magic gathering magic gathering known magic trading card game created published magic trading card game produced continues thrive approximately million players magic played players formats common uses deck cards person printed cards deck virtual cards internet based magic gathering online tablet programs game represents battle known employ spells artifacts creatures depicted individual magic cards defeat opponents original concept game drew heavily motifs traditional fantasy role playing games gameplay magic bears little similarity pencil paper adventure games having substantially cards complex rules card games new cards released regular basis expansion sets organized tournament system played international level worldwide community professional magic players developed substantial secondary market magic cards certain magic cards valuable rarity utility gameplay prices range cents thousands dollars history doctoral candidate started design game free time worked local volunteer help game brought professor ceo games company met discuss new game saw game promising decided lacked resources produce point like ideas mentioned looking portable game played frequently occurs gaming conventions returned presented general outline concept trading card game immediately saw potential idea agreed produce magic gathering underwent general release august game simply called magic game officially named lawyer informed magic generic instead chosen game everybody involved game continued refer magic consultation lawyer decided game magic gathering enabling patent granted novel method game play game components embodiment form trading cards includes claims covering games rules include magic elements combination including concepts changing orientation game component indicate use referred magic vampire eternal struggle rules tapping constructing deck selecting cards larger pool patent aroused criticism observers believe claims invalid patent element larger legal dispute nintendo trade secrets related nintendo trading card game legal action settled court terms disclosed magic immediate success coast early reluctant advertise game unable pace existing demand initially magic attracted players following included types people success game quickly led creation similar games companies coast companion games produced science fiction trading card game allowed players pay design promotional cards created game eventually included editions languages plus expansion sets coast produced called vampire eternal struggle game modern day vampires similar games included trading card games based star trek star wars magic cited example 1990s collecting game makers able overcome bubble traditionally associated collecting success initial edition prompted reissue later expansions game arabian nights released expansion december new expansions revisions base game core sets released regular basis amounting releases year end game printed billion cards release expansions released irregular basis beginning revision core set set related expansions called block released year system revised eliminated blocks consisting sets released essence game stayed rules magic undergone major revisions release revised edition classic edition magic july release magic received major visual redesign coast established pro tour circuit tournaments players compete cash prizes course single weekend long tournament prize single tournament sanctioned tournaments added element prestige game virtue cash media coverage community brief period time televised tournaments unofficial methods online play existed previously magic online official online version game released new updated version magic online released april january announced franchise film deal 20th century fox magic gathering saying wanted launch massive franchise scale lord rings serving writer producer project june fox hired screenwriter write script film reception article usa today suggested playing magic help improve social mental skills players article interviewed players parents believe game similar sports teaches children win lose magic contains great strategy vocabulary children exposed regular basis parents claimed playing magic helped children trouble illegal drugs joining criminal gangs hand article briefly mentions magic highly addictive leading parents worried magic obsession kids addition better players opportunities compete small number scholarships american game designer entrepreneur commented love games challenge change definition adventure gaming magic gathering definitely short list titles accomplished elusive goal combining collecting trading elements baseball cards fantasy play dynamics games magic created new genre product changed industry forever awards select award winner origins awards best fantasy game board game origins award legends expansion special award new game mechanics italian gaming society award winner super award best new game concept france fan award best expansion expansion origins award saga expansion year inducted alongside selected magic games hall fame origins award city expansion year origins award expansion year origins award expansion year origins award expansion year addition individuals including won personal awards contributions magic gameplay game magic involves players engaged battle acting powerful called player deck previously constructed limited pool cards event player starts game life points loses game reduced zero player lose draw deck addition cards specify ways win lose game stated major influences creation magic gathering games concept normal rules golden rule magic states card text directly rules card takes precedence comprehensive rules detailed exists clarify conflicts players begin game decks drawing seven cards players draw card beginning turns player turn players alternate turns basic kinds cards spells lands lands provide magical energy magical fuel player attempts cast spells players play land turn