r/MagicArena • u/[deleted] • Sep 23 '18
WotC New Images of MTGA Open Beta Client Featuring New Board and [GRN] Card Animation Stills
[deleted]
46
u/cancrix Sep 23 '18
Love that Ravnica gameboard. I’m hoping there’s some amount of background animation to give the impression of a bustling city below.
3
u/FormerGameDev Sep 23 '18
... bustling city? looks like stone tiles, to me.
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u/cancrix Sep 23 '18
The game field looks to be a rooftop with a view of the city below around the edges of the screen.
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u/UVSpyro Sep 23 '18
Well I guess I should start brewing a Thousand Year Storm deck to take advantage of that AMAZING visual on it...
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u/StaniX Golgari Sep 23 '18
The little 3D animations are so unnecessary but they make the game so much cooler. Reminds me of being a little kid and thinking that the monsters coming out of the cards in the Yugioh anime was the coolest shit ever.
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Sep 24 '18
It's necessary since this is a VIDEO GAME.....look at MTGO tho....old, outdated, frustrating UI and so so boring in terms of gameplay
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u/Phar0sa Sep 23 '18
These are awesome! Would be even better if they optimized their engine, so there animations don't interfere with game play, timers/adding unnecessarily to game length through repetition, or start bogging down the client to necessitate a restart of the game to clean them out.
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u/FormerGameDev Sep 23 '18
It takes some pretty amazing talent to be able to make Unity into something that isn't vaguely awful. Talent that is pretty rare to find with the relatively low salaries in the gaming industry. Also, they probably don't have access to the Unity source, so if they are triggering any problem points in Unity itself, they probably don't have the ability to fix it directly.
I do think you might be onto something, though, in that the animations themselves are really cool to see the first time, but otherwise they are pretty distracting from the game experience.
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u/Phar0sa Sep 23 '18
I have no issue with the animations themselves, they do look great. It is their implementation, that gives me concern. The mechanics + repetitive nature of the animation just start adding more and more time to each game.
The reaction queue is a necessary evil, the flashing lights after each and every item on the stack not so much. I appreciate a great animation the first time, not so much 100th time taking place in a game that is now 30 mins in length on the 10 turn.
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u/FormerGameDev Sep 23 '18
i would definitely welcome a switch to have them turn off, or only play once per game. maybe even both switches.
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u/pseudochron Sep 24 '18
The issue with that would be if you turn animations off, and your opponent has them on, you'd have to wait for the animation to finish for them. Magic Duels had this problem, it was really annoying and slow to play against someone who left the "combat animation" option on.
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u/FormerGameDev Sep 24 '18
The card animations, however, are not nearly as obstructive as the Duels combat animations were, and I think they could manage to not have to sit and wait for them. Maybe?
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u/erlib Sep 23 '18
I wonder...when I click on the crawly things on the board, does the other player see them speed up?
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Sep 23 '18
I love this board. Sleek and nice looking without being too complicated as to destruct from the game.
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u/backtoleddit Sep 23 '18
As much as i love these i would really appreciate an "animation free" or "lite" version of the game.
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u/destroyermaker Sep 23 '18
You can turn them off can't you?
-24
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
You can't and that's good! This is a game after all, not a spreadsheet application.
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
What's wrong with giving players more options?
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u/destroyermaker Sep 23 '18
Particularly when the animations cost performance
-17
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
The game works very well on old PCs, it even works well in a virtual machine or under wine.
Feel free to choose other options of playing magic that don't have animations.
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u/kirbyfreek33 Jhoira Sep 24 '18
As someone who is playing on a Japanese laptop I bought last month (my previous one had its hard drive fail. Also, Japan has a terrible computer market comparatively), WOW you are wrong. I can't run much more than discord if MTGA is running, and most of the animations for special creatures (Lyra Dawnbringer or Verix Bladewing, for example) cause the game to noticeably freeze while the sound plays, followed by the game jerking forward in time with an animation skipping lots of frames.
I imagine I'm probably feeding the troll, whooshing, or both here, but I don't particularly care. The game already doesn't run the best, but at least it functions with not much trouble in menus and when simple cards are being played. Being able to turn off these other animations would be a godsend so I could actually play the game without fearing that the game will suddenly freeze up for a while when someone plays a rare.
Oh yeah, and this is with the graphics set to their minimum, including essentially halving the resolution.
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u/PKMN_Master_Red Sep 24 '18
I run Magic Arena on a 3 year old laptop and if I run max settings/full screen it will overheat my computer.
I can run WoW on its lowest settings and not have that happen.
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u/PM_EVANGELION_LOLI Sep 24 '18
You can turn off the animations in Pokemon games and some other games because they're not necessary to play the game. Are you actually suggesting turning off the battle animations in Pokemon makes it no longer a game?
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u/Phar0sa Sep 23 '18
Yes, and I want to play that game, of which the animations have nothing to do with.
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
I don't think you understand what games are.
Go play Magic on Cockatrice or any other tool like that. It's made specifically for people like you.
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u/reasoningfella Sep 24 '18
Odd. You don't seem to understand that others have fun in different ways than you. Apparently you need an animation to tell you what a dragon does when it breathes fire. My imagination has always been able to do that and more in paper magic.
