It was found that the New Phyrexia godbook was spoiled by french players Guillaume Matignon and Guillaume Wafo-Tapa as well as Martial Moreau and David Gauthier. Each were suspended from the DCI until October 2012, except Matignon who received a 3 year banning.
Awh man, I really liked Mantigon and Wafo-Tapa.
I guess it's only until October for one of them, but Mantigon, come on...
I wonder if they were really the ones who leaked this...
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Originally Posted by Arcadic View Post
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Awh man, I really liked Mantigon and Wafo-Tapa.
I guess it's only until October for one of them, but Mantigon, come on...
I wonder if they were really the ones who leaked this...
October of NEXT YEAR. For someone who makes significant income from playing magic I'd say that stings pretty bad right now.
If he was going to write a letter, why bring his friends down with him? It's cool you developed a conscience, but don't drag down your friends for your mistake :/.
EDIT: Also, I wonder how many other pro writers get access to the Godbook. I'm more irate that any player gets to see that, as it gives them a clear competitive and financial advantage. If it doesn't cease because of this, then it should ASAP.
@Corvus: The reason why having the whole set spoiled ahead of time is because Wizards is able to get pre-release hype generating by spoiling cards on their own schedule, which means more sales. Just as importantly, many sites, some of which are rather small, are given their own preview card. Having an exclusive preview card generates a lot of traffic for those sites, so having it spoiled ahead of time hurts them financially as well.
Another HUGE reason this is bad is that the spoiler wouldn't have happened had Matignon, Wafo-Tapa, and who knows who else hadn't been playtesting with the new cards before anybody else even knew they existed. Matignon broke the Non-Disclosure Agreement he had to sign in order to be given the Godbook to cover in Lotus Noir, but the others were also punished because using that kind of information in an abusive way undermines the trust Wizards placed in them, and the trust we place in Wizards.
There are plenty of other problems, but that's what I came up with.
Mental Misstep Hysteria sweeps the nation! Legacy format to never be the same! Wizards releases new card made of space-age polymers and Tang, infused with the DNA of Ramses II, Alexander the Great, and Joe Montana! Every Legacy deck to begin “4 Mental Misstep and 56 other, less exciting cards” forever more!
If he was going to write a letter, why bring his friends down with him? It's cool you developed a conscience, but don't drag down your friends for your mistake :/.
EDIT: Also, I wonder how many other pro writers get access to the Godbook. I'm more irate that any player gets to see that, as it gives them a clear competitive and financial advantage. If it doesn't cease because of this, then it should ASAP.
I agree wholeheartedly. And again, as I've stated in another post, I have much respect for WotC, but to give players who will be playing in upcoming events entire set information well ahead of others - many who are just as deserving to be able to compete on the same level - only serves to undermine the integrity of the game, which was one reason WotC reacted and made statements to the leak in the first place!
Ultimately, it is WotC's business and there are measures necessary to market the product that regrettably will at times be "unfair." However, the players who write on the upcoming sets could be recused from playing or should recuse themselves having had full disclosure ahead of the pack. Why not rotate player-writers so that they write and take a Standard "season" off until rotation? There must be a way to equal out the playing field and still do business.
Pro players have appeared as of late to be giving a bad PR representation of the game, with cheating and now leaking information. Whether dishonest or negligent in either event, the news lately has been that the pro players have among them those who do not represent the great majority of players who are honest and upright. But nevertheless, the "bad eggs" still raise questions about the pro level that in my estimation demands greater regulation and compliance from the top, DCI or WotC, I don't really care as long as things are being done forthright and legitimate.
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Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. -Albert Einstein
If he was going to write a letter, why bring his friends down with him? It's cool you developed a conscience, but don't drag down your friends for your mistake :/.
EDIT: Also, I wonder how many other pro writers get access to the Godbook. I'm more irate that any player gets to see that, as it gives them a clear competitive and financial advantage. If it doesn't cease because of this, then it should ASAP.
It's a matter of doing the right thing, and I get that. Me personally I would guard my friends and families secrets no matter how bad they are but I do understand sometimes people value morale over your friends and that's fine in it's own right. I give props to Matignon for coming clean and sinking his own battleship for the sake of his conscious, and while he was not the one who leaked it, he still trusted it to someone who made a really foolish decision and now they both have to pay for it.
