diff --git a/datamine.py b/datamine.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c4fd164
--- /dev/null
+++ b/datamine.py
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+import re
+import codecs
+import sys
+
+class Card:
+    '''card representation with data'''
+
+    def __init__(self, text):
+        self.raw = text
+        fields = self.raw.split('|')
+        if not len(fields) == 10:
+            self._parsed = False
+            self._valid = False
+            self.fields = fields
+        else:
+            self._parsed = True
+            self._valid = True
+
+            if not fields[1] == '':
+                self.name = fields[1]
+            else:
+                self.name = ''
+                self._valid = False
+
+            if not fields[2] == '':
+                self.supertypes = fields[2].split(' ')
+            else:
+                self.supertypes = None
+
+            if not fields[3] == '':
+                self.types = fields[3].split(' ')
+            else:
+                self.types = ''
+                self._valid = False
+
+            if not fields[4] == '':
+                self.loyalty = fields[4]
+                try:
+                    self.loyalty_value = int(self.loyalty)
+                except ValueError:
+                    self.loyalty_value = None
+                    # strictly speaking, '* where * is something' is valid...
+                    # self._valid = False
+            else:
+                self.loyalty = None
+                self.loyalty_value = None
+
+            if not fields[5] == '':
+                self.subtypes = fields[5].split(' ')
+            else:
+                self.subtypes = None
+
+            if not fields[6] == '':
+                self.pt = fields[6]
+                p_t = self.pt.split('/')
+                if len(p_t) == 2:
+                   self.power = p_t[0]
+                   try:
+                       self.power_value = int(self.power)
+                   except ValueError:
+                       self.power_value = None
+                   self.toughness = p_t[1]
+                   try:
+                       self.toughness_value = int(self.toughness)
+                   except ValueError:
+                       self.toughness_value = None
+                else:
+                    self.power = None
+                    self.power_value = None
+                    self.toughess = None
+                    self.toughness_value = None
+                    self._valid = False
+            else:
+                self.pt = None
+                self.power = None
+                self.power_value = None
+                self.toughness = None
+                self.toughness_value = None
+
+            if not fields[7] == '':
+                self.cost = fields[7]
+            else:
+                self.cost = None
+
+            if not fields[8] == '':
+                self.text = fields[8]
+            else:
+                self.text = None
+
+def main(fname, oname = None, verbose = True):
+    if verbose:
+        print 'Opening encoded card file: ' + fname
+
+    f = open(fname, 'r')
+    text = f.read()
+    f.close()
+
+    # we get rid of the first and last because they are probably partial
+    cardtexts = text.split('\n\n')[1:-1]
+    cards = []
+
+    i = 0
+    for cardtext in cardtexts:
+        cards += [Card(cardtext)]
+        i += 1
+        if i >= 5:
+            break
+
+    print cards
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
+    if len(sys.argv) == 2:
+        main(sys.argv[1])
+    elif len(sys.argv) == 3:
+        main(sys.argv[1], oname = sys.argv[2])
+    else:
+        print 'Usage: ' + sys.argv[0] + ' ' + '<encoded file> [output filename]'
+        exit(1)
+