Mike spouts FUD, Doom, and Gloom

My outlook on the future of this hobby has degraded over time, the biggest variable being a continued failure to bring young people into paper magic at scale. Today I discuss what's made my outlook shift. I've gone from generally bullish to marginally bearish. No, it's not doom and gloom, and I'm not selling anything, but I also don't want to misrepresent my expectations of the next 15-25 years. Let's discuss.
#MagicTheGathering #LimitedEditionAlpha #Collectibles
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Apologies for the sound quality! I had to change my setup, but now I'm getting lots of buzzing, which I'm trying my best to remove in post-production. I'll sort it out before the next video.
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I'm Mike, the Alpha Hoarder, and I'm sharing/documenting my wild collection here on YT. Join me while I ramble about old cards and MTG finance, and look at cool stuff.
[e-mail]
Mike the AlphaHoarder @ 375 Carlls Path #73, Deer Park NY 11729

[@robertk1834]

Finished a complete PL to NM- condition UNL power 9 this year, I am loving the doom and gloom, cheap pickups on stuff I couldn't afford for a long time. Also fully foiled an EDH deck including a cradle judge promo and black bordered savannah

[@AlphaHoarder]

Nice! If there's cards you want, this is definitely the time to buy! And who knows what the future holds anyway.

[@shaynekemp6512]

Agreed ... just picked up an Alpha Reverse Damage today for $300 .... CHEAP ! Love it

[@Nabraham1]

Looking forward to the cake in an hour. Man, Dark Ritual just hits different, that collection/chunk of cards is amazing, thank you for sharing!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Enjoy the cake! I appreciate those few of you that make it to the end every time 🤜🤛 rock on

[@benjaminkantor9653]

I love these videos. I'm interested in expanding my Alpha collection into some pricer uncommons like Counterspell and Swords, but I am having issues fining relevant info on how to reliably authenticate that they aren't clipped Betas. For higher end cards like P9 and Duals, there's print dot alignment documentation that can be found on the internet, and of course there's a subset of cards (Unsummon, Icy, etc) that have actual print differences, but for things like Counterspell and Swords, there doesn't seem to be that kind of public print dot documentation, and the only test seems to be to subjectively evaluate the corners, which seems like not a very reliable way to tell. So that gets me to a question for you: how do you check your incoming C/U purchases for clipped Beta?

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah it's tough. You can stick to graded and authenticity guarantee cards, and reputable sellers. That's a good start. Beyond that, there's a discord that has some good info... check out the description on my video from a little while back about Alpha being easy to fake. I have a link in there that might be helpful.

[@patrick-ros]

In a future video, I would appreciate hearing about your research and acquisition process. If someone is interested in a specific card, but does not have a prior over the correct cost of that card, what steps should they take? Particularly for older cards where condition makes the sold prices vary significantly. For example, what steps would you recommend towards reaching a good estimate in 30min or less about the right price of card X? Thank you for your time.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks for the topic suggestion!

[@ReedStiles]

Been grabbing some Alpha rares in MP+ or LP condition lately. Nothing crazy but still keeping my eyes open for deals. I think they'll all appreciate again.... but over what horizon? And what will be the catalyst? Who knows. That 15-25% appreciation over the next 5 years (3-5% average annual) seems the likeliest case right now. For example, $100 played Llanowar Elves Alpha go to $125. If it's any consolation, Alpha playable prices don't seem to be lowering all that much. And if you list any Alpha card at a "cheap / below market price", then it instasells. It feels like a lot of collectors like me. Just being patient and slow in acquisitions - going long.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Right, good point. Also Alpha is the safest of the vintage stuff imo

[@tartuffethespry]

Ebay lots have been my jam lately. Specifically, I bid on old border foil lots and usually set my max bid at, or just below buylist value. I eventually want to put together all the old foils sets this way. I am already 30% with 7th edition just in the last 6 months (including Shivan Dragon) just from ebay lots under buylist.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Oh wow, that would be a heck of an achievement. Seventh foil is just beautiful. Congrats on the shivan!!