And does it really matter if pros see the cards before we do? I see nothing wrong with this for some reason, maybe someone can enlighten me as to why this is bad.
And does it really matter if pros see the cards before we do? I see nothing wrong with this for some reason, maybe someone can enlighten me as to why this is bad.
A) They get to study, test, and build with the cards before 'regular' players do.
B) When they have that advantage, they are better positioned in competitive events to do well for a certain amount of time - essentially cheating.
C) They develop a good idea of strong cards, or sleeper cards, that are going to get huge (See Tarmogoyf). This allows them to invest in cards when they are cheap, and sell when the card price skyrockets.
Now, I'm not certain if any players have taken advantage of 'C', but 'A' and 'B' are very very likely.
Both of which undermine the fairness and integrity of events they participate in within the first few weeks of a sets release.
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Winner of the MTGSalvation Standard Championships III & IV.
put it this way...'we', the common Magic players, just figured out the Splinter Twins / Entomber Exarch combo. These guys had this information months before we did and could have collected enough of the 'jank' Splinter Twins card that was $1.00 until the set was leaked. It is now a $9.00 card. This is simply one example. There are others (wanna bet they figured out several good decks for the upcoming tournaments already? (even though they can't play in them) Their friends can though, and have that distinct advantage...
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Premise I: "Knowledge is Power" ~ Sir Francis Bacon, 1597
Premise II: "Power {tends to} Corrupt" ~ Baron Acton, 1887
Conclusion: "Knowledge Corrupts"
A) They get to study, test, and build with the cards before 'regular' players do.
B) When they have that advantage, they are better positioned in competitive events to do well for a certain amount of time - essentially cheating.
C) They develop a good idea of strong cards, or sleeper cards, that are going to get huge (See Tarmogoyf). This allows them to invest in cards when they are cheap, and sell when the card price skyrockets.
Now, I'm not certain if any players have taken advantage of 'C', but 'A' and 'B' are very very likely.
Both of which undermine the fairness and integrity of events they participate in within the first few weeks of a sets release.
See that's weird because C actually seems more relevant than A & B. With A & B sure they get knowledge early but then they share that knowledge with everyone, and by the time a big competitive event rolls around everyone is pretty much up to speed as to what's going on. But with C ya they can go and just clean up the secondary market well in advance.
Seriously. I had no idea the cards were always pre-leaked to writers. That allows for a lot of front-running, esp these days when a writer can buy a bunch of cards, then write the article hyping them - can we say conflict of interest?
put it this way...'we', the common Magic players, just figured out the Splinter Twins / Entomber Exarch combo. These guys had this information months before we did and could have collected enough of the 'jank' Splinter Twins card that was $1.00 until the set was leaked. It is now a $9.00 card. This is simply one example. There are others (wanna bet they figured out several good decks for the upcoming tournaments already? (even though they can't play in them) Their friends can though, and have that distinct advantage...
Seriously. I had no idea the cards were always pre-leaked to writers. That allows for a lot of front-running, esp these days when a writer can buy a bunch of cards, then write the article hyping them - can we say conflict of interest?
It takes more than a writer's word to substantially boost price, as a result shown in a major event matters more; however, a pro player writing on a card can lift price especially when others are expressing the same and probably more so in the pre-release phase. As a consequence, getting card sets early and being able to see all the interactions and possibilities certainly opens up much potential for abuse and tempation to profit, although I am skeptical that there are facts to support this.
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Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking. -Albert Einstein
put it this way...'we', the common Magic players, just figured out the Splinter Twins / Entomber Exarch combo. These guys had this information months before we did and could have collected enough of the 'jank' Splinter Twins card that was $1.00 until the set was leaked. It is now a $9.00 card. This is simply one example. There are others (wanna bet they figured out several good decks for the upcoming tournaments already? (even though they can't play in them) Their friends can though, and have that distinct advantage...
