This is a tough one to figure out we know the numbers are BS so why are they really stopping FNM promos. Is it to drive away paper players from brick and mortar stores into Magic online.
This is a tough one to figure out we know the numbers are BS so why are they really stopping FNM promos. Is it to drive away paper players from brick and mortar stores into Magic online.
They do make more profit off MTGO however there are a great many customers/players who would never make that transition so I seriously doubt there's a conspiracy here. This is just more unadulterated nonsense from people who are not qualified for their jobs.
I don't care at all about double sided tokens. Such trash, but I bet a lot of players will come out for shiny Aether Hub (I did) and special shiny Fatal Push. Absolutely wrong move.
Bumping game day is also bloody horrible. So they want to wait until the format is completely solved (and sometimes stale) to have 'game day'?
Makes no sense at all. If anything they could have added an additional event to keep people 'engaged' and give away a new set card. I really enjoy current game day because you basically can roll in with a brew and win or do well after only getting a little pro input to viable decks. Bad move. Now it's all clone decks.
Open house and showdown are fine. Do they think very hard about these changes or is everything seat of the pants trash?
It almost feels like they are trying to give people less reasons to play the best deck. Like they want FNM to be powered down so that people feel there's more Standard diversity.
I'm not following how that could be their intent from this change. These are all 'marketing' decisions to promote the next set and does exactly the opposite of what you're reading in.
This is a tough one to figure out we know the numbers are BS so why are they really stopping FNM promos. Is it to drive away paper players from brick and mortar stores into Magic online.
They do make more profit off MTGO however there are a great many customers/players who would never make that transition so I seriously doubt there's a conspiracy here. This is just more unadulterated nonsense from people who are not qualified for their jobs.
I'm one of the players who would never play Magic Online. I've always believed that if they get 40 percent of players on Mtgo they will stop printing physical cards.
Remember guys, this is the company that tells the masses that want a return to Kamigawa that they don't want a return to Kamigawa because of 14 year old data despite the modern success of Tamiyo, invent of Commander and distance from the block which nearly destroyed MTG.
WotC is getting too clever for me. Incentivizing more players to attend events by offering fewer and arguably worse incentives... never gonna figure that one out.
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EDH Decks UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition) WRKalemne's Angels BRUG Yidris's Wild Party UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys UBRThe Pretender
I'm one of the players who would never play Magic Online. I've always believed that if they get 40 percent of players on Mtgo they will stop printing physical cards.
Right there with you. I didn't like the interface or much about MTGO. Let alone forking over the same cash for ones and zeroes instead of a card I can hold. Currently they'd lose too many customers and shaft every single storefront as well as partners who do sleeves, boxes, etc.
I guess they could just make the game so horrible everyone quits and they go just to MTGO... but then no one will care.
The gist of it is, well, here, in Blake Rasmussen's own words:
Let's take one of the comments I heard and the general sentiment among those who didn't like the change: "We just want relevant, playable FNM promos." The implication is that the player community as a whole will attend more FNMs if the promos are better. Except it's not true.
The data just doesn't bear that out. While I can't give you the exact numbers, I can tell you this—in June, when Aether Hub was the FNM promo, attendance was not noticeably different than January, when Noose Constrictor was the promo. What's more, we've found this pattern repeated for years. FNM attendance is generally not noticeably tied to the community's online response, positive or negative, to the specific promo card. A few people recognize this, but it's understandably difficult to see that when your frame of view is your local store or stores. We know that individual store attendance levels can ebb and flow for any number of reasons, but on a macro level, there's just not a discernable difference.
Ultimately, we don't want players showing up just because they want the promo—we hope they're there because they enjoy playing Magic, hanging out with their friends, and having a good time. And if they get something cool out of it, well—bonus.
The gist of it is, well, here, in Blake Rasmussen's own words:
Let's take one of the comments I heard and the general sentiment among those who didn't like the change: "We just want relevant, playable FNM promos." The implication is that the player community as a whole will attend more FNMs if the promos are better. Except it's not true.
