The Time Machine Playing Cards by ARK

[HFMJ]

These look better than their previous campaign and I will probably go for one of those cool looking boxes

I am sorry that I do not know how to make it show the preview page...

[Decknowledgy]

I am sorry that I do not know how to make it show the preview page...

For preview pages you can't use the [kickstarter] bracket function
You can only link it: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/el ... n=f1438199

Personally, I'm sick and tired of TCC/Ark/Artisan's (they're all TCC) marketing schemes and how they keep piling up the rewards with in between releases. Plus the fact that last time I got asked to provide my personal Taiwanese ID number just for the shipping to happen? Hell NO.

Back to this new project, in my honest opinion, the styles are reminiscent of previous campaigns, the court characters shaped the same, just different coloring and sketches. The only added element is the flip book design. The whole TCC/Ark/Artisan development of campaigns through time to me feels that they're heavily imitating the success and designs of other campaigns and companies, then layering those elements more and more on top of each other.

[Entaro]

It's a creative box again which is cool, but again will probably put me off it just because the creative box sets don't fill in nicely with regular decks

[STLBluesNut]

the flipping tuck is pretty neat. the design on the tuck is neat. i do not like the courts very much at all though. they all have similar style and patterns that are trying to be so detailed and elaborate they they almost look blurry or muddy to me. the flip book style backs are kind of cool but only if you keep it in new deck order. seems like something your actually flip it and see the animation a handful of times only. maybe if the price is low enough i would pick one up for the neat flipping tuck but i highly doubt it will be.

[Strag]

As a policy I no longer back any TCC or related company campaigns. They have horrible customer service and are very aggressive to deal with.

[Harvonsgard]

I used my time machine to see the future. And it worked! How do I know? Because I didn't had these in my collection.
I like creative packaging. Creative doesn't mean take what the packaging industry did 10 years ago and bring it to cards.
Dunno what it is, but no matter the design or effort but companies like Ark or RS just bore the hell out of me. Every project of them feels like seen that, been there to me .

[Eric Lee]

Ark's KS campaigns seem all about the packaging with the cards being designed around it rather than the other way round. Well, with everything being virtual now, so I would say most people won't be as exposed to these new packaging designs.

So their packaging designs will be really cool and unique. It is rather eye-catching and gives a "woah" factor to it. I like the backs, but the courts and aces are what gives me the impression that the cards are an afterthought to the tuck and package. So blah.

That's the difference between the best and the rest, IMHO.

[hsbc]

[BaconWise]

So the KS has evolved to include the Azure Dragon????

This one is making my head hurt - how does the mythical theme relate to the original time machine concept of the project? I am also pretty certain azure means blue. Obviously there will be incredible packaging but this project is all over the place.

5e31f1de2e44a70b3ded95e86a4d4a35_original.jpg (84.66 KiB) Viewed 5724 times

[hsbc]

What's not to understand? Their last campaign was also multiple campaigns in one for no reason at all

[Cardamon]

So the KS has evolved to include the Azure Dragon????

This one is making my head hurt - how does the mythical theme relate to the original time machine concept of the project? I am also pretty certain azure means blue. Obviously there will be incredible packaging but this project is all over the place.

5e31f1de2e44a70b3ded95e86a4d4a35_original.jpg

It’s a multi random campaign. They can churn em out super fast because it’s all preprinted and ppl will buy whatever is left in following campaigns I think.
Also yes azure is blue. Unlike their jade
Kinda wondering why the next deck will be in this campaign.
We got mythical and time machines.
Could just be a vegetable deck. To keep us guessing

[Entaro]

I really love the dragon deck, but again it comes in these giant boxes one of which seems to be wooden and which 1. I don't want and 2. Just increase the price which I also don't want... Not to mention based on their IG video of it there's like 4-5 color variants??

[Eric Lee]

Azure is very nice, but not USD100 nice and it's at that ridiculous price because of that stupid box. I'm not going to keep my decks in that box as I wanna play with the cards and show off the tuck.

With the recent campaigns, is card collecting now headed the way of comics in the early 90s?
So many variants, shiney blinged up tucks, etc.
(https://screenrant.com/the-comicspecul ... xplained/)

[STLBluesNut]

With the recent campaigns, is card collecting now headed the way of comics in the early 90s?
So many variants, shiney blinged up tucks, etc.
(https://screenrant.com/the-comicspecul ... xplained/)

seems like it it is already there although i don't mind the shiny blinged up tucks part.

variants, i have learned to live without. i just pick the best color and get that one. so many recolors of the same design gets fairly ridiculous in my opinion, especially when it is in the same campaign. i do like campaigns where there are ''variants' but the decks are actually different, such as Gio's sets. normally, the courts are different between the decks with the exception of one special gilded deck which i usually do not get because it is usually the same cards from another deck just gilded in a different tuck.

all the extras. i have no problem with campaigns offering add ons like coins, uncuts, boxes, fancy crates, etc. they are for the most part extras and optional. what is becoming disturbing is a trend towards having to buy some of the extras to get one of the decks in the set. an upcoming campaign is forcing you to buy a fancy crate at the tune of $400-$500 to get one of the decks in the campaign.

