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By: Westane, Jeff Torres
May 31 2010 1:36am
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Do you guys remember your first Magic deck? I do. It was a gift from a friend in high school, a 60 card mess of black, blue and white cards. Revised Serra Angels, Sengir Vampire, Great Whale, Angelic Wall and Counterspell. I loved that deck, I loved the cold stiffness of the unsleeved cards, the smells that would rise up from the riffle shuffles... I knew at that point I was hooked. I slowly evolved into more thoughtful decks, my biggest achievement being my amazing Megrim + Recoil combo, which I thought was just the greatest thing of all time. After getting my playset of Blazing Specters and Terminates I reluctantly dropped blue from my still single unsleeved deck. After that, well, the rest is history.

MegrimRecoilHypnotic Specter

Now, you ask, "why is any of that relevant?". It's really quite simple. From day one, I have had nothing but fun with this game. Everything from getting beaten down by double Dark Ritual into double Hymn to Tourach to playing in my first booster draft, to sitting in my underwear in the middle of my bedroom sifting through thousands of cards trying to find that 4th Merfolk Looter I just KNOW I have somewhere. From then to now, Magic has been a hobby that brings me nothing but joy... Until just a couple years ago that is.

Journey to Nowhere

A few years ago I moved from my hometown in Nevada to the beautiful Flagstaff, Arizona. I can't say I don't like it here, the snow, the woods, the nature trails, almost everything about it is great. When I first moved up there was a small corner store called "Little Shop Of Magic" that I immediately located and attended every Friday. Sadly, the little shop closed down after new competition moved into town, and I had to relocate. This new store was nice, it was bigger and had more product for sale, but it, too, finally went under. So here I am with a large collection of cards, and no one to play them with. Well, after thinking it over I finally decided to make the plunge into Magic Online, and have been having fun again ever since.

Okay, my little history bit is over. I always tend to get sidetracked early in my articles, but then I was always told to open with a story, so who knows! The meat of this article comes from an argument I had with one of my friends I was trying to get to play MTGO. The first thought anyone has about MTGO is the cost of playing. Why would you pay for virtual cards you can't hold or play with "in real life"? Then there's the people who still play paper Magic and are considering adding MTGO to their regimen. Why would they pay for digital cards they already own on paper? Then there's the paranoids, the people who actually READ the Terms of Service. Let me introduce you to paragraph one of MTGO ToS:

1. Magic: The Gathering Online Description.
Magic: The Gathering Online is an online game service ("Game Service") that allows you to play the Game when you (a) obtain a copy of the Game either on CD-ROM ("CD") or via download from a Wizards web site or a designated partner site ("Download"), which includes software and associated media, printed materials and/or electronic documentation, (b) set up an account through the Game Service ("Account"), and (c) utilize any software programs provided to you as an Account holder through the Game Service (together with the CD and Download, hereinafter, "Software").
In the Game, you will create a library of licensed digital objects that depict physical Magic: The Gathering® trading cards, avatars, and event tickets that allow one to enter into tournaments, and you will obtain a limited license for the right to use such digital objects. You will not acquire any ownership interest in the digital objects.

Yes, I made it red, and underlined it. Everyone should know this about their Magic Online account. You do not own anything on your account, including your account. You are leasing everything from WotC, everything down to your avatars, card collection, user name, database space for your collection, server usage, etc. If Wizards decided to pull the plug on your account because they're having a bad day, they can. When you pay that $1 for one Tix, you're paying Wizards a dollar to increase the "tix" variable on your account by one, you're not actually buying anything. For some people, this is a real problem, and understandably so. Why pay for something that only gives you the illusion of ownership? First, let's take a minute to understand why we don't own any of our virtual assets to begin with.

Blatant Thievery

October, 2006. Marc Bragg v. Linden Lab. Linden lab is the creator of the infamous Second Life game that, unless you actually believe anything FOX news says, nobody actually plays. Back in 2006 an attorney by the name of Marc Bragg found a way to purchase plots of virtual real estate for a much lower than market price. Using in game mechanics Bragg bought parcels of virtual land valued at a minimum of $1,000 for only $300 a piece. Linden Lab found out about this and terminated Bragg's account, "liquidating" all of his virtual assets, valued at between $4,000 and $6,000. Marc "Woebegone" Bragg, being the feisty lawyer he is, immediately turned around and filed suit against Lindum Lab.

