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Press Release: Magic: The Gathering Online

The official announcement of the official Magic: The Gathering online game is finally here!


WIZARDS OF THE COAST TO RELEASE MAGIC: THE GATHERINGý ONLINE GAME

Depth and diversity of play, combined with 24-hour access to opponents and continual events, will make Magic Online the ultimate online competition

NOVEMBER 5, 2001 (RENTON, Wash.) - Wizards of the Coast Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro Inc. (NYSE: HAS), is bringing the official Magic: The Gatheringý game, the best competition-based strategy game ever created, to the growing community of online gamers.  Wizards of the Coast plans to release the Magic: The Gatheringý Online game in Spring 2002, and will simultaneously begin hosting official Magic Online leagues and tournaments.

The Magic: The Gathering game is the most widely played trading card game, with an active base of more than six million players in 52 countries and 80,000 official tournaments each year.  In the Magic game, players become the game designers, choosing from thousands of creatures with unique battle abilities, building their decks and crafting strategies.  With the regular release of expansions, no two games are ever alike - delivering unmatched play value.

"With thousands of creatures, constantly evolving game play and a continual stream of player events, Magic challenges players like no other strategy game," said Kyle Murray, Magic: The Gathering marketing manager. "Magic Online will be the complete recreation of Magic for online players. Add to that 24-hour access to opponents and the highest number and quality of organized events and Magic will be the ultimate online competition."

In the Magic Online game, players will be able to purchase digital cards and trade them with other players, build and customize their decks and organize their card collection right on their PCs.  A wide range of game rooms will allow players of different levels to find just the right environment for them, from casual pick-up games to highly competitive tournaments.  Players new to the Magic game will be able to observe games in the "Casual Play" room.  Built-in tutorials and practice rooms will help get game-play underway quickly.

To ensure the best human-to-human competition, the Magic Online game will feature fully integrated, enforceable rules.  "It will be like having the highest-level tournament judge watch over every game," explained Jeff Donais, Magic: The Gathering tournament manager.  "Being able to enforce the game mechanics means we can now deliver a true Magic experience online, too, with legitimate player rankings and the most exciting tournaments for online players."

Wizards selected interactive games developer Leaping Lizard Software Inc., in Gaithersburg, Maryland, as third-party developer of the Magic Online game.  "Magic is one of those rare properties that every development studio dreams of working on," commented Leaping Lizard Chief Executive Officer Chris Green, the lead designer for Magic Online.  "Our team is comprised of dedicated Magic players. We are extremely passionate about this project."

Wizards plans an extensive beta-test of Magic Online beginning later this fall.  "We're intent on getting every detail right," added Wizards' Murray.  "Player feedback is absolutely critical to building the best Magic Online game."

The Magic: The Gathering Online game will be released in English in Spring 2002 and will support head-to-head play, multiplayer games, team play and drafting.  Players will be able to play with cards from recent Magic expansions like the Invasioný, Planeshiftý, Apocalypseý, Odysseyý and Seventh Editioný sets, as well as future Magic expansions, keeping game-play fresh and constantly evolving.

Invented by Richard Garfield and first released in 1993, the Magic: The Gathering game is played in 52 countries by more than six million players.  "There is an incredible community around Magic that keeps growing," said Garfield.  "Magic is a true gamer's game, and having access to the official Magic - with the trading dynamic and all of the other important game mechanics in tact - will be a huge boon to online players."

Magic: The Gathering trading card games are available in nine languages. There are approximately 80,000 Magic: The Gathering trading card game tournaments hosted annually by the DCIý players' organization, the governing authority for all officially sanctioned Magic tournaments.

Wizards of the Coast is the worldwide market share leader in the trading card game and tabletop role-playing game categories.  A leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products, as well as the owner and operator of one of the nation's largest specialty game retail chains, the company holds an exclusive patent on the play mechanic of trading card games (TCGs). For more information, visit wizards.com.  For more information on the Magic: The Gathering game, visit playmagic.com or wizards.com/magic.  A dedicated Magic Online site will launch later this year.

Founded in 1994, Leaping Lizard Software Inc. is a diverse team of experienced programmers and artists.  Along with their extensive experience in the computer games industry, Leaping Lizard's software engineers, artists, and designers are united by their love of games and desire to create ever-evolving game experiences.  For more information, visit lplizard.com.



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Urza
05/NOV/2001 14:59.18
Better be Good
Were watching Wizards, we know your track record with online stuff!!!!
legend_25
05/NOV/2001 15:03.28
Sounds promising
This sounds like a good way of getting hard core players of Magic (like me) a chance to test their skills against some of the best in the world without going to a PTQ Tourny. The only downside is, is that people trade for the cards so they can build decks and try new strategies on their own. Having it online will be interesting but what about the trade-ability for the game itself.

