The Orgg on MagicTheGathering.com?

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Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
And he was the first question...

I wonder what was the case for the Folios, since I don't think their quality has "slipped"; they've always been doing that style. And is Brand a person?
 
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rkoelsch

Guest
I think they have chosen not to work for the fees WOTC pays. And Brand is a department name at WOTC that is responsible for presently a consistant feel and protecting product names.
 
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Hetemti

Guest
It's simple.

Old contracts were fulfilled by percentage of sales, and each reprint had royalties.

New contracts give WizCo total ownership of reproduction, aside from the original, and artist prints. They get paid for the comission and that's it.

The good oldschool artists quit, because the new contracts had a crappy WizCoProfitPerPic/ArtistIncome ratio.
 
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Dune Echo

Guest
I think it was in the Duelist. They basically stated that they had changed their art-use policy and many artists had decided not to continue with them. i.e. WotC did what every company does, tried to cut costs to fatten their pocketbook. What else is new though?
 
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Almindhra

Guest
I personally think the old artists are terrible...The Foglios have a too cartoonish style...And the others are just not realistic enough for me...

Go Wizards!!
 
A

AForsythe

Guest
Hey gang,

We'll answer just about anyone's questions, even the Orgg's!

I was wondering if you guys had any feedback on MagicTheGathering.com, since it was made with all players in mind, not just tournament types.

If you have any suggestions/comments, put 'em here, or send them to editor@wizards.com.

Later,

--aaron forsythe:eek:
 
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Hetemti

Guest
So you actually like cookie cutter cartoons? I say cartoon in the face of that Foligo comment, for while the style itstelf was comical, at least there was style.

Every picture that comes down the pike looks like it was something someone linesketched and sent through Our Lord And Master Of All Things Graphical (Porno/Photoshop) to do what the "artists" can not.

And a lot of the stuff is simply boring. Indeed, some pictures need fit the storyline, since the storyline is more important than playability now...but I kinda liked the stuff where the artists were more than mere graphical hacks that spat out images to order.

Case in point (and probably the most contraversial)

STASIS.

Surely if WizCo was to design the image for that, it'd be something stupid with a generic wizard/warrior trapped in a forcefield/bubble thing, and Rosewater would crap out some pun along the lines of "The mage's brother should've been more articulate when he called out, 'Stay, sis.'"

Vomitous.

As for what Fey Jones made...well, yes, its image quality is subpar, but the actual art is perfect for the effect. It's abstract and subtle...confusing and terrifying to behold.

Kinda like a 6-player Stasislock.
 
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rkoelsch

Guest
I would just like to say I like the new site. I find the articles interesting and like the layout. everything loads fast even on my home computer.


PS I am a big fan of both Kaja and Phil. I loved the humor incorporated in their cards. Sometimes this game takes itself to seriously.
 
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MrXarvox

Guest
Today's Magic art sucks. Except for John Avon's work.
And Terese Nielsen's. Because they've still got Style. Style with a capital S, the S standing for surrealism. Good lighting, too.
It's all about good lighting.
 
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Chaos Turtle

Guest
Since you asked, I like MagicTheGathering.com quite a lot. It's a much better site for the "average" Magic player than The Sideboard (which I also visit daily).

There is a good mix of content for new players, casual players, serious players, and just plain curious players. For such a new site, it has a lot to offer.

I'm also glad the site updates at at around midnight PST; much better than the afternoon updates of certain other sites.

So thanks and keep it up. :)

...(Zadok is searching for you, by the way. :D)...
 
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theorgg

Guest
'ello, Mr. Aaron.

Thanks for getting the question answered. It's been bugging me for some time why the styles have become merged into one basic style...

I believe Doctor Garfield expressed similar feelings at one point...


I still wish Ian Miller and the Phoglios make comebacks...:(

Then again, Phil and Kaja are content with painting for XXenophile and Girl Genius nowadays.

But I still miss Ian Miller's psycho-wax style.

Anyway, as for my mini-rant, I guess that answer settles whether their return will happen.

And Spidey: The newest question is always at the top.


Also, Mr. Forsyth-- Ya'll need an "archive" for the Lexicon. It looks unupdated otherwise, and I know that's not the truth.
 
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Zadok001

Guest
Hiya, person I've been searching for... :)

First comment on the new website: Congradulations, you finally decided to buy magicthegathering.com. :) 'Bout friggin' time.

On a more serious note, I really like it. You've got some of the best writers out there writer CONSISTANTLY (key point here), plus a variety of fairly cool features on new sets. I'm not particularly attached to the "*insert name of mechanic* Week" idea, as it tends to limit the scope of the articles and make them a bit repetative. But not bad enough to keep me from making it a daily stop.

I will say the Orb of Insight is largely useless. :) For something so... Uh... 'Insightful,' it sure doesn't answer very many questions. (Additionally, I should note that it's the Fake Spoiler Maker's wet dream - They just type in wierd words until one comes up with a "1," put that in the title of their card, and *bing!* Instant credibility. Well, sorta.) It would be nice if we could put in two to three words in an order, and get the number of cards matching that ORDER. That would allow us to check "comes into play," etc, and give us a better idea of what's coming without ruining too much of the suprise due to the limit on word count.

But a great new site, all round. It's actually nice to have a site more about the hows of card development than actually PLAYING the game.

And I've been wanting a consistant column from Rosewater for years. :)
 
S

Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
Chaos Turtle:
I'm also glad the site updates at at around midnight PST; much better than the afternoon updates of certain other sites.
Click to expand...
Hey, you talking about here? No way I'm getting on at 3 AM EST to do updates :p

theorgg:
And Spidey: The newest question is always at the top.
Click to expand...
Oh. I guess I didn't see if there were dates on the questions.

It's too bad about the art being a unified style. You might as well almost assign one artist to do it then (except for logistics, I guess). I liked the "disjointed" older way also :)
 
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Dune Echo

Guest
I guess I'm the only person I know of that likes the unified style. I particularly liked that the elves during Tempest/Urza/Invasion all look different, giving each world a distinctive feel. That couldn't have been accomplished without the "templating" effect they've been doing with artwork.
 
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Spiderman

Administrator
Staff member
I guess that's the effect when you have a storyline that spans several expansions, as opposed to the early days, when it was just one and then two for Ice Age. :)
 
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Chaos Turtle

Guest
Originally posted by Spiderman
Hey, you talking about here? No way I'm getting on at 3 AM EST to do updates :p
Click to expand...
I'm talking about Sideboard.com. :p
 
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Thallid Ice Cream Man

Guest
Dune Echo: Yes, there are some benefits to a unified system, but if all art were unified we wouldn't be able to argue about whether Barrin is black or white (think about it! No one really knows...)
 
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Chaos Turtle

Guest
He's "white." Why woud anyone think he's not? Teferi is "black."

Maybe you're thinking of Barrin's hair? It changed color to black late in the storyline, presumably something to do with his advanced magical condition. :p I don't follow the storyline very closely, so I can't explain that one.
 
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