Keep in mind, matignon was supposed to get the god book. So in that sense he has an advantage to get some early testing as I'm sure other popular writers like Patrick Chapin and LSV also get the god book. Its merely the sharing of this information WoTC frowns upon. Not sure if you were saying that its unfair they got them in general, but thats how i interpreted it. Despite I myself finding it unfair, WoTC didn't have a problem with it . a few people here seam to think
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I understand that you all think that speculating on dollar rares which go up to $9 is super profitable, but really I can't imagine any pro would really bother with that sort of nonsense. Go and have a look what the appearance fees and prize money for the pro-tour are. Then consider how many splinter twins you'd have to buy and sell to get the same amount of cash. Not to mention the use of your time obtaining and then selling the cards.
Wrong is wrong. Plain and simple. Either you are an honest person and do the right thing, or you are dishonest and don't do the right thing. Matignon coming forward and admitting his transgression was the honorable thing to do, once he realized the impact his disclosure imparted upon the community. While this doesn't excuse the fact that he broke his NDA, it does go a long way to mollify the potential backlash from WotC and Hasbro, and, imho, the magic community, in general.
Being a huge fan of Wafo-Tapa, and to a lesser degree, Matignon, I was severely disappointed to hear that these 2 Pro's,and Moreau and Gauthier, participated in such a disclosure of information, which, to some, might not be a huge deal, but to others, presents a financial setback of immense proportions. Think of all the websites and magazines who were poised to preveiw potential bombs in NPH. Think of the time needed to get the best writers for said previews, deadlines for articles, posts, blogs...etc.etc.etc....Now...imagine that this was YOUR money they were potentially "stealing"....Changes a few perspectives now, doesn't it? Think of the stores, who make their money off of these pieces of cardboard we all love so much...... Think of your favorite store to go to, whether it be an FNM or Grand Prix, or whatever. Now imagine that store getting closed down because they couldn't sell as much cards to meet their bottom line, selling only cards that were chase rares "the cards to get". Kinda changes it a little doesn't it? (I know that last one was a far stretch, but it could happen)
Giving Matignon, last years World Champion, a banning of such weight, and also giving the other participants a banning of lesser import is only right and just. I, for one, am pleased with NPH so far, and look forward to playing in many tournaments with all cards available, for the respective decks that NPH will benefit. But if I were to show up at a high level tourney, knowing that someone had the upper hand in information, information garnered by illegal means, information gotten well ahead of every one else, I think I would have to give the persons using their illegally gotten information a piece of my mind. Nobody likes a cheater, and although they were big enough to come forward and admit their wrongdoings, they were still poised to "cheat" the community with information that the rest of the field didn't have.
This sort of breach of conduct is very unbecoming in a World Champion, and to those who are fans of Wafo-Tapa and Matignon, there will always be the shadow of deceit following their every tournament participation. Think of Saito, and all the flack he has gotten over the years, all on the back of perceived and witnessed cheating.
Shame on you. Shame on you.
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"These aren`t the Droids your looking for......Move along."
I understand that you all think that speculating on dollar rares which go up to $9 is super profitable, but really I can't imagine any pro would really bother with that sort of nonsense. Go and have a look what the appearance fees and prize money for the pro-tour are. Then consider how many splinter twins you'd have to buy and sell to get the same amount of cash. Not to mention the use of your time obtaining and then selling the cards.
Yeah no one likes an 800% return on investment.
That would just be silly.
Seriously, a lot of people steal office supplies at work, and that can get you fired on the spot, with no right to any compensation, and a bad rep as well.
If you could make $1000 without any effort (you make an account on your parent's address, buy all Splinter Twins on websites, and put em on ebay in sets of 4 afterwards), wouldn't you? Yes, it is illegal (Insider trading), but the chance that anybody is going to catch you is minimal.
Then again, those frenchies did everything within their might to get caught for something less worse than insider trading, so maybe they shouldn't try to bother with this kind of plan.
Seriously, a lot of people steal office supplies at work, and that can get you fired on the spot, with no right to any compensation, and a bad rep as well.
If you could make $1000 without any effort (you make an account on your parent's address, buy all Splinter Twins on websites, and put em on ebay in sets of 4 afterwards), wouldn't you? Yes, it is illegal (Insider trading), but the chance that anybody is going to catch you is minimal.
Then again, those frenchies did everything within their might to get caught for something less worse than insider trading, so maybe they shouldn't try to bother with this kind of plan.
