How the 1980s shaped the development of Magic: The Gathering - the first trading card game

Richard Garfield, a mathematics professor and game designer, started to create Magic: The Gathering in the late 1980s. It was first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993 and became one of the most popular games ever created. It is available in nine languages and played by more than five million people in more than 52 countries across the globe. The game sold more than 10 million cards in just the first six weeks after its release.

Richard Garfield's journey towards Magic: The Gathering started when he was just 13 years old. His early interest in games was sparked by playing Dungeons & Dragons, which was a significant influence on his later work. Throughout the 1980s, Garfield was engaged in various game design projects. His academic pursuits in combinatorial mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia provided a fertile ground for his creative ideas. One of the notable games he created during this period was a board game called Five Magics in 1982. Although it was never published, Five Magics featured fantasy themes and strategic elements that clearly foreshadowed the design of Magic: The Gathering.

Garfield's experiences in the 1980s were marked by a continuous exploration of game mechanics and design. His first significant game, RoboRally, was developed in 1985. RoboRally is a board game where players control robots navigating a factory floor filled with obstacles, hazards, and conveyor belts. The game involves programming the robots' movements using cards, which requires strategic planning and the ability to deal with unpredictable outcomes. Despite its innovative concept, when Garfield pitched RoboRally to Wizards of the Coast, the company expressed concerns about the production costs and complexity of the game. They requested a simpler, more cost-effective game that could be produced quickly. This feedback led Garfield to conceptualize Magic: The Gathering while he was still a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Garfield co-opted mainly fellow Penn students as play-testers for the fledgling game. Their feedback and the iterative design process during this period were instrumental in shaping Magic: The Gathering. The game was first published by Wizards of the Coast in 1993 and quickly became a sensation. It sold more than 10 million cards in the first six weeks after its release. Available in nine languages and played by more than five million people in over 52 countries, Magic: The Gathering revolutionized the gaming world and established the trading card game genre.

The 1980s not only shaped Garfield's game design skills but also provided him with valuable experiences in dealing with the realities of game publishing. The delayed publication of RoboRally is a case in point. Initially shelved due to production concerns, RoboRally was finally published in 1994, following the immense success of Magic: The Gathering. This experience highlights the importance of persistence and adaptability in the game design industry.

Garfield's commercial success with Magic: The Gathering allowed him to transition from academia to a full-time career in game design. Initially believing that game design could not provide a reliable income, Garfield had pursued a career as a mathematics professor. However, the overwhelming success of Magic: The Gathering changed his career trajectory. In June 1994, he left academia to join Wizards of the Coast as a full-time game designer. During his tenure, he continued to develop Magic: The Gathering and contributed to the creation of other games for around a decade.

One of the unique aspects of Garfield's involvement with Magic: The Gathering is his creation of four special Magic cards to celebrate important life events:

- "Proposal" to celebrate his first marriage proposal

- "Splendid Genesis" to celebrate the birth of his first child

- "Fraternal Exaltation" to celebrate the birth of his second child

- "Phoenix Heart" to celebrate his second marriage

These cards were given out to friends and colleagues and are considered extremely rare by Magic: The Gathering trading card collectors, adding a personal touch to his legacy within the gaming community.

Garfield eventually co-founded Three Donkeys, a game design, development, and consulting company. Three Donkeys specializes in creating unique solutions to challenges in both electronic and board game design. Garfield's influence on the gaming industry extends beyond Magic: The Gathering, as he continues to innovate and contribute to the field of game design.

The 1980s were instrumental in shaping Richard Garfield's career and the development of Magic: The Gathering. From his early experiences with game design to his academic pursuits and the iterative development process, this decade laid the foundation for what would become one of the most influential games in history. The success of Magic: The Gathering is a testament to Garfield's creativity, perseverance, and passion for games.