For the past year wizards has been Anti-Cardshop. So this move will not come a surprise.
On a business perspective it makes sense as to why they've been against the Local Game Store (LGS) business model and more in favor of big box retailers like Walmart and Target simply because the profit margins are much higher and safer than at LGSs. On a public relations perspective it's a terrible move that completely neglects the In-Store Play aspect of the Local Game Store (LGS) that big box retailers like Walmart and Target are unable to provide for their customers especially GameStop as their slogan should've been "power to the corporations" because "power to the players" is misleading.
The idea of GameStop implementing In-Store Play for people who play MTG, Pokémon TCG, and Yu-Gi-Oh! by running sanctioned events and Organized Play is laughable at best when they're already going the way of Blockbuster with terrible costumer service, terrible public relations, and bad businesss practices overall. Maybe If they didn't have such a terrible reputation I'd reconsider the option of GameStop potentially taking over the Local Game Store (LGS) business model and even If they did I feel it would be too corporate compared to how grassroots LGSs we know are properly run.
It would be cool but Gamestop is too freaking small.
Gamestop has its own issues. I'm not sure what can be done to fix it. I do see it going away like RadioShack and Blockbuster.
I'm trying to see why wizards is doing this. The current protest has nothing to do with magic, unless their cooperate office is next door to CHAZ. And the ban list is what CHAZ created. Wishful thinking, I guess.
I don't see anything good from this ban list. It's opens the game based on players feelings. And if you ask a casual player most likely they will call Counterspell a racist and sexist card.
Nobody was flashing Stone Throwing Devils or Invoke Prejudice at players to belittle them.
You say this yet others on this very forum say they have personally seen this happen. So people are flashing these cards at others to belittle them.
Knowing that people are using them to belittle others does this change your opinion?
LOL... Players would flash an island, counterspell, a lighting bolt, black lotus, expensive standard cards, a foil deck and the intimidation would be aimed on I'm a better player then you because I have such and such in my deck.
I strongly believe wizards is purposely trying to reset the MTG game. I think some ceo told them that the company could make billions of dollars if they focused all their attention on online tournaments. How they are going to do this? I think this is a starting point. We are going to see a second and a 3rd wave of banning's. And it'll come to a point that wizards will say, "I think we are going to stop all paper tournaments and those that play in Arena or Online, will play with such ban cards but those cards will have a new name and new art."
For the past year wizards has been Anti-Cardshop. So this move will not come a surprise.
I personally enjoy paying by the format rules, so I can build decks and play casually with other friends without inserting personal rules. Though I would like to follow the new ban rules, but I feel insulted that these racist bans exist, especially when there was no reason for them. Nobody was flashing Stone Throwing Devils or Invoke Prejudice at players to belittle them.
Anyway, I'm not accepting this BS ban. The ban makes no damn sense!
I would like to talk to players about there feelings towards this. I'm not sure where to go because I know this topic is loaded with emotions.
My feeling is that wizards opened the Pandora box and it looks like they are going to kill the game, especially when they decided to take the high horse and ban 7 cards that they say is racist. Why stop at racist? What not Sexist? Why not violence towards women? Why not remove the Demons, Devils and the Djinns. What about the card Murder? This ban list can suck away 95% of the card pool, leaving only lands.
And since wizards focused on racism... Are they going to ban all cards written in Italian with the "N" word. Sure it's not spelled the same but living in America, I know saying any word relatively close to the "n" word can get you into trouble. Don't believe me, try it.
I like it... I just got the goblins playset. I like those too. I think these Secret Lairs are awesome, but I don't see why people feel so compelled into buying all the cards. There's a ton of cards from the Secret Lairs I'm not buying, but I feel that somebody else may like those cards more and they should have the option to buy it.
I think anybody feeling that wizards shouldn't be doing this, they should sit back, save your money and buy something you like to buy. If cardshops are having an issues, then don't stock them.