[@YeahBuddy]

Definitely speculative. I love it. Much better than crypto since you get to hold a physical asset. That said, different risk reward trade off. I haven’t done the research but wondering if, similar to bonds, hobby prices are inversely related to interest rates. If so, the high rate environment is the time to buy more (though - like you - I’ve slowed down since 2022).

[@AlphaHoarder]

Interest rates are so fundamental to the larger economy that I'm sure collectibles are not immune from the usual trends you would expect to see.

[@mtgforsale]

This looks to be a Starter deck and was $7.95 in 1993.... that's crazy! The invisibility is worth more, now! I'm ready for 🎂!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Oh yeah could be, I didn't think to count the uncommons and everything. Thanks for watching to the end, you're one of the hardcore few 🤜🤛

[@Wipokorp]

Very Nice Alpha Lot! 😊 I wish I had a crystal ball 😂 I have changed my view of mtg to collect only what I enjoy over the years. Now I grapple with the idea of being content with what I have. The handoff is a concern as I know no one will value my collection like I do. For some reason I want to pass that on to the next generation, but why? I plan to continue to follow the market, enjoy my collection and challenge myself. Have a good one!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Right there with you! I very much want to pass all this on to my kids, and I know full well they're not going to care about it nearly as much as I do 😂 no one can say for sure what's coming, but I worry when some popular KZbinrs speak as though it's a foregone conclusion that old things always appreciate indefinitely.

[@christhemagnif]

It’s definitely something we should always have in the back of our mind if we are putting large sums of money into anything. A lot of good points. I still spent a lot in 2023 but am ratcheting down significantly in 2024. Mostly so I can put more in equities, and also because I have most of the cards I want. The remaining cards are very pricey and not as easy to find so I’m forced to be patient.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah, I think the main thing is people should have this sort of stuff in the back of their mind, like you said. I think there's a lot of people that just take for granted that everything will go up over time, indefinitely.

[@christhemagnif]

@@AlphaHoarder the other thing that helps keep you grounded is try to sell some stuff every once in a while. It reinforces how illiquid these cards really are and how hard it is to maintain the value after fees, shipping, and taxes.

[@NerdAndProudOfIt]

i don’t even think it’s a negative vid at all. very realistic, maybe a bit too realistic 😂, but overal positive! and where do you find these lots, man?! 😱

[@AlphaHoarder]

I'm glad you think so. I prefer to be positive, but I also think it is what it is. These came up on eBay randomly, but they're hard to find these days. Lots are fun 😁

[@billytheframe1355]

Do you think the reserved list play a role as a kind of entry wall for younger people to start magic?

[@AlphaHoarder]

I don't. But I don't play that much so don't take my opinion as particularly informed, but all of the people I do play with don't have any old cards, it's only me. I have never played with a dual land in one of my decks or power or any of that stuff. My buddy once proxied a cradle. It seems to me the game is quite playable and enjoyable without them. And even across the entire reserved list, you're talking about maybe 100 cards that are really expensive. But I have no idea what competitive play looks like, so I could be dead wrong on that

[@connorwills9862]

Appreciate the perspective a ton, Mike- especially toward the end. I agree that there is very little objective evidence to suggest that younger generations are currently enter the hobby. You know my take based on professional and personal anecdotal evidence that I've shared on the channel before (the Pokemon bleed over "delay effect" possibility repeating like 1999/2000, Netflix series, a renewed interest in social opportunities not involving on screens) so I am definitely holding out a ton of hope. That said, I agree that any current data does not seem to support that this ship is turning around just yet. Come what may, I'll keep selectively buying because I just love these cards! See all you hooligans on Ebay bidding on Alpha and other 93/94 cards... when you see.69 cents, you already know 🙂P.S.you def never talk "too much" IMO

[@AlphaHoarder]

Well said-- come what may, I'm selectively buying too. I'll look for your trademark on eBay 😆

[@KykyJyky]

I appreciate your takes even when they make me lose sleep haha. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. Have been moving positions around a little. I still also have some modest vintage collection goals. And I've probably said it before.. but I have always had to split my love between MTG and Pokemon.. and right now the generational handoff of Pokemon seems very strong in comparison to MTG. I really hope Hasbro and Wizards make some decisions that can build the brand to be long lasting, but (whether you hate em or love em) going in the Universes Beyond direction seems like a tourniquet.. less and less emphasis on having a brand identity and racing instead towards being "Monopoly Board Game": Magic; but re-skinned in countless different ways. It's hard to be positive.. but I still see healthy numbers showing up for commander nights..

