Magic The Gathering Online

List Price: $14.99 Discount Price: $14.98

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Appalled. Read on to know why. [Posted on 2004-03-25]
I want to make it clear right now that I have not played this game and never will. This isn't because I believe it to be a bad game. In fact, I have been waiting for a game with an interface as I've seen described. Right after I heard of it I searched around. YOU HAVE TO PAY TO USE THE CARDS YOU WANT!!!! YOU have to pay to use DIGITAL cards!!!!!!!!
I immediately left the web site after seeing that in search of a SENSIBLE Magic online game. I found the incredible Magic the Gathering Interactive Encyclopedia, which lets you use any of the thousands of Magic cards in existance at your will to battle opponents online. It even had a deckbuilding judge that gave you an analasis of your deck. Alas, this game is no longer on sale, but I urge anyone who reads this review to get the message to Wizards that we just want an updated version of that game! And if you agree or disagree with me, please voice your opinion by voting on whether this review was useful to you or not.

Perfect for the lonely player [Posted on 2004-11-13]
This is not a game for just anyone, you have to purchase your product as if it were regular MTG. If thats not a problem, or you already play MTG this is pretty close to the real thing. The really great thing besides various types of MTG is that there are tournies, drafts, leagues etc... You can trade cards, chat, post cards for sale. Collecting a whole online set, you can trade it in for a physical set. The gaming options are are endless. Plus if you get home say 3am and want to play, there's always someone to play.

A great hobby that makes you think [Posted on 2005-11-07]
I personaly like the Magic: The Gathering card game in general because it's a card game that makes you think, unlike Yu-Gi-O and other card games of that nature because in those, all you need is the biggest, baddest creature in order to win. Magic, on the other hand, can be won even with the weakest creatures. All you need is a deck and a mind for strategy, and the compitition will come as you embark on this virtual oddysee. I also recomend this to anyone who has played the real card game because they will have somewhat of an advantage. If you didn't, the game comes with a pretty good online rulebook. I would have given it five stars if instead of paying cash for new cards, you were able to spend virtual points you win from playing and winning.

Overall, I think this is a great game for those that want to play a good strategy game, or if you are a seasoned Magic veteran who wants to find some compitition.

Fun, but DO NOT BUY!!!!!! [Posted on 2007-10-02]
Okay, first off, I love playing MTG. However, this game requires you to spend hundreds of dollars if you ever hope to build a truly great couple of decks. The prices alone lured me away within ten minutes. I bought this game used, luckily, so I didn't waste too much money. I installed the software, prepared to battle fellow MTG fans around the world, then saw the prices. I haven't turned the game on since. Don't be fooled by the fact it's online. If you ever see this game, run away. Far, far away!

A Great Game [Posted on 2007-10-10]
First, I was introduced to Magic the Gathering by a High School Student of mine many years ago, I loved the game but didn't like having to go to the back room of a comic book store and listen to some teenager rant about their interpretation of the card text and declare my combo illegal etc etc... so I gave up.

Fast forward 12 years, the online game is up and running, after a few bumps in the road, the software works great, yes it takes along time to download, it is a big install (you can get the CD ROM for free) and yes the cards do cost money... that is the whole point of the game, some cards being more valuable that others, therefore making them more desirable, you don't have to spend a fortune to play... a small, weak deck can beat a powerhouse deck if the cards fall in the right order and the player is paying attention.

If you feel inclined to complain about the cost of "virtual" or online cards look at your real world deck, are they free? How different would the game be if you and every other player were issued 4 copies of every card in print, every player would load up with rares and wollap on each other! The beauty of this game is building a balanced deck that uses commons, uncommons and a few rares to play off of each other, great decks can be built on the cheap.

Finally, I've heard the rant "they want us to pay money for online cards?!?" Exactly how much do you think that your "real" cards are really worth? They cost less than a nickel each to print, and yes, Wizards is making money hand over fist, the only value that cards have is to play the game or to a collector; other than that they might as well be a used Kleenex box, cardboard and print bound to end up in the trash.

Wizards designed a great game and in the process minted a licence to "print their own money" as they create new cards... if any one of you who are complaining could pull this off you would do it all day and all night while laughing all the way to the bank! Any hobby costs money, I got into fishing because it was "cheap" one bass boat, 20 or so rods and reels and countless lures later... well you get the point, I fish and play magic to relax and have a good time.

The pros are, no back rooms filled with annoying teens arguing over rules, (annoying teens take no offense I was one once as well) play anytime with people around the world, if someone gets obnoxious, just concede the game and move on, no haggling over rules or the meaning of the card text, the cons are cards... like anything else of value in this world, costs money, and you can always redeem them for "real" cards if you want.

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