[Video report] Vice's obsession series, Mystical Universe of Magic: The Gathering

[twndomn]

Released on May 7th, 2015

http://www.vice.com/video/the-mystical-universe-of-magic-the-gathering-000

The Mystical Universe of Magic: The Gathering
Since the trading card game debuted in 1993, Magic: The Gathering has gone from being a niche hobby to an international phenomenon. Today some of its 10 million–plus disciples are so besotted with MTG that they've nicknamed it "cardboard crack."

In this episode of American Obsessions, we follow a professional Magic player who dropped out of college to join the pro circuit, and we talk to two brothers as they wax nostalgic about the spells, creatures, and mana of old.

[jamesh]

I wonder where they got that 10 million figure from - and how it is calculated.

[apple713]

I wonder where they got that 10 million figure from - and how it is calculated.

dci number probably

[sdematt]

Nice to see a "local" doing well. California transplant, sure, but go go UBC!

-Matt

[phonics]

I wonder what else is in Fenton's binder of goodies. That miscut fbb taiga was neat.

[Baum]

Someone in the video comments suggested it might be something like the missing Proposal Card. Since it was stolen, he certainly would not want WotC to know. But we'll probably never find out. :wink:

[Barook]

I wonder where they got that 10 million figure from - and how it is calculated.
It certainly does clash with the old 12 million number from 2011, considering MtG is supposed to "grow" every year.

[apple713]

Someone in the video comments suggested it might be something like the missing Proposal Card. Since it was stolen, he certainly would not want WotC to know. But we'll probably never find out. :wink:

Is that the actual card?

the picture is missing on magiclibrarities

is there a better site for looking up that kind of stuff?

[Sloshthedark]

Someone in the video comments suggested it might be something like the missing Proposal Card. Since it was stolen, he certainly would not want WotC to know. But we'll probably never find out. :wink:

He wouldn't carry it around in a binder and show random people off camera, more likely some stolen test prints which are not that hot but not kocher to have permanently bound to yourself in a video

[Baum]

Yeah, that's probably right.

[H]

Having known Greg for years, I am pretty sure that he is not in possession of anything that was stolen. I haven't seen his collection in person in a while, but knowing what he does have and what his interests are, I can't imagine him spending the time and money to get something like Proposal.

There are plenty of reasons not to show everything you have to randos on the internet and most of them are not because they are stolen though.

[Hopo]

There are plenty of reasons not to show everything you have to randos on the internet and most of them are not because they are stolen though.

I tried to figure out these reasons but sort of failed doing so. Any hints?

[Tylert]

And why bragging about that on camera if it cannot be showed on camera???!!

[H]

Revealing sources can compromise your sources, even if what they obtained is not stolen. For example, if I can get something for you, but I don't want 1,000 random indiscreet people asking me to do the same for them, I'd ask you to please not reveal your sources.

You don't want people to know all of what you collect, because there are money-hungry, unsavory types that would attempt to shark what you are looking for.

You value your privacy. Theft is a real thing you know, it is much more probable that someone would steal Greg's things than he would ever imagine stealing from someone else.

You happen to enjoy cultivating an air of an international man-of-mystery. In Greg's case though, that isn't an air, he really just is an international man-of-mystery, whether he likes it or not I won't speculate.

Greg actually is a member here too, I think it'll be funny when he finds this thread.

[Quasim0ff]

And why bragging about that on camera if it cannot be showed on camera???!!
Not really bragging. Considering he was playing with the Forinos, it's highly likely that the crew simply asked if someone had something amazing to show.

In case people are unaware, some cards are worth insanely much. Eli Kassis is FINALLY through with the robbery of his cards (from a few years ago!), and with Greg showing something insane, he could be a possible target in the future.

[Tylert]

Not really bragging. Considering he was playing with the Forinos, it's highly likely that the crew simply asked if someone had something amazing to show.

In case people are unaware, some cards are worth insanely much. Eli Kassis is FINALLY through with the robbery of his cards (from a few years ago!), and with Greg showing something insane, he could be a possible target in the future.

IF you don't want to be the target of a thief, you don't say in a video: "i've got something incredible in here but i won't show you..." :)

[H]

The value of privacy isn't just in avoiding theft, even if that was a possible point I spoke to. I gave you plenty of other reasons why he would choose not to show some things.