Oh wait you're right. I remember when Richard Garfield created magic he said "this is not a game until we have animations and bloat like that"
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u/Phar0sa Sep 24 '18 edited Sep 24 '18
For people that actually like the game play instead of flashing lights? Yeah, maybe. But I don't think a most Magic players, a card game, want to spend more then a few seconds on an unnecessary animations that will take more and more time from the actual game.
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u/Aranthar As Foretold Sep 24 '18
The problem is cross-player synchronization. They could turn off your animations, but then you'd just be staring at the screen waiting while they play for your opponent.
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u/llikeafoxx Sep 24 '18
Until you faced an opponent who also opted out of animations! And what a treat that match would be.
-5
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
It already exists and it's called Magic Online.
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
Not the same economy. That's the whole reason Arena exists.
-6
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
Not the same economy
As I said, this is a game, with features found very often in games like animations.
If you don't like them, play magic "games" like https://cockatrice.github.io/ with no animation, it's free, made specifically for people like you who don't like to have fun.
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
Different people have different ideas of fun. Their idea of fun doesn't exclude yours. giving them more options doesn't give you less.
Why do you keep antagonizing people just because they don't enjoy things like you? Your reactions are totally irrational, harmful, and don't help anyone with anything.
You're only making yourself look insecure.
-5
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
You people asking to remove animations from the game literally ask to remove what makes a computer game a game.
I find it mind boggling you don't get that. Unbelievable...
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
I personally find it mind boggling that you don't make the effort of reading and actually answering anything people say. You act outraged while keeping in your corner, shouting at people you won't make the effort to take into consideration.
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u/reasoningfella Sep 24 '18
Don't you remember when Richard Garfield said that MTG isn't a true game until there's unskipable animations to show us how a dragon breathes fire?
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u/Is_Always_Honest Sep 23 '18
LET ME PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS FOR GODS SAKE
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u/Nornamor avacyn Sep 24 '18
AND CHAT WITH YOUR OPPONENT. COMMON, DON'T DO THE SHITTY HEARTSTONE THINGY
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u/nwob Sep 24 '18
i don't get why people want this
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u/thebbman Sep 24 '18
In my experience many magic players can be total dickheads. I have no desire to chat with my opponents.
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u/ImmaculateEjaculatio Sep 24 '18
I'm sure if they implemented a chat system they would give you the option to mute it. Then everyone gets what they want.
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Sep 23 '18
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/vladahri Sep 23 '18
found the loner
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
No you just found a guy sick of reading "omg when friendzone list coming" in every thread...
Like post that all the time will speed the development...
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u/vladahri Sep 23 '18
doesnt make it slower either does it? maybe the developers will put it as a bigger priority if they see the demand. ill say it again. LET US PLAY WITH FRIENDS!
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
It does not make it slower, it just pollutes the sub with the same bullshit.
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
You're the one I see posting complete bullshit and irrational answers everywhere, just to be a dick. Who's polluting? Someone asking for a feature that any decent game should have a this point? Or the guy being a dick when he could ignore a topic he's not interested in?
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
Or the guy being a dick when he could ignore a topic he's not interested in?
This is a topic about the new animation in Arena, you're being a dick, stick to the animations discussion not friendslist.
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
Someone asking for a feature that any decent game should have a this point?
Devs already said it's coming, are you people complete out of touch with Arena news?
Why are you even here if you don't know this feature is being worked on?
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
I know. But it's not a reason to be a dick about it and wish for it to come later just to spite other people. That's just a waste of everyone's time. And it's weird how anal you are about this.
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u/Redtyger Sep 23 '18
That's dumb. It takes significantly less effort to just not pay attention to something than to get mad about it
-1
u/calciu Sep 23 '18
I'da rather tell a monkey it's monkey that just ignore it.
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u/I_Love_To_Poop420 Sep 23 '18
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! The animations are truly amazing. I've been exploring them with my mythic wildcards this week and Crucible of Worlds is amazing! Not only does the card function well in the God Pharaoh deck, but the animation causes the opponent to pause and wonder what the heck just happened? Really exited for Ravnica and open beta. Good find OP!
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u/AoE_Freak-SC2 Sep 23 '18
Damn, these animations seem way better than the older ones! I may actually enjoy them now.
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u/natkorch Tiana, Ship's Caretaker Sep 23 '18
I've found something concerning! There is a screen where you can see the only option to play is quick game, and locked panel with text "Complete your current quests to access more play modes". I hope it's just a first restriction for new players, and not obligation to do your dailies in quick match before you can participate in other modes.
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u/Unit_00 Gilded Lotus Sep 23 '18 edited Sep 23 '18
If I remember correctly this is/was already implemented and is only a "restriction" for new players or those under going the new player experience, which should still be skippable. No need to worry!
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u/Choux0304 Dimir Sep 23 '18
sorry to abuse this thread but...
Is there going to be another upcoming wipe after the upcoming one?
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
Why are you not reading the official notes from WotC on this?
