Share this on

4Kids forms trading card, online game companies

By Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 12/11/2006 7:35:00 PM

NEW YORK— 4Kids Entertainment, has formed two subsidiaries, TC Digital Games LLC, a trading card company, and TC Websites LLC, an online multi-platform game company—the first time 4Kids will be directly producing trading cards for retail.

4Kids will be majority owner of TC Digital and a 50 percent owner of TC Websites LLC.

"The formation of TC Digital Games and TC Websites represent a significant enhancement of our business strategy," says Alfred R. Kahn, chairman andCEOof 4Kids Entertainment. "The extraordinary success of Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! has given 4Kids tremendous insight into the trading card industry and the profit potential of a successful trading card game. With the upcoming launch of Chaotic, which integrates traditional trading card game play with unique online game elements, the timing is right for 4Kids to establish and invest in these new ventures. By owning and operating our own trading card and online game operations, 4Kids will now have greater control of the creative, marketing and distribution elements for Chaotic and an opportunity to capture substantially greater revenues and margins than we have recognized from trading card sales in the past."

Chaotic, which is owned by 4Kids Entertainment and Chaotic USA Entertainment, features a unique alphanumeric code that can be uploaded for virtual play on the free Chaotic Web site (www.chaoticgame.com). Kids can enter the online world of Chaotic, a place where their cards can be stored, traded or played against anyone signed on to Chaotic's virtual world.

The Chaotic trading card game (sample card pictured) will launch in Spring 2007. The Chaotic trading card game is based on the Chaotic animated TV show, which will premiere on Fox's 4Kids TV January 6.

TC Digital Games and TC Websites, San Diego, base their technology on a series of patents covering the uploading of coded trading cards to Web sites with online gameplay and community activities. The Chaotic Web site was developed by Chaotic USA Entertainment Group under Bryan C. Gannon, a trading card and electronics industry veteran, who formerly served as corporate vice president, business development, of Yu-Gi-Oh! card distributor The Upper Deck Co. Gannon will act as president and CEO of the new companies.

"My industry experience tells me that the time is right to launch these ventures," says Gannon. "Collecting trading cards is as popular as ever and adding an on line game play component that uses special codes to upload cards for free on a kid-friendly, companion website is both cutting-edge and exciting. Chaotic is already being talked about as the property that will marry traditional trading card play with the digital play experience. I'm excited about the potential success of these ventures."

Share this on

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

Toy Industry Outlook 2012

Feb 25, 2012

Tudor Games Taps Industry Vet

Apr 5, 2012

4Kids' revenue spikes, losses continue in Q3

Nov 10, 2008

Hidden City names North American sales VP

Dec 15, 2009

Wonder Women

May 21, 2011

Also by this author

»MORE

Featured Company

Brandwise Inc.

Brandwise serves a model - not just an industry - by integrating, automating, and optimizing the entire sales channel, from wholesale Suppliers to their Reps and the Retailers they service. In short, our software helps Reps and Suppliers sell more and create... more