Let me just rip off the Band-Aid. This year there isn't going to be a Magic Invitational. As part of our Organized Play Department's refocusing on grass roots programs, the Invitational was cut from this year's schedule. What does this mean for the future of the Invitational? I honestly don't know. The Invitational has had many bumps along its way, and we have previously held Invitationals held over a year and a half apart. It has been repurposed numerous times and, as it is my baby, I hope we will be able to do so yet again. That said, as of today, there are no current plans for when and where the next Invitational will be held.
I'm afraid that I'm forced to ask what the invitational even is.
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Not a big deal, it only affected like 10 ppl a year. If they want to still do the card thing, they can just have who is ever the points leader at the end of the year submit it
I thought the invitational was pretty awesome, it's the Magic All-Star game. Sure, I doubt I'd ever make it into the Invitational, but we can dream, right?
Rosewater said it might come back some day, and I know that's something he'll be fighting for.
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A card game about Presidents. Stabbing each other. With knives.
I don't have any hard numbers on this, but I'm targeted more often than a black guy driving a beat-up sedan with a broken tail-light and no license plate, and Cy's well aware of that.
Hasbro's actions in the past couple years reminds me when Dan, the wacky guy that used to run the Lucky Frog in Annandale, went off to go live in a boat for a couple of years with his family, and he passed the store on to Pete, who was determined to clean it up and run it like a business, clean and efficient and family friendly... and he completely killed it. You can't run a game on a generic business model. It survives by the love and dedication of those playing it. If you don't believe in your product, you're not going to have credibility and you're not going to sell it. I know that the people directly in charge of the game still care, but their bosses obviously don't know the first thing about it and they're busy trying to run it into the ground.
I can understand why Wotc are making cuts, but what I can't understand is why they are making cuts that save them little to no money. Was the Invitational really that expensive? Doubtful.
1) Woot, MaRo printed my letter (the one re: Antoine Ruel's card)!
2) I'm fairly sad to see the Invitational go. Sure, it doesn't directly affect me, but it was still pretty cool, and something that got people interested in those playing the game, in addition to the game itself. Granted, the Pro Tour arguably serves that purpose, but I still liked the Invitational, dammit.
Oh well, I care less about the Invitational than I do/did about States. Has WotC ever said anything definitive about the future of States, by the way, one way or another? I've heard some rumors at my card shop, but those are just rumors.
I have no problems with cursing. I always feel like the sort of people who buy that cliche are the same ones who think that every bully is secretly insecure. Life isn't as simple as our kindergarten teachers taught us.
This change really crushes a part inside of me. Ever since I first heard of the invitational, it has been my dream to play in it and win. The tournament of tournaments. The dream of dreams. The elite of the elite. Immortality on cardboard. Now? That chance gone.
While I will agree that if they had to cut something I would rather they cut this, an event that very few people participate in, than more of the public events like States, JSS, or Pro Tours. Although, at the same time, I can't help but wonder how much the invitational really cost them to run. Although, in all fairness, it's an event that doesn't generate any revenue, so even low costs might not be justifiable.
I hope it comes back someday. I will hold out hope that it does. And when it does, I hope that I will be at a level of which that I can finally see my chance at that dream.
I thought the invitational was pretty awesome, it's the Magic All-Star game. Sure, I doubt I'd ever make it into the Invitational, but we can dream, right?
My exact sentiments too. Despite that I probably would never have the chance to play in an Invitational, I had fun voting on who would get in as well as checking out the wacky formats.
It was also great to get a look at the minds of the players as they try to think up of cool cards.
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Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
What a stupid, stupid idea.
The invitational appeals greatly to the younger, newer crowd (and us older crowd too).
So much for "acquisition."
I for one, loved seeing players duke it out.
Media is not making me steal. But in a way is like the story of the very hot girl with the short skirt teasing the old sick guy with a history of rape.
Alright. Yeah, I give. I now totally believe that not only did they get a budget cut this year, I believe it was a quite severe budget cut. Not that I think this was that expensive, but to add up everything that has been dropped this year shows that they REALLY had to come up with a list of what the sheer bare bones most absolutely necessary ways for making money with their business was, and to drop any and everything else. And to then completely restructure what's left in order to get any money they can to offset the fact that their demands were increased and their budget decreased.
I'm left wondering now if WotC is being held responsible for keeping Hasbro afloat on its own, in that method of "You, we are going to bleed you dry so we stay alive and when you die we'll discard you and find something else to keep us alive".
EDIT: Still, I'm going to just have faith and watch and see how things turn out, trusting that these decisions are being made for room for future gains and not just to dig their nails in and hold on. But if I was an investor, I wouldn't be very assured as to their future over the next few years.
