Magic: The Gathering And The Rise Of Trading Card Games
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In 1993, Wizards of the Coast released the modern world’s first trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. A game that blends magic and strategy, Magic: The Gathering paved the way for collectible trading cards that captivate its audiences almost as much as the intricate gameplay.
Magic: The Gathering was created by Richard Garfield, a mathematician and game designer who wanted to design a card game that could be played in short sessions. He drew inspiration from fantasy novels and games such as Dungeons & Dragons and Cosmic Encounter. Wizards of the Coast agreed to publish the game and it first reached the public in 1993. It was an immediate success and Wizards of the Coast quickly added to the original card set. Magic: The Gathering now features over 90,000 cards and Hasbro (who acquired Wizards of the Coast in 1999) estimates that, at the time of this article, it has been played by 50 million people worldwide.
So why and how is Magic: The Gathering so popular? The answer is easy. The game is immersive, intriguing, customizable, and complex. The world in which Magic: The Gathering is set is known as the Multiverse. Players are planeswalkers, powerful mages who can travel between planes of existence. Each plane is home to different lands, creatures, and magic. Planeswalkers use spells and creature combat to battle their opponents, with the aim of reducing their life points.
The cards themselves are stunningly beautiful. The artwork is undoubtedly part of the game’s appeal. Magic: The Gathering is famed for its delicate art style and how it brings the Multiverse to life. Over the past 30 years, the game has added more cards and expansions, including rare cards and randomized booster packs. The scope and variety of the cards build on an already rich world, expanding the seemingly endless horizons.
The gameplay in Magic: The Gathering is complex and new players are sometimes intimidated by the steep learning curve. However, the Magic: The Gathering community is dedicated and widespread and there are many resources to help newcomers. Players love the strategy involved in the game and how unpredictable it can be, with random card draws, deck shuffles, and adapting to your opponents’ moves.
Moving from a tabletop game to an online space was a natural step for Magic: The Gathering. As the internet grew in popularity, players from far and wide began to enjoy meeting for virtual games. Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO) was released in 2002. It still has an avid fan following, particularly among those who have loved the game since its inception. MTGO facilitates older game mechanics (aka formats) and has a complex card trading system. In 2019, Magic: The Gathering Arena was released. This free app can be downloaded on Steam, Epic, iPhones, Androids, and tablets. With updated graphics and an extensive tutorial for newcomers, Arena is extremely popular and has over 10 million registered players.
It’s not hard to understand why Magic: The Gathering is so beloved and so enduringly popular. Its immersive and rich Multiverse setting appeals to players as much as ever and is made all the more enthralling by the beautifully detailed cards. It has influenced games such as the Pokemon Trading Card Game by introducing different card types, random booster packs, rarity levels, and expansions. It also made the leap to digital format at an early stage and still maintains a strong presence there, with both Magic: The Gathering Online and Magic: The Gathering Arena. Always welcoming to new players and offering endless combinations, combats, and opportunities for experienced players, Magic: The Gathering proudly holds its place as one of the best trading card games in modern history.
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Have you played the Magic: The Gathering trading card game, MTGO, or Arena? Leave a comment to tell us about your opinions and what you enjoy the most! And don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, for all things gaming, pop culture, online deals, and more.
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