The data just doesn't bear that out. While I can't give you the exact numbers, I can tell you this—in June, when Aether Hub was the FNM promo, attendance was not noticeably different than January, when Noose Constrictor was the promo. What's more, we've found this pattern repeated for years. FNM attendance is generally not noticeably tied to the community's online response, positive or negative, to the specific promo card. A few people recognize this, but it's understandably difficult to see that when your frame of view is your local store or stores. We know that individual store attendance levels can ebb and flow for any number of reasons, but on a macro level, there's just not a discernable difference.
Ultimately, we don't want players showing up just because they want the promo—we hope they're there because they enjoy playing Magic, hanging out with their friends, and having a good time. And if they get something cool out of it, well—bonus.
That is a boldfaced lie. When Path to exile and serum visions were promos FNM attendance around here was triple was it was the weeks before and after. Stores were at capacity. They were literally turned people away because there was no where to sit.
That is a boldfaced lie. When Path to exile and serum visions were promos FNM attendance around here was triple was it was the weeks before and after. Stores were at capacity. They were literally turned people away because there was no where to sit.
A few people recognize this, but it's understandably difficult to see that when your frame of view is your local store or stores. We know that individual store attendance levels can ebb and flow for any number of reasons, but on a macro level, there's just not a discernable difference.
The gist of it is, well, here, in Blake Rasmussen's own words:
Let's take one of the comments I heard and the general sentiment among those who didn't like the change: "We just want relevant, playable FNM promos." The implication is that the player community as a whole will attend more FNMs if the promos are better. Except it's not true.
The data just doesn't bear that out. While I can't give you the exact numbers, I can tell you this—in June, when Aether Hub was the FNM promo, attendance was not noticeably different than January, when Noose Constrictor was the promo. What's more, we've found this pattern repeated for years. FNM attendance is generally not noticeably tied to the community's online response, positive or negative, to the specific promo card. A few people recognize this, but it's understandably difficult to see that when your frame of view is your local store or stores. We know that individual store attendance levels can ebb and flow for any number of reasons, but on a macro level, there's just not a discernable difference.
Ultimately, we don't want players showing up just because they want the promo—we hope they're there because they enjoy playing Magic, hanging out with their friends, and having a good time. And if they get something cool out of it, well—bonus.
That is a boldfaced lie. When Path to exile and serum visions were promos FNM attendance around here was triple was it was the weeks before and after. Stores were at capacity. They were literally turned people away because there was no where to sit.
Agreed. The local LGS had like a 40 person FNM (was 5 last week for comparison) for standard for the SV promo. Not to mention people were actually TRADING for once.
What blows my mind is the only conceivable reasoning is that stores are left on piles of uncommons that hit a ceiling because of the promo and are griping about it. But with FREE promos like fatal push coming up which probably far out weighs that lost money to a LGS that can't be the case. Not all the promos knock it out of the park, but they are plenty good sometimes. All I can think of is someone is shifting weight to the showdowns to separate the "new" players and the entrenched players for a better play experience OR wizards wants access to more reprint equity on some of these uncommons to better regulate the pricing and Secondary market impact on supplemental products (looking at you modern event deck).
All these are grasping at straws and don't feel like it could possibly be the case. How do you even support those with data? Surveys? Attendance doesn't support any of it. Filed complaints? Uggghhh
I don't care at all about double sided tokens. Such trash, but I bet a lot of players will come out for shiny Aether Hub (I did) and special shiny Fatal Push. Absolutely wrong move.
Bumping game day is also bloody horrible. So they want to wait until the format is completely solved (and sometimes stale) to have 'game day'?
Makes no sense at all. If anything they could have added an additional event to keep people 'engaged' and give away a new set card. I really enjoy current game day because you basically can roll in with a brew and win or do well after only getting a little pro input to viable decks. Bad move. Now it's all clone decks.
Open house and showdown are fine. Do they think very hard about these changes or is everything seat of the pants trash?
It almost feels like they are trying to give people less reasons to play the best deck. Like they want FNM to be powered down so that people feel there's more Standard diversity.
