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Introduction
Calgary’s Magic: The Gathering Community

Lowenthal (1999) comments on the stewardship of heritage and implies that everything not only decays and changes, but everything that we think of as mattering in our heritage is going to lose its importance to the next generation or will shift its importance. With regards to the Magic: The Gathering community in Calgary the decay has been the lack of traditional physical community involvement at local shops within Calgary with the shift of the new generation towards Magic: The Gathering Online. Magic: The Gathering Online is “the online version of the world’s premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, where you can play against anyone, anywhere, any time” (Wizards of the Coast, 2009a, p. 1). Magic: The Gathering Online allows for users to trade and collect digital cards, construct new decks using deck editing tools, allows for play with friends, thousands of online opponents, access any time, as well it allows for users to participate in frequent tournaments featuring prizes with a chance to make new friends (Wizards of the Coast, 2009a). The aim of the project was to highlight the tangible benefits of Magic: The Gathering within the existing Calgary community in the use of traditional game play, tournaments, and events. As well, to illustrate solutions that works cohesively to inform the emerging online community of events in Calgary which they could participate in.

The Magic: The Gathering community utilizes creativity and it is what drives the game forward to connect the community and form heritage. The infinite possibilities in game dynamics empower the individual within the Magic: The Gathering community and Lowenthal (1999) suggests that continual creation should be inherit in the continual stewardship of heritage. First off, In Magic: The Gathering a player plays the role of a powerful wizard called a planes walker. The deck represents the planes walkers’ arsenal to battle their opponent (Wizards of the Coast, 2009b, p.1). A deck is built with cards consisting of land, creatures and various spells. Those cards must be strategically picked to optimize a win condition. The game dynamics constantly change as new expansions are added and phased out throughout the year. To regulate the game the Wizards of The Coast (WOTC), the creators of Magic: The Gathering, have also created a comprehensive rule book that is under consistent revision as new expansions are introduced (WOTC, 2009b, p.1). The rule book can be viewed as equalizer as cards new creative cards are introduced there may be unexpected of corrosive attributes which affect overall fundamentals of the community and new rules may need to be adopted to sustain the vitality of fairness.

What is DCI? The DCI, formerly Duelists' Convocation International, is the official sanctioning body for competitive play in Magic: The Gathering(WOTC, 2009c, p.1). The DCI provides game rules, tournament operating procedures, and other materials to private tournament organizers and players (WOTC, 2009c, p.1). The DCI also operates a judge certification program to provide consistent rules enforcement and promote fair play (WOTC, 2009c, p.1). Magic: The Gathering has a unique appeal to gambling and players often hold there own private games with varying stakes. Magic: The Gathering since the inception has revolved around ante system which is putting stakes, mainly cards, as a prize for the victory of the match (WOTC, 2009c). The DCI does not allow for ante to take place in regulation tournaments (WOTC, 2009c).

Another aspect of Magic: The Gathering is the multitude of applications other than collecting. Additionally, to further explore the area of engagement and where the focus of my project has been allocated are the varying types of tournaments, events, and gatherings that highlight not only game skill but the comradery of the community. At the local level game shops fulfill a setting for a variety of recreational formats to take place allowing people who appreciate the game to connect.

Magic: The Gathering's has a variety of leagues and tournaments. Friday Night Magic (FNM) allows players to engage in tournament-level Magic, learn new strategies and win a variety of exclusive prize cards (WOTC, 2009d, p.1). FNM is the place to begin building DCI points and become a rated player (WOTC, 2009d, p.1). Located in Calgary, The Sentry Box holds FNM events which are Official DCI sanctioned Booster Draft tournaments every Friday night as well as casual play for those just looking for opponents (The Sentry Box, 2009). Also located in Calgary, Phoenix Comics runs Official DCI sanctioned FNM every Friday night and all the entry money is given out to the top finishers as Phoenix Comics Gift Certificates and promotional prizes will be given away at the event (Phoenix Comics, 2009).