Lindum Lab said "Bring it on!"

That was a mistake, as over the next several months Bragg would eventually file suit specifically against Philip Rosedalem creator of Second Life, and further down the road the two of them would reach a "confidential settlement".

Now why did all that have to happen? Simple, in Second Life's original Terms of Service it was stated people existing in their virtual world would have actual ownership over their virtual property. This has since changed, and the Bragg v. Linden Lab case has set a precedent for all future online ventures involving real money transactions to come.

So then, just what are we paying for? Ladies and gentlemen we are paying for fun. It's plain, it's simple, we're giving cash money to a company so we can have fun with their services. I pay $30 a month so my wife and I can play World of Warcraft. No, we don't actually "own" anything on their servers, but that's a small price to pay for a couple to have fun every month. I pay WotC money so I can use their services and have fun, and I have been having fun.

The point is, I could just as easily go down to the bar after work and spend $30 on drinks and have fun. This is no different than leasing server space, especially since I'll more than likely be returning the booze before I leave anyway. There exist in this world places and things and people that all offer luxury in exchange for money, and MTGO is just one of the many.

So, no, I don't get the satisfaction of the new-card smell when I open a booster pack, or that nice "snap" when a sleeved card hits the table, but I sure as hell wouldn't be having any fun sitting around and staring at a box of "real" cards sitting in the corner just hoping and waiting for a new card shop to open up. Besides, what does "In Real Life" mean anyway? The people I meat in WoW and the games I play in MTGO are just as real as any encounters I have out in the physical world. It's a new era, and people shouldn't be so afraid of the notion of digital goods. Value is what you make of it.

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings this week, and I hope some interesting discussions can come of it.

-Jeff Torres

22 Comments

Yep. It is a reality of the by Paul Leicht at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 09:52
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Yep. It is a reality of the internet and software programming in general. But the other reality is, Hasbro (the mothership's big Sister) would catch holy hell if WotC were to close MODO without proper compensation to its thousands of customers. Same way the various telephone/electric companies and other pseudo-mononopolies would if they stopped service to their clients. I am not saying it can't happen but it is a real doomsday scenario that would ensue should that happen. (Doomsday for the stockholders.) Despite the legalese or maybe because of it, the customers have a certain expectation of fair trade practices that is upheld by most states. I don't know the specifics of each state but I am certain this is some protection. Note I say 'some' because as a digital product magic cards as individual items are in quite a bit of flux in market value so it would be hard to put an estimated value on a large stock. On the other hand there is a reason why every update the legal jargon comes up and MUST be scrolled to activate the update. Caveat Emptor. And may God(dess) help us all whom ever she is.

sadly the compensation would by ShardFenix at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 12:45
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sadly the compensation would not have to be much. Xbox live just pulled support from xbox games like halo 2 making them unplayable online through the xbox live...they paid customers who still played these original xbox games 400 microsoft points....roughly 4-5 dollars. This is assuming WotC would even consider compensation which...they probably wouldnt.

Maybe you missed the part by Paul Leicht at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 12:56
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Maybe you missed the part where the states Attorney Generals get involved? If so be assured all wouldn't but enough would to make a right mess of Hasbro. Well that is a bit of conjecture but based on past behaviors where multinationals were involved (Nintendo for example) compensation wasn't swift but it did happen and the punishment was not light. Pulling support for a game console's interactive portion is a relatively minor effect compared to shutting down a game completely. That said, as I remarked before, Caveat Emptor.

i have no idea about any by ShardFenix at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 13:08
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i have no idea about any attorney generals...I just heard this yesterday talking to a friend of mine while playing ps3 and discussing the lack of people on PSN for SSF4

One small difference by TheBizzar at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 12:50
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In the case you stated above the LL company seized the assets and liquidated them. In a bar it is you that seizes your assets and does the liquidation off the booze. =). Very informative article.

Some Clarifications by TroyMc at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 17:35
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Many people don't use Second Life for fun. Some people use to SL to take classes. Others use it to visit with family members (which isn't always fun). Still others use it to do business (e.g. selling cars).

The Second Life Terms of Service is very clear about who owns what. In particular, if you use SL to create original intellectual property inside SL (e.g. a stack of boxes that you linked together), then you retain ownership in that intellectual property. Everyone else (including Linden Lab) just gets a license to view and interact with that intellectual property.