powerful spells cost game progresses available quantity relative power spells played tends increase spells come varieties single time effect graveyard pile artifacts remain play cast provide lasting magical effect creature spells type permanent summon creatures attack damage opponent set introduced new card type represent powerful allies fight magic abilities deck construction tournament formats decks required minimum cards upper limit players use copies named card exception basic lands act standard resource magic specific cards state certain formats commander limit number single card players decks limited tournament formats small number cards opened play packs tournament packs minimum deck size cards depending type play individual cards restricted card limited single copy deck banned card longer legal tournament play limitations usually balance power reasons occasionally gameplay mechanics deck building requires strategy players choose thousands cards want play requires players evaluate power cards possible possible interactions cards expect play vary different locations time periods choice cards usually narrowed player deciding colors want include deck decision key creating deck general reducing number colors increases consistency play probability drawing lands needed cast spells expense restricting range tactics available player colors magic spells come colors colors seen cards design called color pie clockwise white blue black red green play spell given color color required normally generated basic land plains white island blue swamp black mountain red forest green colors form defining aspects game color strengths weaknesses based style magic represents white color order equality healing law community peace light white strengths roster small creatures strong collectively protecting enhancing creatures gaining life preventing damage creatures players imposing restrictions players reducing capabilities opposing creatures powerful spells playing field destroying cards given type white creatures known protection colors types card rendering nearly harm things white weaknesses include focus smaller creatures simply kill creatures outright instead restrictions fact powerful spells affect players equally including casting player blue color intellect reason illusion logic knowledge manipulation classical elements air water blue cards best letting player draw additional cards permanently taking control opponent cards returning cards owner hand making cards directly player deck graveyard spells blue creatures tend weaker creatures colors commonly abilities traits difficult damage block blue weaknesses include having trouble permanently dealing spells played nature spells small expensive roster creatures black color power ambition greed death illness corruption sacrifice necessarily evil cards refer directly indirectly concept black cards best destroying creatures forcing players cards hand making players lose life returning creatures players furthermore black seeks win costs limited access abilities effects normally available colors abilities require large sacrifices life totals creatures cards hand cards library difficult replace resources black main weaknesses complete inability deal artifacts tendency hurt badly hurts opponent difficulties removing black creatures red color freedom chaos passion creativity impulse fury warfare lightning classical element fire non living geological aspects classical element earth red strengths include destroying opposing lands artifacts sacrificing permanent resources temporary great power playing spells directly damage creatures players red wide array creatures exception extremely powerful dragons fast weak low rendering easier destroy red cards turn hurt owner return powerful cost red shares theme blue temporarily steal opponents creatures divert spells generally permanently red famous creatures lets attack use abilities soon enter battlefield ability raise creature power temporarily common red creatures red weaknesses include inability destroy self destructive nature spells way trades early game speed cost late game staying power red vast majority cards involve random chance green color life nature reality evolution ecology instinct green strengths battlefield usually winning combat creatures broad tend strong cost abilities like green creatures ability allows deal attack damage opponent blocked weaker creature green spells bolster creatures power permanently temporarily green spells focus growth regaining life points large quantities green getting land cards faster allowing player resources capacity strong creatures battlefield faster green weakness inability defend indirect attacks cards allow counterattack hand library graveyard green defenses creatures bypass powerful creatures attacking colors adjacent pentagon allied similar abilities example blue relatively large number flying creatures white black non adjacent colors particular color enemy colors thematically opposed instance red tends aggressive white blue defensive nature team aims balance power abilities colors color pie differentiate strengths weaknesses lays capabilities themes mechanics color allows color distinct attributes gameplay color pie ensure new cards thematically correct color territory colors multi color cards introduced legends set typically use gold frame distinguish color cards cards require different colors played count belonging colors play multi color cards typically combine philosophy mechanics colors spell cost tend powerful compared single color hybrid cards requiring multiple colors makes harder cast recently color hybrid cards introduced set appeared extensively sets hybrid cards distinguished gradient frame colors paid card colors instance card hybrid red white icons cast red white sets multi colored cards theme including blocks core sets typically include multi color cards core set cards belong color appear form lands