I'm not following how that could be their intent from this change. These are all 'marketing' decisions to promote the next set and does exactly the opposite of what you're reading in.
Do you play online? Lowering prize support is one of the ways they try to keep away sharks from events.
We know we have a Standard that Wizards feels is facing support issues. We know they want to bring people back to Standard. If you told me tomorrow that a memo leaked showing that they felt FNM prize support was too high and was attracting serious players to FNM that chase the casuals away, I would not be the least bit surprised.
EDIT: I totally missed this link from the article. So they literally said they want FNM to be casual (read: powered down).
Honestly, this really seems like they're fixing the wrong problem, on top of fixing it with mostly ineffectual solution. As someone already mentioned on twitter, there are plenty of ways to get tokens, even if they're not official, but only "one" way to get actual cards.
I honestly like the idea of promo tokens, but not as something that replaces actual cards.
I don't care at all about double sided tokens. Such trash, but I bet a lot of players will come out for shiny Aether Hub (I did) and special shiny Fatal Push. Absolutely wrong move.
Bumping game day is also bloody horrible. So they want to wait until the format is completely solved (and sometimes stale) to have 'game day'?
Makes no sense at all. If anything they could have added an additional event to keep people 'engaged' and give away a new set card. I really enjoy current game day because you basically can roll in with a brew and win or do well after only getting a little pro input to viable decks. Bad move. Now it's all clone decks.
Open house and showdown are fine. Do they think very hard about these changes or is everything seat of the pants trash?
It almost feels like they are trying to give people less reasons to play the best deck. Like they want FNM to be powered down so that people feel there's more Standard diversity.
I'm not following how that could be their intent from this change. These are all 'marketing' decisions to promote the next set and does exactly the opposite of what you're reading in.
Do you play online? Lowering prize support is one of the ways they try to keep away sharks from events.
We know we have a Standard that Wizards feels is facing support issues. We know they want to bring people back to Standard. If you told me tomorrow that a memo leaked showing that they felt FNM prize support was too high and was attracting serious players to FNM that chase the casuals away, I would not be the least bit surprised.
EDIT: I totally missed this link from the article. So they literally said they want FNM to be casual (read: powered down).
Why would they want FNM to be casual? FNM is about as competitive a lot of us get. If that's is what they want they need to go back to the old dci system were if you loose to a scrub at fnm you may not even qualify for larger events. I remember back in the day no competitive player would play Fnm because of the fear of loosing to a low ranked player.
If i would want to play with friends in a casual enviroment i would do it at home playing commander. FNM is the starting line of competitive scene, where players can trains and harness knowledge of the enviroment and adapt their decks to it. His exzcuse was half-assed. No one is defending these changes so why are trying to make dumb excuses? I'm a casual player and find this excuse dumb. i like promos because it can be a great trade fodder to get more cards for my casual decks. Sometimes i would like to use a budget non competitive deck in tournies jsut to have fun playing the game and promos were incentive to this. Kitchen Table is for casual fun while FNM is for competitive fun.
The gist of it is, well, here, in Blake Rasmussen's own words:
Let's take one of the comments I heard and the general sentiment among those who didn't like the change: "We just want relevant, playable FNM promos." The implication is that the player community as a whole will attend more FNMs if the promos are better. Except it's not true.
So the answer is to make even *****tier promos? To remove data from their site? To request that other sites not provide deck lists and information? This ******* company. Someone above compared them to Games Workshop and my word, is it ever apt.
The part the saddens me is some people are trying to justify this. Like I said somewhere else ... its like validating mediocrity. Why be "ok" with cards like foil tokens (bad imo) or foil ruinous path (ok I guess) that will never see play outside of standard or some random commander deck because you need both hero's downfall and that one.