This feature is one that makes SL different from typical video games, where the game publisher owns all intellectual property in the game. It's not unusual online, however. For example, when I go to Google Docs and write a book there, I retain ownership of the intellectual property in that book. (Google doesn't get to own the book just because I used their service to help me write it.)

Other parts of Second Life, such as the currency and the land (simulated land) are services that users get a license to use (but Linden Lab retains ownership).

That's the general idea (perhaps oversimplified). If you want the specifics, then check out the actual SL Terms of Service at:

http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php

I feel your pain moving into by Salgy at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 18:02
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I feel your pain moving into flagstaff, I prefer much warmer climate so i live in southern part of AZ. But Phoenix is like a hour or 2 away from where you live you can go there and play with your paper collection.

As a photographer, I would by Scartore at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 18:28
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3

As a photographer, I would love to live in Flagstaff... just a drive down the mountain to thge red rocks of Sedona, signh me up.

Well, I like Flagstaff just by Westane at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 19:31
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Well, I like Flagstaff just fine :D My only complaint is that the nearest card shop is is in Phoenix, and I'm unable to drive.

Attorney General Involvement by Plusua at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 21:44
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I like your article and I think we need more articles like this. This MOL version has it's pros and cons, but it's for fun. However, the fun quickly runs dry when the "Game Service" starts to portray the viability that, "You can too" attitude with the inclusion of PTQ's and Qualifiers. When we players get down to drafts that make the biggest difference or sealed events, we are not informed by the company just how "similar" the experience is to real magic drafts or sealed events. My case in point is booster sales vs. online booster sales and the probability factor involved. Say you buy the equivalent of a booster box online, 36 packs and again purchase a box of real magic cards, sealed, of booster packs, the differences in probability are enormous compared to the real deal sealed booster box and those 36 digital packs. Reason being, but they won't tell us exactly why, the card pool online that these packs are opened up within do not compare to the probability involved with a sealed booster box. Now, I think this is unfair and would like to know if any "Gaming Commissions" in the State that MOL operates from has ever done a review of this "Gaming Service", and if they ever did would there be similarities to other concerns of online gambling or fixing probabilities for customers to operated within that may be in violation of certain state or federal laws.

Someone needs to unravel this, the game proposes a similarity but yet remains "Mom" about those details, while players around the world are left wondering what are my rights and why aren't they being protected?

Interesting article. by Wyrath at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 21:54
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I'm one of those "paranoid" people.

It has nothing to do with being paranoid, though - I hardly fear to lose my collection. Actually, in many ways that would probably not be that bad a thing. For me the worst part is that I know my love of Magic is "unhealthy". The fact that I have spent 100s or even 1000s of $ on Magic cards scare me. The fact that I have spent those money on virtual Magic cards that I in many cases can't redeem is just sad and pathetic.

To return to the WoW analogy, you have people that want to play the game. They care about some aspect of it: roleplaying, PvP, PvE, the auction house, questing, standing in capitals et al. These people understand that Blizzard are douchebags, greedy bastards and a big international company, and thus accept that they have to pay a certain amount each month to and cyber their female friends (who are really males of course). You also have people that buy gold outside of the game, who pay real money for a spectral tiger, getting boosted in arena, PvE or whatever. These are the sad people that care too much about the game. I am of the first group - or rather I used to be since I no longer play. I loved the PvP aspect in the "classic" and TBC-eras, as I could survive by being better than other players, even in TBC where I didn't have the best gear (which I admittedly did have in "classic"). It, in other words, killed the fun for me that to compete you needed to do something unhealthy - playing far too much or paying to get an edge (which really meant that you reached the "normal" level).

In Magic the same thing exists. We have people that play the game for fun. They build bad decks, copy bad decks and generally just waste their time - in a good way as they're having fun. Then you have professional magic players that use MTGO as a testing platform. They can get easy access to any card, find people they can test against and keep a steady income if they are good enough. Then you have guys like me. I care a lot about the game. I build and tinker with lists of my own, modify decklists and try to build "meta decks". I am in other words a "Tuner Spike" (if we go by the ridiculous player demographics invented by MaRo and his cronies). Being a "Spike", I have a hard time playing subpar decks or cards, but being a sensible person, I get this odd feeling when I look at card prices...

