Wizards Hosts American Magic: The Gathering Match In London

Posted on October 28, 2007
Filed Under Articles, Staff |

LONDON – Sport fans here were given a rare treat Sunday as Wizards of the Coast hosted, for the first time, a match of American Magic: The Gathering right here in London.

Unlike British Magic: The Gathering, which is played with the feet, American Magic: The Gathering uses the hands — and the English measuring system.

“People here enjoyed being able to see this American game for the first time, although not all of them understood it 100 percent,” said Wizards of the Coast England spokeswoman Tina Gaffney-Smythe. 

In the United States, American Magic: The Gathering is simply known as “Magic.” The Magic: The Gathering played here in England is called “Krako” in the states.

British fans who watched the American match had never seen American cards with strange American names such as “Tarmogoyf,” ”Mulldrifter,” “Birds of Paradise” or “Forest.” 

“American Magic: The Gathering uses completely different terminology that we’re not used to here,” Gaffney-Smythe said. “The colours of Magic are called ‘colors’ in America, for example,” she said.

“Also, the Americans call them ’cards,’ while we of course call them ‘cheques,’” Gaffney-Smythe said. 

“Everything has to be translated,” she said.

Fans seemed pleased with the match overall, and attendance was sold out. There was some booing, however, when one of the players, Quincy Loftus of Philadelphia, conceded Game Two to ensure he would have time to finish Game Three.

“I don’t think they understand about taking a knee,” Loftus said. “They don’t have that in Krako,” he added.

Comments

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.