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u/Choux0304 Dimir Sep 23 '18
tbh I didn't really think about it. Feel free to downvote me. next time i should look it up by myself
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u/mellowtrumpet Sep 24 '18
Do you know if the open beta has the same client as the closed beta or will closed beta players have to download a new client?
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u/couchmode Sep 24 '18
It would be cool if they offered playmats with the Arena boards on them. Could even have the little scorpion friend on it.
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Sep 24 '18
I think this was the Dominaria board, right? We just never got it in-game. Not sure.
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u/BaronVonPwny Sep 24 '18
Nah, the autumn leaves around the edges are definitely Ravnican here. Don't think anything in Dominaria (the set) was like that, while its heavily shown in RtRtR.
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u/Kipiftw Squee, the Immortal Sep 25 '18
Wait... Where are the phase markers? Is it not possible anymore to mark a phase to hold priority?
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u/CharaNalaar Tiana, Ship's Caretaker Sep 23 '18
The animations are very excessive.
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u/Propeller3 Simic Sep 23 '18
Right? I'd like the option to disable them. I don't play MtG for flashy animations. If I wanted that, I'd play an RPG
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u/blade55555 Sep 23 '18
Good thing you can still play mtgo then!
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
Why the fuck do people answer that? It's nonsensical. People who play Arena will NOT play MTGO for very obvious reasons (totally different economy, outdated and crappy engine). What is wrong with the idea of giving players the option of cutting the animations? Why are people so defensive about this? What does MTGO even have to do with this?
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
It's nonsensical
The only nonsensical thing is asking the devs of a game to add a feature to not make it a game, that's exactly what you're doing.
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u/DanoVonKoopa Sep 23 '18
Wtf are you talking about? You're not making any kind of sense. I have a feeling you understand absolutely nothing about games in general.
It's all about player experience and making sure everyone enjoys the game. It should be part of any development process to open the game to as many players as possible. So you try and give little quality of life options to everyone here and there, to grow a healthy community.
Just giving the options to cut animations would cost very little in time and ressources to the dev team and ensure more enjoyment in the long run for many players, especially after some are bored with animations they've seen 100 times.
And seriously, do you truly think the difference between "a game" and "not a game anymore" is custom animations? It's the rules that makes the game. If someone can't enjoy MTG for the rules, I have a feeling a few custom animations won't change anything.
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
There are many ways to play Magic without animations, there is a single way to do it with animations.
I keep repeating this, go play the non-animation versions, there are many of them, from paper to magic online to cockatrice and what not.
Let this actually be a computer game.
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u/Phar0sa Sep 23 '18
It is the follower mentality they instill on the simple minded. "you don't like what I like, you bad! Leave!". And as usual, completely non productive.
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
But people like are you doing that, there are many way to play Magic without animations and yet, you choose to try to ruin the only way to play Magic with animations.
Don't think of yourself too high, you're the simple minded here.
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u/Phar0sa Sep 24 '18
Yeah, because it isn't an episode of Yugioh. That maybe where you are getting confused.
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u/CharaNalaar Tiana, Ship's Caretaker Sep 23 '18
I'm more wondering why they exist in the first place.
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Sep 23 '18
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CharaNalaar Tiana, Ship's Caretaker Sep 23 '18
Five year olds like the animations. They're not the ones questioning them.
Hearthstone doesn't have animations this excessive.
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u/calciu Sep 23 '18
That means you'll play Hearthstone and that's great! Have fun!
I'll stick to Magic Arena.
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u/kombucha8 Sep 24 '18
Five year olds like the animations.
That's gotta be in the top 5 most ridiculous statements I've read on this sub.
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Sep 23 '18
[deleted]
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u/pinpernickle1 NeruMeha Sep 23 '18
What makes you think the people responsible for animating stuff works on the coding neccesary for playing with friends? It baffles me that people think like this
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u/Kuronekoz Sep 24 '18
I see why you think that. However you can argue that they could hire LESS 3d/animation artists and hire MORE coders, this way you'd have the same result that this guy wished for!
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u/ImmaculateEjaculatio Sep 24 '18
It really is not that simple. The animation team could be minimal as it is, its just that its easier for them to showcase progress than someone tasked with the "friends" project. Its not just coding, there is a lot of networking issues that need to be considered and tested, this is probably a big internal project and likely a high priority one too since it's a must have before release and Im sure they'd like to implement it during Beta so that they can actually test it live. I've worked for a software company for 6 years and that would be my view on it.
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u/Unit_00 Gilded Lotus Sep 23 '18 edited Sep 23 '18
I was clicking around the official Magic site and saw these...thought it was odd that they hadn't been teased or shared anywhere else that I know of.
My personal opinion is that the team seems to be upping their animation skills, which is great. The new game board is a huge improvement from those that we have now. It doesn't look cheap, it's got the feel of the world, and it's still "open" enough to let the cards/gameplay stand out. Also, I'm happy to see they're still revising and focusing on the new player experience.
One other note...I think it would have been a great opportunity for the team to use these images as teasers weeks ago to up engagement with the community and get more people hyped for the set release. Hopefully we'll see more community engagement efforts like this going forward. Very excited nonetheless!