Wasteland... 26 tickets.
Tarmogoyf... 44 tickets.
Force of Will... 105 tickets.

I can't accept paying that amount to "rent" a virtual card - or I could if it was one playset or two perhaps. It is simply absurd and incredibly to me that someone who is not a pro would defend this, and I find this very sad that once again, it is the players that do the unhealthy thing - in this case paying 100s of $s that are rewarded - irregardless of their skills. I'd love to compete in the formats that I like, but that is only possible if you go to some huge compromise. One compromise would be playing a deck you dislike, which would ruin the fun. Another would be to play with subpar cards, which would be wrong to me, as I care about picking optimal card choices or the unhealthy option: fork out the 100s of $s and feel bad about doing something you know is inherently silly.

Magic, paper Magic that is, is a collectible hobby - MTGO isn't. It's part of the fun, as you said, to browse through your cards, to crack boosters and see what you get. The reason for this is that it's real - the cards exists and mean something to you (even the bad ones). On MTGO it isn't so. I've owned tons of card (like everyone else), but since cards are so easily aquired they mean almost nothing to me. Going to my local card shops to pick up a playset of Countryside Crushers could result in me only getting two or three perhaps, but online, the same issue could never take place. There it would only be a question of how much I am willing to pay. If I have enough I could probably buy up almost every copy of a certain card.

I agree with you that the fun in WoW or on MTGO is real (if you are having fun you are obviously having fun), but the people really mean nothing to me, so there I disagree with you. Relationships, to me, are made face to face - not online and not because you happen to like the same nerdy thing. That is the reason why I never even considered meeting guild members in WoW, and the reason why I have very few "friends" on MTGO - even the notion is silly to me. To me, MTGO is a substitute for the fact that I only know one decent Magic player, and I'd sell my account the second I met real people with a decent grasp of the game.

To sum this lovely rant up, that meant I didn't have to do any work for 90 minutes, I think you are right when you say people shouldn't worry about virtual products. Sure, technically we own nothing and can lose all our cards at the snap of a few, fat, grease-stained fingers. Still, that's not going to happen. What I wonder, though, is how we are willing to pay real money for virtual product. I am obviously mostly on my own here, but it just saddens me that my love of a cardgame means I have to spend amounts of real money on it that could be used so much wiser.

*emoface*

I'm not really going to argue by ShardFenix at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 22:18
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I'm not really going to argue the merit of your opinions since they are more the most part well laid out and explained. The only thing is, you don't have to spend money on MTGO. I am not a big tourney player but love building random decks. However even I understand the fact that sometimes I just cant afford cards...maybe it's because I'm not a "spike" but rather more of a "johnny" but I just shrug my shoulders and move on as I'm sure the majority of mtgo does as well. We leave the 30-70 dollar cards for those that somehow deem them necessary enough to pay those fees. I dont think you can really complain on the prices though. It's a market system. As long as people can make the tickets in the numbers they are charging, what incentive do they have to lower?

Wyrath by Plusua at Mon, 05/31/2010 - 22:27
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"It, in other words, killed the fun for me that to compete you needed to do something unhealthy - playing far too much or paying to get an edge (which really meant that you reached the "normal" level)."

You hit the nail on the head with that statement Wyrath. Now if one could investigate, journalistic like, about the pros and cons of real life MTG experiences and MOL ones, I think we all could be better informed about what it is we are getting ourselves into. What I would like to know is how much of that "doing something unhealthy" is urged and influenced strongly by WOTC in relation to it's online product, Magic The Gathering Online. I suspect much of that has to do with the process behind the distribution rates, or print run, being hidden from the community with MOL. A while back Maro wrote an article about rarity distribution just prior to the release of the Shards of Alara block. In that he too revealed what the print run expectations were regarding Mythics, Rares, Uncommons and Commons. This however, is absent in the MOL design, are they hiding something by not sharing some level of insight with the consumer other than the "take our word for it" attitude I am faced with each time I inquire about such things.

you know wizards really isnt by ShardFenix at Tue, 06/01/2010 - 01:18
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you know wizards really isnt some big bad malignant trying to screw you out of everything you own if you play online. which is kinda what you make them seem like

Fun is fun, doesn't matter if by deluxeicoff at Tue, 06/01/2010 - 13:13
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Fun is fun, doesn't matter if it's a paper product or a mouse your touching

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