Virtual Goods News

Sony announced a partnership yesterday with trading card company Topps to create a collectible card game for the upcoming free-to-play virtual world Free Realms. The exclusive long-term licensing agreement will produce a digital card game playable in Free Realms as well as a physical card game for sale at retail. The digital version will launch at the same time as Free Realms with the actual cards hitting stores in Spring 2009. Both will allow players to earn virtual goods for use in the online world. Some items, like exclusive pets, clothing, race car enhancements, wands, house items, and special character effects, will be exclusively available through the actual card packs.

The cards will be sold in Passport to Free Realms Starter Packs for an unannounced price and in booster packs for $3.99, which will include 10 gameplay cards and 1 loot card that can be redeemed for goods online. Topps plans to have over 200 cards in production at the time of release with more following in later expansions. 

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