Submit YOUR Design for a Chance to Win a Brick of the Next Mantecore Deck

The team at Mantecore playing cards (Instagram: @mantecore) is looking for your help to design the addition to the series. Submit YOUR playing card design for a chance to win a brick of the next Mantecore deck with your design when it is funded.

If you ever wanted your design on a deck of cards and work with renowned playing card artist, Edo Huang, here is your chance. According to founder Benjamin Loo,

Having so many people love our previous 2 decks and give us valuable feedback on how we can improve our deck, we thought what better way to move forward than to incorporate YOUR ideas and design into our next Mantecore deck.

If you could design a tiger-themed deck of playing cards, how and what would it look like? Here’s how to submit your design/ideas:

1. Sketch or describe the idea for an ace, the back design, the court cards, or even the jokers.
2. Post your ideas on your Instagram page with the hashtag #mantecor3 and #mantecore and tag @mantecore.
3. Send @mantecore a DM with the design if your acc is private. Note: If you do not have Instagram you could also email your ideas/design to mantecorepc@gmail.com. 

The Mantecore team will choose 5 favorite designs/ideas and Edo will incorporate them into the final design. The plan is to get the deck on Kickstarter by the start of the year of the tiger in 2022 (1 Feb).

If the deck is successfully funded, the 5 submissions that the team chooses will receive one brick of the newly funded Mantecore deck shipped to you on the house. Disclaimer: All design/ideas submitted to the Mantecore team will allow them to use your design in part or fully if selected.

Submissions end 31 July and our favorite picks will be announced on 15 Aug.

[post_ad]

Indiegogo: 7 Questions with Benjamin Loo of Mantecore Playing Cards

Inspired by their love for this majestic beast, Mantecore Playing Cards is a bold deck of cards designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo. The deck was named as a tribute to magicians Siegfried and Roy's famous tiger.

Fully custom, Mantecore features an intricate back design inspired by one of the most classic back design, the Rider Backs. The pips have a fresh new look but are yet easily recognisable. The court have been simplified, enlarged and tweaked to look younger. Also, the borders that restrict the royals have also been removed and the colours have been updated to match the deck theme.

We managed to have a quick chat with Benjamin about his collaboration with Edo, the inspiration behind Mantecore and thoughts about playing cards on social media.

Can you tell us about yourself and how did you end-up collaborating with Edo Huang?
I am Benjamin from Singapore and I have been doing magic for about 8 years now and I have a degree in Psychology. It started off when we took interest on each other's Instagram posts. We then exchanged contacts (sounds like a love story so far) and started discussing about magic and playing card designs. Soon after, I tossed some ideas to Edo and he really liked them and the rest is history.

This is your first Indiegogo project. When did you first start thinking about using Indiegogo? What made you decide to take the plunge?
After the designs were underway, we had to have a platform to share it. I then researched on the platforms available and narrowed down to Indiegogo and Kickstarter. Kickstarter seemed like the obvious choice but we soon found out that we were not able to start a campaign due to where we were from and they do not allow funds collected on Kickstarter to be donated. Thus we turned to Indiegogo and have never looked back.

We decided to take the plunge sometime last year when Edo wanted to do a design that was more elaborate than what he has already put out. He contacted me and I shared my concept with him. We thought that a cross-country collaboration would be awesome and explored that idea to what it is today.

What is your inspiration behind Mantecore Playing Cards? How did you come up with the idea?
I think that tigers are really majestic beasts and am a little saddened that the population of my favourite animal is dwindling. I have long wanted a deck with tigers as the main theme for that reason. I also really like Mark Stutzman's work with the Split Spades and Whispering Imps. Thus I contacted Edo and shared this idea with him. We incorporated this with the most classic back designs and Mantecore was born.

What role did you play in the art direction and how much time did you spend working on the deck?
I basically told Edo what I wanted as a skeleton of the deck and gave him free rein on how he wanted to translate that into pen and paper. He would then submit what he drew and we would discuss and refine the artwork. Believe it or not the first draft of the deck was nothing like the final product.

