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I haven’t reported on Disney World’s live action role-playing game Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom since its debut in February. The game was out, it seemed well-received, so there didn’t seem to be much else to say about it.
While I was focusing on other Disney news, however, the game’s done more than just be a success. It’s a total smash. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (SMK) is so popular at Disney World that there just aren’t enough portals available for all of the guests that want to play.
Because I haven’t talked about SMK for a while, here’s a refresher: it’s a game that guests to the Magic Kingdom play using cards. They’re apprentices of the Wizard Merlin, and they have to stop the Disney villains from stealing Merlin’s magic crystal balls. The cards they’re given are themed after various Disney characters, giving guests “powers” to fight the villains when they come across them.
Gamers have to discover magic “portals” hidden around the Magic Kingdom, stations at which they can wave their cards to activate the next step of the game. That’s where SMK’s popularity has become a problem: there aren’t enough of these portal stations to accommodate the number of people wanting to play. I imagine it takes much of the fun out of the game, especially because it’s the sort of thing that works best as an immersive experience, if you have to queue for a while before you’re able to continue playing.
I’m sure that the Imagineers behind SMK are hard at work adding more portals to the game; there are medium and hard playing options that might involve different portals. Disney execs had turned them off, worried that they’d be too difficult and discourage players, but I don’t think that’s going to be a problem given SMK’s massive popularity. So doing that, and adding more portals overall, should be the next step Disney World takes to expand SMK.
What they’re also working on, however, according to The Disney Blog, is a take-home version of the game. Now, for me turning SMK into just another tabletop rpg card game, or even just as a board game (a form it’s rumored to take) takes all of the fun out of it. The main draw is that it involves exploring the Magic Kingdom and interacting with Imagineering technology.
Given how popular SMK is, though, creating a take-home version is a no-brainer. Disney World hasn’t completely confirmed that they’ll do this, but the rumor is out and it’s likely to happen. Players will be able to purchase the rare spell cards #61-70, which are considered hot tickets in the current game. Of course, you won’t be able to purchase all of those cards at once. Packs of seven will go for around $12, and they’ll each contain one rare spell card. It looks like fans won’t have to spend too much money to collect them all.
Apparently rare cards are going for around $80 or more on eBay right now, so that sounds like a good deal. Although I’m not nearly as interested in the game as a board or tabletop, it’s really cool that the Imagineers are designing one. It’s so neat to have watched this game from its inception to its debut and now its ever-growing popularity and expansion.
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A Personal History of Disney Video Gaming
Disney Park Secrets: Working the Front Gate
Two “Epic Mickey” Sequels in the Works
Uncertain Fate for Walt Disney’s Birthplace
*(This image by gbrunett is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