artifacts unlike colors cards specific personality style play cards imitate mechanics particular color efficient manner similar colored card cards linked colors abilities story references flavor text cards rise expansion cards artifacts lands introduced time larger quantities luck skill magic like games combines chance skill frequent complaint game involves notion luck involved especially concerning possessing lands early game especially lands ruin player chance victory player having mistake game statistical proper deck construction appropriate land count reduce problems land count automatically adjusted total deck size rule introduced game informally casual play official game rules modern paris allows players shuffle unsatisfactory opening hand deck start game draw new hand fewer card repeat satisfied player taken look card deck return deck multiplayer player penalty subsequent cost card rule known partial paris original allowed player single seven new cards player initial hand contained seven zero lands variation rule called forced casual play circles multiplayer formats magic online allows single free seven new cards player initial hand contains seven zero lands love games combining luck skill magic creator admitted influence design magic addressing complaint luck influencing game points new casual players tend appreciate luck field random effect increases chances winning player higher skills game chance higher degree control increases chances winning according magic likely continue decreasing degree luck game matured rule card design past present good examples trend feels universal trend games explained chess example unlike modern chess predecessors players use determine chess piece gambling original set rules prescribed games played partly inspired game wanted folks play cards collect magic player removed card random deck wished play cards set aside end match winner cards early sets included cards rules designed interact gambling aspect allowing replacements cards adding cards permanently trading cards play concept controversial regions restrictions games chance rule later optional restrictions players reluctance possibly lose card owned gambling rule forbidden sanctioned events past sees occasional usage friendly games color format card mention printed expansion set variant rules primary method magic play standard deck construction rules alternative formats playing game popular alternatives describe ways playing players teams free change rules decks built organized play magic tournaments regularly occur gaming stores venues larger tournaments hundreds competitors globe sponsored arranged times year substantial cash prizes finishers number websites report tournament news complete lists currently popular decks feature articles current issues debate game owned operated organizing body sanctioned magic events major categories tournament play constructed limited constructed constructed tournaments player arrives pre built deck minimum cards follow deck construction rules deck card allows players modify deck normally player win games winner match different formats exist allowing different cards maintains banned restricted list format players use banned cards restricted cards limited copy deck cards determines damaging health format seeks use remedy possible handful cards banned recent years formats defined cycle sets cards given block example block format consists city cards printed sets appropriate block formats standard known type contains current block completed blocks standard card pool undergoes rotation twice year april october set block released april standard card pool consists oath shadows standard rotation purpose dragons released previous set block core set model considered block modern format played magic online community cup response players desire non rotating format accessible newer players coast introduced modern legal format august saw paper magic play modern consists block core set modern card frame release 8th edition present certain cards released products standard legal commander series cards legal modern modern card frame legacy format allows card printed legacy banned list distinguished vintage certain cards banned power reasons vintage previously known type eternal format banned cards vintage cards mechanic cards considers inappropriate competitive magic expense acquiring scarce old cards play competitive vintage vintage tournaments permit players certain number cards currently format vintage cards forbidden sanctioned tournaments replacements damaged cards created event judge commander originally known elder casual format played format player deck legendary creature acts commander deck construction limited colors represented chosen commander cards exception basic lands legendary creature chosen commander kept special command zone cast time afford cast creature commander card enter zone battlefield owner choice return card command zone cast additional generic regular cost banned list unique rules governed independent body limited limited tournaments players construct decks packs plus additional basic lands choice decks limited tournaments minimum cards unused cards function constructed formats freely exchanged games match long deck continues adhere card minimum rule player use copies given card apply tournaments player card packs build deck usually played players players seated table player given packs player opens pack card passes remaining cards player player remaining cards pack received passes remaining cards continues cards depleted players pass left packs right second players build decks cards selected drafting talking signaling showing cards forbidden drafting process double faced cards shadows blocks magic origins hidden physical card spell printed formats players create formats based number criteria based limiting financial value deck mixing matching different blocks sets taking existing format modifying