Most of my time after work and during the weekends were spend either discussing the drafts with Edo, marketing the deck, discussing about the deck with Lawrence from Legends Playing Card Company or setting up the campaign for the decks since the start of the year.

We initially noticed Mantecore on Social Media predominantly Instagram. What do you think of the playing card community on Social Media? 
The number of media on Instagram that has playingcards as a hash tag is currently 160,000 and counting. I love the community on Instagram. That is where I found many super awesome friends who are so skilled and talented. It is also a great platform where people can share crazy pictures of their playing card collection, new moves or flourishes that they just learnt in 15 seconds or under. Some people like @lost_angelus, @shoe32 and @playingcardart are sharing some really eye catching pictures involving playing cards. Go give them a follow If you haven't already.

Social media also connects people from all around the world, which is I like about it. Sharing of ideas can now be done so easily. It is actually how Edo and came to know each other. Without Instagram, there would not have been Mantecore.

With so many playing card projects competing for funding, why should potential backers choose your deck?
Our campaign tagline is " Shuffling Stripes with a Cause". We didn't want Mantecore to be just another deck of cards, we wanted it to have a cause as well. Thus we added a line on the side of the box that says "Save the Tigers" to remind people of their dwindling numbers. We would also donate 5% of profits after the campaign to the Save The Tiger - Panthera Fund.

The entire deck is also custom, from the box, right down to the pips. We have not 1 but 4 custom aces; tweaked court cards that are simplified and look younger but are still familiar to the lay audience; as well as a joker reveal and a double backer for the magicians out there. The backs of Mantecore also has subtle area where magicians can mark their decks.

Finally, what are your favourite playing card decks? 
My favourite decks are the Smoke and Mirrors series as well as Split Spades. The design and handling of those decks are what sets them apart.

Awesome! At the time of writing, the project is only 18% funded with 31 days to go. If want to support the Mantecore Playing Cards, you can find it on Indiegogo here. 


Mantecore Playing Cards will be printed by LPCC and pledge starts from $8.

First Look: Mantecore V3 Playing Cards

Inspired by their love for this majestic beast, Mantecore V3 Playing Cards is the follow-up to the bold Mantecore decks designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo. The new Mantecores are bold and eye-catching.

This deck will be the ONLY deck you will ever need for the Lunar New Year of the Tiger. This version features the most ambitious collaboration of ideas and inputs from all across the globe helmed by Edo. 

The fully custom deck is enhanced with a new eye-catching orange/black colorway and functionality with updated colors and metallic Pantone inks on the pips, indices, and standard courts. 

The deck is housed in an orange tuck case with a brand new wraparound design. The head of the majestic beast is prominently featured, reflecting the power, might, and agility of the creature.

Printed by the United States Playing Card Co. Mantecore V3 is scheduled to launch on Kickstarter, 1st of February 2022. Don't miss out!

[post_ad]

Deck View: Mantecore Playing Cards

Majestic. Bold. Beast.

Inspired by their love for this majestic beast, Mantecore Playing Cards is a bold deck of cards designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo. The deck was named as a tribute to magicians Siegfried and Roy's famous tiger.

Initially funded on Indiegogo, Mantecore features an earthy color palette setting the tone of the deck. Fully custom, the intricate back design is inspired by one of the most classic back design, the Rider Backs. The pips have a fresh new look but are yet easily recognizable. The courts have been simplified, enlarged and tweaked to look younger. Also, the borders that restrict the royals have also been removed and the colors have been updated to match the deck theme.

Legends Playing Card Co printed Mantecore on two different finish, the Emerald and Diamond. Available now from Cardvolution.

For more cool playing cards, check out JP Games.

First Look at Mantecore v2 Playing Cards

Inspired by their love for this majestic beast, Mantecore v2 Playing Cards is a follow-up to the bold Mantecore decks designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo back in 2015. The new Mantecores are absolutely STUNNING!