LOL, this example is not insider trading, at least not in the illegal sense. They may be privy to leaked information, but there's nothing illegal about using that information to buy cards. The SEC doesn't give a crap Magic cards.
"Insider trading is the trading of a corporation's stock or other securities (e.g. bonds or stock options) by individuals with potential access to non-public information about the company."
Relevant detail in bold.
Cards are not stock, bonds, or options. They are a product. Insider trading would never apply.
Insider trading? Really? are you that dumb? If insider trading rules applied to magic cards...........numerous WOTC employees would of been in prison already as would numerous others who have been guilty of leaks of cards. This is not the first time this has happened and it will not be the last.
Geez, by your theory numerous employees from Topps, Upperdeck, etc would all be serving prison sentences too...
God, is amazing how dumb people are on the internet.
Official DailyMTG article:
http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/news/042811a
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I definitely think it'll happen again, sadly. Via someone else, of course.
EDIT: Shame on Wafo-Tapa...
EDH:
Xira Arien
I guess it's only until October for one of them, but Mantigon, come on...
I wonder if they were really the ones who leaked this...
scumbag
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October of NEXT YEAR. For someone who makes significant income from playing magic I'd say that stings pretty bad right now.
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I collect pacifism: 228
Read it wrong I guess.
Well that really sucks. I'll miss seeing both of them.
scumbag
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EDIT: Also, I wonder how many other pro writers get access to the Godbook. I'm more irate that any player gets to see that, as it gives them a clear competitive and financial advantage. If it doesn't cease because of this, then it should ASAP.
My DCI ELO Ratings - May they rest in peace :'(
Another HUGE reason this is bad is that the spoiler wouldn't have happened had Matignon, Wafo-Tapa, and who knows who else hadn't been playtesting with the new cards before anybody else even knew they existed. Matignon broke the Non-Disclosure Agreement he had to sign in order to be given the Godbook to cover in Lotus Noir, but the others were also punished because using that kind of information in an abusive way undermines the trust Wizards placed in them, and the trust we place in Wizards.
There are plenty of other problems, but that's what I came up with.
^^Thanks dantcg!
I agree wholeheartedly. And again, as I've stated in another post, I have much respect for WotC, but to give players who will be playing in upcoming events entire set information well ahead of others - many who are just as deserving to be able to compete on the same level - only serves to undermine the integrity of the game, which was one reason WotC reacted and made statements to the leak in the first place!
Ultimately, it is WotC's business and there are measures necessary to market the product that regrettably will at times be "unfair." However, the players who write on the upcoming sets could be recused from playing or should recuse themselves having had full disclosure ahead of the pack. Why not rotate player-writers so that they write and take a Standard "season" off until rotation? There must be a way to equal out the playing field and still do business.
Pro players have appeared as of late to be giving a bad PR representation of the game, with cheating and now leaking information. Whether dishonest or negligent in either event, the news lately has been that the pro players have among them those who do not represent the great majority of players who are honest and upright. But nevertheless, the "bad eggs" still raise questions about the pro level that in my estimation demands greater regulation and compliance from the top, DCI or WotC, I don't really care as long as things are being done forthright and legitimate.
It's a matter of doing the right thing, and I get that. Me personally I would guard my friends and families secrets no matter how bad they are but I do understand sometimes people value morale over your friends and that's fine in it's own right. I give props to Matignon for coming clean and sinking his own battleship for the sake of his conscious, and while he was not the one who leaked it, he still trusted it to someone who made a really foolish decision and now they both have to pay for it.
And does it really matter if pros see the cards before we do? I see nothing wrong with this for some reason, maybe someone can enlighten me as to why this is bad.
hardcore still lives
A) They get to study, test, and build with the cards before 'regular' players do.
B) When they have that advantage, they are better positioned in competitive events to do well for a certain amount of time - essentially cheating.
C) They develop a good idea of strong cards, or sleeper cards, that are going to get huge (See Tarmogoyf). This allows them to invest in cards when they are cheap, and sell when the card price skyrockets.
Now, I'm not certain if any players have taken advantage of 'C', but 'A' and 'B' are very very likely.
