Hi
I've been an off and on again MtG player for over a decade now. It's been almost fifteen years when I first played the game. My most recent active period was about a year ago, post M13. I love playing the game, however, my biggest flaw has always been that it was a pure physical experience.
I knew about MTGO, but I never invested in it..because I had so much invested in the physical card game itself. I looked at the card game as a means to get out of the house, because I have so few hobbies that require me to leave due to my current 'life' situation. However, after losing so many games because I got nervous or anxious or had trouble communicating with the player, I've left the world of CCGs behind.
That is, until I found out about the growing online TCG and CCG world, and what it offers.
What I mean for this post to produce, is a conversation based around my perception and experience, and more importantly your thoughts on these games. I'm trying to decide which one (or two depending on costs) to invest in.
Hex TCG
This was last of the four I found, but one that for some reason looks the most appealing - aesthetically. Its gameplay is a mash up of TCG and MMO - yes, that's right! You can take your PvE decks, join guilds, battle dungeons and creatures, get loot and skill up your cards and characters with equipment and gems! I *really* wish I had known about this months ago.
The user interface looks amazing and it's only just ready to go into Alpha development. Originally a mega success on kickstarter, the game seems to have already developed a huge following on many popular forums, including having more subscribers on its subreddit than MTGO or SolForge. As I understand it, it will be available on tablets with iSO, possibly non-Apple as well, and of course on the PC.
However, as amazing as it looks right now, it's still in Alpha and there's really little to go on as to how popular or successful it will be. I'm not one to pick up a game just because its popular, but it doesn't hurt if the game is good and has a nice population of players to boot. $50.00 USD is a lot to invest at this point, just to try the game. However, according to Cryptozoic Entertainment (lovely name!) - designers of the famous World of Warcraft TCG - there'll be a lot of amazing features coming to the game including persistent tournament support and the overall pricing schema seems to be much, much cheaper than what MTGO offers right now.
SolForge
I stumbled across this game on steam and overall I'm fairly impressed. An online CCG which features a mana-less resource system. Not only that, but the median game play is fast. While maybe not capable of producing 'turn 0' wins at the moment, the average game pace and length is made much quicker due to the power creep (leveling) of your creatures.
Although this game has a significant level of depth, I can't honestly say that it's on par with MtG. As I understand it, the steam is an early access beta open to the public.
Its interface is also a bit..clumsy, but still, overall, more advanced than MTGO.
There is one feature I really enjoy about the game right now in its current iteration ...a business model (or part of it) which I think is amazing and makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something on a daily basis. It's not much, but right now, just for logging in each day you're presented with 900 silver (gold and silver coins appear to be currency to purchase new booster packs) and a basic pack. The basic pack comes with three cards with all of their levels and one of them is guaranteed to be rare or higher, although you can get more (I just opened a basic pack with a legendary and rare).
Additionally, once you've won three games - against the computer or other players - you get another reward of 2000 silver and a random rare or better.
In the store, you can only buy basic packs and 'mat' skins with silver right now. I'm not sure if this will change.
This game is actually very casual friendly and something that would require very little to invest in, if anything at all, over time. As such, I won't be considering this as a title to 'invest' in, unless someone tells me that it does have a significant buy-in aspect.
Hearthstone
I know very little about it, but I'll share what I do.
Blizzard Entertainment has attempted to jump into the online TCG/CCG sphere with Hearthstone. I was originally confused as to why they would do this..but it's become clear that anyone in the card gaming sphere is looking to Wizards of the Coast for cues. Magic has a physical adaptation and a digital one: "Why not wage economic warfare in both physical and digitial spheres?" It's something that's been successful for Magic, although I've never seen the turn over, ROR or ROI from the World of Warcraft TCG. And, that's not to say Hearthstone is the same as it's brother.
It seems that like SolForge and unlike Hex and MTGO, you'll not be able to trade cards with other players. This is a feature that may change, since this game is still in beta, but it's something to consider. To make up for this, players have the opportunity to 'craft' cards (and perhaps other goodies) from disenchanted bulk in their collection. Ever wanted to turn 100 of your junk commons into a Tarmogoyf or Black Lotus? Well, it seems that crafting cards you want appears to be an option for completing your collection.
