What about what actually happened with Duels though: a free to play game that was unplayable for about 2-3 seasons? Did you stick with it anyway? Did you ever justify that decision because the game was 'free?' Do you think WotC doesn't owe you a high-quality product, simply because of the price?

These are all things I've heard from ftp boosters... all the while the developers are laughing at you, because in order to play the game for 'free' you are earning coins who's cash value are far less than a fair wage for your time, you'd make way more delivering pizza or working at McDonalds. You think you are getting the game for free, but what's really happening is that you are slaving away to make the game playable/better for the people that actually pay. And at the same time, the people that actually pay are getting screwed too, because the game is way overpriced for them (either that or the game fails).

Fwiw, I get the whole try before you buy thing, but there are ways to offer that without making the game ftp too. In fact, a lot of great pay games offer demos, and trial periods... None of this is unique to ftp. The only thing unique to ftp is that the developer can't be held accountable for the game being terrible, because, as you said, it's 'free.' And of course, if you decide that you really do like the game, now you're getting screwed as described above.

Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll offer a ftp and a non-ftp version, some games do that - here's hoping they do.

p.s.: MTGO is terrible. I'm looking for a way to play mtg, not for a way to make my eyes bleed.

I'd rather play paper magic.

I should mention that there is a reason for my complaint. The biggest change with their ftp model was that it malfunctioned when played extensively offline (e.g.: when I was traveling). It totally broke the game's playability for me. I blame that on ftp, but tbf if they figure it out with Next, I probably won't have too much reason to complain anymore. My critique of ftp remains valid to me, but I really don't care - I have the money, and if the game is good I'll spend it accordingly.

I'm against FtP as well, but more as a principle thing. FtP feeds off of fustration level. It gets you to spend money by frustrating you after you have sunk your emotions into the game. Kind of masochistic actually.

I think you should distinguish that difficulty of grind apart from the FtP model. Duels had a very easy difficulty of grind for a FtP game. Compare that to say Hearthstone. I don't think as many people would like the Duels FtP model if it was as difficult to grind as Hearthstone.

I loved the old yealry DotP pricing, and would still prefer it a lot instead of these new F2P grinds, but it is sadly clear that microtransactions have a potential growth that can't be reached with the old system's ROI.

The main point tho, should be that there are other ways to implement F2P.
There are examples of products limiting microtransactions to cosmetics, while either giving all the tools up-front or being extremely generous with time requirements on grind; it'd require crunching numbers, but giving the amount of art revolving aroung MtG I believe they could milk cosmetics while lessening the burden on card gain.

Besides that, I understand from your posts that Duels connection system might have cause you issues, but a game that allows for you to farm in SP, can effectively reduce your community interactions to 0, denying the added value of opponents with crap decks in MP for paying users.

There are things that can be done, and in this day and age WotC would be better off implementing new systems to engage players, instead of c/p what the competitors already have.

Just noticed on the event page that it's only scheduled to be an hour long - once you get all the fluff ect out of the way i doubt we're even gonna get much info about it except what it actually is.

Also gonna echo what the other people who can't make it said, if someone can post a summary here, preferably with plenty of sass it'd be appreciated haha

There will be a synopsis posted over on the Discord server. You can go there to get the skinny.

Do you have a link to said server?

https://discord.gg/RW68tMa
there you go

Ready for the new heartstone experience?

My prediction:

I think its going to be very fast pace and easy to simply pick up and play on almost any platform (iOS, PC, Mac, Xbox, etc). No rarity restrictions like 2015 and Duels but will take a "limited" approach with very basic creatures throughout Magic's history. I think its going to essentially be Heathstone with a Magic twist. Emphasis on graphics and cartoony animations with simple gameplay but has ALL the rules of Magic.

The effect, it will definitely capture alot of eyes but anyone looking to get competitive will have to look elsewhere.

If it will have all the rules of Magic, it will not be fast paced or easy to pick up.

Yeah that's what i'm expecting. Basically a flashy interface and a simplified game experience. With all the rules, but i don't expect a complete magic game, not every card from new sets and they will try to avoid every complex situation, or cards that can kill the fun for beginners, as it was for duels.

I'm going to watch the stream today with zero faith, my plan is to switch to mtgo if they improve the interface in the magic digital next big plan.

I've already switched to MTGO

I'm waiting till everything is clear. Enjoying a bit of duels and a bit of 2013 atm.

T minus 120 minutes!!

"Hearthstone with big flashy creatures for new players" - Of zero interest to a control player.

I just imagine a series of yavimaya wurm type cards having at it.

I'm just hoping it'll be another Duels but without stainless.

What can go wrong?

Starting soon: https://www.twitch.tv/magic

It won't let me chat, despite the fact that I just verified my email like they asked. Magic can't even do Twitch streams right smh

Well that's not their fault, that's a bug with twitch. Refresh the stream? Make sure you're signed in properly.