[@AlphaHoarder]

I don't think it's too late for Hasbro to recover… But man they gotta get some smarter people on the problem 🤦‍♂️ I completely agree though. If they'd have done things right, it would be other brands that wanted to be represented in magic, not magic desperately trying to be relevant by piggybacking on other brands.

[@sandrostrapazzon1307]

I have a peanut allergy, will the cake be peanut free? I just picked up two alpha blue elemental blasts this week. They both became available from 2 different sellers and the price was right. One LP and one HP. I think I may use the HP one in one of my pauper decks, just for the fun of it and to say " I will counter that with an alpha blue elememntal blast".

[@AlphaHoarder]

Don't worry, the cake is not free. And that will make for an epic play 😂 in fact, I think we should all start announcing the set when they're playing an old card.

[@tcgcompletionist]

omg i love you man! very glad to hear someone talking actual financials and taking a step back on it. modern and new mtg is dead and we feel your love for the old school and completely understand your frustration. ive also taken a massive step back from mtg and fully aware its gambling now more so than ever. not sure about any other tcg as well as it seems sorcery may be making an unlimited set in two years

[@AlphaHoarder]

Appreciate that! Yep, I agree. It's gambling. And I have no problem with gambling. As long as everybody knows they're doing it.

[@OracleoftheAlpha]

Always a thoughtful, detailed, and intelligent analysis of the market in general and mtg in specific. Love your content!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Appreciate that feedback!

[@Road_to_Tolaria]

Any time I can, I bring old decks to game stores. The response is generally positive, from the quasi-captive audience. Invariably, I'll sit down and play or pass them around and let other people try them. Exposure to old cardboard is so low in the magic community. I think it would be very much enjoyed by roughly 1/5 people, who probably won't ever get that exposure. Great video. Thanks Mike. I'll take my cake pwe please

[@AlphaHoarder]

That's a good insight. One hope I've had is that channels like mine and Rudy's will help sustain and build that interest, but I'm just not sure it does. I think most of the people consuming these channels are already interested in those cards. The cake is a lie.

[@shaynekemp6512]

I see it more of a time to buy ... I love the cards and have no desire to cash them in unless it's for my kids in the future ... I think and hope the majority of us bought these cards prior to the spikes of 2017 - 2021. Personally, I am still anywhere from 2-10x my investment on them. Still great points Mike, always need to be ready for the unexpected.. Wish good health and good luck to your family in 2024, love the videos.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Solid take. Appreciate the comment! Same to you and yours

[@atunga5]

on the serious side.. are you talking about attracting the new generation to the game or to the old cards in particular? I feel the player base is still very strong for the game .. just there is an ever increasing lack of interest for the old cards and collecting in general. In addition I do see a problem with the exit of the big holders . Eventually those positions will hit the market and I agree with you there are a lot fewer people that want the cards just to have them and some of the positions are truly massive . (rudy et al)

[@AlphaHoarder]

I mean both attracting new players to the game, and keeping the game collectible. Either without the other (or indeed neither) means the demand for vintage cards will evaporate with us 30-40-50 something's. And yeah, that's even before you talk about whales dumping. I got into this in elementry school. Tons of people got in as teenagers. How many elementary school kids are into it now? How many teenagers? If there's fewer people on the road behind us, then the hobby will contract

[@travis2753]

It's predictable that the current generation wont hold the same nostalgia for the old cards that we played with in our childhood, but I do think a lot of younger people are playing EDH and may eventually bid up the value of the more scarce or unique printings of staple cards in that format. Most of my edh based secret lair purchases have doubled in value and cards like Mox Diamond have held their value pretty well through the downturn.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Good insights!

