Wizards of the Coast has announced that PC and PS3 gamers have more to look forward to than just
Magic: The Gathering Tactics. In spring 2010,
Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers will hit PCs, followed by a PS3 version in the fall. Previously available only on
Xbox Live Arcade,
Duels of the Planeswalkers features traditional
Magic gameplay with plenty of unlockable cards as well as online versus and co-op play. The PS3 and PC versions will include similar gameplay, though the press release notes that the PC version will include "an extra bonus." It's up in the air as to what this bonus might be, though more complex deck building would certainly be welcome.
Meanwhile, the XBLA version of
Planeswalkers will also receive two more expansion packs in spring and summer 2010. These expansions -- like the first,
released earlier this year -- will include new cards, characters and some "surprises" as well.
{ Nov 9th 2009 at 2:05PM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Kia @ Nov 9th 2009 2:11PM
It actually doesn't provide traditional play at all, given how stripped down it is. I can't imagine any MTG fan actually enjoying it. It's a real shame, too, it could have been a great game. I know my gf and I would have enjoyed playing it over PS3 sometimes, but w/e.
ShadowXOR @ Nov 9th 2009 2:15PM
It's not that stripped down. I play both and the XBLA game is great. Stop whining.
Help me! @ Nov 9th 2009 2:27PM
You can't make DECKS, bro
How is that not stripped down?
Mouthsmasher @ Nov 9th 2009 2:38PM
I'm an MTG fan, and have been playing for about 10 years. I would have to disagree with all three of your statements. Despite the fact that the deck construction has been "stripped," it still has traditional gameplay, it's enjoyable, and it's a great game.
I do, however, agree that it would have been an even GREATER game had the ability to build decks been included.
tunafish @ Nov 9th 2009 2:40PM
Don't understand why OP got modded so far down.
I unlocked the first two decks and thought oh, ok, I bet after I get a few I can start combining and making my own. ... Nope.
Oh I unlock cards. Cool. I'll just take out some of the crap I started with ... Nope.
I'm not bothering with expansion content if the deck building is that lame. The *gameplay* on xboxlive is great, fwiw.
Dave @ Nov 9th 2009 2:42PM
It is stripped down. No doubt about that. It's also fun, though. One thing that I like about it is that you're able to compete with other players even if you haven't dedicated the last ten years of your life to collecting cards. Deck building would be nice, though.
Ned Fetterhoff @ Nov 9th 2009 2:43PM
Agreed. While Duels is a fairly good game, to those people who enjoy the card game, it feels restricted. It's akin to trying to play baseball with a cast on each arm, you can do it, but it's not as enjoyable.
Jim @ Nov 9th 2009 2:44PM
One thing that bugs me is that it chooses which mana to tap for you, and I couldn't seem to find a way around that. Sometimes I couldn't play multiple spells in one turn because it tapped the mana I needed for the second spell. :(
Metal Muse @ Nov 9th 2009 2:52PM
there's an option to let you choose which mana you tap.
Jim @ Nov 9th 2009 2:54PM
Thanks Metal Muse, I guess I'll just have to look harder for it.
ReijMan @ Nov 10th 2009 5:44PM
It's a really well done game. It has the magic feeling, has beautiful graphics, just feels like magic on an electronic device how I dreamed it would be.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 9th 2009 2:13PM
Oh yeah. After everybody who was interested bought it on the XBLA already -- me included. I cannot understand why companies do that. To minimize sales on a selected platform?
I would have gladly bought it on the PS3 as it is my main platform. Uhhh...
And new expansion packs? Yes! Keep those coming, please!
CaramelZappa @ Nov 9th 2009 2:52PM
They probably do it to focus on one development platform at a time. Make as good of a version as you can for the 360, then make as good of a version you can for the PS3, instead of scrambling to do both at the same time. The 360 also had a larger market when they were developing this, but now that the PS3 is really picking up steam it makes a lot more sense to make it for the PS3.
OiBlimey @ Nov 9th 2009 3:51PM
It's simple, they want to maximize their sales.
The gamesharing on PS3 is really inconvenient for game companies. I own both ps3 and 360. If it came out at the same time, I would certainly gameshare it with 4 other friends instead of buying it on xbox live.
And PC has rampant piracy issues.
So that's why it's a timed exclusive release.
CH82 @ Nov 9th 2009 2:20PM
All I want is the old game from 1997 with all the new cards added and a half decent computer opponent. Is that too much to ask for? Apparently yes it is.
Banstyle @ Nov 9th 2009 2:24PM
That last 'expansion' was only 640kb, which means it's just an unlock key. The content was already in the game. Hopefully the next expansions won't be as lame.
Crusty Magic @ Nov 9th 2009 2:26PM
This.
Also, add achievements for the DLC please.
WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Nov 9th 2009 2:30PM
There are 3 achievments for the DLC.
If you had problems unlocking them, they've fixed it. Try re-earning them.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 9th 2009 2:51PM
No it was NOT an unlock key.
There was a free update some time ago that added support for the new expansion so that people who did NOT buy the add-on could still play online with folks who did.
Archon (PSN: Archonik, XBL: DarkARHN) @ Nov 9th 2009 2:53PM
I mean: it was an unlock key. But the content was patched in for everybody for compatibility. It was not "already in the game" when the game was made.
Banstyle @ Nov 9th 2009 2:58PM
Archon, thanks for the explanation.. I didn't think about that at all. I revolk my previous name-calling of the game. In fact, it's pretty cool to patch the cards in for everyone so there's no issues playing them over Live.
masteraj1991 @ Nov 9th 2009 2:37PM
I'm a big Magic: the Gathering fan, but I have no one to play with. I tried playing Magic online, but I'm not paying for cards that I can't use in real life. They should just release every card for this game and it would be awesome.
WickyWoo @ Nov 9th 2009 2:41PM
Online co-op play isn't enabled, I still haven't figured out why that is
and deck construction
And I shouldn't have to pay for those 2 features
Martin @ Nov 9th 2009 2:46PM
Great game, though I can't stand playing with some of the decks. Forrest-only is my favorite, and I actually just got my Garruck Wildspeaker physical card in the mail yesterday from buying the XBLA game. Pretty cool bonus :)
Neorev @ Nov 9th 2009 3:08PM
very fun game on XBLA
Fader @ Nov 9th 2009 3:10PM
"Duels of the Planeswalkers features traditional Magic gameplay with plenty of unlockable cards as well as online versus and co-op play."
There isn't really online co-op is there? I was going to get this game when it first came out but at that time the closest it had to co-op was team vs team. Did they really add co-op at some point or is this information wrong?
Phish @ Nov 9th 2009 3:24PM
The bonus for PC users will have to do with Magic Online, probably a free deck if you sign up or something..i call it now
jarhead906 @ Nov 9th 2009 3:28PM
Summon Blue Eyes White Dragon
arrrgh @ Nov 9th 2009 3:31PM
All I REALLY need is CO OP OVER LIVE. Cmon guys, any time you could use 2 players on one console why WOULDNT we want to have the option to let a buddy play with us over live?
emperorzeroxx @ Nov 9th 2009 4:09PM
ooh sweet pc version, can't wait
CannabisPrime @ Nov 9th 2009 4:39PM
Why would anyone buy this for the PC? If you do the "Free Trial" of Magic: The Gathering Online, you can play with these decks.
Makes no sese.
CannabisPrime @ Nov 9th 2009 4:39PM
*sense.