Wizards of the Coast is launching Wizards Play Network, a network of local grass roots organizers that supports a wide variety of play formats, according to Magic:  The Gathering Organized Play Director Jesse Decker, who we interviewed recently.  In the past, the entire array of Magic organized play events was all one-on-one sanctioned tournament play (see “Interview with Casey Reeter and Chris Galvin, Part 1”), but now WotC will be recognizing a wider range of casual formats, including leagues, multi-player, and team play.  Current sanctioned programs will remain; the new programs will be in addition to those that already exist, according to Decker.    

Decker made three main points about the changes.  First, WotC is making these changes to its organized play program in response to feedback from organizers, particularly retailers.  He urged continued feedback, noting that “because we are in a mode of change, this is a very good time to give us feedback.”  Second, the company is making efforts to make its organized play staff more accessible to organizers and players.  And third, new digital resources to support this initiative will be rolled out between now and the end of the year. 

The new digital resources, which will be rolled out through the rest of 2008, will include a new store and game locator (available this summer), and new reporting tools that will support the more casual formats and reduce the organizer workload. 

WotC’s goal is to increase the number of its organizers and develop more play locations, Decker said. There are currently five levels of organizers, and that number will probably stay the same.  Decker emphasized that if an organizer is already running WotC organized play events, they will automatically be admitted into the new program.   One of the things that retailers have requested is more clarity about the different levels of organizers and what they entail, and beginning in May, WotC will be providing that information. 

WotC’s support materials will also change.  In the past, two kits have been available: DCI Intro Kits and DCI Tournament Support Kits, which can be ordered at a cost to the organizer/retailer.  The new OP kit, into which the two DCI kits will be subsumed, will be called the Wizards Play Network Participation Kit, and it will be free.  New prize support will roll out with the fall Magic set. 

Decker would not answer questions about how the new initiative would affect the company’s controversial Magic pre-release program (see “Interview with Casey Reeter and Chris Galvin, Part 2”).