[@LN_997]

Lots of interesting points in this video so apologies if my reply is a bit ramble-y. As one of the twenty-somethings you spoke about who's been playing for a little over a decade at this point, it's not that I don't have an interest in these older cards because I do it's that they are not a priority for me at this point in my life. I am pushing 30 and there is a lot of things/life events coming up that I would like to do that I am currently trying to save for like buying a house and starting a family of my own, having a lotus and moxen would be cool but unfortunately you can't live inside a vintage deck.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I appreciate that insight directly from the source. I suppose that's something I hadn't thought as much about… When I was young, these cards were much more accessible. It may be the younger people are interested in them, but because of the current prices, it's not something that they're going to seek until they reach (say) their late 30s. There may be a lag in interest, rather than a loss of interest. You've given me something to think about. Do you have a peer group that's also into magic? Do they feel similar?

[@Possu81]

I agree the market is not particularly cyclical like mentioned several times from different sources. I have had difficulties to accept it can go ultimately only up. Next spike is supposed lead to 10k$ unl moxen and 1k$ revised duals. I don't either consider current prices are wrong in many ways. 10k$ played unl lotus is very achievable for enthusiastic player and 200-500$ duals are jewel's in EDH decks. Old school player base of 40-50y old players is still strong and will be a project of rest of their lives what I have been talking with people so I expect vintage to be strong several decades. 50y old individual isn't that old in modern world. Yet it's hard for me to see people who 'build positions' that can resell for profits or next generation can sell to make fortune. Or these old school players going to 'nuts' and starting to pour money into graded cards for example for some reason. Some EDH players might start to collect which gathers a crowd in the end but will they target modern only which looks more appealing probably not having banned cards.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Good points. I think there's an opening for a different sort of collector, but not like the set collectors from the 90s

[@energetek661]

Where's the cake!? Great video man. I have been doing the same. Used to buy a lot more but I have cut back as well.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks for watching to the end 🤜🤛

[@nikolastojanov8749]

I'm a twenty-something that started playing 5 or 6 years ago. I play a lot of formats now and I have zero desire to spend a lot of money on old OG cards, except to resell them for more money later. And I'm someone who spends a lot of money on paper decks and drafts in era of Arena. And its like that with everyone I know who play mtg and started at any point after say 2000. I like your videos, they are cool and very informative even if I'm not invested in this. But since the covid boom, I turned bearish on a lot of stuff long term

[@AlphaHoarder]

Your sentiment is consistent with what I see as well. Obviously, it's a mix, but the bottom line is for the vintage cards to continue gaining in value, there need to be more people in your age group that want them compared to in my age group that want them, and that's a very hard argument to make on the evidence.

[@Crankinthe90s]

I have an interesting take...From what I've seen, Magic might be too big to fail at this point. The amount of people i see in the mtg facebook groups (and i mean this seriously from just a matter of fact perspective) seem like they are of a lower income and lower intelligence. But they will spend a good portion of that low income on mtg. The hobby draws a lot of strange individuals that don't have the thought process you have. I think the game is great but the community is not really my cup of tea. That being said, anything commander staple wise will be fine. Alpha lotus wise maybe not just due to the pool of people that could afford one.

[@AlphaHoarder]

You're probably right about new magic being too big to fail. It seems like they could keep that train going a long while, but if they shed the collecting side of the hobby, and it really does become just a game like chess or checkers, then vintage cards could be left behind.

[@Crankinthe90s]

@@AlphaHoarder the generation that the hobby began with is too young for old magic to die either. Only 30s-40s.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I agree with that too. I'm talking on a 2 decade timeline, something like that. Basically, if vintage cards are going to be valuable then, there need to be more younger people interested in them than there are older people interested in them, and those are the trendlines that I'm not sure are facing the right way.

