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[Lordinquisitor]

Indeed. Such supernerds are the reason why i`m hesitant to tell people that i play magic.

[Neonivek]

I stopped playing magic the gathering once I realised it cost waaay too much money and my friend who bought his deck was basically unbeatable with what I had. (Dang Sliver Decks...)

I built a deck with my friend's cards... It is an interesting deck (Mono-black) and I am happy it beats my friend's bought deck.

[Lordinquisitor]

You can get pretty cheap but still good decks. Burn, for example. Even good combo decks.

[Neonivek]

You can get pretty cheap but still good decks. Burn, for example. Even good combo decks.

Nothing really can compete with buying the proper cards...

It is one reason why if I really like a card game that I'll buy the videogame versions instead. (For example: Yu-Gi-Oh... the rip-offiest collectible card game ever)

[JoshuaFH]

Oh man, I just had an epiphany and I just had to revive this thread.

My inner economist is sad at Wizards of the Coast.

I delighted at the possibility to play the latest and greatest downloadable game for the 360, PS3, and PC, Duels of the Planeswalkers: M12.

This included, among other things, a largely dominant suite of cards from the M12 core set, and a very good and challenging Archenemy mode.

I can see why they'd do that, the game itself is probably turning out a fair amount of profit itself, as well as encouraging players to buy 'keys' that will unlock a decks' cards and turn normal cards into foil versions of the same, which are just aesthetically pleasing. Plus, the game is simply designed to entice people into buying any expansions that come out for it.

In retrospect though, why'd they do the Archenemy mode? Archenemy sets are just plain not being sold in most major outlets any more, or atleast, not the ones I go to. This is wasted advertising for a product that isn't turning any more revenue. Anyone becoming interested in Archenemy because of the game will just have to shrug their shoulders and let the interest pass, or go out of their way to get them from some specialty hobby shop or website, which isn't actually benefiting WotC that much.

With that thought in mind, it makes me think that they wasted a GOLDEN opportunity to show off the latest and greatest new format being endorsed by WotC: Commander. If you're familiar with the Elder Dragon Highlander format of MtG, Commander is exactly the same thing except with giant, oversized cards and official decks being sold in their own packages.

I wonder why they didn't do that instead? The timing was perfect for it, Archenemy and Planechase were out the door and Commander was making itself at home. Having a Commander mode in the latest game would have been generating hype for the M12 core set, and would have been ever more perfect to generate hype for the new product, but it wasn't taken advantage of, and now nobody even knows what the hell Commander is, despite it taking the rather prominent spot on store aisles where Archenemy used to be.

I mean, I love the digital Archenemy simulation, I think it's alot of fun, but advertising after-the-fact doesn't make a whole lot of sense, in my opinion.

[Mr.Person]

Duels is always a few months behind what the rest of Magic is doing. Last year's version came out like three months before the terminology changes. More than enough time to tweak a few lines.

[JoshuaFH]

I just feel that this failure to plan is planning to fail, so to speak. They could be doing better if they used the videogame as a more proper marketing tool instead of an end in itself.

With MtG's bombastically nerdy atmosphere and culture, which creates something a barrier to entry in-and-of itself, and how CCG's, and really, physical games in general are losing popularity as the years pass by, WotC need to exploit every marketing niche they can possibly reach.

And while the complete conversion to the digital medium is definitely something that might be done in the future, selling the actual physical cards still makes up the majority of it's foothold in the gaming market, and so I'm surprised to think that literally every effort possible isn't being made to protect it.

I don't mean to sound naive, but that's how I see it just from my cursory inspection of the information I have.

[Mr.Person]

Well, right now the game has been in a bit of an upswing ever since Zendikar. It's been selling pretty good since then.

And apparently the set after the next one is a return to Ravnica. For reference, I think Rav is one of the best selling Magic sets ever.

[RAM]

Is there any interest in actually reviving this project?

[JoshuaFH]

I don't believe so. Sorry.

Anyway, I've been prowling about the MtG Forums for a little while, and I've found that the next set, coming in October is:

Innistrad: Lurking Horrors

and

Innistrad: Dark Ascension

It's a gothic horror themed set, from what I can gather. What I'm most excited about though is the inclusion of a new Garruk and Liliana.

The actual cards haven't been revealed yet, but here is the potential artwork:

Spoiler: Warning, Large images (click to show/hide)

I like that art a whole lot, I can't wait to see Innistrad when it comes out in October.

More importantly though, I'm excited to see Zendikar and Worldwake rotate out at the same time.