For years, legend had it that sports card collectors were just that - card collectors. Meanwhile, game players were their own separate group that didn't have a lot of interest in card collecting.

The times may be a changing. Wizards of the Coast, which has made truckloads of money off games based on the world of make believe, has invested millions in dollars of resources to create trading card games based on and licensed by profesional sports leagues.

"Both Hasbro and Wizards are very excited about the sports games category," said Tom Goedde, marketing director for Wizards. "Sports is considered the growth area o fthe company. These are mass market opportunities because these are big licenses."

Wizards dove head first into the sports games category last year with the launch of MLB Showdown 2000, a game which sold well at both hobby shops and gaming stores. "We sold more than five million units of Showdown last year," Goedde said. "I'm thrilled with how the game was received."

The strategy involved with MLB Showdown helped the game appeal to die-hard game players, but Goedde said both the realism of the game and its collectibility angle helped attract sports card collectors as well as traditional baseball fans.

"We were surprised to see how many adult collectors and fans of fantasy sports were drawn to our game," Goedde said. "Some of our most successful Showdown leagues are in the stores where there are ballgames on TV each night. It's a great time, watching games on TV and playing a few games with the cards."

The 2001 version of Showdown is now live and features the same basic mechanics as last year. The base set will again consist of 462 player cards, with an expansion set featuring mostly rookies and traded players slated for August.

Wizards will again be supporting the Showdown product with in-stadium giveaways at approximately 15 MLB stadiums, as well as organized play programs (tournaments and leagues) across the country.

"Those events are what really drives our long-term sales," Goedde said. "Now that we have a player base, it will be easy to get those programs up and running again for this year."

In August Wizards will take the next step in its sports game journey with the launch of NFL Showdown. The game will feature a unique aspect - an electronic bar code reader - that will help quickly compute power ratings for various players in different offensive and defensive formations and allow the game to move at a quicker pace.

Starter kits for NFL Showdown will consist of two teams of players (24 cards), two 20-card strategy decks, a play mat, rule book and electronic card reader for $19.99. Booster packs will feature 11 player cards and additional strategy cards for $3.29. There will also be a 80-card Draft Packs designed for tournament play that will carry a $9.99 SRP. A rookie expansion set is due in October.

Meanwhile, Wizards will launch its NBA Showdown product in late October. "Basketball will be less simution-based than baseball," Goedde said. "It will be more about one-on-one player matchups. We've tested this game and people get really excited and very animated while playing it."

While not a familiar name with traditional CCG players, APBA is a familiar name to sports board game players. The company redesigned its complete line of board games last year and is marketing its 50th Anniversary baseball board game this year.

In addition to baseball, APBA offers NFL and NHL-based games. All games feature both the traditional strategy versions designed for adults as well as a scaled down version that can be played by kids.

And while it may seem as if APBA and Wizards are competing for the same players, the companies are working on a joint venture whereby APBA games are sold in more than 100 gaming centers owned by Wizards.

"Wizards is the king of fantasy games and we are honored that they believe that APBA is one of the MVP's of sports games," said Bill Bordegon, president and CEO of APBA. "Wizards' stores will introduce our games to a whole new generation."