As far as game mechanics and deck building goes, I don't know a lot, but I've come across a lot of negative reviews. Most of which are probably from disgruntled customers who were unhappy with D3 or MoP. Still, the game looks very polished.
I encourage anyone who knows anything about the game to come in and talk about it.
MTGO
The great progenitor needs little introduction, save my own experience with it - which is almost nil.
I think maybe once back in '02 or '03 I signed up to try it. At that point, I was a very poor student who had little saved up and my allowance was never sufficient to invest in the game like I should have. There are some amazing features about MTGO including a constant casual and tournament play arena, with people playing almost 24/7. The game itself is of course based on Magic the Gathering - certainly one of the best TCGs created and a player base in the millions.
There are of course some problems. First, the interface in MTGO is *INCREDIBLY* outdated for such a hugely successful game. Sure, it becomes fairly easy to navigate after getting used to it, but it's not very intuitive. Given the new precedents with upcoming online TCGs, the online client looks like something from a decade ago.
There's a new 'wide beta' which improves the UI and appearance, but honestly - still can't pull it to the same quality as some games which are still in alpha. The XBOX 'precon' versions look immensely better than the regular MTGO client...for whatever reason.
The second major issue with this is cost. The game itself is like no other, but it's going to cost a pretty penny too. From what I've been able to gather in the last twenty-four hours, most competitive tournament decks are between 100-150 event tickets, which correlates evenly to $100.00-$150.00 USD.
But the game and tournament features with a booming (yes, booming) population keep me interested in this game and I'd love to know more about your perspective and opinion to get the most out of MTGO.
TL;DR
I want to know your thoughts and opinions about these four games. I'm trying to decide if I should heavily invest in MTGO or HEX TCG, possibly even Hearthstone or SolForge. However, it seems the later seem very casual and I'm not sure if they support a highly competitive business and tournament model (or will).
Additionally, I consider myself a universal 'Casualcore' player in terms of time investment and money. When I was playing MtG competitively, I would comfortably inject $200-$300 a month into the game..and I think that I'd be willing to do the same with either MTGO or Hex, if I knew more.
I've been an off and on again MtG player for over a decade now. It's been almost fifteen years when I first played the game. My most recent active period was about a year ago, post M13. I love playing the game, however, my biggest flaw has always been that it was a pure physical experience.
I knew about MTGO, but I never invested in it..because I had so much invested in the physical card game itself. I looked at the card game as a means to get out of the house, because I have so few hobbies that require me to leave due to my current 'life' situation. However, after losing so many games because I got nervous or anxious or had trouble communicating with the player, I've left the world of CCGs behind.
That is, until I found out about the growing online TCG and CCG world, and what it offers.
What I mean for this post to produce, is a conversation based around my perception and experience, and more importantly your thoughts on these games. I'm trying to decide which one (or two depending on costs) to invest in.
Hex TCG
This was last of the four I found, but one that for some reason looks the most appealing - aesthetically. Its gameplay is a mash up of TCG and MMO - yes, that's right! You can take your PvE decks, join guilds, battle dungeons and creatures, get loot and skill up your cards and characters with equipment and gems! I *really* wish I had known about this months ago.
The user interface looks amazing and it's only just ready to go into Alpha development. Originally a mega success on kickstarter, the game seems to have already developed a huge following on many popular forums, including having more subscribers on its subreddit than MTGO or SolForge. As I understand it, it will be available on tablets with iSO, possibly non-Apple as well, and of course on the PC.
However, as amazing as it looks right now, it's still in Alpha and there's really little to go on as to how popular or successful it will be. I'm not one to pick up a game just because its popular, but it doesn't hurt if the game is good and has a nice population of players to boot. $50.00 USD is a lot to invest at this point, just to try the game. However, according to Cryptozoic Entertainment (lovely name!) - designers of the famous World of Warcraft TCG - there'll be a lot of amazing features coming to the game including persistent tournament support and the overall pricing schema seems to be much, much cheaper than what MTGO offers right now.
SolForge
I stumbled across this game on steam and overall I'm fairly impressed. An online CCG which features a mana-less resource system. Not only that, but the median game play is fast. While maybe not capable of producing 'turn 0' wins at the moment, the average game pace and length is made much quicker due to the power creep (leveling) of your creatures.