[@VibraFinanceCEO]

Awesome video once again. I just made the biggest Dark, Beta, unlimited purchases of my life. Thanks for the inspiration 💎

[@AlphaHoarder]

Ohh The Dark... One of the best sets of art in the game 🤩 Nice moves

[@VibraFinanceCEO]

@@AlphaHoarder it’s in my price range to scoop up like you do alpha 🤣. Someday…someday! Keep crushing

[@crisgroom3857]

Collectibles are inherently niche. Once something gets too popular there's a shift. If everyone has something (referring to all the reprints) no one cares anymore. And the ripple effect is showing. Alpha will always be special, but you're right about the generational hand off, it's just not as "Shiny" anymore.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yup 🥲

[@jeffreyjaros5924]

i go to estate sales often and i see tons of things that people still find collectible, and also lots of things that were collectible but now most people who would want to collect those items have passed on. my g/f sells a lot of midcentury items, and i wonder the same that once we go (we're both in our 50s now), will the younger generations even care for 1950s Americana, for lack of a better term. i would like to think these Magic cards will still be worth something, and more in a decade or two. i guess i have somewhat of an advantage being an older Magic collector that many of you will still be alive when i'm looking to sell my collection ! lol

[@AlphaHoarder]

I guess you do have an advantage there 😆 I think few things pass the filter to become multigenerational, but it's hard to spot which will ahead of time.

[@Tyrius8]

I love your videos because you and what you say are at the heart of the real Magic the Gathering.i have been very patient and tolerant of WotC. I get every new set and 4 of everything. But not only is it pennies on the dollar its barley mtg anymore. In fact it's everything but mtg with this universes beyond. I've been buying cards for 26 years thinking like you, that they would at least retain value. (I am speaking about my A.B.U.) it sickens me. We have feel on some hard times and my wife keeps asking why can't I sell a few card to make a few hundred. I can't explain it to her how far the market has fallen to the point where is hanging out with Marit Lage.

[@AlphaHoarder]

It's sad to watch for those of us that really care about this stuff...

[@Gamer-J22]

I haven’t considered buying lots on eBay in a long time - I’ve just been burned too often. Maybe I should look into it again….

[@AlphaHoarder]

Most of the time they don't work out 😅 but if you account for the fun factor, I get a kick out of them. I don't think I got a particular discount on these cards compared to just buying them one by one, maybe a little bit. I just like going through someone's collection and assimilating it. Borg style. Resistance is futile.

[@penguinlust6749]

I'm with you on the generational hand off. There's a lot to unpack on this topic -- I don't have the time to put everything down here. I don't think the situation is as bad as it might appear, but Hasbro has not helped things at all. Suffice it to say I think long-term things aren't so bad, but the next phase will be the collapse of many of the modern-era tcgs, leaving only well-run or too-huge-to-fail CCGs, some of them severely diminished. The dust from this will need to settle first to know where things are truly headed.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Interesting. Would love to know more about your long term calculus. And I do agree, we'll all have a better view of the next horizon once the dust from this meltdown settles

[@issacharlane4003]

Wheres the cake??? Also spot on take.

[@AlphaHoarder]

The cake is a lie

[@issacharlane4003]

@@AlphaHoarder damn. Ill eat my imaginary cake. And even though I buy, I have always bought with that same mindset. If it appreciates, cool. If not, I love them and its for me and my kids to enjoy.

[@jaks334]

Ur % is way off if you look age/ratio/tcg in kids. In 30-40 years we are talking a loss in value of old MTG in the same ally as MySpace. ( when u start pulling in Tesla, stop, rethink, and start over)

[@AlphaHoarder]

I'd be curious to hear what percentage you'd put on it

[@tartuffethespry]

In regards to your opinion that MTG has peaked. I still think there is growth due to the inevitable movies/TV shows that will be made. Hollywood is running out of IPs to run with, and Magic seems like one of the next logical ones to tap into.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I agree they have options to grow the game and hobby. I hope they take them. However, a few other factors also need to be in place for the game to be "collectible" and for the new players to therefore come to value the vintage stuff. Lots of uncertainty 🤷‍♂️

[@lechasseurdemothman]

Beautiful cards as always !!!

