Trading card games have been a popular source of entertainment since the release of Magic: The Gathering in 1993. These games have evolved over time to include digital versions, allowing players from around the world to compete. But what exactly is the link between trading card games and memes? As it turns out, quite a bunch!
Memes are a type of viral online comedy that spreads swiftly and easily. They usually blend photos or videos with text to produce a humorous message. In a number of ways, trading card games and memes overlap. Trading card games, for example, are frequently the topic of memes. Memes may also be used to represent specific strategies or tactics in trading card games.
In 1979 Richard Dawkins published The Selfish Gene, in which he discredits the idea that living beings are genetically compelled to behave in ways that are “good for the species.” Dawkins accomplishes this by making one point. clear: the basic units of genetics are not species, families, or even individuals but rather single genes unique strands of DNA.
The Language of Internet Memes, by Patrick Davidson
Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/exodia-the-forbidden-one
The Image Presented above is a well-known meme within the world of Trading Card game, depicting and “manifest” a chance dependent tactic in the Trading Card Game Yu-Gi-Oh. The irony of this tactic is that while the tactic is present super effective, its real-life implementation has left much to be desire due to it chance dependent nature. Regardless, The Cards named: “Exodia, The One” have left a mark on many during their childhood.
Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/63585-you-just-activated-my-trap-card
The “idea” of this meme is quite similar to the one presented above, which playing an homage or representing the spirit or the hype of the Yu-Gi-Oh community when an excellent counter strategy is being made in a tournament or casual gameplay setting. The Meme later expands throughout and slowly becoming the mainstream for a short duration from 2005. A similar iteration of this meme is the Uno Reverse Meme, which represented below.
Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/uno-reverse-card
Source: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/uno-reverse-card
So, how do these memes circulate and where do they come from? According to the Know Your Meme database, many trading card game memes begin in forums and social media groups dedicated to the games themselves. These memes are frequently created by fans who want to share their sense of humor and enthusiasm for the game with others. As stated, “The behavior of a meme is the action taken by an individual in service of
the meme” (Davidson, p. 123). Once created, a meme may spread quickly online. Memes are highly effective at spreading because users can simply share them with their followers on social networking platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. Some memes may even find momentum in the media and become part of a larger cultural discourse.
Citations:
Davison, P. (2020). 9. the language of internet memes. The Social Media Reader, 120–134. https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814763025.003.0013
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