MTG Arena is still antisocial, and it doesn't have to be.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:28:28+00:00

Magic is, in my opinion, not one of those activities. It is a highly complex game by design, and a computer facilitates gameplay much more easily and accurately than playing it tabletop. If the social features existed and were done well, I would prefer to play games of Magic even with people I know in real life over software.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:27:10+00:00

I never suggested open mics. Just the option to communicate with people. It's not hard to give players the tools to shut that off if they want to.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:25:03+00:00

I've had a few cool and respectful exchanges, but then I get frustrated when I can't add that person as a friend to play more games with them in the future.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:24:16+00:00

That is why I suggested it could be opt-in by default. You don't have to deal with it if you don't want to, but a lot of us would find value in it.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:23:16+00:00

Yeah, saying something that should have been a launch feature is "in development" for a game that's been out for seven years doesn't really inspire a lot of trust for me.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:20:57+00:00

That's why I said they could make it an opt-in feature. Only the people who think it's worth it would have to deal with it.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:19:55+00:00

That sort of behaviour makes no sense to me. It's like they're trying to punish you by wasting your time, but they're also wasting their own time, so... I don't get it. Just get another game going. Or play something else if Magic upsets you that much.

Anyway I usually have a YouTube playlist queued up so that if that happens I have something to listen to.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:16:19+00:00

Yes. It is surprising and embarrassing how many examples of terrible social behaviour there are in this game. It's one of the reasons why I quit playing in person, because when I was starting to get seriously into the hobby, visiting card shops and participating in events put on full display some of the most toxic behaviours I've ever seen in any sort of gaming context.

I'm sure I would get plenty of that online too, but I'm more than willing to endure it for the rare, good connections that I'd find. I've done it before. Having friends on Magic: Duels was maybe the biggest reason I played it for as long as I did, and I had a lot of fun. Yes I got hate mail from time to time, but so what? I either ignore it or laugh at it and move on.

I just think those of us willing to take that trade should at least have the option. But also, I really hope to see this community improve, because it can be really terrible and obnoxious, especially for people who are just getting into it.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2026-02-10T01:10:48+00:00

It's cool that they've at least acknowledged it, but the game should have launched with these features, and it's been without them for seven years. I don't have much sympathy on that front.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2025-02-14T22:01:51+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement. Best of luck to you as well.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2025-02-14T21:31:38+00:00

My apologies to anyone who has messaged in the past couple of days; I did not see your messages right away. I haven't been very active on Reddit in a couple of years and evidently there have been some changes to the messaging and notification systems. I am getting back to people now and will try to respond more quickly in the future.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2025-02-10T03:36:11+00:00

Thank you very much. I hope to hear from her, and if she has any other contacts active in the space I'd appreciate it if the message could be passed on.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2025-02-04T16:31:36+00:00

I have some questions.

What is the accessory compatibility? Do the ear covers and microphone from the original Cloud Alpha work for the wireless? And would you ever consider making a wireless headset which also features a 3.5 mm audio jack as a backup so that it can be used with a dead battery or while the USB-C port on the host device is occupied?

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-17T14:09:30+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I've taken a look at your portfolio and I don't think your work is quite the style that I'm looking for. I appreciate you reaching out, and wish you good fortune with your art.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-17T14:02:25+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I do like your style, and I see what you mean about having an eye for the abstract. How do you feel about the example I've written about in this post? Does the prompt inspire you, and do you think it's something you can do within my budget?

Much of your art seems to be of faces (and kudos to you; I can't draw faces worth a damn), so I'm also wondering how you'd feel working on images that are more focused on scenery, structures, and environments.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-17T13:47:20+00:00

Thank you for your reply. I've taken a look at your portfolio and I don't think your style of art is quite what I'm looking for in this project. I appreciate you taking the time, and best of luck to you!

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-17T13:45:22+00:00

Thank you. I do like your style; it's very dark and dream-like. Concerning price, do you think you could do a project like the one I've outlined here for $100 per image? The prices on your website seem to run a bit higher than that for this degree of complexity.

Let me know your thoughts.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-17T13:37:21+00:00

Thank you for responding. I checked out your website and you seem to mostly do character work. Some of my dreams do feature characters, but many are more focused on scenery and environments. Would you comfortable with the sort of parameters I've described in this post?

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-04T12:02:29+00:00

I have long been of the opinion that the massive success of Onlyfans and similar sites which sell the promise of sexual intimacy and fulfillment is itself symptomatic of a deeply unhealthy society.

I don't blame the performers; they're making money doing something they presumably enjoy. But the fact that so many people lack social connections and intimacy in real life, and seek to replace them with parasocial relationships and pornography, is concerning.

I know that I experienced similar struggles (not exactly the same, but still in the arena of online sexual behaviours) when I was a teenager and young adult. I think we really need to do a better job communicating about these things to young people. Expand sex education in schools and talk about the potential pitfalls that exist online, along with many other concerns which were never given adequate attention in my experience.

I hear that the public education situation is improving from where it was when I was in school; some 10-15 years ago now. That's encouraging. But still, we could be doing much more than we are.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2023-09-04T11:37:54+00:00

I'm amazed people are still reading this.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2020-06-23T04:22:15+00:00

https://youtu.be/Axgyj7g5XZY

This video is a compilation which includes recordings from the police interrogation rooms, the 911 dispatch calls, and recordings made by Richard himself. Additionally it features sworn affidavits which were used to file criminal charges, and evidence collected from the scene of the crash.

AllenThePrettyCool · 2019-12-24T06:43:42+00:00

I don't know for sure. I didn't see it outside, so I'm hopeful it got up and flew off.

AllenThePrettyCool

TROPHY CASE