Card gamers and collectors in Malta

Abstract

My research has been carried out amongst people who play and collect cards. More specifically, my research primarily focuses on the Magic: The Gathering collectable, trading card game community. The cultural phenomenon of collecting playable cards is widespread not just in Western culture, but in all parts of the world. The primary aim of this research is not to acquire a greater understanding of the game itself, but to understand what it means as an anthropological phenomenon. The questions which led me to begin my ethnographic research on this particular community include - Why are these individuals obsessed with improving and growing their collection of cards? What makes these cards valuable and their collection significant to the collector? How does the lore and narrative found on the cards within the game influence the immersed collector’s perception of reality and value? How has the production company managed to transform worthless pieces of paper into expensive commodities? What does their obsession say about contemporary life, capitalism and commoditisation? How can Magic: The Gathering be contrasted with other anthropological writings and ethnographies? Wizards of the Coast (the company which created and produces Magic: The Gathering cards and merchandise) were the first production company to introduce this phenomenon in 1993. They are also the most successful card game company in terms of monetary success and popularity. This argument can be made (and supported with empirical data) on a global and local scale. By the end of 1994, they had already sold over 1 billion cards (Chalk, 2015). Between 2008 and 2016, they had sold over 20 billion cards (Magic: The Gathering, 2017). My fieldwork and research focus on the local community in Malta.