commander format officially supported variant commander officially supported popular player created formats limited cube drafting similar structure draft players instead use collection cards instead random draft player created formats allowed friday night magic events long follow basic tournament magic rules fake cards gambling etc tournament structure maintains set rules able tournaments runs circuit local shops offer friday night magic tournaments stepping stone competitive play runs series major tournaments attract interest right compete earned winning tournament successful previous tournament similar level usually structured days individual competition played swiss format final day players compete elimination format select winner end competition players awarded depending finishing place player finishes high awarded prize money frequent winners events names magic community promotional tool launched hall_of_fame honor selected players end year magic world championship held world championship functions like competitors present skill different formats usually standard draft second constructed format difference invitation world championship gained national championship country countries send players tournament representatives nations minor magic playing communities send player team based competition national teams compete beginning world championship new members inducted hall_of_fame tournament concludes current season tournament play end event player earned year awarded title pro player year player earned compete previous season awarded title rookie year invitation prize money earned lesser tournaments called grand prix open general public held frequently year grand prix events usually largest magic tournaments drawing players largest magic tournament held grand prix las_vegas june total players product marketing magic gathering cards produced way normal playing cards magic card approximately size inches face displays card rules text illustration appropriate card concept unique cards produced game variant editions artwork new ones added year magic cards printed exclusively english current sets printed traditional chinese french german italian japanese korean portuguese russian spanish overwhelming majority magic cards issued marketed form sets majority history types core set themed expansion sets coast current production marketing scheme new set released quarterly products released set appeal different segments magic playing community majority cards sold packs contain cards normally divided differentiated color expansion symbol card typically contain rare gold silver black basic land colored black sets prior contained instead basic land debuted red orange replace rare cards average premium versions card foil randomly inserted place common replace seventy cards released set intro pack pre constructed deck aimed newcomers highlights set mechanical themes comes packs set fixed selection cards including foil rare product replaced card decks featuring set set featured event decks pre constructed decks designed introduction tournament play beginning dragon maze set featured event decks discontinued following block previously cards sold typically containing thirty thirty basic lands tournament packs discontinued expansion sets currently released set block starting large set ending smaller months later prior expansion sets released set block beginning larger set followed smaller sets sets consist exclusively newly designed cards contrasting wide ranging expansion focused mechanics ties set storyline expansions cards handful particular newly introduced game mechanics began released annually previously july coinciding change 10th edition magic shift introduced new printed cards core set previously core sets discontinued following release magic origins july time set blocks introduced addition quarterly set releases magic cards released products spin games combine reprinted magic cards new cards new functionality magic cards printed specifically collectors vault premium deck series sets contain exclusively premium foil cards starting game went biggest visual change creation new card frame layout developed allow rules text larger art cards reducing thick colored border minimum new frame design aimed improve contrast black type instead previous white new font areas card type power years production magic gathering featured small number cards names artwork demonic themes company elected remove references game believing depiction demons controversial game established sufficiently coast reversed policy resumed printing cards demon names spin offs magic gathering video games comics books produced licensing directly comics books develop background story game video games produced lean varying degree original game computer games sold licenses acclaim roughly time magic gathering received favorable reviews acclaim magic gathering dismissed negative reaction magic gathering online developed released computer version game allows players compete online players original magic cards rules latest computer implementation magic magic gathering developed released xbox june game ported windows june year months release game ported playstation platform game played xbox live title weeks release september accorded issue mini series magic gathering new story heavily based elements new called story mainly developed planes ongoing series started february coast published magic gathering arena arena tactical players maneuver board game terrain based addition spell cards original master set includes represent select creatures magic gathering universe later released expansion battle featuring color second master set shadows new includes addition film january 20th century fox acquired rights produce magic gathering movie producer april enter battlefield documentary life magic pro tour released film written parodies created parody magic gathering coast owned rights magic gathering