Greg honestly did not believe that they would use that part where he said there were things that couldn't be shown. He wasn't trying to be coy or play anything up, he was being honest and speaking candidly. He was pretty sure they would just edit that out and focus on what he did actually say and show, but instead the focus has come onto what he said he couldn't, to which he is pretty disappointed. They really should have edited it out, but they are just trying to make a story out of a non-story.

I've seen what he couldn't show and I completely understand why he wouldn't and agree that he shouldn't. If you want to assign nefarious reasons to that, go ahead. The fact is, though, that the reasons are very pragmatic. Discretion is still the better part of valor, especially in this case, where there is nothing to be gained and possibly things to be lost. Why even bother taking the chance? Just to prove things to random people on the internet? That's a pretty laughable reason.

Greg did get a kick out of this thread, so he might drop by and make an "official" statement since people here are at least somewhat intelligent, as opposed to the wasteland that is Reddit.

[Julian23]

I've seen what he couldn't show and I completely understand why he wouldn't and agree that he shouldn't.

It probably feels nice to type that statement but it's not helping your cause. If anything, people will now look at you as either an attention whore or a liar. Contributing to a "myth" you seemingly try to actually fight undermines your initial intentions.

[apple713]

IF you don't want to be the target of a thief, you don't say in a video: "i've got something incredible in here but i won't show you..." :)

leaving the "incredible" to the imagination is the lesser of the evils... the alternative being that he would have to reveal whatever is in there, making him equally a target. He's screwed either way by that logic.

[Ace/Homebrew]

I've seen what he couldn't show and I completely understand why he wouldn't and agree that he shouldn't. If you want to assign nefarious reasons to that, go ahead. The fact is, though, that the reasons are very pragmatic.
They're anime-chick Islands, aren't they? :eek:

[H]

It probably feels nice to type that statement but it's not helping your cause. If anything, people will now look at you as either an attention whore or a liar. Contributing to a "myth" you seemingly try to actually fight undermines your initial intentions.

I feel nothing in typing that statement. It is a fact. There is no "credibility" here, for anyone, because people want the situation to be incredible. So, they will look until they find exactly what they want. All I've done is offer plausible alternate explanations, besides the idea that he is in possession of stolen goods.

If you don't like it, that's fine, believe whatever you like. Want me to be a liar? Sure, I'll be that. Want me to be an attention whore? I'll be that too for you. I posted though because unlike most of those who posted on this topic, I know Greg, I understand the situation, and I can understand his motivations and apprehensions.


leaving the "incredible" to the imagination is the lesser of the evils... the alternative being that he would have to reveal whatever is in there, making him equally a target. He's screwed either way by that logic.

Which is why it makes sense to not show things on camera.


They're anime-chick Islands, aren't they? :eek:

The true sleuth comes to save us from our ignorance! :tongue:

[sdematt]

Unstamped Guru Islands and test prints can be kind of iffy. Revealing which ones you have can reveal who leaked them to you, and if theyre still an employee, can cause problems. If I had unstamped Gurus, I wouldnt flash them on a Vice doc.

[Kanti]

So many salty people in this thread.

[twndomn]

So many salty people in this thread.


Competitive Magic players' mentality has almost defeated the purpose of this documentary. If everyone in Magic community behaves like people on this thread, how did the game grow to its size today?

[Julian23]

Competitive Magic and new means of promoting the world-travelling, grinding lifestyle is the one reason the game has grown to what it is today. A new generation grew up with a game they see broadcasted on Twitch, role models to admire on Channel Fireball etc.

The game didn't grow by people thinking "Wow, you can collect Ogres!" but by "Wow, you can smash face with Orges on Hawaii!"

[Manipulato]

I'm on that video, I'm so fucking famous :tongue: xD

[Barook]

The game didn't grow by people thinking "Wow, you can collect Ogres!" but by "Wow, you can plow Moms on Hawaii!"
FTFY

#Milfs:TheGathering

Edit: Why does forum automatically make everything lower case? :eyebrow:

[Ace/Homebrew]

Why does forum automatically make everything lower case?
You have to press and hold the shift key while simultaneously striking the key for each letter you wish to show up in capital form. :wink:

[cdr]

Edit: Why does forum automatically make everything lower case? :eyebrow:

Shitposting/spam protection.

[Quasim0ff]

I wonder what else is in Fenton's binder of goodies. That miscut fbb taiga was neat.
Apparently, at least Alexis hinted this, Fenton had M15 test prints. This was supposedly the reason, he couldn't show his binder.