|
|
EndersGame Inner circle Reviewer EndersGame 2196 Posts |
*** FLAMINKO PLAYING CARDS *** Delicious! I've seen all kinds of words used to describe playing cards: Elegant, sophisticated, classical, modern, visual, colourful, eye-catching, and many more. But the team from Flaminko Playing Cards has added a new one to their list with their Deliciousness series, which consists of a planned four decks: Burger, Watermelon, Lollipop, and Citrus. Each of these decks has been designed with a playful and fun design that captures the essence of its subject, so that each deck is a separate design. Yet all four decks are very clearly linked with a similar style and artistic direction, that makes them fit together. So far Flaminko has successfully published the first of the series, Burger Playing Cards (see my previous review here), which is already available from retailers. Right now they're in the middle of funding the second deck of the series, Watermelon Playing Cards (see my previous review here), which is being crowdfunded with the help of Kickstarter [link]. But in the next year they plan to release two follow-ups, Lollipop and Citrus. And following that, they have yet another series planned. In this article, I'll preview some of what lies ahead from Flaminko Playing Cards. *** MORE DELICIOUSNESS: Forthcoming Decks *** The Burger and Watermelon decks are only the beginning for these lovely customized decks from Flaminko. They have plans to release two more decks in this series, namely Lollipop deck and Citrus deck. The best way to be updated for news about when these are being crowd-funded and release is to follow Flaminko Playing Cards on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). But these decks will have a similar style to the first two in the Deliciousness series, as is evident from some preview images that the company has released, with some initial ideas. So here's a taste of some forthcoming deliciousness that is on the way from Flaminko Playing Cards. LOLLIPOP DECK The Lollipop deck is intended to represent a lollipop and an assortment of gumballs. Like the other decks in the series, customized pips have a playful character, with Clubs depicted by gumballs, and the other suits depicted as hard handy. Naturally all the court cards have a super sweet design. Looking for eye candy? This is definitely going to be a sugary hit! Flaminko likes to make sure that backer rewards have been received before starting a new project, so we might see Lollipop launched after the Watermelon decks arrive in backer hands, i.e. August or September 2018. CITRUS DECK As you'd expect, the Citrus deck features different fruits. This includes oranges and lemons, and what looks to be possible grape fruit and limes. This deck hasn't yet been released, and these are only prototype images, but it certainly looks promising! I look forward to seeing what Flaminko comes up with for this deck, and any future decks they might add to the series! If all goes according to plan, we can expect to see Citrus launch some time in early 2019. WHAT'S NEXT? So what lies ahead? Flaminko is already doing some early designs and concept for another planned series, tentatively called the "S Series", which stands for the four themes these decks will each cover: "Sea" "Sky" "Shore" and "Sunset". Working names for these decks are the following: Ocean (Sea deck), Nephology (Sky deck), Kokomo (Shore deck) and Reyleigh (Sunset deck). I managed to get a sneak preview of a concept screenshot of one of the working files (posted with permission from Flaminko); it's early days, but it does look like more colourful and fun decks from Flaminko are ahead! *** CONCLUSIONS *** What do I think? Tuck boxes: I love the tuck boxes of this series. They are extremely well designed, and do a great job of showing what the deck is about. Touches like the UV spot printing (which gives added looks and feel to the sandwich/watermelon pips) really enhance the final result. Many people I've shown these decks were immediately captivated by the cute looking tuck box, and wanted to see the cards inside, only to have their initial positive impression confirmed and strengthened by the playing cards themselves! Card quality: The card quality of all these decks matches the quality of the graphic design. These decks have been printed in Belgium by industry giant Cartamundi, using their 310 gsm stock and B9 Superluxe finish. I've seen a lot of playing cards produced by USPCC and Taiwanese publishers like LPCC and EPCC, and the quality of these Cartamundi cards is certainly on par with those. Handling: The cards have an air cushion style finish. They are super soft, and handle smoothly and beautifully. Cartamundi's B9 Superluxe finish is one that cardists and magicians alike are known to appreciate, so it doesn't disappoint. I was very impressed and satisfied with the overall handling. Collectors: Flaminko's Deliciousness decks will especially appeal to the collector. These playing cards have "collectible" written all over them, especially when these decks are put together as a set. And there's just a whole lot to appreciate about them, starting from the creative tuck box, the bright colours, and the heavy customization. I'm somewhat of a collector, and when I first heard about these decks, I was immediately intrigued and wanted to see them! Fortunately, they easily lived up to my expectations! Card games: Despite the strong appeal for collectors, these decks aren't just an eye-catching novelty for the collector to share and enjoy. I really like the fact that Flaminko has made a real effort to ensure that the cards are functional. Even though each deck in the Deliciousness series has heavily customized pips, they are instantly recognizable. The indices are very clear if you're holding a hand of cards, so they certainly can be used for playing card games, whether you're playing some Hearts, Spades, or Poker. I haven't yet played their "Burger Stacks" game, but my children enjoy games like Snap, Slapjack, and Slamwich, and this deck is ideal for that purpose too. Publishing rules for a burger themed game is also a great idea. Card magic: The fact that the cards have a functional graphic design and recognizable pips, ensures that they can be used for card magic too. While they do have some elements that could distract from a traditional card trick routine, the creative magician has new potential to use these for tricks that connect with the theme. For example, with the Burger deck you could capitalize on the artwork by performing a "sandwich" effect, or some other burger inspired plot. Each deck also comes with two extra gaff cards that will especially be welcome for magicians: a double backer, and a third Joker that is a duplicate of one of the Jokers. Card flourishing: The smooth handling of these high quality cards means that they'll also be appreciated by cardists. The vibrant colours of the back design makes them quite suitable for this, and the thin borders and straight forward design of the card backs works very well when doing cuts, fans, and more advanced cardistry moves. It's definitely something that will fit nicely in the toolbox of a cardist! I especially love the fresh greens of the Watermelon deck, which provide a fresh look and colour, quite different from most other cardistry decks. Series: These decks also work together as a series. Even though they clearly stand apart from one another, and are quite different from the others in the series, they also have a similar overall graphic design that makes it clear that they belong to a family. It is indeed delicious from start to finish, and I'm excited about what the Flaminko team will come up in the future! Recommendation So are the decks from Flaminko Playing Cards for you? The playing card industry can feel saturated at times, and it takes something truly special to stand out from the crowd and be noticed. These lovely Deliciousness decks have that special something, and immediately grab attention and interest. The Burger deck looks and feels fantastic from the moment you first lay your eyes on it. The Watermelon deck does the same, without feeling like it's a simple duplication of the first deck in the Deliciousness series. Each deck feels unique and interesting, and the fact that you can actually use them for things like card games and card flourishing only helps make them more appealing. If you like the look of these decks, definitely check out the Kickstarter for the Watermelon deck that is currently happening, and keep an eye on Flaminko's social media for news of further decks in the future! Want to learn more? Visit Flaminko Playing Cards: Official website: flaminkoplayingcards.com Social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Direct links for where some the decks featured in this review can be found: - Burger deck - Watermelon deck (current Kickstarter) - Lollipop deck - Citrus deck - Deliciousness series |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Deck the Halls » » Pictorial Review: More Deliciousness from Flaminko Playing Cards (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.08 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |