About
Curious about online trading card games? Read on!
Origin
 The first online TCG, Senshi Card-Mania! hit the internet in 2002. Owned and operated by Calico, SCM focused on the Sailor Moon franchise, featuring "cards" designed in MS Paint. The idea was inspired by the then-popular Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card games, but this one was online! (Not to mention, free.) The concept was to play games and partipate in contests to earn cards, and then trade those cards, which helped you to collect full sets and gain levels. Today, the basic premise lives on! Many of the members & fans of SCM started their own TCGs, instead focusing on different fandoms. The world of TCGs continues to grow, some six years later.
Evolution
As stated above, TCGs focusing on numerous subjects began popping up shortly after SCM. Along with more topics came more gimmicks, including puzzles and themed TCGs. As time goes on, TCGs themselves are becoming more intricate, card-making is becoming something of an artform. For the many of us who began playing TCGs in our teens, the days of MS Paint are gone, making way for newer & more advanced techniques. The use of PHP truly revolutionized the life of a TCG owner, making it at least 10 times easier to open one. Password gates, randomizers, automated response forms, and many other scripts cut down on the tedious process of answering emails one-by-one! Entire communities (forums) have also cropped up, creating online friendships. TCG resources are also growing in popularity, with their primary goal being to aid prospective and current owners with scripts, graphics, and the overall planning process.
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rules