Gaming News - May 2003
Renton, WA (May 9, 2003) - Wizards of the Coast today released details
on Magic Online 2.0.
From Wizards of the Coast:
Magic: The Gathering Online, the official Internet edition of the premier
trading card game (TCG), will be significantly updated this summer, with
expanded features for both new and experienced players. Publisher Wizards of the
Coast, a division of Hasbro, Inc., will preview Magic Online 2.0 at the E3 Expo
in Los Angeles May 14-16, and launch the new version of Magic Online at the end
of July.
Magic Online 2.0 will feature a completely redesigned interface with options
for new and experienced players. The designers have added an artificial
intelligence (AI) to the game’s tutorial, and skill-building options that take
players beyond the basic concepts of the Magic game, such as strategies for
building a powerful deck with which to battle opponents.
An expanded observation feature will enable players to post their games for
others to watch – a great way to learn how to play or improve your Magic skills.
Players can also now acquire and trade the game’s avatars, and Wizards is
expanding the number of tournament formats with new team tournaments for new
players and a premier events room for the highest-level of competition.
“Building on last year’s successful launch of Magic Online, Magic Online 2.0
will offer more features for players of all levels and hundreds more cards to
play with,” commented Joe Hauck, Vice President, Wizards of the Coast. “Magic
Online brings the fun of the Magic: The Gathering trading card game to the
growing community of online players.”
The Magic Online game broke new ground in the gaming world when it was
introduced in June 2002. It is the first trading card game to have a major
following online, with more than 12,000 official tournaments each month for
players to participate in. Players can build their decks and strategies choosing
from 2,099 unique digital Magic cards. Wizards estimates that there are more
than 70 million Magic Online cards in circulation.
The launch of Magic Online 2.0 in July 2003 will coincide with the release of
a new Magic core card set, offering 350 new Magic Online cards to players.
Existing players will be able to upgrade to Magic Online 2.0 just by
connecting to the game server after launch, at the end of July. Players existing
card collections will remain intact. New players will be able to download the
game software for free at
www.magicthegathering.com or purchase a Magic Online
2.0 CD-ROM at retail. The retail version will come with an extensive manual and
player-friendly rulebook for online play, and two decks of physical Magic cards
– offering players the option to play tabletop too.
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