No ... lets continue aiming for the lowest grade reward possible instead of trying to shoot for the stars. Wizards doesn't have to spend a penny more to do stuff like Aether Hub foil (I love this one), foil fatal push, foil path to exile, foil serum vision, foil lightning bolt for god's sake cause why not? Its an overpriced common/uncommon and it would be a real price to work for and try to win.
edit: I have read some of the explanation on the mothership/reddit and I understand the whole thing a bit better but it just makes me think I might have to stop standard or more (will have to see) because I work on weekends. I can only play in store on thursday or friday night. I can't play showdowns where it seems it would be somewhat competitive vs fnm that seems to be aimed at "interested" players.
I still find it odd that to substract a part of their player base (engaged players/competitive) from FNM and hope they move to showdowns, they go as far as to offer lower grade prices while still hoping its enough to attract "interested/more casual" players. I guess there is no other way to do it.
foil tokens ??? how is this gonna lure people to fnm more like a fnm fatal push ???
i dont like this change. how about wizards asks people in a poll for change ideas before they make them ?
why not put foil tokens in booster, prereleases or just give them additionally ? maybe just for the 1st place plus the normal fnm promo, so you really feel like u earned somethn rare in the fnm, even if its just a promo.
to my next store i need to drive 40 minutes. i dont think i take this ride just for a damn token.
Um, then drive 40 minutes to play the actual game, which is hopefully why you would go anyways. Getting any kind of bonus whether it is a chase Standard uncommon like Fatal Push or a basic land is your reward for playing the game you would have played anyways. Good lord the entitlement here is off the chizzain.
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I don't know though. Playing Devil's advocate I will say keeping Spikes out of FNM is a reason to consider Standard. Sick of promo sharks too. But I am so engrained into EDH that this really isn't my place to comment.
Wow awesome. I hope Wizards keeps this up. I can't wait for some more awesome FNM giveaways they could try.
1. Foil Advertising cards
2. Blank foil cards (front and back)
3. Foil date stamped Punch-out cards.
4. Mythic foiled promo date stamped Players Rules Card
5. The 3 of spades
6. An old Polaroid photo of your Uncle Jim's tube sock
Playing since 1994: Currently MAGS (HomeBrew),Standard & Pauper (Pioneer and Modern are degenerate trash formats)
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
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They really need to clean house. Everyone needs to be fired and a new person needs to be in charge of Magic for Wizards/Hasbro. This has to be one of the dumbest changes they've ever done. They keep citing data and surveys for their crap decisions the past several years, really seems like they have no idea how to interpret any of those in a positive manner. Looks like still no reason to attend FNMs for the future.
I have never seen a company that seems to hate their regular customers as much as Wizards/Hasbro. Every decision lately seems geared to New or future players at the expense of their older loyal regulars.
Wizards is pulling the same stupid ***** Nintendo was doing with the Wii. They're putting their core to the backburner to try and support newcomers and casuals. Guess what? THAT DOESN'T ******* WORK! Newcomers and casuals aren't going to spend hundreds or even thousands per year the way the core will. I think Maro himself has said that the average player only plays for like 3 years then drops. The vets, the core, are the ones who will play year after year, buy into each and every set released, including supplemental products, yet Wizards is throwing them to the side as if they don't matter. It's one thing if they made changes while KEEPING products/promos that entice their core, but apparently they're too ******* cheap to invest in newcomers and would just assume their core will stick with them. It's the same moronic arrogance Nintendo went through with the Wii, and to a far lesser extent Sony with the PS3 and Microsoft with the original Xbox One announcement. And this is even worse compared to video games as it's only a single $200-$400 investment that'll last 5-6 years at least and then maybe $200 at most a year. With Wizards, a single booster box is ~$90. Do a few drafts and you're up at over $100, and that's once every 4 months not counting the Masters sets which are like $220 a box and maybe $40-50 a draft.
Wizards seems to be so focused on trying to please everyone that they'll end up pleasing no one. Worst of all, they have this arrogance about their core, that they'll continue to play no matter what. And this the same with regards to all the other SJW tactics they've been pulling. The core is most important. Period. Throw away your core, you have nothing. Make any changes that have a clear negative effect on your core, like this, and you lose your core, the people who will spend hundreds or even thousands on your products ever year.
