Hi everyone, it’s been a while since my last blog but we’ve been working hard on a myriad of issues, hopefully I can touch on most or all of the ones that concern folks here tonight. I should say first, regarding the decreased frequency of blog posting lately, that we plan to post blogs only when new information presents itself in a way (for example, a bunch at once) that would be beneficial to do so. Otherwise, we will post the most relevant and important things in the announcements folder with links from the home scene in the client, when needed.
That said, I promised the most current news on various topics, and without further ado, here they are:
Redemption: After much discussion internally (and externally, thank you all for the excellent threads on this topic), Gordon and I have decided to commit to having redemption available *IN SOME FORM* by a late October/Shards of Alara timeframe. Note that this will likely not include Shards of Alara itself, at least at first, but we recognize the need for this function to exist, and now pretty much everyone on the business side is aligned in that belief and we’re committed to making “something” happen. We are still (as we speak) trying to figure out the most logistically economical way to implement this, the old system just won’t be ready in time we don’t think, and we realize this is a priority. So after development does a little more due diligence and can tell me exactly what is and isn’t possible from a digital object management and system performance standpoint, we will figure out a solution so that redemption in some form will come back in a few months. Costs shouldn’t change much if at all as far as shipping goes, but I can’t guarantee the proverbial floodgates will be open either, in that someone wanting to redeem 800 sets at once will be able to do that. I’m not saying yet that they won’t, but it’s possible that until “proper” redemption comes back online (and it will come back in something very close to its old form at some point not too far from now) we may have to limit the amount of sets that one person can redeem to some much smaller number than 800. In short, you will definitely be able to redeem sets in some form or another before the end of the year. What we’re doing with extending dates for redemption on sets whose dates either have passed or will pass shortly is still up in the air, but there is no way when redemption comes back up that I just say to all the people waiting on Fifth Dawn and Champions of Kamigawa, “tough luck!” We will take care of those folks. In the interest of full disclosure, I’m also revisiting how long we leave sets available for redemption after they’ve gone off sale, as of right now I am of the opinion that four years is too long, by at least one year and possibly closer to two. Given the date we have on the amount of actual redemptions that occur once a product rotates out of standard, it’s a pretty compelling argument to revisit this plan. Again, no specific changes on anything yet. Just something I’m thinking about.
eBay and the de-listing (or re-listing as classifieds) of MOL stuff: I wish I had more news here. Things are still up in the air on our end, we are gathering information internally in preparation for a discussion with eBay, both from current team members and from the folks who experienced this when it happened a couple years back in a related (but not precisely the same, I’ve come to find out) way. Thanks to all of the community members who have PM’ed or emailed on this topic, your information and recollections have been helpful in trying to dig up research. We will continue to work on this, meetings are ongoing while I’m out on vacation the next 10 days or so, and I expect to have a bit more movement when I return. When something changes, or we get more info, I will of course let you know.
From the Vault – Dragons: This 15 card set with a special Rith, the Awakener dragon avatar will be made available on September 17th and we will have a quantity of 5000 available for purchase. Limits are being discussed as we speak, but will likely be one per account per day, or 3 per week. We are also strongly considering a very short sales run with this product, but we have not confirmed an off-sale time yet. Rest assured, this product will be *very* limited.
ME2: Masters edition 2 previews have started! Every weekday on www.magicthegathering.com for the rest of this week and 3 more, there will be a new card with a small trivia blurb to accompany it. We’ve also doled out a handful of preview cards to our well-run fan sites, www.classicquarter.com and www.puremtgo.com as a thank you for supporting the community, Masters Edition 2 is on schedule, we’re actually a little ahead of where we want to be with progress internally so we should be just fine in making our September 22nd launch date, with release events beginning as they always do post-release on the Friday following, September 26th.
Our new UI person and changes upcoming in that regard: Adriana Moscatelli is our new UI gal, she’s been working with us for a couple months now, and has been hard at work both identifying and supervising the fixing of various pieces of the client that we all know are less than optimal. Our community staff will get together with Adriana to introduce her to you all and she will write up a blog in the coming weeks to let you all know some of her design thoughts, changes upcoming, etc etc. I won’t say much more now as I don’t want to scoop her too much, but I’m excited by the changes coming, I’m sure you will be too.
Worlds QT’s: We are planning to run these very popular events again this year, likely starting in early October sometime. Exact formats to be worked out still, but we are considering all the formats on this list:
Standard Extended Classic LRW-SHM Block Constructed
SHM-EVE Sealed Deck 10E Sealed Deck
These tournaments would end some time in late October with the traditional championship, qualifying the winner for the tournament and sending they and a guest (airfare and hotel) to Memphis, Tennessee for a shot at the best paper Magic players on the planet and a shot at $45,000 US.
