed of multiple productions and the third and final set was based entirely on the long-running Dragon Ball Z.
The idea of the game was to allow an open-ended system that would allow all characters
from all anime to interact with one another in the same card game. The result of the game was a very pretty set of cards, but very badly managed game terminology
. If you were to print out all the card errata there was, it would be at least three-to-four times as long as the game's rulebook, however, this is not a problem limited to Ani-Mayhem by any means. Another problem that hurt the game came in the wake of the Dragon Ball Z expansion. The cards in this set were typically much more powerful than the average cards present in Sets 0 and 1, leading to serious imbalance that was further compounded by the vast number of rules changes that the expansion introduced.
Five years ahead of its time, this multi-property approach would be attempted again by Upper Deck
, in the creation of the VS System
, which proved to be more successful. Other multi-property games include Sabertooth Games
' Universal Fighting System
and Score Entertainment
's Epic Battles
. Decipher, Inc. similarly reused the game engine from the Star Wars CCG in its WARS Trading Card Game
.
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
-based collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
first released in 1996 in the wake of the CCG boom created by the popularity of Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
. Produced by the merchandising arm of Pioneer Animation (now known as Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...
) and published by Upper Deck
Upper deck
Upper deck may refer to :* The Upper Deck Company, an American trading card business* The upper deck is the highest level internal deck on a ship, i.e. just below the superstructure and open deck....
, Ani-Mayhem's cards featured images from a variety of anime series and movies. The first two sets were composed of multiple productions and the third and final set was based entirely on the long-running Dragon Ball Z.
History
Like most CCGs that were created in the post-Magic boom, Ani-Mayhems existence was a brief side note in the industry. When the first set, commonly known as Set 0, was published, its rulebook was considered uninformative and incomplete. Later printings of the game attempted to fix this by including a more detailed rulebook that fundamentally altered the way the game played. The Dragon Ball Z expansion, which came in starter decks just as the original set did, included a rule set that rewrote the game for a second time.The idea of the game was to allow an open-ended system that would allow all characters
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from all anime to interact with one another in the same card game. The result of the game was a very pretty set of cards, but very badly managed game terminology
Terminology
Terminology is the study of terms and their use. Terms are words and compound words that in specific contexts are given specific meanings, meanings that may deviate from the meaning the same words have in other contexts and in everyday language. The discipline Terminology studies among other...
. If you were to print out all the card errata there was, it would be at least three-to-four times as long as the game's rulebook, however, this is not a problem limited to Ani-Mayhem by any means. Another problem that hurt the game came in the wake of the Dragon Ball Z expansion. The cards in this set were typically much more powerful than the average cards present in Sets 0 and 1, leading to serious imbalance that was further compounded by the vast number of rules changes that the expansion introduced.
Five years ahead of its time, this multi-property approach would be attempted again by Upper Deck
Upper deck
Upper deck may refer to :* The Upper Deck Company, an American trading card business* The upper deck is the highest level internal deck on a ship, i.e. just below the superstructure and open deck....
, in the creation of the VS System
VS System
Vs. System , also written as VS System and abbreviated as VS, is a collectible card game designed by Upper Deck Entertainment . In the game, players build and play a deck of Vs. System cards in an attempt to win a game against their opponent. It was first published in 2004 and is set in the...
, which proved to be more successful. Other multi-property games include Sabertooth Games
Sabertooth Games
Sabertooth Games is a now defunct Memphis, Tennessee based game company, founded in 2001. The company primarily produced collectible card games as a subsidiary of Games Workshop, PLC...
' Universal Fighting System
Universal Fighting System
The Universal Fighting System is a collectible card game originally designed by Sabertooth Games. The themes of the cards are drawn from a multitude of licensed gaming universes, principally Fighting game licenses...
and Score Entertainment
Score Entertainment
Score Entertainment was a trading card design and manufacturing company based in Arlington, Texas. Their first card game was the Dragon Ball Z: Collectible Card Game in 2000. Score Entertainment was a member of the Donruss Playoff LP family of companies...
's Epic Battles
Epic Battles
Epic Battles is a collectible card game by Score Entertainment released in September 2005. Gameplay attempts to emulate a traditional fighting game experience and features characters and attacks from several different franchises....
. Decipher, Inc. similarly reused the game engine from the Star Wars CCG in its WARS Trading Card Game
WARS Trading Card Game
The WARS Trading Card Game is a trading card game released by Decipher in October 2004 with science fiction themes, using game mechanics from the Star Wars CCG. After two releases, the game was officially "placed on hiatus" starting May 2005....
.
Card Sets
- Set 0: Bubblegum CrisisBubblegum Crisisis a Japanese cyberpunk direct-to-video animated series. It displays strong influences from Blade Runner, also making occasional references to it.- Setting :...
, El-HazardEl-Hazardis a Japanese anime franchise written by Ryoe Tsukimura and directed by Hiroki Hayashi. The series was produced and animated by AIC.There is also a manga adaptation, which is published in English by VIZ Media. The series was formerly distributed in the U.S. by Pioneer LDC, now known as Geneon...
, Ranma ½Ranma ½is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi with an anime adaptation. The story revolves around a 16-year old boy named Ranma Saotome who was trained from early childhood in martial arts...
, Tenchi Muyo!Tenchi Muyo!, is a Japanese anime, light novel, and manga series created by Masaki Kajishima and Hiroki Hayashi.The generally accepted translation of the title is No Need for Tenchi or Useless Tenchi, though at the time of its appearance it was also translated variably as No Heaven and Earth and This Way Up... - Set 1: Armitage IIIArmitage IIIis a 1995 cyberpunk anime series centred around Naomi Armitage, a highly advanced "Type-III" android.The series began with the four-part original video animation Armitage III and spawned two movies. The first film is a shortened version of the OVA entitled , redubbed in English and it is presented...
, Dominion Tank Police, Oh My Goddess!Oh My Goddess!, also known as Ah! My Goddess!, is a Japanese seinen manga series written and illustrated by Kōsuke Fujishima. It premiered in the November 1988 issue of Afternoon where it is still being serialized. Every few months, the most recent chapters are published in tankōbon volumes by Kodansha...
, Phantom Quest Corp., Project A-koProject A-kois an animated movie that led to later releases set in the same series, and spinoff release as well. This parody series references a number of other works of anime from the 1970s and 1980s... - Set 2: Dragon Ball Z
See also
- Dragon Ball Z Collectible Card Game
- Lycée Trading Card GameLycèe Trading Card GameThe Lycèe Trading Card Game is a Japanese collectible card game developed by Silver Blitz and published by Broccoli that uses characters from a variety of visual novel computer games. Lycée is a French word roughly meaning 'high school'. Most of the cards are given unique, fanmade artwork...
- BESMBig Eyes, Small MouthBig Eyes, Small Mouth is a roleplaying game that was designed to simulate the action of anime and manga. It is frequently referred to by the acronym BESM. The title alludes to the common anime drawing style of characters with huge, expressive eyes and comparatively small mouths.BESM uses a...
A similar Game concept, but for RPGsRole-playing game (pen and paper)A tabletop role-playing game, pen-and-paper role-playing game, or Table-talk role-playing game is a form of role-playing game in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech...
instead.