04.15.15
RFID prover Smartrac and Cartamundi, a global leader leader in the production and sales of playing cards and cards for board games, have announced a partnership. Cartamundi will use customized NFC tags for gaming and collectible cards.
The two companies are cooperating to leverage and drive the growth of the global mobile gaming market, which is forecast to reach $30 billion this year. NFC-enabled cards complement smartphones and tablets as gaming platforms, as the majority of these devices are NFC-enabled. Mobile games and collectible cards share family-friendly price levels, and they fit into a player’s pocket.
“We are proud to be partnering with an undisputed leader like Cartamundi,” explains Mikko Nikkanen, director of business development, Electronics and Gaming at Smartrac. “Our cooperation agreement marks the beginning of a totally new era for collectible cards. Kids love playing and interacting with cards, but they also like mobile games, so combining the two is an unbeatable opportunity for toy and gaming brands.”
NFC-enabled cards can be used as active elements within a game. For example, a character depicted on an NFC-enabled collectible card can be introduced into a mobile game by tapping the phone on it. Such NFC tags need to be particularly thin and inexpensive, without sacrificing functionality and reliability.
For mobile gaming brands and developers, NFC-equipped cards will open up new revenue streams from additional licensing opportunities. As an additional benefit, Smartrac NFC tags can also facilitate brand protection and further enhance product authentication.
There are roughly 15 billion playing, promotional, casino and collector cards produced every year.
”Playing with cards connects people, just like online social media would do,” says Steven Nietvelt, chief innovation and marketing officer at Cartamundi. “But the true magic of playing cards and card games lies in the physicality and in the playing rituals. You shuffle the cards, you bend the cards, you deal the cards. Nothing beats that tactile aspect of the product. So that’s why we need intuitive, tactile technology. Swiping cards on a mobile device should feel as natural as the real thing. It’s not easy to do it, and for that reason, we need to work with the best technology and the best partners.”
The two companies are cooperating to leverage and drive the growth of the global mobile gaming market, which is forecast to reach $30 billion this year. NFC-enabled cards complement smartphones and tablets as gaming platforms, as the majority of these devices are NFC-enabled. Mobile games and collectible cards share family-friendly price levels, and they fit into a player’s pocket.
“We are proud to be partnering with an undisputed leader like Cartamundi,” explains Mikko Nikkanen, director of business development, Electronics and Gaming at Smartrac. “Our cooperation agreement marks the beginning of a totally new era for collectible cards. Kids love playing and interacting with cards, but they also like mobile games, so combining the two is an unbeatable opportunity for toy and gaming brands.”
NFC-enabled cards can be used as active elements within a game. For example, a character depicted on an NFC-enabled collectible card can be introduced into a mobile game by tapping the phone on it. Such NFC tags need to be particularly thin and inexpensive, without sacrificing functionality and reliability.
For mobile gaming brands and developers, NFC-equipped cards will open up new revenue streams from additional licensing opportunities. As an additional benefit, Smartrac NFC tags can also facilitate brand protection and further enhance product authentication.
There are roughly 15 billion playing, promotional, casino and collector cards produced every year.
”Playing with cards connects people, just like online social media would do,” says Steven Nietvelt, chief innovation and marketing officer at Cartamundi. “But the true magic of playing cards and card games lies in the physicality and in the playing rituals. You shuffle the cards, you bend the cards, you deal the cards. Nothing beats that tactile aspect of the product. So that’s why we need intuitive, tactile technology. Swiping cards on a mobile device should feel as natural as the real thing. It’s not easy to do it, and for that reason, we need to work with the best technology and the best partners.”