Take a few minutes to appreciate Drew Struzan creating the original artwork for THE PHANTOM MENACE. Truly a master at work.

I wish to unionize Comment Creators

This is the danger- WoTC risks alienating their core, long-entrenched consumer base for short-term profits from novel collectors, who likely have nowhere near the potential for similar long-term interest in the game itself.

Entrenched players understand the MTG brand through years of play, whereas newer entrants collect MTG because their favorite IP is being enshrined on game objects.

It remains to be seen whether those new players will remain enamored once their favorite IP is forgotten for the next product launch.

One extra point before folks jump in: there is a difference between BRAND and PRODUCT here. MTG is an exceptional PRODUCT, but struggling as a BRAND.

Ask any new player coming in from UB what MTG is at it's core, and they will likely describe the engine as defined on cardboard game pieces.

The cautionary tale is when borrowed equity BECOMES your brand.

This is why LEGO and Funko are fundamentally different- one leverages borrowed equity to elevate the core brand/product, whereas the other has allowed borrowed equity to define their brand/product (and thus doomed to eventually fail)

*Apologies for work-Andrew*

@parker.luckypaper.co hits on an important point in this article, albeit indirectly. Celebrity endoresements, cross-branding, and licensing agreements are built on the notion of "borrowed equity," where it is believed that all parties benefit from the shared experience.

Awesome storage for my Leonardo v. Spock battle decks!

We’re just normal men

If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.

CAN'T WAIT!

Mods are asleep post brassicas

I can't wait for MTG to crossover with The Matrix, as it'll be a perfect allegory for what they think their consumers are like.

Two free cards for consideration: Mana Battery and Incubator tokens.

Ayyyyyy it works! At least for me 😂

My number for any subtheme is 13

Sicko

Shit Slaps, always has

1/2 A little sad venting coming in, regarding Magic the Gathering.

Some years ago I really enjoyed doing freelance work for MTG. I play the game and the type of art you get to do for it is just a lot of fun to work on. In the last few years WOTC switched out their entire AD crew which resulted ->

Like a Philly QB

Friday at last…

Trying to tush-push my way into the weekend today

Look who's out on the town! Grabbing some ace Thai Diner eats with @trickjarrett.com

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it