Here is the document, have a look and, well, good luck :) https://www.mediafire.com/file/gt4e15ohiixvb9k/Card+Game.rtf/file

Perhaps the format is still worth a try even for older fans, and I would imagine many of them have already or will give it a try. I wanted to introduce a friend of mine to the TCG since he was looking to try out board games and card games, but I don't know where to even begin now because the TCG has grown, expanded and evolved into a whole other creature now lol. When Duelist and GX were the only series around, that could've been the best time to bring him in. Now? I'm not so sure.

I had mentioned before that YGO inspired me to create my own card game. Believe it or not, I still work on it on and off and this is well over a decade since the original version (which was pretty much a DM clone). It was meant to be a card game featured in a story that I had come up with, no plans to turn it into a real life TCG because I thought people wouldn't be into it. But I will type up a brief document with the rules, mechanics and a little demo to show you the game in motion and you can let me know what you think of it.

Well like I said I haven't seen either rush series also, but I actually like at least the concept of the rush format, and some of the cards look cool. But I'm not that well versed in it either, I'd like to see us get the rush format at some point to try it out (although that now looks unlikely). At the very least I hope we get TCG versions of some of the cooler Rush cards.
Tbh that's the most positive I've heard from others too, that the format itself looks interesting, and cool new cards. Whether the format would succeed here or not is questionable so maybe that's why they're hesitant, and I feel like a lot of people are similar to you, in that they already have a slightly negative view of it (so even more of a risk).

I had read about that change in studios, it caught me by surprise. Even though classic cards were brought back under new mechanics, was that enough to keep older fans interested in checking out the newer series though. That's what I'm curious to know. This Rush Duel format which was introduced in Sevens, to me when I found out about it, it sounds like a "dumbing down" of the card game to accommodate newer and younger fans and that worried me a bit. Have you heard any positives about rush duels from other long time fans?

Hope 2023 is a good year for you!
I mostly watch the English dubs for Yugioh as that's what I grew up with watching terrestrial tv DM/GX/5Ds, and generally find the dubs to be of good quality. GX is the only one I've also watched subbed with the original Japanese voices, as the dub is unfinished and I wanted to watch ahead eventually. I do want to rewatch DM and 5Ds subbed but they were other watches that I had also planned to do after finishing the Vrains dub. I did really enjoy GX subbed, there's defo a different charm/vibe to it and the OST was incredible, so I'd recommend either watch style whatever you prefer. Even tho I haven't done full subbed watches of DM or 5Ds I have seen bits and pieces and listened to the OPs/EDs and sure they're of similar quality.

I don't know the full details but I think there's some behind the scenes issues they had with the animation studio Gallop (who did DM-Vrains) which perhaps led to Vrains being rushed and poorly received, which is why the last two seasons have been with a new studio, Bridge. Yugioh was by far Gallop's most profitable projects so I bet they are kicking themselves now. I don't think their target audience has actually changed much despite the new format and art style, they always try to balance pleasing old fans while trying to entice the newer/younger ones, rush format having the classic cards return kinda confirms that for me. I think Bridge's style is just seen as less mature due to looking more like some other contemporaries like Beyblade Burst & Pokemon.

So far 2023 has been okay, I'm trying to enjoy that while I can just in case things go south later haha can't have a repeat of 2022.

5D's I only went as far as the manga and thought that it wasn't too bad. I didn't get past the first chapters of the Zexal and Arc-V manga, but now after reading about them and knowing more information I am willing to try again and perhaps I'll go for the anime series afterwards. Vrains too. Not sure if I will go beyond that haha, Sevens and Go Rush are probably for newer and younger fans. I think YGO just went the same way as Digimon, where the series which followed after the first couple of anime are so divisive within the fandom because they aren't the anime that older fans remember fondly.

Are you watching the English dub versions for all those YGO series or it's been the original subs all along? I grew up watching the dubs but won't mind switching to subs for the other series.

I was like you in that I hadn't watched past 5Ds in my childhood initial watches, I actually ended up going straight to Arc V much later (a couple years ago when it was added to Amazon prime at the time, doubt they still have it now lol), Arc V peeked my interest again as I like the multi-versal angle and returning some classic characters like Aster Phoenix and Jack Atlas. By this point I had rewatched DM, GX & 5Ds several times each too. I did eventually then go backwards and watch Zexal too. I ended up really enjoying both Zexal & Arc-V despite having put them off for so long! So I'd say if you have a convenient way to watch any defo give them a go and see what you think! I'm still mid watch with Vrains, and it's been a bit of a struggle to stick to, but I'm also watching on 9anime which isn't quite as convenient, if it was on a streaming service I have I might get through it easier. Either way I'd recommend the other two over Vrains first anyway, I think Vrains is the worst received of that era of ygo. Sevens & Go Rush are with a new animation studio and so feel somewhat different/distinct to the others still. I will eventually get to starting those when/if I finish Vrains.
Hope you had a nice holiday period too, and good start to 2023!

Happy 2023 to you .hack! This is my first time back on the site since my previous post, I'm sorry for the super delay! I hope you have been doing okay and 2023 has started out well for you. That was cool of you to put up the memorial thread, while I was away offline I have been doing some reading about the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise and learning about the other series which followed 5D's. I wanted to just find out what they were about and to be honest I'm on the fence in terms of opinion about them. On one hand there are plenty of cool characters and interesting plot but the new mechanics and the constant focus on dragons haven't hooked me ������ maybe it's just the original Duelist Monsters fan in me talking haha. What about you, are you still keeping up with Yu-Gi-Oh! these days or you dropped off at some point?

Hey there Allen! I believe I sent it following your post in the Kazuki Takahashi memorial thread I posted!
I'm okay, thanks for the well wishes, hope you are doing well too and also have a great weekend! :))

Yo .hack, how have you been? Thank you for the friend request, I saw the notification when I popped up on the site and was surprised 😂 didn't expect to get one. I hope you're doing okay, have a good weekend!