[quote=@Double] So is this not the anime setting, then? I was under the assumption that cards like the Egyptian Gods, Sacred Beasts, or Earthbound Immortals would be off-limits due to them all being one-of-a-kind and in some cases possessing apocalyptic levels of power. [/quote] I feel like [i]reading the post[/i] answers this, but here it is: It's a combination of the two; it's closer to the real world, in that the card game as we know it, exists. The main characters and their home town exist, but because this setting more closely resembles reality (on the surface), duelist kingdom and all that, either never happened, or were just normal card tournaments. Another overlap with the anime is that they still call it "Duel Monsters". Does that clear it up for you?