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Mark Rosewater: "We did market research to see if there was an audience for Universe Beyond-less formats. Only 7% of respondents were interested. Too small a group for a format we'd officially create. (markrosewater.tumblr.com)

submitted 4 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Is there any possibility that wotc could make universes beyond-free format variants to formats that currently allow them, such as commander and such? My friends and I do not wish to take part in games that ruin our immersion in such a way, when it was the mild role play and "you are a planeswalker" theming that got us into the game, and it's becoming increasingly harder to avoid universes beyond cards. As it stands there isn't a way we can really avoid them at our local gaming stores, and we're getting frustrated only being able to play amongst ourselves in a game that we used to be able to play with others. Can you please give us some hope?

We did some market research to see if there was an audience for Universe Beyond-less formats. Only 7% of respondents were interested. That’s too small a group for a format we’d officially create, but many formats (Commander being the most famous) have begun as things created by the players. Something having a groundswell of support will eventually get noticed.___

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[–] Nurgle 15 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It’s kind of a weird question though right? Like I have a general disdain for UB, but I also don’t want a new format, buuut 10/10 times I’d prefer to join a pod where no one was playing with those cards so idk.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 months ago (2 children)

This comes from the same market research that showed "the vast majority of tabletop Magic players (over 75%) don’t know what a planewalker is, ... don’t know what a format is". Take that for what it's worth. I personally cannot believe it, but if that's what we're dealing with it almost doesn't matter what question they ask, they'll get whatever answer they're looking for.

https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/698478689008189440/a-mistake-folks-in-the-hyper-enfranchised

[–] RawrGuthlaf 4 points 4 months ago

First thought I had when I read this was "I don't remember being asked this question". This feels like when a game or small business schmoozes a tabloid to give them a "best of" award. They are building echo chambers around their business to justify profitable decisions.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

Anyone who can't make an educated guess as to what a Planeswalker is really needs to try and use a smidgen more of their brain. 😮‍💨

Edit: or maybe it's less literally the name in every other language.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (2 children)

@Semjaza @mike no, what they mean is 75% of magic players have never played with a planeswalker card. Most magic players don't buy boxes or singles, they just pick up a pack at Target sometimes. They've probably got enough cards to build a couple decks if they use all their commons. Many use old cards, from before Planeswalkers were invented. Many are kids. Planeswalkers don't come with all their rules text written on the card, so many set them aside because they don't know what to do.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 months ago

@Semjaza @mike take my cousin. He got a perfect score in the ACT and got full ride scholarships to basically anywhere in the country. To him, magic is the same as any other board game on the shelf. He pulls out some decks when he has friends over, and then puts them away, and maybe gets out Catan next time. Most of his cards are from Legions block, and he's never played in a store in his life.
It's not brains, it's priorities.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

That statistic, that 75% have never played with/seen a Planeswalker card I find much more believable.

I misinterpreted the "75% don't know what a Planeswalker is" as meaning lore wise they didn't get the concept.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

@Semjaza ah sorry for the long posts then

[–] [email protected] 3 points 4 months ago

Nae probs. I know I've given far more than my fair share of long replies to misunderstandings before now.