Other stuff: We’ve got some pretty exciting things planned for later this year and the Shards of Alara release (which I have to say, is my favorite Magic set since Ravnica, and maybe of all time) and exploring more of what we can do with store bundling, offering products online that don’t have direct paper counterparts, some kind of player rewards programs, more/better/frequent usage of promos, and lots more. I don’t want to spill too much on this stuff yet as we’re still looking at different ways to do things, but there are some really exciting things coming late this year and early next.
One last thing, today we had some restructuring within the company to better align our resources to meet our goals, one of which is maximizing the potential behind Magic Online. To that end, we’ve shifted some people around and changed responsibilities and reporting structures of others. I can’t yet talk too much about the new changes, possibly when I get back, or maybe I can bug Gordon to explain more while I’m out on vacation, but Gordon, I, and a few others will be directly responsible for making Magic Online into the product we all know it can be, and have greatly increased resources backing us to help reach that objective. It takes a while to turn such a big ship around, but I think we’re finally sailing in the right direction with these new changes.
Thanks again for everything, the community is a big part of what makes Magic (and Magic Online) so great.
Worth Wollpert Sr. Business Manager – Magic Online Wizards of the Coast
Most of this sounds like good news. But is anyone else worried about only 5000 FtV: Dragons being available? I see this selling out within a few hours and tons of people who want it not being able to get one.
Yeah, I thought about that also, but he said there would be limits per account. But still you better get it early. At least membership is down right now. :D
All around great post. World QT's are back which is freakin great news! About darn time. I'm really glad to hear about all the restructuring going on and that MTGO finally has some sort of chain of command instead of a FFA like before.
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Well, I'm glad that the "special item" has been announced = Avatar, which I will be getting cause god knows I've been waiting forever for a dragon avatar to show up, but I still think we're getting a little bit jipped in comparison to real life cards, having a special die, shinier cards, etc...
But back on topic. I'm more interested in the extra resources that Worth is talking about. I've heard the same type of thing months back, but really haven't seen as much progress as I was expecting. If Gordon or Worth can elaborate on what these new resources are, that would help us understand if we should get our hopes up for ANY progress.
Also, Can we get a forum going with this UI developer gal in addition to a blog?? I mean, we've all been playing MTGO long enough now we know what we need, what we want, and what would make us smile and shut us up basically. Only she knows what is actually feasible (resource wise). So a open forum where SHE can ask US questions as to what we want, need, etc, I think would be a HUGE benefit to community relations let alone the progress towards what we want out of a UI.
/me slips back into the shadows of the mtgo boards....
I know i have been known as pessimistic but guys come on, do not fall in this one. There is nothing here. Just promises.. I would give the credit on redemption but i still do not believe it will come (at least in a usable way) in october.
What about Replays, Leagues, Constructed Initiatives. Nothing on those. Dragon avatar? what is avatar for anyway?
Redemption - mostly good news here. The limits sound a little troubling, and probably simply a wasteful efforts. As pointed out many, many times by other people, the shipping and handling charges are completely unfair and should be changed.
Dragons - very cool that this will be limited sales. 5k is a very big number, and I don't think it will prevent anyone from getting one if they want it.
Well, I'm glad that the "special item" has been announced = Avatar, which I will be getting cause god knows I've been waiting forever for a dragon avatar to show up, but I still think we're getting a little bit jipped in comparison to real life cards, having a special die, shinier cards, etc...
Perhaps not as good as IRL (to some people), BUT I'm very happy about the Rith Avatar. Why? you may ask. I believe that there was a standing policy that Avatars had to be somewhat humanoid and Dragons didn't cut it. Thus, this sets a precedent (so we can has more dragon avatarz!!!, pleaz!!).
Today at work.....I was to be inserviced over a webcast by an expensive trainer....
My computer would not connect to the right ports....and I did not have the rights to set those ports.
The demo I needed was not downloaded....and I did not have the rights to download it.
The computer did not connect to any needed printer....and I didn't have the rights to install the correct printer..
So after two IT persons spent the hours needed to do what needed done (and I could have done in 10 minutes if given the correct permissions)...I got 1.5 hours of training for the entire day along with three meetings of why it didn't work. My suggestion in the meetings was that the top IT people need fired.
I am used to working with people who do not know what their job IS let alone do it correctly......
Someone at MTGO....FIX IT!!!!! I want chat...I want leagues...I want something more than dragons and the promise of redemption some day....I want a successful MTGO instead of a slowly fading away one.
While hearing something from Worth is "encouraging"...I want to hear deadlines and real improvements....not more little things like dragon avatars which will make the corporation money, but will not improve MTGO at all. FIX SOMETHING BIG>>>>>>ANYTHING......something....please.....pretty please......pretty please with sugar on top.
