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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 1:29PM
#1
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This thread is for discussion of this week's The Week That Was, which goes live Friday morning on magicthegathering.com.
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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 9:58PM
#2
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Just when I thought you have found the most expensive place to travel in the world that is honolulu, you go one higher with this puerto rico.
Please in the future, search by what would be cheaper, not the other way.
Hannes Kerem
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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 10:04PM
#3
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Short Version: China is the obvious next choice. Beijing, HongKong or Shanghai would do nicely.
Long Version: (wall of text) Other than releasing P:3K, WotC has largely ignored the largest and fasted growing market in the world. Yes...China.
To add insult to injury, WotC choses instead to deal mostly with Taiwan...which is kind of insulting to the mainland. Sure, we are jealous, I can admit that. But with good reason.
Magic is seeing some growth here. I can tell just by going to any gaming store and seeing it teeming with people any night of the week. Not just for magic...but dozens of other games are also taking off (WoW TCG, Settlers of Catan, Peurto Rico, etc).
We've been largely overlooked when it comes to promos...everybody else gets one in their language but we don't.
And meanwhile there are always groups us travelling to Bangkok, Singapore, Tokyo and Taipei so we can compete at an international level.
Even eternal formats are picking up here...proof being that the store owner that specializes in older stuff bought over 180 fetchlands the last time he went to Singapore for the GP. And seen no less than 3 chinese teenages in the last month that have made complete cubes packed with foil money rares. Yet, we don't even have a sanctioned Type one tourny yet in China.
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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 10:52PM
#4
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No personal offense, but I can imagine that the logistics for putting a Pro Tour in mainland China would be a HUGE pain, given your government's need to intervene and censor so many other western products. I wouldn't expect a PT in China unless they would take a hands-off approach, which I doubt.
The schedule looks amazing, and it seems to get better and better every year. My girl is extremely stoked about San Juan, and San Diego sounds really nice too. Dunno about the Japan site, but we'll see.
Great job.
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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 11:17PM
#5
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Hmm. An "ideal" Pro Tour schedule, or just one I'd find interesting? Well, here goes...
Spring: Santiago, Chile
Why? South America hasn't hosted a Pro Tour that I could find, yet it is of considerable importance to Magic. Recognize it!
Alternatives: Brasilia, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay
Summer: Dublin, Ireland
Why? A European stop the Pro Tour hasn't made, in a country that's sure to be popular with the main Pro Tour demographic.
Alternatives: Copenhagen, Denmark; Monaco
Fall: Sapporo, Japan.
Why? The Japan connection and a bit of a candy destination.
Alternatives: Hong Kong; Macau
Winter (Worlds): Miami, USA
Why? Patrick Chapin + one night in South Beach + a video camera.
Alternatives: Las Vegas, USA; Mykonos, Greece; Capri, Italy
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6 months ago ::
Aug 13, 2009 - 11:43PM
#6
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a neuromancer reference! sweet...
I would love a stop in ireland.. give me an excuse to go home.. also wouldn't mind a stop in or near russia ... or greece
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6 months ago ::
Aug 14, 2009 - 3:01AM
#7
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No personal offense, but I can imagine that the logistics for putting a Pro Tour in mainland China would be a HUGE pain, given your government's need to intervene and censor so many other western products.
I bet they would insist on banning every card with "unacceptable" art (skeletons etc). 
Also, I'd rather not have PT in a country where human rights are so blatantly violated. I'd imagine most people feel the same way.
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6 months ago ::
Aug 14, 2009 - 5:33AM
#8
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So, I'm a noob to the Pro circuit. Could anyone explain to me how this goes down from a qualified player's perspective? Say, you won your local PTQ or (less likely) you get invited by ranking. What do Wizards provide and what things do you need to take care on your own. I'm talking about things like plane tickets, accommodation, visas, etc.?
 Join the Polish MTG Community @ MTG Poland
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6 months ago ::
Aug 14, 2009 - 5:49AM
#9
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I agree with guyinthetie in that South America deserves its Pro Tour, but disagree on the locations.
I think the best choice will be Buenos Aires (the capitol of Argentina) which is a great place: Excellent beef, great cultural life, a cosmopolitan city, great clubs and night life, it is a cheap city (especially for foreigners), it is the place to learn to dance "tango" and it has a great local magic community which surely will strongly support the Pro Tour (as it did with the Grand Prix in 2008, a success even greater thatn the previous expectations) . Besides even when it is legitimately in Latin America, it has a "european feeling" which greatly attracts the tourists
Another choice could be Rio de Janeiro son Bahia de San Salvador (both places in Brazil) which are much better places than the capitol of Brazil
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6 months ago ::
Aug 14, 2009 - 8:15AM
#10
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Also, I'd rather not have PT in a country where human rights are so blatantly violated. I'd imagine most people feel the same way.
Agreed, and definitely no more events in countries with bigoted political regimes. It's absurd that a Pro Tour (Kuala Lumpur) had to be skipped by the then-reigning World Champion (Uri Peleg) on account of politics (Malaysia would have arrested Mr. Peleg on entry upon seeing his Israeli passport). It was very satisfying to see Kuala Lumpur won by a player of Jewish descent (Finkel).
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