Magic lead designer to release fast new card game as Secret Lair drop
Mark Rosewater, lead designer for Wizards of the Coast, teased a new card game created by himself and Wizards that will be presented at MagicCon: Las Vegas, taking place on May 1-3 of this year. Rosewater, known colloquially to fans as MaRo, joked that the project is called [NON-MAGIC REDACTED] on his blog and described it as "a fast, experimental play experience." Fans are speculating this will be Mood Swings, a casual game Rosewater has mentioned many times; games of Mood Swings apparently only last five minutes, so it fits the description.
Many designers are focused on making fast games that are easy to pick up and play. While Magic: The Gathering is a great card game, playing it can take a lot of time (unless everyone is a terrible person and brings a mono-red deck). It also requires a significant investment to build a competitive deck, and mastering the game's nuances takes years.