Card Hunter Released on PC and Mac

After a stint as a browser game, the team at Blu Manchu Games (which includes veterans who worked on BioShock, Magic: The Gathering, and even System Shock 2) has released their co-op friendly RPG/CCG crossbreed Card Hunter on both PC and Mac through Steam. And, of course, that means we have a new launch trailer:



Read on for the full press release, which reveals new content:

Card Hunter for Windows and Mac launches on Steam today

Featuring co-op play, all-new adventure Expedition to the Sky Citadel and bundle discounts!

Blue Manchu today announced that Card Hunter is available now for Windows and Mac via Steam. Formerly only available as a browser-based game, the critically lauded combination of card play, deck building, tactical combat and classic fantasy role-playing can be downloaded for free and played via Steam with all the benefits the platform brings, such as achievements and badges.

Across all platforms, brand new expansion Expedition to the Sky Citadel also launches to coincide with the Steam release, along with the long awaited co-operative mode. The new expansion introduces rebellious computer Cardotron 2000, a perfect Game Master from corner to corner of its magnificent 4K of RAM. Cardotron 2000 has no intention of manipulating the game to ensure its army of mutants and uncontrollable robots take over the land of Cardhuntria. Nor was Jonathan Chey, co-creator of Card Hunter, in any way inspired by SHODAN, the megalomaniacal artificial intelligence he and the other co-founders of Irrational Games helped breathe renewed life into back in 1999 for System Shock 2. (Well, maybe a teensy bit.)

To celebrate the launch, Cardotron 2000 has hacked the Card Hunter servers to ensure a steady supply of human flesh for its army to consume, by offering add-on bundles at never-before-seen discounted prices:

- Basic Edition bundle (adds new Treasure Hunt adventures, club membership, extra figures and in-game currency) $19.99, discounted from $25.
- Attack of the Artifacts expansion bundle $12.99, discounted from $15.
- Expedition to the Sky Citadel expansion bundle launching at the same discounted price, $12.99.

To cap it all, Cardotron 2000 has also baited Cardhuntria with daily chests of goodies for all players who log on during the first week after the launch on Steam. Not bad for a sentient being that boots from BM-DOS on a 5.25 inch floppy disk.

(We've had a great response from the Steam community since we announced last week the game would soon be available,) said Jonathan Chey, co-founder of Blue Manchu games, (and it's live right now, sooner than many expected! We're looking forward to a whole new influx of players, and anticipating conversations across the forums about heroic co-op struggles against Cardotron 2000, our new GM. Finally, feeble flesh and bone have been superseded by electronic perfection!)

Card Hunter remains free-to-play with the same extensive campaign content, competitive multiplayer and now co-operative features that have been enjoyed by some 500,000 players to date, supported for all the game's free content and expansions, and across all platforms. Card Hunter can be located at http://store.steampowered.com/app/293260 as well as www.cardhunter.com .

About Card Hunter
Card Hunter is a free to play online Collectible Card Game which blends together card play, deck building, tactical combat and fantasy role-playing in a unique combination. Half a million fans to date have grabbed their virtual cards, miniatures, dice and snacks and journeyed to a new world of adventure on the tabletop of Game Master, Gary. Card Hunter was awarded Most Original Game 2013 by PC Gamer magazine.

Players build a party and set forth on a grand adventure in the extensive free to play single-player campaign, now featuring co-op multiplayer for gaming alongside friends. Each adventure demands deck-building skills and tactical prowess as players battle horrifying Black Oozes, savage War Monkeys and more. Additional expansions and in game currency are available to extend and enhance the core game, but the mechanics have been carefully balanced to ensure '˜free-to-play' doesn't mean '˜pay-to-win'. Players and media alike single out Card Hunter as an example of how free-to-play games should be monetized.

In Card Hunter's unique deck building system, equipping your party with the fantastical swords, shields and other adventuring gear you discover, builds your deck for you. Combat takes place on a grid based battlefield where clever tactical positioning and smart card-play will defeat foes and be rewarded with experience and loot.

When ready, players can challenge others in casual games, ranked matches or regularly scheduled leagues. Can they rise to the top of the month's season? Can they and their undead minions triumph in the Graveyard Gambol league? Multiplayer Card Hunter is a never-ending challenge.

About Blue Manchu
Blue Manchu is a collection of games industry veterans, many formerly from Irrational Games, now working as a virtual team across the world. Jonathan Chey co-founded Irrational Games and was Director of Development on BioShock. Farbs is an indie developer responsible for the inventive Captain Forever. Art director Ben Lee was responsible for the comic book styling of the acclaimed Freedom Force. In addition, Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield was brought in as a consultant designer.