Future Stability Investment Discussion
Economics forum
Posted on April 14, 2015, 11:31 a.m. by Didgeridooda
I am curious to hear what you all have to say about the future stability of MtG. Do you think we have another 20 years left of the game, or is a crash more likely? Will the game go the way of sports cards?
Spencerbot15 says... #3
I disagree. The game will create new formats, and those formats will cause wotc to make different kinds of cards.
April 14, 2015 12:01 p.m.
canterlotguardian says... #4
Wizards has been making good decisions so far regarding MTG. The RC has not. Thus, my prediction is that the RC will be abolished and Wizards will continue to make good products.
April 14, 2015 12:05 p.m.
I think even if wizards stops making magic cards, the game wont crash as hard as sports cards. I think people love magic enough to continue to play the game, even if new cards are not being made.
April 14, 2015 12:12 p.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #6
I believe that wizards are going to keep on going until demand dries up. At the very worst they will stop making new cards and just reprint older ones but that is unlikely also.
April 14, 2015 12:22 p.m.
I don't see demand washing out because most kids and teenagers get attracted to fantasy games and most of us continue playing for the rest of our lives. It's a fantastic game with a lot of different possibilities - massive design space. The formats are well run and there are economic collectors as well as those who play merely for fun. This highlights just how stable the game is. May it continue.
April 14, 2015 12:37 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #8
Popularity has actually increased for teenage demographics and young adults. While vintage has lost a little popularity, legacy has remained consistent (although some will disagree) and modern and standard have taken off. Honestly the way that interest has been moving, I can see at least 15 years if not more
April 14, 2015 1:01 p.m.
When I thought of a similar question about a year ago, the release of Conspiracy on a whole proved to me not the ideas Wizards is running out of, but the ones they are just scratching the surface of. Conspiracy was an ingenious set that I hope we see more of and is the perfect example of Magic's lasting innovation. In terms of marketing, it has been steadily expanding since Zendikar/Alara blocks, and new formats give players new things to try and a diverse range of competitive events to dabble in. I will always be a modern guy, playing it from it's beginning, but maybe some people who start playing in 2015/2016 will play Tiny Leaders for the rest of their life. Who knows.
April 14, 2015 1:28 p.m.
I've actually seen an increase in younger kids playing magic at fnm. like youngins, think like 13. It gives me hope that the game will stay strong due to either increased or stable demand.
Although, the cutting of the core sets could be a sign that the game is trying to wind down. A scary prospect.
April 14, 2015 1:38 p.m.
I see cuttimg core sets as a sign that they believe higher level sets, in terms of complexity, have the draw to attract new players to the game.
April 14, 2015 1:42 p.m.
Servo_Token says... #12
Just look at the custom cards forum. On this site alone, people are filled with ideas that WotC hasn't even touched yet. As long as WotC wants to remain in business, they won't run out of ideas for Magic, and as long as they keep at the pace that they are, they won't lose a market for it either.
April 14, 2015 1:43 p.m.
julianjmoss says... #13
To me the cutting of the core sets make it seem like wizards is trying to expand. In the past the focused on lore and literature and they have kind of stopped doing that. This lets them focus more on flavor and lore again so they can explore more products again.
April 14, 2015 1:46 p.m.
lemmingllama says... #14
@-x-Juuzou-x-x- The cutting of the core sets was to add another normal set instead. Most people didn't really like core sets anyways, so this way there are the same number of sets and with better flavour.
I think the game will be going on for a long time. All of the people who have been playing their whole lives won't give up the game, and there are plenty of new people joining in. So as long as they can make money off it, there will be Magic
April 14, 2015 1:48 p.m.
deckmonster99 says... #17
trying to compare mtg cards to sports cards? mtg cards are used for a great game. they do not just sit there like sports cards and do nothing.
April 17, 2015 2:54 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #18
It was a much more thriving business then it is today. I figured if there is a comparison to be had, it would be the closest. Nothing else seems to have grown to the scale of Magic cards.
April 17, 2015 3:43 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #20
I never played that game, but it did not have the staying power, or the size.
April 17, 2015 3:50 p.m.
Wizards doesn't seem to appreciate the threat the netdeck poses to Magic.
The problem is that netdecks are homogenizing experience. At the moment we still have tinkerers who swim against the current of netdecks (and we will always have a few) but it's very hard to build a deck which can beat a netdeck. Eventually, when people understand that netdecks win 95% of the time, most people will stop trying. When people stop thinking about their decks, magic looses its magic. It becomes something you do on Friday night and not something you think about in your spare time all week long.
I don't think this will be a fatal blow to magic; Wizards will probably rethink their business model and come back with a stronger magic than ever, but I do think a crash will happen and fans should plan accordingly.
April 17, 2015 7:08 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #22
That is an interesting opinion Egann. I have never seen Netdecking as something that serious. I am not sure if I agree with you or not, but it is something to think about.
April 17, 2015 7:16 p.m.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #23
Didgeridooda I'm not so sure about that man. While it certainly doesn't have the same size, it's got a vast popularity partially because of games. Half the population of the US has played those games. Now, I'm not suggesting the Wizards try and make a game (because that's probably never going to happen) but I do think that making the game more accessible would be great. One of the big things about MTG is the price. Also, if WoTC made some animations-type game where you play normal MTG but you actually see 3D creatures attacking, THAT would be awesome. But alas, very likely a dream.
April 17, 2015 7:21 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #24
Pokemon is just not in the same league as Magic. The closest thing to it is the sports cards, and Magic still has a little while to go before it reaches the golden age that sports cards saw.
April 17, 2015 7:25 p.m.
At the very least MTG has a viable business model because magic cards are a means to entertainment. Baseball cards? "My Babe Ruth card inflicts lethal damage on your Sammy Sosa!"
...Yeah, not so much.
April 17, 2015 9:21 p.m.
Didgeridooda says... #26
Collector value is pretty big in MtG. I feel it is a good comparison. At least the best that I can think of. Sure Magic is unique, but I think looking at baseball cards is at least a hit of what could happen. Baseball cards used to be a pretty big deal.
April 17, 2015 9:27 p.m.
@Egann: I think Magic's appeal lies in the casual market, rather than the tournament scene and FNMs. I once saw Maro say on Tumblr that most MtG players use the Standard/Limited format, and most players are of the kitchen-table variety. So while netdecking may be the sure path to competitive viability, it's a very Spike mindset I don't think the community as a whole shares. I think a good comparison is Super Smash Brothers: it is designed to be easy to learn, hard to master. A vast majority of the players are not even aware there is a competitive scene with tiers and tournaments, but at the same time, the competitive environment is thriving. So as long as Wizards keeps that balance I think Magic will be fine.
April 25, 2015 1:10 a.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #28
Modern and MTGO are the future of magic.
The reserve list WILL kill Legacy (duals) and Vintage (p9) at some point.
But Modern will live on and sets like Vintage Masters keep the older deck alive online.
But with growing popularity, WoTC needs to step up its reprint game. Cards that saw limited run in old sets skyrocket, and that isn't good.
FAMOUSWATERMELON says... #2
Huh, interesting question. I feel like if we eventually have another 10 years, Wizards will either run out of cards to make, or have to make a bunch of new rules, both of which will probably suck.
April 14, 2015 11:34 a.m.