Category: The Kingdom is Coming

Split Second – Semi-Blog Post

The sun flare is not photoshopped. There was a sunny day in Seattle

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A few things real quick here.

1. Card Kingdom’s new location. Some people were wondering where it was and I left it out of my posts. It was a conscious decision as I didn’t want it to take away from the feel of the pieces. Now that it’s opening today, it might be a good idea to tell you where it is.

Card Kingdom
5105 Leary Ave. NW
Seattle, WA 98017

Clicking on that link will take you to the Google Maps link and you can find your way from there. The building is on the West side of the street and you’ll see the image above and know you’re there. Across the street there is a small parking lot surrounded by a chain link fence that’s completely ok for you park in; Card Kingdom has rights to park there. There’s no clear sign for it nor is there a crosswalk (yet) but you’ll see it when you drive by.

The hours for Cafe Mox and the store are from 10-10 (I’m heading down there today to go try out the lunch. Watch my twitter feed). You’ll get my full report about the store not this week but sometime next week (once all the hoopla from the NPH prerelease dies down).

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The Kingdom is Coming – Cafe Mox

Front to Back: Mini's Room, CCG Room, Tournament Room

Previously on The Kingdom is Coming: The internet Magic store Card Kingdom is moving their physical location from on side of Seattle to the other. They wanted me to talk about their new place, which I described as four separate parts. The first part was the main store area, the mini’s room, the RPG room and a CCG room. The second and third parts are a tournament center and private game rooms you can rent out.

This is part three of a four part series.

Editor’s note: I would like to remind you that these pictures are of the construction currently underway. The estimated opening date is Early May.

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There are rumors of a place in Japan that sounds perfect for a geek like me. If I ever get to the Land of the Rising Sun, this is the one place that I would have to drag my wife to because I would want to go. Apparently, there’s a bar in Japan that’s friendly to Magic gamers. They have drafts (both the beer and of the Magic variety), and cutesy named drinks after spells and famous Japanese Magic players. Players can some in, drink, sling cards and have a grand old time. The bar is not filled with a sports theme nor is it a nightclub, but a bar for gamers. It’s unique because it’s the only place in the world where I know that’s set up this way.

A new challenger has appeared.

The new Card Kingdom has pretty much everything a gamer has come to expect in a game store; quite possibility even surpassing it. From separate game rooms for CCGs, and RPGers, and Minis, to a large tournament room and private rooms you can rent out, it’s a gamers paradise. There are even other smaller areas I haven’t talked about including a puzzle room and a children’s game area. This is more than just a gaming store; it’s going to become a community center.

However, I’ve been holding in a secret; bursting at the seams wanting to tell someone, anyone about. This one area I’ve been told I can’t reveal.

Until now.

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The Kingdom is Coming – The Back Rooms

Previously on The Kingdom is Coming: The internet Magic store Card Kingdom is moving their physical location from on side of Seattle to the other. They wanted me to talk about their new place, which I described as four separate parts. The first part was the main store area, the mini’s room, the RPG room and a CCG room.

This is part two of a four part series.

Editor’s Note: These pictures are a little older than the current state of the renovation. I forgot to bring my camera on our tour. With the next part (NEXT WEEK), new pictures.

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What makes a room?

Four walls, a couple doors, some chairs and some tables.

How can something so little mean so much?

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The Kingdom is Coming – Card Kingdom’s New Palace

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I don’t do advertising on MTGCP.

I feel like I’m a Ronin: a masterless samurai who does what he wants when he wants. I’ve turned down advertisers on this blog before because I don’t want them to limit what I can create on this blog without feeling guilty of hurting the people paying me to write. If I want to write something that my advertisers don’t want, I’m out of luck. Not so if I don’t have any.  That’s different if I write on other websites because I’m on their site, not mine. Not being tied down to anyone exclusively allows me to do some awesome things.

Like what I’m about to talk about today.

In a series of 4 posts I will be working with Card Kingdom, one of the largest Magic suppliers on the internet, to talk about their secret project. Finally, after months of secret tweets and meetings, it can finally be announced.

But first, some back story.

I first met Dan Tharp at PAX this past year. He’s the PR director at Card Kingdom, and the one who’s behind the twitter, facebook and newsletter they put out. We’d been talking online for a while and with Card Kingdom’s presence with a booth at PAX, it would be a great time to meet. After a brief introduction, we talked about getting together at the PAX Scars of Mirrodin party afterward the convention and engage in some conversation. So, after I helped spoil those cards for you, Dan and I went to the bar for a drink.

“Can you keep a secret?” he asked.

I nodded.

“There’s going to be some exciting changes at Card Kingdom coming up. Though they’re still in the works, it looks like everything is going through.”

He had my attention. “Oh really? Like what?”

“We’re opening up a new store in Ballard.” It’s a section in the city of Seattle, for those who don’t live in the area.

“Well, that’s cool.” It’s always good when more card stores are opened as it gives more places for Magic.

Then he smiled. “But it’s going to be so much more than a store.” I was a little skeptical. How can a store be more than a store? (How am I not myself?) “We’re going to make it a mecca for gamers.”

Then he proceeded to tell me.

I am a believer.

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