Xeko

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Related: Zona Tropical Press commissioned Xavier Segers to craft a captivating deck of playing cards, showcasing the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica. The striking green and gold foil accents on the light blue pack, paired with the intricate embossed pattern, imbue the design with a sense of luxury akin to a precious jewel box, effectively capturing the richness of Costa Rican fauna and flora. The curated 54-card set features 15 iconic animals from Costa Rica, playfully displayed on both the cards and packaging. This pack is intended to serve as a delightful souvenir for visitors to bring back home:

Costa Rica's Wildlife Captured in a Stunning Deck of Cards

Zona Tropical Press Partners with Xavier Segers for Wildlife-Inspired Design

Zona Tropical Press, a Costa Rican publisher, commissioned designer Xavier Segers to create a one-of-a-kind deck of playing cards that celebrates the diverse wildlife of Costa Rica. This captivating set offers an enchanting way for visitors to take home a piece of the country's natural beauty, highlighting its rich fauna and flora.

Design Features

The Costa Rica Playing Cards stand out with their luxurious and vibrant design. The deck is packaged in a light blue box, adorned with green and gold foil accents and an intricate embossed pattern, evoking the essence of a precious jewel box. This stunning presentation makes the cards more than just a game—they are a beautiful keepsake.

Card Details

The 54-card set features illustrations of 15 iconic animals found in Costa Rica, bringing the country's unique biodiversity to life. These detailed wildlife illustrations appear on both the cards and their packaging, making the deck both visually appealing and educational. The cards have been thoughtfully crafted to serve not only as a playing deck but also as a lasting souvenir that captures the spirit of Costa Rica.

Recognition

Xavier Segers' work on the Costa Rica Playing Cards has been well-received in the design community, even winning in the graphic design category of an unspecified competition. The collaboration between Zona Tropical Press and Segers produced a product that is as culturally significant as it is visually stunning, showcasing Costa Rica's natural beauty in an engaging way.

The Inspiration Behind the Design

The deck draws inspiration from several key elements of Costa Rica's heritage and natural beauty. Segers sought to capture the richness of the country's biodiversity by featuring 15 iconic species, each meticulously illustrated. The luxurious design—reminiscent of a precious jewel box—represents the value and abundance of Costa Rica's natural resources. Elements inspired by Costa Rica's coat of arms, such as the orange seal, are also incorporated into the packaging, paying homage to the country's cultural identity.

Creating the deck required extensive research to accurately portray Costa Rica's wildlife and cultural symbols. With Segers' skills as an art director, graphic designer, and illustrator, the resulting product transcends its function as a simple deck of cards to become an artistic tribute to the natural wonders of Costa Rica.

Celebrating Costa Rica Through Design

This unique deck of playing cards serves as a testament to the collaboration between Zona Tropical Press and Xavier Segers. By merging art, design, and nature, they have created a product that both locals and visitors can cherish, celebrating Costa Rica's biodiversity in a format that is both practical and deeply meaningful. See: xaviersegers.com

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Back to Xeko, the collectible card game company originally based in Seattle, went through several changes and ultimately ceased operations. Here's what happened to the company: Initial Success and Expansion Xeko was launched on Earth Day in 2006 as a collectible card game focused on endangered species and environmental awareness. The game quickly gained recognition, winning awards such as the Creative Child Magazine 2006 Toy of the Year Award. Initially, the company released four "Mission" sets based on biodiversity hotspots: Costa Rica, Madagascar, Indonesia, and China. Change of Ownership In 2009, Xeko was sold to Good Egg Studios, an Atlanta-based game studio. This acquisition marked a significant change for the company, as it moved from its original Seattle location to Atlanta. The new owners merged Xeko with their Gaming for Good virtual world platform2. Closure of Official Website By September 2010, the official Xeko website was closed, and no reopening date was announced2. This closure was a sign of the company's declining operations and suggested that the new ownership was struggling to maintain the brand. Acquisition by Oomba Reports surfaced that Good Egg Studios had gone out of business, and Xeko was subsequently acquired by Oomba2. This acquisition took place in April 2012, though the valuation and other terms of the deal were not disclosed