That and I think people will still want to play Magic the old fashion way. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like a good deal. I'm just curious as the the functions. Say you do have Magic Online and want to build a deck, but there are certain cards that you don't have. I suppose it would make a good test environment for future ideas, or maybe a special type of "point value system" where if you have a certain amount of points toward game play you can choose how many cards and what cards to use in a deck.

In any case if this were to come to light I will play online. It sounds fun and it saves money. Not all players want to pay nearly $1000 in travel expenses to get to one PTQ.
BlackLotusOfDeath
05/NOV/2001 15:03.31
hmmm. Did anyone see anything about price? This looked more like a "You, try our game" more than a "You who already plays, try the online version" type of thing.
legend_25
05/NOV/2001 15:08.13
??????????????.......whatever.
UGH? People argueing who posted first. *shakes his head in disbelief and sighs* I see that maturity has taken a backseat to testosterone once more. *lol*

Anyways BlackLotusofDeath, now that you put it that way it sounds a lot like they Magic game that PC related and on Playstation. Wonder if there will be any difference between that and the new online one?
DragonGod
05/NOV/2001 15:08.25
Hmmmmm
This seems like its only a way for wizards to kill apprentice, but if it has pics and EVERYONE is using it, it might just be worth a cheap price

05/NOV/2001 15:08.47
finally... can't wait
Looks to be alot of fun. could you imagine a chaos game with dozens of players?? Or maybe a game with each player from a different country. :)

05/NOV/2001 15:17.39
The Online Version
I am an alpha tester and so I cannot reveal program details. I will say that I used M:IE, and this product is several orders better in its quality and play-ability. The inability to just claim you have four of everything is a minor drawback in exchange for all the cool stuff it does have in comparison to M:IE. Be very excited! And no, I am not employed by Wizards or anything...
Uncommon Scrub
05/NOV/2001 15:22.11
Purchase digital cards?
That bit about purchasing digital cards don't sound too cool. I for one certainly wouldn't pay any amount of real money to play online with cards I already have... and this could mean that I can't play with decks I've already built that are already heavy on the rares if you "buy" them with "virtual credits" or something like that.
Having built in rules sounds for online play sounds sweet for some of those rules conflicts that happen during even casual games, and not driving 64 miles to a local tourney... but how are they going to make card access fair?
Zorny
05/NOV/2001 15:27.19
Yes, it's very cool!!!
Just for you disbelievers out there. I am one of the select few who have been chosen to alpha test this software. And all I can say is "WOW". It's awesome baby!!! However, due to the nature of my agreement, that's all I can say.

By the way, whatever price tag they put on it, it will be worth every penny.

See you on-line in the Spring of 2002, as I will be waiting in line to buy this when it hits the shelves.
legend_25
05/NOV/2001 15:27.50
Exactly
Uncommon Scrub. Thats what gets me. How do they plan to regulate that. If you could choose what cards you want and how I could build a deck from Type 2 that no one (at least in the Magic community offline) would have no chance in beating. You know how hard it is sometimes to get cards such as I speak. I'm thinking about putting together a Mirari/Seize the Day combo but cards like that are hard to come by. One must wonder how different it will be online.

05/NOV/2001 15:59.11
grr
im not paying money

my friend is a alpha tester, they cut me after the survey :(

anyway I DON'T WANNA BUY VIRTUAL CARDS

i'll pay like $40 for the program and then that is all :(
gremlin38
05/NOV/2001 16:12.14
asjuma????
i have a few questions aboutit.
fisrt.. what is up with only havein t2 expansions i hate t2 i am a extended player all day.
so the lack of older expansions is gonna suck.

and the price is gonna be a major part.
and i have spend 3 yrs buildin a good collection and ill have to do that again, i dont know about everyone else i dont use card on apprentice that i dont own.

just my oppinions
gremlin
Llanowar Elite
05/NOV/2001 16:51.10
Press Release
Even if it only has T2 for now, it'll get extended eventually, i'm sure of that. Anyways, the fact that their coming out with it at all is enough to rejoice:)
VoodooPreacher
05/NOV/2001 17:45.42
Thoughts.....
I think that forcing you to buy digital cards will kill them. A couple years a go a game called Sanctum came out that was an onlin CCG. It was actually superior to MtG in gameplay. The problem was that not enough people were interested in spending enough money for an online CCG. I think Wizards will run into the same problem. Actually they have a bigger problem. If you can buy the cards in real life way on earth would I want to spend the money to buy online. I think a better bet for them would be to set it up for them to sell real booster packs..and for every one you buy online you get a virtual pack of booster cards. This I think would be a much better idea...but hey thats just my opinion.