Wizards is going to keep on pushing secret lair cards because they are trying to attract more new and bring old players to the game.
Normally, I would never buy Goblin Lackey, I have a playset of them already... but these new Secret Lairs version is so awesome looking that I needed to get a complete playset. I would hope they have more Goblins in similar art... But that's my thoughts
There are other directions I haven't heard anyone really talk about (maybe hint at, but not right out mention):
1) There have been bars opening up here & there that cater to the gaming community. 21+ environment.
I think I support this idea because the older I get the more annoying the younger generation looks to me. I also feel that magic tournaments are like gambling. And I do get annoyed that some of the younger players, whom are too young to hold a job is playing with decks that cost almost as much as a car, and they think their ***** don't stick at the tournament table. Like I've said I'm annoyed by the younger generation. Although, I started playing magic when I was 26 years old.
2) LGS's become "country clubs" for nerds, w/ monthly or yearly memberships, holding private and open events.
Another idea that makes total sense to me... I do feel that some LGS should push membership cards so member players are allowed to trade (or sell) cards in the store. And it seemed like a good way to allow proxy players (members are allowed to play with proxies).
3) LGS's start charging at the door. Either a per night cost or by the hour.
Sure... but this might push people away from the LGS. On the other hand, if your going to a dance club (or night club) there are door charges.
I have mixed feelings on the Wizards/Amazon partnership. I feel that Wizards is trying to lock in the booster box prices because they seemed to believe that the cardshops are taking advantage of them and jacking up the price of the booster boxes, especially months later. But I do feel that the real villain is wizards for pushing booster draft mechanics for almost 15 years.
What's wrong with booster draft mechanics?
Originally, booster packs were expansions to magic entry decks. Therefore the rarity is based on the power level cards into building your deck. In the end you are getting some really good cards at all levels. Counterspell is a common because it's a card wizards believe should be easy for players to own. (if counterspell was made today, wizards would make it a rare because they don't want that many counterspells on the drafting table)
The problem with booster draft mechanics, wizards focus the rarity based on how many times the card maybe drafted on the table. The problem is that 90% of the cards are *****! Except if you are drafting. Cardshops are having a problem because when they open a booster box they have 10% marketable cards. Sure there are a few sets that seemed to push closer to 20% but it's not enough to make that awesome return. Sadly, for years cardshops believed that wizards was focused in standard, and this pushes cardshops into buying insane amount of booster boxes.
The proof that cardshops don't care about standard is the creation of mystics.
The biggest issues is mystics. Booster draft mechanics - each mystic is a bomb. In reality, only a handful of mystics are really worth playing and they end up offseting the lost value of the box. For example, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager looks like an awesome card, cool for commander, but not worth +20 dollars. If the card was a rare, it might be worth 5 dollars.
I have doubts wizards is going to change the booster draft mechanics because this is their real focus in making money.
In the end... You either have a physical card you can touch, hold, scrape junk off a grill (Spongebob reference) or a digital card that's only good as long as you keep the account active.
I had a World of War craft account 10 years ago, I had high level characters and epic weapons too, I had not seen that account for 9 years. On the other hand, I have magic cards since 1996. I had not looked at my cards almost all of 2017 and up to a few weeks ago... and I still have my cards.
1
It would be cool but Gamestop is too freaking small.
Gamestop has its own issues. I'm not sure what can be done to fix it. I do see it going away like RadioShack and Blockbuster.
I'm trying to see why wizards is doing this. The current protest has nothing to do with magic, unless their cooperate office is next door to CHAZ. And the ban list is what CHAZ created. Wishful thinking, I guess.
I don't see anything good from this ban list. It's opens the game based on players feelings. And if you ask a casual player most likely they will call Counterspell a racist and sexist card.
2
LOL... Players would flash an island, counterspell, a lighting bolt, black lotus, expensive standard cards, a foil deck and the intimidation would be aimed on I'm a better player then you because I have such and such in my deck.
Is this the ban list we need?