I just don't get why companies seem to keep falling into this trap. It ****ed up Nintendo, it ****ed up Sony, it ****ed up Microsoft, I don't get how no company sees this coming. And if you think video gaming is different from Magic, you're right, you're not spending $1,000 every year on video games unless you're in the top .01%.
I'm probably going to get a lot of disapproval for this, but I almost feel like the FNM changes in by itself aren't that bad. Admittedly I'm no Standard nor FNM player and while I do have a Modern deck (which I seldom play anyway), WotC has been already actively disabling tournament support for non-Standard formats in response to the cry for reprints (because to do both effectively triggers what some call the "YuGiOh system" since popular non-rotating games require powercreep to be financially profitable). All these I more or less saw coming and took it in stride.
So, even if we put aside non-Standard formats, it's not like WotC didn't preempt this decision, Games Day (even if it is going to be revamped it still holds pretty much the same properties) and Standard Showdown were created in recent years. I don't play Standard and I know how fickle boosters are, but it still feels the average Standard Showdown booster is better than the average FNM promo we get. WotC was clearly testing all these waters for the past 2 years and I think they concluded they want a new venue for their "competitive Standard weeklies" to be these tournaments instead. In this point I think the whole FNM change is that statement rather than everything else they're coming up with.
I mean, look at the whole thing - for the longest time there was only FNM and it was nothing but a tug-of-war between varying levels of casual and competitive players. Even people who claim it is a competitive gateway only managed to do it because they were competitive and as a result, drove away the casual players and made their FNMs the gateway. Add on the fact with varying levels it created discrepancies across pretty much every LGS over the globe (some being casual, others competitive). Now that WotC has at least implemented another system meant for these players, is it really a terrible thing that they literally announced the diversion of FNMs from that system?
If they cancelled Standard Showdown it will all be on them, but all I see now about the surface-level complains are people valuing their traditional FNM than about themselves as competitive players. It's not like WotC didn't provide another avenue, yes it's admittedly different, but overall it doesn't seem like too bad (like I said the boosters feel better generally than the typical FNM promo). Which seems doubly ironic when people say WotC isn't moving with the times on this topic in particular when it seems to me (as an outsider to all these systems admittedly) than WotC shifted the times itself and it's these players who don't move with it.
All that being said, the same argument is straightforward and correct in other matters concerning WotC - especially when it comes to data concealing and picking. I (have always) greatly disapprove(d) of WotC's antics and excuses when it comes to data. Time and again it has been shown data is pretty much nothing more than an excuse WotC uses to defend itself when they couldn't explain their true intentions (just take the whole FNM example I just explained above - they used arbitrary data...). I've always disliked how they think simply citing data makes them look objective while pretty much every one else knows by concealing data, they effectively destroyed any property of objectiveness data can provide in the first place.
On top of all that, they cherry-picked data without giving reasons, further destabilizing the scenario. The recent FNM one cited Aether Hub but not Path to Exile and Serum Visions (and they didn't even say "because those are Modern cards and we don't care about those" because well, bad PR). The Felidar Guardian Ban effectively relied on 3 days' data because of the two articles. Kamigawa data relied on data 13 years ago from players they themselves don't even think are active anymore. It's like the whole Kozilek scenario, where all they cared was the chaos C mana being spoiled confused players and not the chaos that Kozilek himself was spoiled story-wise confusing readers.
Data management and communication are two of things WotC don't seem to handle too well and even if their intentions were good or neutral, messing those two up can easily cause the "upset your player base" uproar we get every few months here. At this point I'm suspecting that the core survives because they could see through all these messes (or are simply too addicted/invested) rather than anything else.
To end the whole data-fiasco on a sarcastic note - one of the best data points for identifying good cards is the rarity system WotC, how about we conceal data by printing all cards at a equally common rarity instead
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They do make more profit off MTGO however there are a great many customers/players who would never make that transition so I seriously doubt there's a conspiracy here. This is just more unadulterated nonsense from people who are not qualified for their jobs.