[Harvonsgard]

...an upcoming campaign is forcing you to buy a fancy crate at the tune of $400-$500 to get one of the decks in the campaign.

I wonder which one that might be.

[STLBluesNut]

lol, just trying to state a fact

[EndersGame]

Here's a write-up I did about this project, mainly to introduce it to people who haven't come across it yet. It's certainly rocketing up the charts of the most-funded playing card Kickstarters, and is currently in the #10 spot!

The Azure Dragon & The Time Machine Playing Cards - Collector's Box Sets (Kickstarter)

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/el ... n-box-sets

One of the most elaborate playing card set ever designed, in a very limited edition.

Current funding level: already funded (already over $270,000 raised!)
Kickstarter ends: Tuesday December 14, 2021



I keep a running list of the most funded playing card decks of all time on Kickstarter. The project for Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards has already shot up into the #10 spot on this list, which is a phenomenal achievement. And it still has almost three weeks of funding remaining. Here's a complete list of all the projects that have raised more than $250,000.

1. $2,143,826 - Vivid Kingdoms by Ten Hundred (2021)
2. $630,300 - The Name of the Wind Art Deck by Elodin Enterprises (2017)
3. $589,660 - The Name of the Wind by Albino Dragon (2013)
4. $564,558 - MINT 2 by 52Kards (2018)
5. $477,229 - Jerry's Nugget by Expert Playing Card Company (2019)
6. $393,000 - The Eye of the Ocean by Stockholm17 (2021)
7. $364,000 - The Photography Deck by Travel9to5 (2020)
8. $321,052 - Anubis & Osiris Shadow by Steve Minty (2021)
9. $287,813 - The NOC Luxury Collection (Gold, Silver, Bronze) by Riffle Shuffle x House of Playing Cards (2020)
10. $272,810 - Azure Dragon & Time Machine Playing Cards by ARK Playing Cards (2021)
11. $271,484 - The NOC Luxury Collection (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald) by Riffle Shuffle x House of Playing Cards (2021)
12. $265,200 - Arrow & Shield Playing Cards by Card Mafia (2020)
13. $250,887 - Kingdom & Kinghood by Artisan Playing Cards (2021)

The reason for the success isn't surprising. This project was created by Danny (ARK Playing Cards, Artisan Playing Cards), who specializes in extremely lavish packaging. Each of his first three projects was been more successful than the previous one (Card College Playing Cards, Tempo Playing Cards, and Kingdom & Kinghood Playing Cards) and his fourth project (ARK Light Playing Cards) was also a success.

Now with the Azure Dragon & Time Machine collector's box sets he has stretched the boundaries even further, with some truly "next-level" tuck boxes and packaging.



Azure Dragon

This deck takes its title from one of the four divine beasts found in Chinese Mythology.

The innovation here is a stunning tuck box which incorporates the art of paper carving, effectively turning it into a mini art sculpture using intricate card cutting.

This deck is only available as part of one of three boxed sets: a Classic Collector's Box Set (1000 only), a Black Gold Box Set (500 only), or a Walnut Boxed Set (300 only).







Time Machine

This deck is full of baroque-style artwork and steampunk elements, and features time-related images like a clock, hourglass, cogs, and compass throughout.

The tuck box is packaged inside a remarkable display box which has a unique turn-table style folding mechanism [animated gif]. But that's not all, because the tuck box you find inside also features an ingenious design, with a self-flipping multi-page mechanism [animated gif]. Meanwhile the back design incorporates a flip-book animation feature [animated gif], and the cards also employ extensive use of foils [animated gif]. In other words: tons of features.

This is also available only as part of three boxed sets: a Classic Collector's Box Set (1000 only), a Dark Flare Box Set (500 only), or a Walnut Box Set (300 only).







Kickstarter link

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/el ... n-box-sets

Video trailers:
● Azure Dragon
● Time Machine

[STLBluesNut]

the back design and tucks are really cool for the azure dragon. i started to get the set but after shipping it was $91. i think i will pass for that. the courts aren't great. another case where the decks are locked behind high priced bullshit you have to buy. no thanks.

[rousselle]

Speaking of "azure green" things... (mildly NSFW):

[Harvonsgard]

Ark has rapidly (like immediately) evolved into a label that I'm happy to ignore. All power to them for making money with what they do but nothing screams business over cards more to me than Ark or RS campaigns/decks.