2
I strongly believe wizards is purposely trying to reset the MTG game. I think some ceo told them that the company could make billions of dollars if they focused all their attention on online tournaments. How they are going to do this? I think this is a starting point. We are going to see a second and a 3rd wave of banning's. And it'll come to a point that wizards will say, "I think we are going to stop all paper tournaments and those that play in Arena or Online, will play with such ban cards but those cards will have a new name and new art."
For the past year wizards has been Anti-Cardshop. So this move will not come a surprise.
I personally enjoy paying by the format rules, so I can build decks and play casually with other friends without inserting personal rules. Though I would like to follow the new ban rules, but I feel insulted that these racist bans exist, especially when there was no reason for them. Nobody was flashing Stone Throwing Devils or Invoke Prejudice at players to belittle them.
Anyway, I'm not accepting this BS ban. The ban makes no damn sense!
1
My feeling is that wizards opened the Pandora box and it looks like they are going to kill the game, especially when they decided to take the high horse and ban 7 cards that they say is racist. Why stop at racist? What not Sexist? Why not violence towards women? Why not remove the Demons, Devils and the Djinns. What about the card Murder? This ban list can suck away 95% of the card pool, leaving only lands.
And since wizards focused on racism... Are they going to ban all cards written in Italian with the "N" word. Sure it's not spelled the same but living in America, I know saying any word relatively close to the "n" word can get you into trouble. Don't believe me, try it.
1
I think anybody feeling that wizards shouldn't be doing this, they should sit back, save your money and buy something you like to buy. If cardshops are having an issues, then don't stock them.
Wizards is going to keep on pushing secret lair cards because they are trying to attract more new and bring old players to the game.
Normally, I would never buy Goblin Lackey, I have a playset of them already... but these new Secret Lairs version is so awesome looking that I needed to get a complete playset. I would hope they have more Goblins in similar art... But that's my thoughts
1
I think I support this idea because the older I get the more annoying the younger generation looks to me. I also feel that magic tournaments are like gambling. And I do get annoyed that some of the younger players, whom are too young to hold a job is playing with decks that cost almost as much as a car, and they think their ***** don't stick at the tournament table. Like I've said I'm annoyed by the younger generation. Although, I started playing magic when I was 26 years old.
Another idea that makes total sense to me...
Sure... but this might push people away from the LGS. On the other hand, if your going to a dance club (or night club) there are door charges.
2
What's wrong with booster draft mechanics?
Originally, booster packs were expansions to magic entry decks. Therefore the rarity is based on the power level cards into building your deck. In the end you are getting some really good cards at all levels. Counterspell is a common because it's a card wizards believe should be easy for players to own. (if counterspell was made today, wizards would make it a rare because they don't want that many counterspells on the drafting table)
The problem with booster draft mechanics, wizards focus the rarity based on how many times the card maybe drafted on the table. The problem is that 90% of the cards are *****! Except if you are drafting. Cardshops are having a problem because when they open a booster box they have 10% marketable cards. Sure there are a few sets that seemed to push closer to 20% but it's not enough to make that awesome return. Sadly, for years cardshops believed that wizards was focused in standard, and this pushes cardshops into buying insane amount of booster boxes.
The proof that cardshops don't care about standard is the creation of mystics.
The biggest issues is mystics. Booster draft mechanics - each mystic is a bomb. In reality, only a handful of mystics are really worth playing and they end up offseting the lost value of the box. For example, Nicol Bolas, the Ravager looks like an awesome card, cool for commander, but not worth +20 dollars. If the card was a rare, it might be worth 5 dollars.
I have doubts wizards is going to change the booster draft mechanics because this is their real focus in making money.
3
3
I had a World of War craft account 10 years ago, I had high level characters and epic weapons too, I had not seen that account for 9 years. On the other hand, I have magic cards since 1996. I had not looked at my cards almost all of 2017 and up to a few weeks ago... and I still have my cards.
I don't see how any virtual game can beat that!