New Rules come out for 1999 6th Edition... "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO PORTAL! THE GAME IS RUINED! EVERYONE PETITION AND GET THEM TO CHANGE IT BACK!"
New Rules come out for 2010 Edition... "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO YU-GI-OH! THE GAME IS RUINED! EVERYONE PETITION AND GET THEM TO CHANGE IT BACK!"
New Rules come out for *Reserved for something in 2020* "THEY'RE TURNING MAGIC INTO *currently "simple" game by the more "skilled" players*! THE GAME IS..." etc.
Well, I'm certain that the crappy economy has had an effect on Magic's sales... personally, I have had to abstain from buying two booster boxes in the last half-year due to fuel prices.
If they figure they can make any sort of meaningful difference by cutting the invitational, then fine. But I really do hope the game isn't starting to die.
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Love. Forgive. Trust. Be willing to be broken that you may be remade.
What a pity. I really liked the invitational, because it has offbeat formats. The voting and the discussion about the voting was nice as well. I don't care for tournaments like worlds or nationals, but the invitational was truely a magic show.
does anyone else get the impression that hasbro has turned into a Bela Lagosi-esque, Nosferatu vampire that's trying it's damndest to suck the life out of WotC? I mean, it's not just the cuts. think about all the other crap going on, like taking away theme decks, repackaging, etc. in attempting to grab new players, they're alienating the ones they already have.
I know wizards has to bow down to hasbro, but isn't this all becoming a bit excessive? just how big of a cut did they really get?
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I thing i liked most about the invitational was the submission cards. If they must get rid of the invitational they should allow the card submission portion to remain through some venue.
Maybe they should print the World Champion's submission card in the future?
What a pity. I really liked the invitational, because it has offbeat formats. The voting and the discussion about the voting was nice as well. I don't care for tournaments like worlds or nationals, but the invitational was truely a magic show.
But I can imagine it costs a boatload of money.
See, this is the minority thinking. Nats and worlds appeal to a much larger crowd than the invitational. I have a feeling good news is on the way..
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Perhaps this is why they cut it.
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This is the ultimate combo to win the game on turn 3
Turn 2.-vault of whispers,cephalid broker
Turn 3.-swamp,plagiarize
Rosewater said it might come back some day, and I know that's something he'll be fighting for.
A card game about Presidents. Stabbing each other. With knives.
UUU Azami, Lady of Scrolls
RRR Diaochan, Artful Beauty
UR(U/R) Tibor, Lumia, & Melek (WIP)
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techoverrated.2) I'm fairly sad to see the Invitational go. Sure, it doesn't directly affect me, but it was still pretty cool, and something that got people interested in those playing the game, in addition to the game itself. Granted, the Pro Tour arguably serves that purpose, but I still liked the Invitational, dammit.
Oh well, I care less about the Invitational than I do/did about States. Has WotC ever said anything definitive about the future of States, by the way, one way or another? I've heard some rumors at my card shop, but those are just rumors.
While I will agree that if they had to cut something I would rather they cut this, an event that very few people participate in, than more of the public events like States, JSS, or Pro Tours. Although, at the same time, I can't help but wonder how much the invitational really cost them to run. Although, in all fairness, it's an event that doesn't generate any revenue, so even low costs might not be justifiable.
I hope it comes back someday. I will hold out hope that it does. And when it does, I hope that I will be at a level of which that I can finally see my chance at that dream.
.
My exact sentiments too. Despite that I probably would never have the chance to play in an Invitational, I had fun voting on who would get in as well as checking out the wacky formats.
It was also great to get a look at the minds of the players as they try to think up of cool cards.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.
The Force shall free me.
The invitational appeals greatly to the younger, newer crowd (and us older crowd too).
So much for "acquisition."
I for one, loved seeing players duke it out.
Herbal_Poultice_Deck_Wins
Rules Advisor
I'm left wondering now if WotC is being held responsible for keeping Hasbro afloat on its own, in that method of "You, we are going to bleed you dry so we stay alive and when you die we'll discard you and find something else to keep us alive".
EDIT: Still, I'm going to just have faith and watch and see how things turn out, trusting that these decisions are being made for room for future gains and not just to dig their nails in and hold on. But if I was an investor, I wouldn't be very assured as to their future over the next few years.
If they figure they can make any sort of meaningful difference by cutting the invitational, then fine. But I really do hope the game isn't starting to die.
But I can imagine it costs a boatload of money.
I know wizards has to bow down to hasbro, but isn't this all becoming a bit excessive? just how big of a cut did they really get?
Thanks, Heroes of The Planes! You guys are great!
Actual Truth:
Maybe they should print the World Champion's submission card in the future?
See, this is the minority thinking. Nats and worlds appeal to a much larger crowd than the invitational. I have a feeling good news is on the way..