The fully custom deck is enhanced with a new bold color scheme and functionality with updates to the pips, indices and simplified courts. The intricate two-way back design now sports a gold foil accent giving the deck a touch of sophistication and elegance for your magic performance and card flourishes.

The deck is housed in a black tuck case with gold metallic ink. The head of the majestic beast is prominently featured. Loving the new bold look of the deck, reflecting the power, might and agility of the creature.

Available on December 31st at Cardvo.com. Besides getting a stunning deck, you also get to support WWF's tiger conservation efforts!

[post_ad]

Issue #67 of Kardify Magazine Now on Patreon

Issue 67 of Kardify Magazine is available now on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-November to mid-December. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Singularity: Have a glimpse into a futuristic post-singularity world where AI dominates with the World’s first AI-generated playing cards by Red Black Inc.

+ Batman The Dark Knight: Theory11 with another EPIC movie collab deck! Check out The Batman Dark Knight playing cards released during this year’s Black Friday event.

+ RX Almanac: This new deck by Meadowlark Pharmacy continues the pharmacy theme and is designed to look like a vintage pharmacy almanac of the mid-1900s. Check it out!

+ Sushi Cats: An interesting Kickstarter project about sushi and cute cats by Hyuga, and Mijiko.

+ Black Panther: In conjunction with the release of Marvel’s latest movie, Card Mafia has released Black Panter Playing Cards with a one-of-a-kind tuck box featuring Black Panther’s Helmet. Learn more!

+ Red Devotion: Thirdway Industries launched this special deck for this year’s Black Friday to test the loyalty of their followers. 

+ Mantecore V3: The follow-up to the bold Mantecore decks designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo inspired by their love for this majestic beast. Find out more!

+ Tetra:  Have a look at the fascinating deck by Taiwan-based cardistry group LotusinHand, crafted specifically for the art of card flourishing.

… and more! 52 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Deck View: Mantecoremmunity (Limited Edition) Playing Cards

Bold. Eye-catching. Majestic.

Mantecore V3 Playing Cards: Mantecoremmunity is the follow-up to the bold Mantecore decks designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo inspired by their love for this majestic beast. Helmed by Edo, version 3 features the most ambitious collaboration of ideas and inputs from all across the globe. The result is a fully custom deck enhanced with a new eye-catching orange/black colorway and functionality with updated colors and metallic Pantone inks on the pips, indices, and standard courts.

The limited edition deck is housed in a white tuck case with a brand-new wraparound design. The head of the majestic beast is prominently featured, reflecting the power, might, and agility of the creature. The new Mantecores are truly bold and eye-catching. This limited edition deck features tiger stripes on the edges of the cards. Giving it a cool, bold look!

Printed by the United States Playing Card Co. and are available now on Cardvo.com. Besides getting a stunning deck, you also get to support WWF’s tiger conservation efforts!

Deck View: Mantecore 2 Playing Cards

The STUNNING Mantecore v2 Playing Cards are designed by Edo Huang inspired by the love for this majestic beast. The fully custom deck comes in a bold black/white/gold colorway with enhanced pips, indices, and simplified courts.

The intricate two-way back design is laced with a gold foil accent, giving the deck a touch of sophistication and elegance for your magic performance and card flourishes. The deck is housed in a black tuck case with gold metallic ink. The head of the majestic beast is prominently featured.

Loving the bold look of the deck, reflecting the power, might, and agility of the creature. Available at Cardvo.com. Besides getting a stunning deck, you also get to support WWF's tiger conservation efforts!

[post_ad]

News: Issue 20 of Kardify Magazine Now on Patreon

Issue 20 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon for our Patrons who pledge $3 or more on our Patreon page. The latest issue compiles selected articles we’ve published from mid-December to mid-January. Our goal is to help you stay on top of the latest playing card news, releases and previews.