I'm not following how that could be their intent from this change. These are all 'marketing' decisions to promote the next set and does exactly the opposite of what you're reading in.
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
EDH Decks
UWB Oloro, Ageless Ascetic's spring of life
RUG Animar, Soul of the Elements and friends... lots of them
WBG Karador king of two worlds (value and attrition)
WRKalemne's Angels
BRUG Yidris's Wild Party
UWBR Breya's Terrifying Tinker Toys
UBR The Pretender
Right there with you. I didn't like the interface or much about MTGO. Let alone forking over the same cash for ones and zeroes instead of a card I can hold. Currently they'd lose too many customers and shaft every single storefront as well as partners who do sleeves, boxes, etc.
I guess they could just make the game so horrible everyone quits and they go just to MTGO... but then no one will care.
The gist of it is, well, here, in Blake Rasmussen's own words:
That is a boldfaced lie. When Path to exile and serum visions were promos FNM attendance around here was triple was it was the weeks before and after. Stores were at capacity. They were literally turned people away because there was no where to sit.
Agreed. The local LGS had like a 40 person FNM (was 5 last week for comparison) for standard for the SV promo. Not to mention people were actually TRADING for once.
What blows my mind is the only conceivable reasoning is that stores are left on piles of uncommons that hit a ceiling because of the promo and are griping about it. But with FREE promos like fatal push coming up which probably far out weighs that lost money to a LGS that can't be the case. Not all the promos knock it out of the park, but they are plenty good sometimes. All I can think of is someone is shifting weight to the showdowns to separate the "new" players and the entrenched players for a better play experience OR wizards wants access to more reprint equity on some of these uncommons to better regulate the pricing and Secondary market impact on supplemental products (looking at you modern event deck).
All these are grasping at straws and don't feel like it could possibly be the case. How do you even support those with data? Surveys? Attendance doesn't support any of it. Filed complaints? Uggghhh
Do you play online? Lowering prize support is one of the ways they try to keep away sharks from events.
We know we have a Standard that Wizards feels is facing support issues. We know they want to bring people back to Standard. If you told me tomorrow that a memo leaked showing that they felt FNM prize support was too high and was attracting serious players to FNM that chase the casuals away, I would not be the least bit surprised.
EDIT: I totally missed this link from the article. So they literally said they want FNM to be casual (read: powered down).
I honestly like the idea of promo tokens, but not as something that replaces actual cards.
Special thanks to XenoNinja of Heroes of the Plane Studios for the awesome avy!
So the answer is to make even *****tier promos? To remove data from their site? To request that other sites not provide deck lists and information? This ******* company. Someone above compared them to Games Workshop and my word, is it ever apt.
No ... lets continue aiming for the lowest grade reward possible instead of trying to shoot for the stars. Wizards doesn't have to spend a penny more to do stuff like Aether Hub foil (I love this one), foil fatal push, foil path to exile, foil serum vision, foil lightning bolt for god's sake cause why not? Its an overpriced common/uncommon and it would be a real price to work for and try to win.
edit: I have read some of the explanation on the mothership/reddit and I understand the whole thing a bit better but it just makes me think I might have to stop standard or more (will have to see) because I work on weekends. I can only play in store on thursday or friday night. I can't play showdowns where it seems it would be somewhat competitive vs fnm that seems to be aimed at "interested" players.
I still find it odd that to substract a part of their player base (engaged players/competitive) from FNM and hope they move to showdowns, they go as far as to offer lower grade prices while still hoping its enough to attract "interested/more casual" players. I guess there is no other way to do it.
exemple of reddit thread : https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/6npm8r/wotc_op_support_change_a_paradigm_shift_in_op/
|| UW Jace, Vyn's Prodigy UW || UG Kenessos, Priest of Thassa (feat. Arixmethes) UG ||
Cards I still want to see created:
|| Olantin, Lost City || Pavios and Thanasis || Choryu ||
1. Foil Advertising cards
2. Blank foil cards (front and back)
3. Foil date stamped Punch-out cards.
4. Mythic foiled promo date stamped Players Rules Card
5. The 3 of spades
6. An old Polaroid photo of your Uncle Jim's tube sock
STOP using "dude/bro" as a pejorative or insult. Grow up.
