Hex TCG

[.Rai]

Hex is being used by Wizards for similarities to Magic: The Gathering. I'm a big fan of Hex, and I think they've done the digital format far better than MtG did (Magic Online is a buggy non-functional mess).

Yet, it's got to be said that they are eerily similar. To deny it is missing the obvious. To make matters more confusing, this is generally untrodden ground in law. Digital TCGs are are fairly new.

[Rodrigo]

Wizards has the right of suing them seeing as HEX is almost a carbon copy of MtG. But yes, HEX's online features are much better because it's an exclusively online game. Let's see how this story unfolds.

 

I played some of HEX in the Alpha and Beta phases and it was an enjoyable experience.

[mido9]

Ive been waiting for it for like what, a year and a bit and I think all my hype has faded away

[Night]

I'm more intrigued by the fact that perhaps traditional card game developers are perhaps intimidated by the rise of modern digital card games.

 

I personally enjoyed playing yugioh as a child literally only because that's just what my friends played. While my adolescent self enjoyed the game, I could not see myself taking the time out of the day, going to a card shop, spending money on cards that become outdated within a year and then playing with random people. with digital card games you skip all of that bullshit.

 

How much longer will traditional card games remain relevant for if they've not become outdated already? 

[CLG Klavier]

Implyig they're dying at all.

[Poc]

Paper tcgs are not going anywhere. Wizards already proved they can make boatloads of cash from paper tcgs and even more money on top of that from digital tcgs.

[Rodrigo]

Paper TCG is nowhere near dying, but online TCGs are indeed on the rise.

 

HEX didn't need to be THIS blatant about its rip off, though.

[Night]

Implyig they're dying at all.

Paper tcgs are not going anywhere. Wizards already proved they can make boatloads of cash from paper tcgs and even more money on top of that from digital tcgs.

 

Perhaps, but who's major the digital competitor right now? Hearthstone? What else? That's pretty much it since digital card games are still a new thing. 

 

However if they do take off, which I'm sure they will, then digital card games will be on the rise at which point I don't see how it'll be possible for newer traditional card games to compete. Yugioh and Magic might be able to compete seeing as though they're already established brands but with the movement towards digital I don't see how they could do so forever. 

[.Rai]

Magic in itself is trying to move towards digital. Steam/iPad tie-in games and their own digital version of the TCG. They are just very slow about it. Luckily, paper TCGs aren't dying that quickly.

[Rodrigo]

The Pro scene in both MtG and Yugioh is still very big. There's no way they can kill the Pro Tour and YCS.

[LordCowCowCowCowCowCowCowCow]

Well, MTG has been around for a long time, and it only seems to be (from seeing people here and in my city playing it) getting bigger. People are still going to like getting together with friends and playing.

As for being outdated, I can't speak for Yu-Gi-Oh but I have decks of MTG that are full of cards several (even as much as 10 and 20) years old and still do well. I don't play in tournaments but if you're playing in those then the buying cards only for them to be outdated is perfectly fine and to be expected.

As for HEX and online card games. I haven't done much with that, don't really like playing without physical cards (and people). But my brother does and I can see a lot of TCG players playing online. But I don't think enough are going to stop getting the actual cards to make much of a difference.

Oh and that and HEX cards just look so cool.

[Flame Dragon]

I'm more intrigued by the fact that perhaps traditional card game developers are perhaps intimidated by the rise of modern digital card games.
 
I personally enjoyed playing yugioh as a child literally only because that's just what my friends played. While my adolescent self enjoyed the game, I could not see myself taking the time out of the day, going to a card shop, spending money on cards that become outdated within a year and then playing with random people. with digital card games you skip all of that bullshit.
 
How much longer will traditional card games remain relevant for if they've not become outdated already?

Unlikely imo. A rising tide lifts all ships, and as people start to find TCG online they are bound to move to the paper thing. Using Hearthstone as the example, I'm sure that people will move from it to MTG since the too are very similar and Magic is a much deeper game imo.

I actually enjoy getting out of my house, meeting people, and playing. Magic has had two GPs in the past year or so with over 4000 people and in all likelihood the reason they got so big is because a lot of people saw them ballooning and wanted in on the event. Clearly, playing IRL has something going for it. As for the outdated comment, that will happen in any compeitive game that keeps releasing expansions. So yea, while digital does certainly have advantages, I don't see paper cards going anywhere soon.

 

Perhaps, but who's major the digital competitor right now? Hearthstone? What else? That's pretty much it since digital card games are still a new thing. 
 
However if they do take off, which I'm sure they will, then digital card games will be on the rise at which point I don't see how it'll be possible for newer traditional card games to compete. Yugioh and Magic might be able to compete seeing as though they're already established brands but with the movement towards digital I don't see how they could do so forever.

 
We have a couple others. I myself am a huge fan of Solforge.
 
The advantage of paper TCG is it allows for more interaction. Hearthstone and Solforge are both built with the idea that once a player ends their turn they cannot take any more actions while their opponent goes. This isn't true for MTG and Yugioh and one of the problems with allowing that in a digital game is that you will constantly be asked if you want to respond or do something. Its just a much cleaner experience when this isn't happening every few minutes.
 

Magic in itself is trying to move towards digital. Steam/iPad tie-in games and their own digital version of the TCG. They are just very slow about it. Luckily, paper TCGs aren't dying that quickly.

Trying and failing if their beta client for MTGO is any indication.

[.Rai]

Statement from the Hex team and their parent company tl;dr "We will not allow ourselves to be bullied by Hasbro."

To our family of HEX supporters…

I have been chasing a dream for the last three years, a dream to produce an innovative trading card game: a game that combines the strategy of a TCG with the community and progression of an MMO. Something amazing and new, something you would love. We presented that dream to you, our community, and you responded with such mind-blowing support to help us launch HEX.

Sadly, the potential of that innovation has driven WOTC to file a meritless lawsuit in an attempt to kill a competitor before it delivers on that promise. HEX has a chance to give gamers a better and completely different experience from a digital-only TCG than a paper TCG can. Sometimes being small and independent makes you seem like an easy target to the bullies, and that's not an easy place to be, but rest assured we are ready to defend the dream.

Yes, WOTC, and its even larger parent, Hasbro, are much bigger than Hex Entertainment. But the size of their bank accounts doesn't make them right, and we will fight to deliver the game that you supported throughout this journey. We will not allow this frivolous legal action to damage our ability to deliver a quality game experience to you.

I appreciate the outpouring of support on our forums and I can understand the need to speculate on the specifics of the case. Clearly, I cannot address these posts in detail, but rest assured we have retained legal counsel that is very experienced in these types of matters and I feel 100% confident in a positive outcome for HEX. I will say that it's important for the HEX community to remember we are all part of the same tribe. We are all gamers, so even if someone isn't into HEX, please treat them with kindness and respect. We must all stick together as a tribe; gamers have it hard enough as it is without tearing each other down.

I will not allow the dream we shared as a community to be crushed. You believed in me, made the Kickstarter an amazing success, and stuck by us as we slogged through the alpha client. It is unfortunate that this hurdle has been thrust upon us. But, we will prevail; we have come too far to let the dream die now.

Lastly, I must ask that you respect the obligations of the HEX team members during this time and direct all questions or comments to myself and legal at [email protected]. We will read all inquires but remember that because of the nature of this situation we may not be able to respond at this time. But, we will continue to keep all of you, our fans and support, apprised of the developments as we have strived to do so from the very beginning.

Thank you,

Cory Jones and HEX team