-VoodooPreacher-
j7l3viathan
05/NOV/2001 18:18.23
How?
Ok, if they come out with this won't it hurt business of "real life" magic? If someone can get on their ultra fast computer on t1 and build a deck and play in a ptq from their house why go to a real one an hour away!? Same with like states, I know a lot of people who are doin' a good amount of traveling to do that. You can use your good hard earned money to buy online cards and play in online tournies then there is no need for card shops any more :-(


l3viathan
grizmo8
05/NOV/2001 19:51.01
What it sounds like
This seems just like a way for people who are new to the game and probably don't have access to many cards

!!!!or!!!!

It could just be a way for wizards to double their profit (selling 2x cards)
It could be cool if you pay 1 price then get "virtual money" like some one said above
for now, i'll stick to apprentice
goose
05/NOV/2001 19:56.37
Purchasing with?
The purchasing card's bit worries me. There's no way I'd use real money to buy virtual cards, I (like many, many others), have spent far too much money on the real thing. It would be good to see it constructed in the likes of Motor City Online, where you start with x dollars and you can win $'s in online tournament's or wagers with online opponents.
Rabit
05/NOV/2001 20:42.48
Question to Alpha Testers...
I saw in the message that they sent out that it will allow you to track your virtual collection. It didn't really say anything about a real collection. Does anyone know if it will allow you to do that? Or do all of the cards that it tracks have to be virtual?

Thanks!

Rabit

[i]"There's little more demeaning than getting your butt kicked by a bunch of bunnies."[/i]
Shandalar Addict
05/NOV/2001 21:00.23
Bring back Shandalar!
They need to bring back Shandalar (Microprose version) along with all these new cards. Check out how much that old game is selling for on Ebay, they could make a killing with an online version of that.
kavu, kavu!
05/NOV/2001 21:47.34
mac version?
uh, they didn't say anything about releasing a macintosh version of the game. do they not care about their mac friends? i'm fairly alarmed here...

also, what's the deal with "purchasing digital cards online" ? i've interpreted this as paying for the game and continuing to pay to buy "digital" cards. whats the deal here? i already pay ridiculous amounts of money to buy "real" cards. yeah, i know it's my choice to pay and whatnot, but i still don't think this is right. can anyone back me up here?
Mystic Trouser Snake
05/NOV/2001 21:59.30
The whole thing...
First. I would like to say I am excited about the idea about online MTG. It sounds good to me. I would enjoy being able to compete against some new opponents.

Second. I highly doubt that Wizards would charge real money for virtual cards. Atleast not straight across. I am certain there will be a software charge and I am assuming there will be some monthly or bimonthly charge for access.

Third. Virtual cash will probably be provided at the start, or a virtual box. And then packs or virtual cash each week and prizes for tournaments and matches. I hope there will be antee and charge(gamble) matches as well as free matches.

Finally. THINK BEFORE YOU POST!
Lithinize
05/NOV/2001 22:11.45
HACKERS!!! <read me>
Yes, thats right... make tournaments available online, own digital cards, and offer REWARDS for the winners of these online tournaments. Is it possible to make and develop software granting me the privelege of getting free digital cards? Is it possible that I could hack into the judging system and dictate the winner of each game? Or maybe so i can topdeck whatever i want? Of course it is! and thanks for the all PRIZES i will win. its all possible and what would happen to the price of all the cardboard i own if we made cards digital? This is a system begging to be broke and abused. Wizards- dont release this! I forsee something like this breaking the game.
Morvus
05/NOV/2001 22:25.57
I hope not!
I hope we don't have to pay real $ for cards or a monthly fee, I won't buy it if it has either. I see Apprentice which is free and tests skills more than card collections to continue to be more popular than this.
comport9
05/NOV/2001 22:28.06
Digital cards...
If the only way to play the game is to purchase digital cards: it'll suck. And it'll fail.

If you have to pay a monthly fee: it'll suck. And it'll fail.

Now, if you are able to play for free, and to use any card in the game (like MTG:IE) then it'll find an audience, and it'll succeed. If they want to have special online tourny's for those that purchase digital cards, that's cool too. Nothing wrong with that I say. And it may even be pretty cool.

But no matter how cool the program is, I'm not paying a monthly fee nor am I'm paying for digital cards if that's the only way to play...

Perhaps one of the Alpha Testers could put our minds at ease and answer this simple question for us.
Darth Cow
05/NOV/2001 22:41.15
God damn...
I sure as hell won't be paying any money for online boosters. Isn't that point of this software to even the playing field? To allow people to play with cards they don't *own*?

I say, if WotC tries to charge real money for this, we keep on playing Apprentice. Other than that, it sounds really cool.

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