[@AlphaHoarder]

Thanks so much!

[@atunga5]

I am freaking staying for the cake .. I want cake!

[@AlphaHoarder]

The cake is a lie

[@thewildernesswizard]

Buy in the dip my friend! Also, if you’re buying cards to play with and you enjoy them, then you won’t have any regrets….

[@AlphaHoarder]

100%! If you're buying something you love, and you want to collect, the future is bright. If you're buying something as a diversified investment, caution is indicated.

[@IM-xg2ki]

Great summary.

[@gudtimes6363]

I feel like I'm the opposite of the whole market and didn't spend anything during 2020-2023 but am now buying a lot(needed money to build my business during that time). I've never seen magic as an investment I've played it my whole life. If I die one day I will take my power and the rest of the collection with me. They are a part of me and I think I'm not alone with that kind of thinking. I only invest in one very diversified ETF. Edit: i like to add that I have many friends who play magic and became parents the last few years and they teach Magic to their kids.. I remeber when I started playing in the 90s most kids never heard of magic, it was an absolute nerd thing to do. It dont have to be like pokemon or mario, it just needs to be the best collectible card game out there. Imho

[@AlphaHoarder]

I think you've got exactly the right mentality, and for someone like you, the hobby is very much alive and will be for a long time and prices are great for doing some pick ups now. You waited for the right time 😅 I do hope there's a parent to kid handoff, and then there's a chance that spreads to friends, I just worry how it competes in the modern world with video games and screens. Things are just so different now than they were back then.

[@gudtimes6363]

@@AlphaHoarder absolutely agree. Just for the sake of the debate, I would argue that there have been Gameboys and super Nintendo's back then and as you said kids are still playing with Lego as a physical toy today, so there is a chance for newer generations to get in touch with card games. I also think Lorcana will act as a huge entry for many younger folks. The biggest problem I personally see, is that cards are so complex nowadays, which is makes the entry barrier huge. I think wotc needs to simplify the cards in the future or have something supplemental so new players, especially younger ones have it easier to entry. The cards from the new edition look like you gotta earn a degree first before playing the game.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Great points! It would be pretty funny if what ultimately saved magic wasn't Hasbro, but a competing company's card game 😆

[@TripsAhoy]

Good talk dude. ❤

[@AlphaHoarder]

Appreciate that

[@KaranasticRap]

Cards are certainly speculative and a gamble, but only to a certain extent because you now hold something tangible. A rare card that doesn't appreciate in value is still a rare card. More interesting yet less reliable than gold. -- Awesome bulk lot pickup with cards in surprisingly nice condition.

[@AlphaHoarder]

True! Always better than an NFT 😆 Yeah, the lot surprised me. A couple of the cards had some surface issues, which is probably why he didn't list them individually, but overall not bad!

[@petermalaspina756]

I’m still waiting for the cake…

[@AlphaHoarder]

Cake will be served any minute, the bots in the kitchen tell me

[@keithshaffer5975]

Super Mario is a great comparison. My dad and I had great memories of Zelda and Mario. My girls are now getting into koopa shells. My wife and I throw blue shells at each other at date night. Nobody besides me is really interested in magic..

[@monkey39128]

Sadly Magic has become very speculative even for a TCG. Pokémon (sealed product) is the only TCG that feels fairly safe just because of the strength of the IP. It always feels like it crossed the generational leap after 2020. A lot of the new Magic stuff is doing well but it's all based around different IP's and serialised cards. It feels like a completely different game. Hard to say whether the people coming in now will care about the old cards. I can't help but feel like serialised cards and crossovers are just papering over the cracks. On the positive side it's a great time to buy if you believe in it.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Definitely a great time to buy if there are cards you want. I agree that new magic is probably going to be just fine, but if transitions out of being a collectible, the old cards will be left behind.