Margaret Thatcher: “The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.”
Benjamin Franklin: "Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
I love alternate art cards, they are my favourite cards to collect.
Wizards seems to be so focused on trying to please everyone that they'll end up pleasing no one. Worst of all, they have this arrogance about their core, that they'll continue to play no matter what. And this the same with regards to all the other SJW tactics they've been pulling. The core is most important. Period. Throw away your core, you have nothing. Make any changes that have a clear negative effect on your core, like this, and you lose your core, the people who will spend hundreds or even thousands on your products ever year.
I just don't get why companies seem to keep falling into this trap. It ****ed up Nintendo, it ****ed up Sony, it ****ed up Microsoft, I don't get how no company sees this coming. And if you think video gaming is different from Magic, you're right, you're not spending $1,000 every year on video games unless you're in the top .01%.
So, even if we put aside non-Standard formats, it's not like WotC didn't preempt this decision, Games Day (even if it is going to be revamped it still holds pretty much the same properties) and Standard Showdown were created in recent years. I don't play Standard and I know how fickle boosters are, but it still feels the average Standard Showdown booster is better than the average FNM promo we get. WotC was clearly testing all these waters for the past 2 years and I think they concluded they want a new venue for their "competitive Standard weeklies" to be these tournaments instead. In this point I think the whole FNM change is that statement rather than everything else they're coming up with.
I mean, look at the whole thing - for the longest time there was only FNM and it was nothing but a tug-of-war between varying levels of casual and competitive players. Even people who claim it is a competitive gateway only managed to do it because they were competitive and as a result, drove away the casual players and made their FNMs the gateway. Add on the fact with varying levels it created discrepancies across pretty much every LGS over the globe (some being casual, others competitive). Now that WotC has at least implemented another system meant for these players, is it really a terrible thing that they literally announced the diversion of FNMs from that system?
If they cancelled Standard Showdown it will all be on them, but all I see now about the surface-level complains are people valuing their traditional FNM than about themselves as competitive players. It's not like WotC didn't provide another avenue, yes it's admittedly different, but overall it doesn't seem like too bad (like I said the boosters feel better generally than the typical FNM promo). Which seems doubly ironic when people say WotC isn't moving with the times on this topic in particular when it seems to me (as an outsider to all these systems admittedly) than WotC shifted the times itself and it's these players who don't move with it.
All that being said, the same argument is straightforward and correct in other matters concerning WotC - especially when it comes to data concealing and picking. I (have always) greatly disapprove(d) of WotC's antics and excuses when it comes to data. Time and again it has been shown data is pretty much nothing more than an excuse WotC uses to defend itself when they couldn't explain their true intentions (just take the whole FNM example I just explained above - they used arbitrary data...). I've always disliked how they think simply citing data makes them look objective while pretty much every one else knows by concealing data, they effectively destroyed any property of objectiveness data can provide in the first place.
On top of all that, they cherry-picked data without giving reasons, further destabilizing the scenario. The recent FNM one cited Aether Hub but not Path to Exile and Serum Visions (and they didn't even say "because those are Modern cards and we don't care about those" because well, bad PR). The Felidar Guardian Ban effectively relied on 3 days' data because of the two articles. Kamigawa data relied on data 13 years ago from players they themselves don't even think are active anymore. It's like the whole Kozilek scenario, where all they cared was the chaos C mana being spoiled confused players and not the chaos that Kozilek himself was spoiled story-wise confusing readers.
Data management and communication are two of things WotC don't seem to handle too well and even if their intentions were good or neutral, messing those two up can easily cause the "upset your player base" uproar we get every few months here. At this point I'm suspecting that the core survives because they could see through all these messes (or are simply too addicted/invested) rather than anything else.
To end the whole data-fiasco on a sarcastic note - one of the best data points for identifying good cards is the rarity system WotC, how about we conceal data by printing all cards at a equally common rarity instead