Also, we’ve added new reward tiers on Patreon! The new tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing on crowd-funded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Blackstone: Check out the follow-up to the legendary BUND18 playing cards currently funding on Kickstarter.

+ Mantecore v2: Designed by Edo Huang and Benjamin Loo, the deck is inspired by their love for the majestic beast! Have a look at the stunning deck from Cartamundi.

+ STAY: A collaboration Patrick Kun and Stay, a curated lifestyle shop for Travel on Instagram. The deck was designed from the ground up o enlighten the joy of travel.

+ ENTRY 03: The 3rd release from ENTRY, crafted specifically for cardists... subtle yet impactful!

+ El Recuerdo: One of our Top 12 decks of 2018. Find out more about this stunning decks created with the spirit of freedom in mind.

+ Darkfall: An intriguing fully custom deck released by Murphy's Magic with a modern street art vibe.

+ MARCDeck: A unique deck designed through a collaboration of artists, designers, illustrators and innovators from around the world. Have a look!

+ Watermelon Fontaines: A surprise first deck release of the year, sold out in 20 minutes!

… and more! 43 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

The Milestone 50th Issue of Kardify Magazine is Available!

 

It's our 50th issue! What a milestone and what a journey! Thank you patrons for being the best supporters around! The latest issue of the Kardify Magazine is NOW available on Pateron in both EPUB and PDF format! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-June to mid-July. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don't forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bringing new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ Wizard of Oz: Have a look at the beautiful Kings Wild deck celebrates the classic story of Wizard of Oz and features a classic green/gold colorway. 

+ Holographic Fontaines: Check out the striking new Fontaine deck featuring mesmerizing holographic foil card backs and tuck box.

+ Galaxia: Successfully funded on Kickstarter, a new series by Thirdway Industries, inspired by dystopian Sci-Fi novels of the 1950s and 60s. Find out more!

+ Diamon No.17: This eye-catching deck is the 7th edition in the Diamon Playing Cards series by the Dutch Card House Company! Have a look at the vivid deck crafted for Cardistry and Card enthusiasts. 

+ Smoke & Mirrors V8: Images of the new Smoke & Mirrors V8’s have leaked and made the rounds on social media, prior to the official announcement. Check it out! 

+ Republic: The team from UUSI is back with a brand new deck! This is their first deck for the studio in over five years!

+ Squeezers V3: The FUN deck was released by Organic Playing Cards late last year and they were sold out in just 4 hours.

+ Mantecore:  If you ever wanted your design on a deck of cards and work with renowned playing card artist, Edo Huang, here is your chance. Find out how to submit YOUR design for a chance to win!

… and more! 56 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

Now on Patreon! Kardify Magazine Issue #57

 

Issue #57 of Kardfiy Magazine is now available on Patreon! Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-January to mid-February. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don't forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contribution, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:

+ The Ultimate Deck: Have a look and Dan and Dave's unique deck with completely different custom-designed artwork edge-to-edge.

+ Red Rising Deck: Midnight Cards' latest deck is based on the first trilogy of Red Rising books from author Pierce Brown.

+ Mantecore V3: The ONLY deck you will ever need for the Lunar New Year of the Tiger. Find out more!

+ Mono-Xero Chroma: A very special edition Mono deck by Luke Wadey. This deck brings minimal elegance with an all-new design.

+ Inception: The first installment in the Creations Trilogy by Runit decks, combining unconventional shapes forming a familiar at of images with dynamic colorway.

+ Yellow Submarine: Take a dive into the wonderful, whimsical world of Yellow Submarine with this special edition deck by Theory11 inspired by the 1969 Beatles animated film.

+ 1987 January Edition: An intriguing retro-inspired deck with custom back design reminiscence of the test pattern you see on the TV back in the '80s.

+ Spiderman: No Way Home: Card Mafia's latest addition to the popular Avengers series. This time, an adventure with Spiderman!

… and more! 58 pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!