Although this game has a significant level of depth, I can't honestly say that it's on par with MtG. As I understand it, the steam is an early access beta open to the public.
Its interface is also a bit..clumsy, but still, overall, more advanced than MTGO.
There is one feature I really enjoy about the game right now in its current iteration ...a business model (or part of it) which I think is amazing and makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something on a daily basis. It's not much, but right now, just for logging in each day you're presented with 900 silver (gold and silver coins appear to be currency to purchase new booster packs) and a basic pack. The basic pack comes with three cards with all of their levels and one of them is guaranteed to be rare or higher, although you can get more (I just opened a basic pack with a legendary and rare).
Additionally, once you've won three games - against the computer or other players - you get another reward of 2000 silver and a random rare or better.
In the store, you can only buy basic packs and 'mat' skins with silver right now. I'm not sure if this will change.
This game is actually very casual friendly and something that would require very little to invest in, if anything at all, over time. As such, I won't be considering this as a title to 'invest' in, unless someone tells me that it does have a significant buy-in aspect.
Hearthstone
I know very little about it, but I'll share what I do.
Blizzard Entertainment has attempted to jump into the online TCG/CCG sphere with Hearthstone. I was originally confused as to why they would do this..but it's become clear that anyone in the card gaming sphere is looking to Wizards of the Coast for cues. Magic has a physical adaptation and a digital one: "Why not wage economic warfare in both physical and digitial spheres?" It's something that's been successful for Magic, although I've never seen the turn over, ROR or ROI from the World of Warcraft TCG. And, that's not to say Hearthstone is the same as it's brother.
It seems that like SolForge and unlike Hex and MTGO, you'll not be able to trade cards with other players. This is a feature that may change, since this game is still in beta, but it's something to consider. To make up for this, players have the opportunity to 'craft' cards (and perhaps other goodies) from disenchanted bulk in their collection. Ever wanted to turn 100 of your junk commons into a Tarmogoyf or Black Lotus? Well, it seems that crafting cards you want appears to be an option for completing your collection.
As far as game mechanics and deck building goes, I don't know a lot, but I've come across a lot of negative reviews. Most of which are probably from disgruntled customers who were unhappy with D3 or MoP. Still, the game looks very polished.
I encourage anyone who knows anything about the game to come in and talk about it.
MTGO
The great progenitor needs little introduction, save my own experience with it - which is almost nil.
I think maybe once back in '02 or '03 I signed up to try it. At that point, I was a very poor student who had little saved up and my allowance was never sufficient to invest in the game like I should have. There are some amazing features about MTGO including a constant casual and tournament play arena, with people playing almost 24/7. The game itself is of course based on Magic the Gathering - certainly one of the best TCGs created and a player base in the millions.
There are of course some problems. First, the interface in MTGO is *INCREDIBLY* outdated for such a hugely successful game. Sure, it becomes fairly easy to navigate after getting used to it, but it's not very intuitive. Given the new precedents with upcoming online TCGs, the online client looks like something from a decade ago.
There's a new 'wide beta' which improves the UI and appearance, but honestly - still can't pull it to the same quality as some games which are still in alpha. The XBOX 'precon' versions look immensely better than the regular MTGO client...for whatever reason.
The second major issue with this is cost. The game itself is like no other, but it's going to cost a pretty penny too. From what I've been able to gather in the last twenty-four hours, most competitive tournament decks are between 100-150 event tickets, which correlates evenly to $100.00-$150.00 USD.
But the game and tournament features with a booming (yes, booming) population keep me interested in this game and I'd love to know more about your perspective and opinion to get the most out of MTGO.
TL;DR
I want to know your thoughts and opinions about these four games. I'm trying to decide if I should heavily invest in MTGO or HEX TCG, possibly even Hearthstone or SolForge. However, it seems the later seem very casual and I'm not sure if they support a highly competitive business and tournament model (or will).
Additionally, I consider myself a universal 'Casualcore' player in terms of time investment and money. When I was playing MtG competitively, I would comfortably inject $200-$300 a month into the game..and I think that I'd be willing to do the same with either MTGO or Hex, if I knew more.