DC 85 – October 2010 WPN Changes
Podcast: Download (15.5MB)
It has got a lot colder in London over the past week, but luckily not so cold that show 85 couldn’t be recorded!
This week’s show is about the changes recently announced by Wizards of the Coast regarding the Wizards Play Network (WPN). In the first half, I go over what the changes are and how they will affect TOs around the world. You’ll also hear an interview with Sabina, TO at the Richmond Games Club, that I did last Wednesday. She had some strong opinions on the changes!
After that, I talk about what I think of the changes.
As always your feedback is much appreciated at show@deckconstruct.com, and why not head to the DC Forums to discuss the WPN changes and everything else to do with Magic?
You’ll also find DC in the wide and wonderful worlds of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr.
Thanks for listening!
- DC Creek
Links
Wizards of the Coast announcement and FAQ on the WPN Changes
2011 Grand Prix Schedule
The Brewery
Music Credits
Intro: Tab – The Freakout Tent
WPN Changes: Alik Project – Moon Project
Alex’s Opinions: Strange Republik – Dust
Outro: Ensono – Wild Mind
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Tags: changes, organised play, series 7, TOs, tournament organisers, wizards play network, wpn
Now I feel sorry for everyone outside the US. I never thought about how game stores worked outside the states though it makes sense with space limitations. I have had similar problems living in a rural area. The nearest good store for me has been over three hours away with driving being the only option. While there are a few closer stores, they are not the greatest. I hate rarely being able to go to tournaments with prereleases/releases generally being the only events I made it out to. But while those stores are not ideal they still exist and will still be able to run events. My sympathy goes out to everyone who has lost a place to play MTG. I hope that WOTC quickly realizes its mistake but with their current line of decisions I would not be surprised if they just decide to stick to it as they did with the reserved list.
It’s sad to see that the community is outraged by the decision and even now on Monday nothing has been said about over-turning this decision. I’m not surprised that the decision didn’t take into account all magic players. It seems like a very stupid thing to implement new rules without at least testing them first. If the goal of wizards is to make money, cutting their own player basis, and thus profit doesn’t seem very productive to me. It’s not like they just got rid of cost to them for work. The TO’s that they just robbed are the ones that do this for the game, not for the money. It’s upsetting, wrong, and there is little in the way of a good excuse for it. What were these steps taken to accomplish? Making it so that rankings were more “Official” seeming? I don’t understand the reasoning behind the change.
The interview with your local organizer was very insightful. You do a fantastic job running DC yourself, so it was a surprising change hearing another voice on the pod, especially from someone from the Richmond Gaming Group you reference from time to time.
I’d like to chime in with Perry though, about how the extra space in America, coupled by our mostly non-existant transit systems, can really make it hard for players in the midwest and rural areas. As a Texas boy I’m lucky to have guys to play with around town, Dallas is an hour away and Austin three times as far. It was interesting to hear about your own problems, I always assume that people living in cities have access to all manner of organized play at all times, apparently I was as naive ^_^
Frankly your TO assumes too much about things she doesn’t know. Americans do have some hobby shops, most in my experience don’t understand the game itself so players don’t flock to them. My city is somewhat large and we have one hobby shop which does not participate with WPN and I have lived in many many places where there is nowhere to play.
also… FNM is silly, most magic players in my community don’t consider friday a day to play, AMERICANS do stuff on their fridays as well. I work on Friday like any responsible adult with a full time job thank you very much.