For the more CCG inclined, it may be worthwhile to note the imminent passing of Comic Images’ Raw Deal, the WWE CCG that’s been going strong for seven years. The company will cease publishing the game at the end of December, due to decreased consumer interest. The words “raw deal” always made me think of an Iron Chef CCG, but yeah, I may be alone in that regard, I know.
Comic Images press release follows:
COMIC IMAGES CEASES PUBLICATION OF RAW DEAL
After more than 7 years, numerous expansions and thousands of cards, Comic Images will cease publication of Raw Deal as of December 31, 2007, as the WWE and Comic Images mutually decided to end the game due to a declining interest in Raw Deal.
While many have played a part in the success of Raw Deal, we would like to take this opportunity to particularly thank the following: the WWE, who provided all the support a Licensee could ask for; all the distributors and retailers that stood behind Raw Deal from day one; Mike Foley and Barron Vangor Toth, the co-developers of Raw Deal; all the playtesters, who provided a steady stream of logical, insightful comments and, most of all, the players who made Raw Deal the success that it was.
Thanks!
Hank Rose
Alan Gordon
* Please note that in the very near future, we will post information regarding the world championship, tournament kits and try to answer any other questions that arise.
This is some frightening news. This is one of the longest running CCGs in print today. For this to be wrapping up is, in some ways, a sign that even people with a strong niche market may have trouble producing collectibles these days. A lot of the newer CCGs have some online tie-in or another; either an online game to play or an upgrade to an online game or video game: Bella Sara, Maple Story, World of Warcraft, Chaotic, and now the very unique Eye of Judgment console game with the camera monitoring your actual card plays.
Lee Valentine
This is really unfortunate. I’ve never played the game and never have been in to wrestling, but there’s a guy who works at my FLGS who qualified at GenCon and was being flown to the world championships in Orlando or somewhere. I hope he doesn’t get screwed by this.
Indeed, I had many friends who were very into Raw Deal in its hayday. It seems like more CCG products are being structured to have a limited lifespan, and it’s going to be nearly impossible to have a long running CCG (there will be no more Magic: The Gatherings.)
Meh. Not a fan of TCG/CCG hobby.
Still, I doubt that Magic: The Gathering TCG will run its course. This brand label is as strong as Dungeons & Dragons (leader in the RPG market), and if this goes then so will the TCG market.
Raw Deal is not the first TCG to fall, nor it will be the last.
That’s a damn shame. Back when I was working on Comics & Games Retailer, Raw Deal was a regular in the CCG charts; it fluctuated, of course, with releases, but it always seemed to do well compared to the many (many, many, many) flash-in-the-pan game-of-the-month lines. Apparently either the market has shifted down further or Comic Images simply decided that they preferred to invest their money elsewhere for better returns. Good luck to them; they were good guys!
As a player of Raw deal and a huge wrestling fan, I will hate to see it go. Although it will be no more, I will continue to play and teach new player the game that I love so much. Anyone in the st. Louis area who wishes to keep Raw deal alive please email me at nightwalker_69@hotmail.com. I would like to for a league of 10-12 players for monthly tournaments.
For those who care, the Warlord CCG published by AEG has been discontinued.