Jason Masherah started collecting trading cards at the age of 12 and was soon collecting the Garbage Pail Kids. Now, Masherah heads an international pop culture company based in San Diego County. Now enters Upper Deck.
It was the perfect place for Masherah, the president of Upper Deck, who spoke in a room full of fans on the first full day of San Diego Comic-Con 2024. Upper Deck was founded in 1989 and initially focused on sports trading cards. However, in the early ’90s, the company shifted to entertainment.
“Entertainment has been woven into our company ever since,” Masherah said.
The progression was evident at Masherah’s Comic-Con panel on “Upper Deck and Neopets: Neopia Reimagined,” in which he discussed his company’s work in the game industry and its connection with Neopets.
Neopets Gets Upper Deck Battledome Trading Card Game
Battledome, a game adapted from the Neopia universe and playable through both physical and digital trading cards, was launched last month. Players take on the role of pets or fairies and battle against other fans using weapons, shields, potions, etc.
Dominic Law, CEO of Neopets, said his company was drawn to Upper Deck because of its experience with licensed products. For Upper Deck, the dedicated fan base of Neopets was an important factor.
“For us, it’s a no-brainer that we wanted to work with Upper Deck on this,” Law said.
“We have a great game that has a passionate community,” Masherah said. “It really is about community and being able to share things with your friends all around the world.”
Neopets is a virtual pet game where players can adopt, customize, and care for pets in the World of Neopia. It offers players an extensive world of story-telling, collecting, pet care, and social gaming. Interacting with Battledome will provide new opportunities to improve social gaming.
As Marsherah puts it, it is all about sharing.
