Renton, WA -- Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) announced today that their upcoming Magic: The Gathering(R) expansion set, "Fifth DawnTM," will be the first to showcase the latest development in trading card technology: the animated premium card. The animated effect is accomplished using recently developed electronic ink devices, called bio-luminescent incandescing nitro-globules (BLING).

"The standard Premium cards -- foils -- have been around since Urza's LegacyTM. We tried making alternate-art foils in PlaneshiftTM, and we spruced up the look of the foils when we switched to the new borders, but over time the whole foil thing has gotten a little stale," commented Magic R&D Director and perennial front man Randy Buehler. "This new BLING technology really kicks it up a notch. Plus, the technological feel of these cards fits into the themes of the MatrixTM block... er, I mean, MirrodinTM block."

The premium BLING cards will be randomly inserted in place of regular foil premium cards in standard Magic tournament packs (MSRP: $11.29) and boosters (MSRP: $3.69), making them approximately 500 times more rare than normal cards. The relative rarity of the animated cards will make it particularly hard to collect a whole set, which according to an anonymous BLING beta tester, "may be for the best. Let me tell you, staring too long at a table covered in those shifting images can really make your oatmeal hit the wall."

To offset the high cost of printing the animated cards, some cards will feature paid advertisements from corporate sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and Domino's Pizza.

Currently it is unknown how long the self-powering animation effect can last before fading, and whether the bio-luminescent material has any adverse side effects. "We're pretty sure it's completely safe," reports Dr. Wilhelm Frudenbakker, creator of the BLING process. "And that freak accident where an overturned pop can electrocuted three men, resulting in permanent hair loss was just that -- a fluke!" Critics also point to a case where BLING card was torn up to use as Modular counters, releasing deadly neurotoxins into the playing area. "I think this case was over hyped," states Frudenbakker. "I mean, deadly neurotoxins are found all the time in nature. I don't see anybody complaining about the blowfish in dentist's waiting rooms. Besides, at the price these cards are going to command, ain't nobody's going to be tearing those babies up! Sheeee-at!"

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

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Renton, WA -- Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) announced today that their upcoming Magic: The Gathering(R) expansion set, "Fifth DawnTM," will be the first to showcase the latest development in trading card technology: the animated premium card. The animated effect is accomplished using recently developed electronic ink devices, called bio-luminescent incandescing nitro-globules (BLING).

"The standard Premium cards -- foils -- have been around since Urza's LegacyTM. We tried making alternate-art foils in PlaneshiftTM, and we spruced up the look of the foils when we switched to the new borders, but over time the whole foil thing has gotten a little stale," commented Magic R&D Director and perennial front man Randy Buehler. "This new BLING technology really kicks it up a notch. Plus, the technological feel of these cards fits into the themes of the MatrixTM block... er, I mean, MirrodinTM block."

The premium BLING cards will be randomly inserted in place of regular foil premium cards in standard Magic tournament packs (MSRP: $11.29) and boosters (MSRP: $3.69), making them approximately 500 times more rare than normal cards. The relative rarity of the animated cards will make it particularly hard to collect a whole set, which according to an anonymous BLING beta tester, "may be for the best. Let me tell you, staring too long at a table covered in those shifting images can really make your oatmeal hit the wall."

To offset the high cost of printing the animated cards, some cards will feature paid advertisements from corporate sponsors, such as Coca-Cola and Domino's Pizza.

Currently it is unknown how long the self-powering animation effect can last before fading, and whether the bio-luminescent material has any adverse side effects. "We're pretty sure it's completely safe," reports Dr. Wilhelm Frudenbakker, creator of the BLING process. "And that freak accident where an overturned pop can electrocuted three men, resulting in permanent hair loss was just that -- a fluke!" Critics also point to a case where BLING card was torn up to use as Modular counters, releasing deadly neurotoxins into the playing area. "I think this case was over hyped," states Frudenbakker. "I mean, deadly neurotoxins are found all the time in nature. I don't see anybody complaining about the blowfish in dentist's waiting rooms. Besides, at the price these cards are going to command, ain't nobody's going to be tearing those babies up! Sheeee-at!"

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Related Stories

• Complete Fifth Dawn spoiler - Part II
• Complete Fifth Dawn Spoiler - Part I
• Mark "Bling Bling" Rosewater Announces Name Change