The latest company trying to blend physical trading cards with a digital game is Nukotoys, with Monsterology. Released as a free iPad app, it’s “a fantastical, 3D, fully animated, turn-based strategy game featuring monsters and beasts” based on a 19th century book. “Battle chess with monsters,” as the company boils it down. But the twist is that there is a set of 100 trading cards called ‘Nuko’ with monsters and magical traps/items. “Tap them to the screen of your iOS device to watch them magically spring to life in a stunning 3D environment.” Players can also buy virtual versions of the cards in-app.