Both of which undermine the fairness and integrity of events they participate in within the first few weeks of a sets release.
My DCI ELO Ratings - May they rest in peace :'(
Premise II: "Power {tends to} Corrupt" ~ Baron Acton, 1887
Conclusion: "Knowledge Corrupts"
See that's weird because C actually seems more relevant than A & B. With A & B sure they get knowledge early but then they share that knowledge with everyone, and by the time a big competitive event rolls around everyone is pretty much up to speed as to what's going on. But with C ya they can go and just clean up the secondary market well in advance.
hardcore still lives
It takes more than a writer's word to substantially boost price, as a result shown in a major event matters more; however, a pro player writing on a card can lift price especially when others are expressing the same and probably more so in the pre-release phase. As a consequence, getting card sets early and being able to see all the interactions and possibilities certainly opens up much potential for abuse and tempation to profit, although I am skeptical that there are facts to support this.
Keep in mind, matignon was supposed to get the god book. So in that sense he has an advantage to get some early testing as I'm sure other popular writers like Patrick Chapin and LSV also get the god book. Its merely the sharing of this information WoTC frowns upon. Not sure if you were saying that its unfair they got them in general, but thats how i interpreted it. Despite I myself finding it unfair, WoTC didn't have a problem with it . a few people here seam to think
Thanks to Theismisacrime for this beautiful signature over at damnation studios
Being a huge fan of Wafo-Tapa, and to a lesser degree, Matignon, I was severely disappointed to hear that these 2 Pro's,and Moreau and Gauthier, participated in such a disclosure of information, which, to some, might not be a huge deal, but to others, presents a financial setback of immense proportions. Think of all the websites and magazines who were poised to preveiw potential bombs in NPH. Think of the time needed to get the best writers for said previews, deadlines for articles, posts, blogs...etc.etc.etc....Now...imagine that this was YOUR money they were potentially "stealing"....Changes a few perspectives now, doesn't it? Think of the stores, who make their money off of these pieces of cardboard we all love so much...... Think of your favorite store to go to, whether it be an FNM or Grand Prix, or whatever. Now imagine that store getting closed down because they couldn't sell as much cards to meet their bottom line, selling only cards that were chase rares "the cards to get". Kinda changes it a little doesn't it? (I know that last one was a far stretch, but it could happen)
Giving Matignon, last years World Champion, a banning of such weight, and also giving the other participants a banning of lesser import is only right and just. I, for one, am pleased with NPH so far, and look forward to playing in many tournaments with all cards available, for the respective decks that NPH will benefit. But if I were to show up at a high level tourney, knowing that someone had the upper hand in information, information garnered by illegal means, information gotten well ahead of every one else, I think I would have to give the persons using their illegally gotten information a piece of my mind. Nobody likes a cheater, and although they were big enough to come forward and admit their wrongdoings, they were still poised to "cheat" the community with information that the rest of the field didn't have.
This sort of breach of conduct is very unbecoming in a World Champion, and to those who are fans of Wafo-Tapa and Matignon, there will always be the shadow of deceit following their every tournament participation. Think of Saito, and all the flack he has gotten over the years, all on the back of perceived and witnessed cheating.
Shame on you. Shame on you.
Your post was great. I share your exact feelings.
Commander GU Edric Control
Yeah no one likes an 800% return on investment.
That would just be silly.
/sarcasm
Not really trading atm
BRVamps
If you could make $1000 without any effort (you make an account on your parent's address, buy all Splinter Twins on websites, and put em on ebay in sets of 4 afterwards), wouldn't you? Yes, it is illegal (Insider trading), but the chance that anybody is going to catch you is minimal.
Then again, those frenchies did everything within their might to get caught for something less worse than insider trading, so maybe they shouldn't try to bother with this kind of plan.
LOL, this example is not insider trading, at least not in the illegal sense. They may be privy to leaked information, but there's nothing illegal about using that information to buy cards. The SEC doesn't give a crap Magic cards.
Relevant detail in bold.
Cards are not stock, bonds, or options. They are a product. Insider trading would never apply.
Geez, by your theory numerous employees from Topps, Upperdeck, etc would all be serving prison sentences too...
God, is amazing how dumb people are on the internet.
Later EddieO