When I was younger, the Pokémon Trading Card Game craze came down upon me like a million Snorlax-filled pokéballs. Collecting Pokémon cards took the place of basketball cards, and my closest friends were participating. As interesting as it was, there was still an inherent shame that came along with the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It was something we did in secret, far away from the judging eyes of girls we liked. Thanks to the internet, we will be shamed no longer.

Square Enix has released a lot of new information about the forthcoming Final Fantasy Trading Card Game, including a little bit of information about what kinds of cards will be available, which games will include special promo cards and how you can buy them. Unfortunately, it still sounds like they are going to be Japan-exclusives for the moment, when it launches Feburary 25, 2011, but it still doesn’t hurt to go over things. After all, it is a Final Fantasy product so it’ll probably be released worldwide eventually…

When you think about the whole “gotta get’em all” theory, you usually think Pokemon. But soon, that notion will apply to Final Fantasy. Square Enix is currently working on a Final Fantasy Trading Card Game. You still have time to start saving though, as it has only just been announced for Japan, and won’t even appear there until February 25, 2011…

Kids loved the Silly Bandz fad, collecting and trading shaped bracelets with friends. Senario noticed, and decided to take that a step further by adding in a game element. Now, instead of just wearing the bracelets to look fashionable and trading for no reason, kids can collect Battle Bands bracelets to play a collectible card/bracelet, dart game…

Those silly bandz style bracelets are about to get a lot more collectible, thanks to Battle Bands, a trading bracelet and card game from toy creator Senario. In October 2010 this game that combines darts, intricate rubber bracelets and trading cards will start showing up on most major retailers’ shelves, so you may want to make a mental note now to keep an eye out for them if you happen to need a gift for a young boy between the ages of six and twelve.

Battle Bands takes place in the Maelstrom. There are three opposing factions, the fire-based Mu, earth-based Lemurians and water-based Atlantians. There’s always been conflict between all of them, but things are about to get even more chaotic…

The World of Warcraft Trading Card Game’s Wrathgate expansion is coming May 25, 2010, according to Cryptozoic Entertainment‘s web site. Wrathgate is the eleventh set in the WoW TCG and the first from Cryptozoic, which picked up the rights to the successful TCG after Blizzard did not renew its agreement with Upper Deck Entertainment.

In a state of limbo since Blizzard ended its relationship with Upper Deck Entertainment in February 2010, the card game based on World of Warcraft is back in action.

It’s now in the hands of Cryptozoic Entertainment, a new company formed by former Blizzard Director of Global Business Development Cory Jones and John Nee, formerly the vice president of business development at DC Comics.

Geeks are usually considered to be awkward, a bit gangly and often without much tact. They also like to argue with each other, sometimes degrading into what would be a silly looking slap fight. Sounds like the perfect premise for a game, eh?

Diving Dragon Games has taken the humorous idea of a pair of geeks in awkward slap match to the table in the form of Geek Fight! the trading card game. This indie card game does have love of the game on its side and gets big kudos for decent production value and humor. However, much like the geeks it parodies, it needs a less geeky friend to help make the game a little more newbie friendly.

Konami and Viz Media have announced that the Blue Dragon Role Playing Card Game will be at Gen Con Indy, which fruns from August 14-17, 2008. Blue Dragon RPCG, as it is affectionately known, is a trading card game based on the Xbox 360 game Blue Dragon.

The Konami booth will have the game displayed and Konami representatives will be teaching people to play Blue Dragon RPCG and giving out free t-shirts and half decks. There will also be Blue Dragon RPCG tournaments on August 16 and 17, and a game mat and half-deck are in every Gen Con Indy attendee’s show bag. So make sure you stop by the Konami booth so you can play with a full deck.

Sony Online Entertainment has announced that it will be release an online trading card game bases on the EverQuest franchise. The game will be titled Legends of Norrath and will be playable within MMORPGs EverQuest and EverQuest II. Yep, it is a game within a game. Not o much a minigame as a full card game inside a must larger game. The announcement was made today (August 8, 2007) by SOE president, John Smedley during his Fan Faire Community Address.

EverQuest I & II subscribers will receive free “Oathbound” 55-card starter decks on August 28, 2007, and be allowed to play prior to the game’s official launch on September 4, 2007. Starter decks will be available for $9.99 plus tax and booster packs will sell for $2.99.

The game will be launchable using…