Magic: The Gathering shops also have events called Pre-releases and during a Pre-release event players can play with new cards before they can buy them as well receive special commemorative foil cards (WOTC, 2009e, p.1). Shops that hold DCI tournaments such as The Sentry Box and Phoenix Comics have Pre-release events. The last previous Pre-release event was for the Zendikar expansion which was held on September 26-27, 2009 (WOTC, 2009e, p.1). A week after the Pre-release events shops will also hold events called Launch Parties (WOTC, 2009f, p.1). Launch Parties provide a venue for people to buy the new release of Magic: The Gathering cards as soon as they the newest series becomes available and allows for play with the new series immediately with other players (WOTC, 2009f, p.1). Formats are varied at Launch Parties, including Sealed Deck and Booster Draft (WOTC, 2009f, p.1). The Sentry Box, Phoenix Comics as well several Magic: The Gathering shops hold Launch Parties in the Calgary community (WOTC, 2009f, p.1). Another event in the Magic: Gathering Community is Magic Game Day. Magic Game Day is run in local game and hobby stores around the world a month after a new card set is available in stores and Magic Game Day is a great way to interact with local players and see how the new cards shape the metagame (WOTC, 2009g, p.1). Other events that connect the Magic: The Gathering community in a more personal but highly competitive format are Regional’s, Nationals, Pro-Tour Qualifiers, Pro-Tour Events and World Championships (WOTC, 2009h, p.1).

Aside from events that use DCI ratings or are Wizards of the Coast endorsed are more casual formats for game play and community interaction. Trilogy Gaming Club holds non-sanctioned events that use slightly altered DCI rules with the focus on multi-player games on Thursday evenings and casual Vintage format games on Saturdays during store hours (Trilogy Gaming Club, 2009). Also, The Sentry Box holds tournaments that are non-sanctioned but use DCI rules every Tuesday night with top spots paying out cash prizes and on Sundays uses a new playing format called Elder Dragon Highlander (The Sentry Box, 2009). Phoenix Comics holds Sunday Draft events which are held every Sunday and uses the current Booster Draft format with the winner receiving a special foil as well as other prizes (Phoenix Comics, 2009). In conjunction with the events a participant can engage in casual side game as well during the event.

Another interesting format that integrates game play in a unique setting is The Official Magic: the Gathering Calgary Bar Night which is held on Wednesday evenings at Broken City, a pub that has live bands, from 7:30-closing people can engage in casual Magic: The Gathering games (Petsche, 2009, p.1). Shawn Petsche, one of the creators of The Official Magic: the Gathering Calgary Bar Night, states “whether you've been planeswalking since the days of the Black Lotus or are looking to learn about this hot new fad that all the cool kids are playing, we welcome ya' with open arms. At the very least, it's a great way to pass the time between drinks! We generally play casual games, so any and all decks and player types are welcome!” (Petsche, 2009, p.1).

Magic: The Cash Game was created by Maurice Silver alongside co-creators Mark La Forest and Adam La Forest in mid-July 2009 (Maurice Silver, personal commentary, 2009). The game imitates the poker television show Poker After Dark: The Cash Game (Maurice Silver, personal commentary, 2009). Magic: The Cash Game uses a multi-player format that alters some of the DCI rules but adheres to the majority of policies. The major difference is Magic: The Cash Game in comparison to online play and local events are larger stakes. The game includes 4-8 people playing a multi player format and cash is paid out to victor of each match with payouts ranging from $40-$100 with matches lasting twenty minutes to over several hours (Maurice Silver, personal commentary, 2009). Events usually last between 5-8 hours but have known to go on for over two days (Maurice Silver, personal commentary, 2009).

References

Lowenthal, D. (1999). Heritage Stewardship and the Amateur Tradition. Association for Preservation Technology International, APT Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 2/3, p. 7-9. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1504634

Petsche, S. (2009). The Official Magic: the Gathering Calgary Bar Night. Retrieved from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123950811676&ref=mf

Phoenix Comics. (2009). Event Calendar. Retrieved from http://www.phoenixcomics.ca/Calendar/EventsCalendar.aspx#fnm

The Sentry Box. (2009). Events at The Sentry Box. Retrieved from http://www.sentrybox.com/events/events.html

Trilogy Gaming Club. (2009). Tournament Information. Retrieved from http://trilogygamingclub.net/tournament%20information.htm

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009a).Magic Online. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Digital/MagicOnline.aspx?x=mtg/digital/magiconline/whatis

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009b). Rulebook. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/magic/rules/EN_8e_Rulebook.pdf

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009c).DCI Homepage. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Default.asp?x=dci/welcome

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009d). Friday Night Magic. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=events/magic/fnm

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009e). Pre-releases. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/prereleases

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009f). Launch Parties. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/releases

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009g). Game Day. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtgcom/events/gameday-facts

Wizards of the Coast. (n.d., 2009h). New to Tournaments and Events?. Retrieved from http://www.wizards.com/Magic/TCG/Events.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/events/newtotournaments