Dealing with background distractions during digital meetings is a relatively mild concern in the current era of social distancing, but some gaffes are more disruptive than others. In the 2020Magic: The GatheringPlayers Tour Finals, Allen Wu’s roommate made a less-than-polite cameo during his match against Patrick Fernandez.
Magic: The Gatheringisn’t the sort of game where a second’s distraction can lead to immediate death. A great deal of competitive play actually lies in preparation and deck crafting, while compulsively following shifts in the current meta, and staying up to date on the latest,inevitably controversialMagiccard ban lists. That said, concentration during matches is crucial for strategic decision-making and pulling off effective combos, and tournament-play is especially tense.
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Wu’s roommate was either unaware, or indifferent to the high-stakes game playing out behind him, however. As Wu and Fernandez considered their strategies, Wu’s roommate entered the bathroom in clear sight of the webcam, declined to close the door, and relieved himself as the game continued. The interruption left both commentators speechless and laughing, though both competitors managed to maintain their composure and remain focused on the match. The debacle recalls a comparable interruption from 2016, when UFC ChampionDemetrious Johnson paused his Twitch stream to accommodate a drug test.
In the end, Wu was victorious, pulling a 2 to 1 win against Fernandez, though Kristof Prinz ultimately walked away with the Player Tour’s grand prize.
Magicand other tabletop games have been heavily impacted by COVID-19 at both professional and casual levels of play with the current social distancing strictures. And while physical card sales have declined, play has not seemed to slow at all. Since the start of quarantine measures, there has been a pronounced acceleration of the game’s meta, and Wizards of the Coast has had to adjust the rate at which it bans cards accordingly. In fact,the latest round ofMagiccard bans is a direct response to social distancing.
This accelerated evolution of the game’s strategies likely stems from the game’s shift toward digital formats forMagic,such asMTG: Arenafor official events like the Players Tour. Wizards of the Coast recentlyreleased the entirety of the Core Set 2021 forMTG: Arenaprior to the cards' physical release.
These pivots make a great deal of sense, givenMagic’s popularity, and the current constraints on physical games. In March,Wizards of the Coast suspended all in-store play for both D&D and MTGdue to coronavirus concerns, disrupting casual tournaments and informal play. It will be interesting to see whether the digitally-driven approach toMagicwill persist once the pandemic has subsided, or if the meta will slow again once physical play resumes. Regardless of what other changes may come, one would hope future tournament play features fewer public bathroom breaks.
TheMagic: The GatheringPlayer Tour Finals concluded on August 1st, andMTG: Arenais available now on PC.
