Magic: The Gathering, a popular trading-card game sold by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro (NYSE – HAS), appears to economists and businessmen to be faring quite well. Record sales, a booming player base, rapid growth in Asian and European markets, and a highly successful online component are all promising signs for the future of this revolutionary game. The company has continued to hire employees for marketing, design, development, and production as the sales of new cards continues to rise. Since its release in 1993, billions of Magic cards have seen print. Despite these good omens, however, disaffected former players of the game claim with absolute certainty that the game is on the way out. “I’d only give it a year or two at most,” claims Campy Erickson, a 21 year old student from Davis, California. “It’s pretty obvious that Magic is dying.”

Throughout its 11 year history, Magic has frequently seen former mages dismiss the game’s long-term prospects. One such person, Jason Davies of Des Moines, Iowa, provided a veritable laundry list of problems with the game. “Magic was really doing well around Revised, which was the best set of all time,” Davis said on a phone interview. “But Fourth Edition was a clear sign that Magic was dying.” When pressed to explain how the game is thriving 9 years later, Davis offered other evidence. “Foils really showed that they were desperate to sell cards, and the new card frames are the worst idea of all time. The old frames were so much cooler, and they’re only trying to woo the Pokemon crowd. And don’t get me started on the 6th edition rules.”

Market analysts scoff at the assertion that the game’s best days are behind it. “From a purely economical standpoint, demand is increasing, production is at an all-time high, and they are able to move large quantities of ‘digital cards’ which have minimal maintenance costs,” said Robert Taylor, Professor of Business at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. “Hasbro, one of the venerated American toy companies of the 20th century, is increasingly leaning on this young company to provide its profits in a changing marketplace.” Mike Pacheco, an unemployed 22 year old from Boise, Idaho, who quit playing Magic in 2002, sees things differently. “As soon as all my friends stopped playing, I knew that Magic was dying. I’ve heard they’ve come out with some new sets since then, but nobody’s buying them. That’s what this friend of a guy who works at the comic shop told me.”

Wizards company officials remain upbeat about the game’s future despite its 11th consecutive year of dying. “We have some very exciting plans for the future of Magic,” Wizards of the Coast President Loren Greenwood states in a press release. “From the upcoming Magic Online Version 3.0, to the release of the final 2 sets of the Kamigawa block, we have every reason to believe that the long-term prospects for Magic are going to continue to be profitable.” Flying in the face of overwhelming statistics, however, some still see a dark cloud hanging over the game. “It’s not really whether Magic will die, but when,” said Burt Jones, a 24 year old grocery clerk from Austin, Texas. “The smart money is on June 2005. I just feel sorry for those dudes who are still playing. What a bunch of losers.”

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

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Magic: The Gathering, a popular trading-card game sold by Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro (NYSE – HAS), appears to economists and businessmen to be faring quite well. Record sales, a booming player base, rapid growth in Asian and European markets, and a highly successful online component are all promising signs for the future of this revolutionary game. The company has continued to hire employees for marketing, design, development, and production as the sales of new cards continues to rise. Since its release in 1993, billions of Magic cards have seen print. Despite these good omens, however, disaffected former players of the game claim with absolute certainty that the game is on the way out. “I’d only give it a year or two at most,” claims Campy Erickson, a 21 year old student from Davis, California. “It’s pretty obvious that Magic is dying.”

Throughout its 11 year history, Magic has frequently seen former mages dismiss the game’s long-term prospects. One such person, Jason Davies of Des Moines, Iowa, provided a veritable laundry list of problems with the game. “Magic was really doing well around Revised, which was the best set of all time,” Davis said on a phone interview. “But Fourth Edition was a clear sign that Magic was dying.” When pressed to explain how the game is thriving 9 years later, Davis offered other evidence. “Foils really showed that they were desperate to sell cards, and the new card frames are the worst idea of all time. The old frames were so much cooler, and they’re only trying to woo the Pokemon crowd. And don’t get me started on the 6th edition rules.”

Market analysts scoff at the assertion that the game’s best days are behind it. “From a purely economical standpoint, demand is increasing, production is at an all-time high, and they are able to move large quantities of ‘digital cards’ which have minimal maintenance costs,” said Robert Taylor, Professor of Business at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. “Hasbro, one of the venerated American toy companies of the 20th century, is increasingly leaning on this young company to provide its profits in a changing marketplace.” Mike Pacheco, an unemployed 22 year old from Boise, Idaho, who quit playing Magic in 2002, sees things differently. “As soon as all my friends stopped playing, I knew that Magic was dying. I’ve heard they’ve come out with some new sets since then, but nobody’s buying them. That’s what this friend of a guy who works at the comic shop told me.”

Wizards company officials remain upbeat about the game’s future despite its 11th consecutive year of dying. “We have some very exciting plans for the future of Magic,” Wizards of the Coast President Loren Greenwood states in a press release. “From the upcoming Magic Online Version 3.0, to the release of the final 2 sets of the Kamigawa block, we have every reason to believe that the long-term prospects for Magic are going to continue to be profitable.” Flying in the face of overwhelming statistics, however, some still see a dark cloud hanging over the game. “It’s not really whether Magic will die, but when,” said Burt Jones, a 24 year old grocery clerk from Austin, Texas. “The smart money is on June 2005. I just feel sorry for those dudes who are still playing. What a bunch of losers.”

Discuss this article in the Magic: the Gathering Forums!

Related Stories

• Magic Online Gamer Goes Day Without Complaining
• World Rails Against New Card Design
• Oldtime Player Laments Current State Of Magic