Magic: The Gathering – Tactics

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics was an online turn-based strategy game developed by Sony Online Entertainment, and based on the Magic: The Gathering trading card game series. First announced on November 2, 2009. The game was released January 18, 2011 for the PC,[1] February 3, 2012 on Steam,.[2] It is presumed that a previously announced PlayStation 3 version of the game was canceled due to the game being shut down on March 28, 2014.[3]

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics
Developer(s)	Sony Online Entertainment
Series	Magic: The Gathering
Platform(s)	PlayStation Home, Windows
Release	Windows January 18, 2011 PlayStation Home February 2011
Genre(s)	Turn-based strategy

Overview

Magic: The Gathering – Tactics is a turn-based strategy game, in which the player must defeat the opponent's Planeswalker. The player controls a Planeswalker and an army in the form of spellbooks.

Upon creation of an account, a player chooses one of the five colors in which to focus, as well as a figure to visually represent his or her Planeswalker. New accounts initially receive starter decks for all of the colors, free of cost. Cards from these starter decks cannot be traded. Additional cards are obtainable via trades in an auction house, purchases in a cash shop, or rewards for completion of single-player scenarios.

Gameplay differs from the card game in several ways. One difference is that there are no land cards to provide mana; instead, an incremental pool of mana is available to the player each turn, depending on the cards in his or her spellbook. Another notable difference is that the player's Planeswalker is able to level up and specialize in talents. Also, battles progress on a grid-based map with figures representing creatures and Planeswalkers, each of which is controlled and moved by the players, much like a miniature game or tactical RPG.[4]

Gameplay is separated into a number of campaigns and while players can access some for free additional content must be unlocked through the premium virtual currency used in all Sony Online Entertainment games, Station Cash.[5]

Sony announced that a second set of figures will be added, increasing the number available to players. This set was scheduled to be added 'late this summer' along with some new game mechanics.[6]

The second set was released in December 2011.

References

1. "Walk the Planes of Magic: The Gathering - Tactics on January 18th - PC News at IGN". IGN. January 7, 2011. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
2. "New Free to Play on Steam - Magic: The Gathering – Tactics". Retrieved 2012-02-11.
3. Jones, Michael (21 October 2013). "Magic: the Gathering – Tactics shuts down on March 28, 2014". PC Gamer UK. Future plc. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
4. Elizabeth Harper (June 22, 2010). "Preview: Magic: The Gathering - Tactics". Joystiq. Retrieved 2011-01-24.
5. "Station Cash - Uses". Retrieved 2012-10-09.
6. "SOE Fan Faire 2011 Magic: The Gathering - Tactics Wrap Up". July 13, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-22.