With the launch of the latest Core product from Magic: the Gathering, we stopped by our nearest friendly local game shop (FLGS) to find out what has been keeping people coming back to the game for over 20 years. What we found was that while the game has a highly competitive tournament scene, it isn’t just all about a bunch of geeks playing with funny cards. There is a profound sense of community and camaraderie that among the players.
Magic was created by Richard Garfield, a mathematician who was studying for his doctorate. Garfield had originally wanted to publish a board game called Robo Rally, but Wizards of the Coast lacked the resources to produce it at the time. Instead, they decided to print a portable game that could be played anywhere and any time. First turning up in 1993, it has undergone many revisions to make world’s first and most popular collectible card game more streamlined and friendly to new players.
The competitive scene is what makes Magic different from every other tabletop game, with the best players capable of earning millions of dollars as they travel the world playing the game. It represents the big dream for every Magic player to win the Pro Tour, and thousands attend the hundreds of qualifying events held throughout the year.
While some overly competitive players have turned off newcomers, Magic is home to one of the most welcoming group of players in the world. Especially as we discovered playing in the Magic 2015 Core set pre-release event.
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