UPPER DECK ENTERTAINMENT’S VS. SYSTEM™ GETS SUPERCHARGED IN FEBRUARY WITH NEW X-MEN™ STARTER AND BOOSTER SETS

Vs. System Fans Can Catch a Glimpse of the New Set at UDE’s Nationwide X-Men Sneak Preview Event on Saturday and Sunday, February 11 & 12

CARLSBAD, Calif. – February 7, 2006 — The most popular characters in the Marvel universe return to the award-winning Vs. System with Upper Deck Entertainment’s (UDE) new X-Men Starter and Booster sets.  UDE’s follow-up to the debut set, Marvel Origins, X-Men features new cards from the classic X-Men library such as Wolverineä, Professor Xä, Rogueä, Cyclopsä, Jean Greyä and Nightcrawlerä, two new team affiliations, and never-before-seen game mechanics guaranteed to bring the Vs. System to a whole new level in gaming.  The new set invades North American stores on February 22.

Without reprinting any cards from Marvel Origins, X-Men brings back its signature team with different versions of the characters, as well as new characters that didn’t appear in the first set. 

X-Men will also bring back “The Brotherhood” featuring Freedom Force, a government-formed super-villain team led by Mystique, and the Acolytes guided by the mutant mastermind Exodus.  Additionally, the set introduces two new teams: “The Morlocks” -- mutant outcasts who dwell in the sewers, waiting for hapless opponents to step into their traps, and “The Hellfire Club” -- a secret organization of the wealthy and powerful determined to take over the world.

X-Men also debuts the new core mechanic, “Mutant,” which spotlights mutants and designates each with one of three traits, “Energy,” “Physical,” or “Mental.”  Players will have the opportunity to build decks around their favorite teams, or mutant traits, all of which will have its own unique flavor and strengths.

On Saturday and Sunday, February 11 & 12, gaming and Vs. System fans will get an early taste of the new set at UDE’s  X-Men Sneak Preview Tournament events held across North America. The sneak preview events offer new and veteran players an advance look at the new card set featuring the World’s Mightiest Super Heroes before its release on store shelves.  Each participant in a Sneak Preview Sealed Pack event will receive five X-Men boosters and will then use those cards to construct a 30-card deck to play in the tournament.  All participants will receive “Colossus: Organic Steel” and “Wolverine: The Best at What He Does” cards just for showing up.  Top finishers of each event will also receive the much-sought-after “Snikt!” card. For information on a local Sneak Preview weekend, please visit ude.com/sneakpreview.

The Marvel Trading Card Game incorporates the Vs. System -- UDE’s game engine that represents epic Super HeroÔ battles in a TCG format.  In Vs. System, each player begins the game with his or her own team of Marvel Super HeroesÔ or Marvel Super VillainsÔ, and then tries to knock out all of his or her opponents. The game is specially designed to be played at every level of competition, from casual games to professional-level tournaments, and can be played in a variety of formats with any number of players.

For more information on the Marvel TCG, the X-Men expansion set, or additional UDE products, visit www.upperdeckentertainment.com.  For up-to-the minute information on major Vs. System tournaments, players can visit www.ude.com/events.