Wizards of the Coast has decided to revamp our Organized Play offerings in 2008 in order to make Magic available to the most players possible. We are redesigning the States/Champs programs for both the Two-Headed Giant and Standard formats. As such we will not be running the 2HG States/Champs event normally run in March or the Standard event that takes place in the fall. The 2HG events previously scheduled for the UK will still take place. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to having a new invigorated program for you later this year.
We are excited about the changes in our programs this year, and hope that you will check out www.magicthegathering.com for news about the new programs and outlets through 2008 and beyond.
First it was the changes to the pro tour..... But now this?!?
Wow. This seems just completely unreal to me. States/Champs is the one consistent event that you can always count on, and that sets the Standard format. It maintains a level of fun and competitiveness. Standard States/Champs let you build up decks in a brand new format to try and become the next big thing. Without it...... Well, what can I say, I'm very disappointed.
At this rate, considering we haven't seen a schedule yet, I wonder if there will even BE a real regionals.....
I really disagree with Wizards decision here. While I have always criticized states for not leading into anything and being too stand alone of an event, the "solution" of cutting states was not exactly what I meant. Hopefully we get some reasoning.
This could be the ripple effect of them scrampling to change the entire system over now cause of the negative wave from the PT. Now the lower level people DID lose something.
Perhaps they will unveil a redesigned champs that actually means something beyond just being state champ; perhaps standard champs will be rescheduled to before regionals as another way to Q for nationals? Champs has always been a consistantly popular event - would they really just "disappear" it and not have anything lined up as a replacement? These huge changes made without any real explanations are certainly beginning to worry me...
This is such a bummer to me. I really hope its replacement is worth while, as I loved these tournaments. It really makes me want to sell off all of my cards before the bottom falls out of the Magic industry.
Scary enough I am highly disappointed as I wanted to get my little bro involved on these in my place to enjoy what i did and now its getting harder and harder to give him these little joys.
Wow, this makes me really mad actually, it makes me want to quite magic honestly, unless they make something greater and better. This highly disappoints me.
I cannot believe they would wipe out such a ridiculously successful (and relatively cheap) program like States this easily. I wager $100 forum-dollars that we find out about the replacement by the end of the month.
They say they are Excited about the changes, and while that may be company drivel, I HIGHLY doubt that they are simply insane.
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Modern: Dominium Eminens
Legacy: UB Tezz (Check out My Primer at TheSource)
Vinitage: Oath
Wizards PR probaly needs to be fired. Instead of just releasing bad news to the players and backpedaling later with the good news, they need to release both at once.
I'll miss being able to attend States...although the 2HG could have been a month or two later so I would stop getting caught in snowstorms during my 5 hour drive to/from the event.
But something is happening that is worrying me. I've heard a rumor that "Doughnut" will not be released until October and "Rock" block waiting till February of 2009. That's 5 months between Shadowmoor and "Doughnut" without a set. I was just wondering if anyone else has heard this and if there is any verifiable news about this.
I now have an inkling that something good may come out of this after all. They're probably completely overhauling the Magic scene. At least I hope.
Perhaps. If so, though, they need to tell us soon before they piss off enough players to permanently damage the fanbase. This might be the chance that the WoW CCG needs to take over as the gold standard of CCG's...
Perhaps. If so, though, they need to tell us soon before they piss off enough players to permanently damage the fanbase. This might be the chance that the WoW CCG needs to take over as the gold standard of CCG's...
I can for sure say that won't happen as its fanbase isn't that huge. the only fanbase it has is its tournament followers. Any casual players would rather just play Wow online.
I agree. Changing the present structure of which events exist isn't inherently bad (nor is it inherently good, it all depends on the changes) but taking things away without any indication of what's going to replace them, if anything, is a problem. Leaving it so ambiguous is continually frustrating. It's almost like they don't have a plan, so it's just filled with "information will be come later this year", and that they hope they'll have it figured out by then.
Quoting Seattle player Brian Wong:
Quote from Brian Wong »
Apparently they have a different definition of revamp than I do. If your employer told you, "We're revamping our 401k system, you don't have a 401k anymore," that would probably not be cool. At least give us a hint of what changes you have in store.
Sadly as much as we want to blame WOTC, I feel this is yet another move from Hasbro to restructure. At first I was hoping it would only affect their production factories (The one here in East Longmeadow,MA lost 300 jobs.) I'm afraid this won't be the last strong arming and restructuring we will see, In fact I am calling it now, Don't be surprised to see job cuts as high as the development crew within the next few months.
Okay, looks like the Feb 7th Question of the day on the magic site answers my earlier question about "Doughnut's" release date...should be before Nationals on June 25th. Nevermind my earlier question then.
Perhaps they will unveil a redesigned champs that actually means something beyond just being state champ; perhaps standard champs will be rescheduled to before regionals as another way to Q for nationals? Champs has always been a consistantly popular event - would they really just "disappear" it and not have anything lined up as a replacement? These huge changes made without any real explanations are certainly beginning to worry me...