[@seanjelle]

@@AlphaHoarder Not sure I fully agree with this. I play commander and, while foils, serialized etc are definitely "bling" elements that commander players like, including O.G magic cards in the 99 is still the biggest flex. Judge promos, playable alpha and beta cards still have a high demand from players and will probably continue to do so as long as commander remains popular. Non-playable cards are a different story though

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah, very true, I should be careful about making statements that are generalized to the entire vintage card base. But just speaking generally, there need to be a lot more newer players than there are older players in order for the demand to be increasing rather than decreasing, and I just don't think that's the case.

[@seanjelle]

@@AlphaHoarder I agree with you here. Maintaining the current demand and price points for less playable vintage cards seems unlikely. I still pick up old cards that I will never play though so who knows😅Thanks for all the great content, I enjoy your thoughts on the topic

[@jong8945]

high fantasy has never had general mass appeal, everyday consumers can enjoy aspects of it if its done correctly but in my opinion it just wont grab a younger generation without being told its cool or if trading cards / board games have a shift. and in my opinion the shift for trading cards in general for the younger crowd is how i can flip and make money from this not from the content itself.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah, I think you're right about that. In the 90s, it had a certain antiestablishment/underground vibe, but these days that's hardly difficult to come by online. It would have to be a different mechanism that engaged the young crowd now compared to what it was back then.

[@jong8945]

@@AlphaHoarder I really believe people like Post Malone who come from a completely different genre showing their genuine love for the game is priceless and perfect marketing for grabbing new attention. i think wotc got real lucky with him

[@jimmiploug2333]

Good to hear your not exiting and will hopefully post many more videoes. Also you would have to change your name to Alpha Dumper and that's just lame...

[@AlphaHoarder]

😂🤣 Def not dumping

[@Energydrink.]

Ready for cake, here. Appreciate the videos. Very concerned about Hasbro fucking it all up and not bridging the gap of vintage cards to new players. Honestly, I think Commander could kill the vintage appeal to the game.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Format shifts are indeed a significant factor to consider...

[@mfdoom1898]

Gloom is my brother

[@marcusgaming7114]

I don’t understand why they don’t spend their marketing money on tournaments. The fitness industry has expos which are a cash cow. Visitors pay to attend and exhibitors pay for tables. They could easily have expos with tournaments that have material cash prizes. They have the money to do it at a scale no other card came can. They have the money to have their own expos instead of just being a part of someone else’s expo.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Yeah it's wild. They could stream tournaments easily with real big prizes

[@Ranoake]

~61 cards, 1 rare, looks like an alpha starter where they took out the good rare and sold the rest as a lot.

[@AlphaHoarder]

Probably

[@1Raroy]

The walled garden of the reserved list is part of the reason why younger people have zero interest in vintage magic the gathering. Card games like yugioh and pokemon celebrate their origins, reprints of iconic cards do not take away value from the originals. The demographic of magic wanted to sacrifice very long term gains for profit now. It's time to cash out.

[@AlphaHoarder]

The reserved list topic could certainly be debated on both sides, but I think the bigger issue is there are probably fewer 20-year-olds in the hobby than 40-year-olds, and as long as the hobby is advancing below replacement rate, there is no way for the old cards to hold value, even if they were desired by the younger people.

[@ricardojnobre]

can I have some cake please? Or just one of those alpha...

[@AlphaHoarder]

Cake will be served any minute! 😆 Thanks for watching to the end 🤜🤛

[@tcgcompletionist]

just made a full alpha foil set of sorcery video if you want to have a look buddy so you don't have to chase it yourself haha it took forever and would love to know what you think (also hope commenting this on your channel is okay)

[@AlphaHoarder]

Ohh very cool!

[@MrDebauch]

if you didn't sell 2 years ago, you're probably going to miss the spike at the next pandemic too.

[@AlphaHoarder]

I agree! If one wants to exit, they need to sell into the hype. Of course it's hard to let go of a rapidly appreciating item. You're almost guaranteed to miss out on some potential profits. But the fact of the matter is nobody can time the market, so you take the opportunity when it's there, or you're likely to end up in exactly this situation, having held on past the peak

[@nebnesnah]

But Marvel crossover....

[@jordan8119]

Sweet mat!