took active steps hinder distribution game successfully shut attending july attempt avoid copyright patent starter deck printed parody rule card printed player construct library number game components examining selecting game components reservoir game components patent secondary market active secondary market individual cards players game shops physical online stores sell single cards card common cards rarely sell cents usually sold bulk uncommon cards weak rare cards typically sell expensive cards standard tournament play usually priced commonly played cards modern legacy formats sell foil versions rare rare cards typically priced twice regular versions sought rare rare cards foil versions cost times non foil versions oldest cards smaller limited distribution highly valued extremely rare list cards sets alpha destiny promised reprint expensive card regular print opposed promotional special printing grade graded bought anonymous buyer record secondary market started comic book stores hobby shops displaying selling cards cards values determined somewhat employees store expansion internet prices cards determined tournament deck lists given card appear card played tournament frequently cost card higher addition market availability card amazon large online markets started gain popularity magic secondary market evolved substantially buying selling magic cards online source income people learned manipulate market today secondary market large complex area study consumer research people career market manipulation creating mathematical models analyze growth cards worth predict market value individual cards entire sets cards late coast expressed concern increasing number cards secondary market coast effort counteract rise introducing new stamp rare rare cards magic artwork card illustration represent flavor card reflecting setting expansion designed magic early artwork commissioned little specific direction concern visual infamous example printing creature flying ability art showed bird flight art direction team later decided impose constraints artistic vision closely aligned design development cards block cards style guide sketches descriptions races places featured setting early sets experimented alternate art cards came believe easy recognition card having multiple versions caused confusion identifying card consequently alternate art promotional cards older cards reprinted new sets guaranteed printed new art older cards starting copyright artwork commissioned transferred contract signed artist allowed sell original piece printed established prolific magic artists lucrative source revenue magic expanded globe artwork change international audience artwork edited given alternate art comply governmental standards example portrayal skeletons artwork prohibited chinese government storyline way magic storylines conceived deployed changed considerably years main premise magic countless possible worlds planes exist unique rare beings called capable traversing allows game frequently change worlds renew mechanical inspiration maintaining common elements worlds intricate storyline cards released expansion shown art flavor text cards novels published harper important storyline characters objects locations appear cards magic sets usually legendary creatures artifacts lands cards original magic gathering limited edition overarching storyline cards unconnected bits lore cards individual depth early expansion sets visions usually real story arc instead sets inspired cultures apparent arabian nights takes thousand nights characters makes magic cards norse mythological influences seen worked ice age african influences early sets linked directly earth mythology touches independent storyline brothers exception period set story conceived cards set designed fit storyline beginning expansion shift way magic storylines blocks apocalypse story laid character driven story following events ship crew help capabilities protagonists travel fight army odyssey unconnected storyline set years later multiple factions battle control powerful magical artifact left magic storylines panned away new planes created set scene new storylines contrast previous character driven stories releases focused thematic worlds model world split culturally distinct later reunited magic visited world prison race parasitic monsters called inspired old ones beginning world centric storytelling complemented story layer cards introduced characters overarching storyline sense continuity despite constant change setting block following revisited plane natives battled invading corruption left storylines integrate storyline gameplay certain events second set encouraged players affiliate faction recent focus integrating play experience story line making mechanics individual cards represent pivotal points story plane inspired heavily gothic horror guardian angel gone missing darkness started consume plane players discover magical prison holding demons broke open released demons return block players encouraged affiliate guild control city completing maze discovered plane inspired greek mythology containing references greek mythological figures gods plane dragons long dead time travel dragons took plane ruled people battle return plane ravaged marks change magic storytelling uses team called tell story shadows return corrupted newest set focuses fact powerful missing storyline find way save plane story focuses cosmic horror instead traditional gothic horror old academic research examples academic peer reviewed research concerning different aspects magic gathering example examined players use playing research studied hobby players showed players sought create participate epic fantasy narrative example online magic cards test revenue outcomes auction types final example uses probability examine magic card collecting strategies specific set cards specialized manner shown magic gathering complete
Magic: The Gathering