If you’re a fan of Magic: the Gathering (you know, the trading card game) perhaps you have checked out the Xbox Live Arcade title Magic: The Gathering – Duels of the Planeswalkers. Regardless if you have or not, the game was developed by Stainless Games and, according to Wizards of the Coast, has been one of the top 10 XBLA games ever since its June 2009 release

ANYWAYS, Wizards of the Coast has just announced that they have signed a new deal with Stainless Games to develop future titles with them. Details were scare but I think it’s safe to assume that future Magic: The Gathering games (Xbox Live Arcade exclusive or not) are in the pipeline.

via joystiq

Arguably the dullest game on Xbox Live Arcade, or at least one with the least action, Magic the Gathering, has a half price discount on Xbox Live Arcade this week, and retails for 400 MS points, or $5.

Over at Armor Games, I’ve found a piece that might well help if you’ve been jonesing for Magic the Gathering lately–it’s called Armor Wars.

I found it at least a little odd that Armor Games is hosting a game called Armor Wars–can we get just a little more self-referential?  Come on!–but the game itself is at least fun enough.  Basically, it’s a card game, or approximation thereof, in which you play different cards with different effects in an attempt to take out your opponent’s castle.  Or “life points” if you favor the M:TG lingo.  You’ll get to work with creatures, direct damage, and spell effects to generate the various points you need to activate your cards.

This is, of course, fairly standard–anyone who’s played Magic in the last ten years will pick this game up and run with it.  Most of what decides a win or a loss, sadly, is the luck of the draw, but it’s still a good casual time waster.  Online play is also available, so you’re not just stuck taking on the computer.

Basically, Armor Wars is a surprisingly fun time that’s easy to pick up and play as long as you understand a few basics.