Possibly City Champs lead to State Champs lead to Regionals lead to Nationals leads to Worlds. They might try to find a way to align them in that way.
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The only good thing about this post is the edible chocolate roaches they gave out! Mmm mmm!
*crawl crawl*
Wait a minute, edible roaches don't crawl! EDIBLE ROACHES DON'T CRAWL!
This is taking it to far. I'm keeping an open mind and my faith in WOTC to make this better, but the way they delivered it was completely wrong. If they want to make job cuts, they should start with their PR.
Err, Great Britain, France, and Ireland (all of those being places in Europe) had Regionals as recently as last year. In addition, I know that at least Britain has Champs. (Which were not canceled unlike the North American ones.)
Yes, perhaps we're spoiled in North America. But that doesn't mean that cutting events should be looked at from the perspective of leveling differences between North America and Europe. If you look at it from the perspective of "it could be worse", yes it could, but Standard champs has been a popular event and there's a big difference between taking something away from a place that has had it for years and just not having it in another country. While I'm not trying to belittle European player by insinuating that I don't care, I most certainly do care, I don't really agree with the perspective that taking something away is good just because it makes it more even.
It's not just something that effects Europe. Unless I'm mistaken it seems like it affects at least Japan as well. And considering that there are six European Grand Prixs as opposed to a single asian one (two when you count the semi-guaranteed second Japanese GP) it's hard to argue that Europeans have it hard off or that this complaiinig about this is just whiny Americans.
this is terribly stupid.... states/champs was one of the only things a standard player could look forward to.... if they drop regionals i'll probably quit playing altogether.... hopefully we hear about a replacement soon.....
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You'll see me Playing: Standard UW Delver RB zombies
EDH
RB Olivia tribal
Modern UWR delver aggro
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First it was the changes to the pro tour..... But now this?!?
Wow. This seems just completely unreal to me. States/Champs is the one consistent event that you can always count on, and that sets the Standard format. It maintains a level of fun and competitiveness. Standard States/Champs let you build up decks in a brand new format to try and become the next big thing. Without it...... Well, what can I say, I'm very disappointed.
At this rate, considering we haven't seen a schedule yet, I wonder if there will even BE a real regionals.....
I really disagree with Wizards decision here. While I have always criticized states for not leading into anything and being too stand alone of an event, the "solution" of cutting states was not exactly what I meant. Hopefully we get some reasoning.
Thanks to R&Doom at Ye Olde Sig and Avatar Shoppe for resizing a painting by Stanley Donwood
LISTEN TO MAH SONGZ!
@BillyTheFridge
They say they are Excited about the changes, and while that may be company drivel, I HIGHLY doubt that they are simply insane.
Modern: Dominium Eminens
Legacy: UB Tezz (Check out My Primer at TheSource)
Vinitage: Oath
I used to judge alot.
I'll miss being able to attend States...although the 2HG could have been a month or two later so I would stop getting caught in snowstorms during my 5 hour drive to/from the event.
But something is happening that is worrying me. I've heard a rumor that "Doughnut" will not be released until October and "Rock" block waiting till February of 2009. That's 5 months between Shadowmoor and "Doughnut" without a set. I was just wondering if anyone else has heard this and if there is any verifiable news about this.
I now have an inkling that something good may come out of this after all. They're probably completely overhauling the Magic scene. At least I hope.
and if thats the case it for sure needed one:)
Perhaps. If so, though, they need to tell us soon before they piss off enough players to permanently damage the fanbase. This might be the chance that the WoW CCG needs to take over as the gold standard of CCG's...
Thanks to R&Doom at Ye Olde Sig and Avatar Shoppe for resizing a painting by Stanley Donwood
I can for sure say that won't happen as its fanbase isn't that huge. the only fanbase it has is its tournament followers. Any casual players would rather just play Wow online.
Quoting Seattle player Brian Wong:
Come join us in the MTGSalvation chat ||| My trade thread. ||| My Personal Modern Blog: The Fetchlands
-Zeke
Possibly City Champs lead to State Champs lead to Regionals lead to Nationals leads to Worlds. They might try to find a way to align them in that way.
*crawl crawl*
Wait a minute, edible roaches don't crawl! EDIBLE ROACHES DON'T CRAWL!
Extendo
Read my Blog!
Yes, perhaps we're spoiled in North America. But that doesn't mean that cutting events should be looked at from the perspective of leveling differences between North America and Europe. If you look at it from the perspective of "it could be worse", yes it could, but Standard champs has been a popular event and there's a big difference between taking something away from a place that has had it for years and just not having it in another country. While I'm not trying to belittle European player by insinuating that I don't care, I most certainly do care, I don't really agree with the perspective that taking something away is good just because it makes it more even.
Standard
UW Delver
RB zombies
Modern
UWR delver aggro