Card back
The card back is printed onto the back of each Magic card, excepting double-faced cards. The back of each card is identical, with exception to those of commemorative sets, and features the Magic: The Gathering logo, a representation of the color wheel and the word "Deckmaster" at the bottom, all on top of a brown background with an oval shape meant to represent the cover of a book (your deck is your "library" of magic spells, obviously kept in some kind of magical tome). It was designed and colored by the original art director for the game, Jesper Myrfors, together with Christopher Rush. [1].
Until the release of double-faced cards, no legal card could have a different print on the back than the regular Magic card back. That's also the reason that the back stayed unchanged during the 8th Edition revision of the card frame.
Different backs
Originally it was planned to feature different backs for Arabian Nights and each follwing expansion but this was infeasible as people would be able to tell which card they would probably draw next depending on the ratio of cards from each expansion in their decks.[2]
Logo
Since the card back cannot change, it features some imperfections as the logo is the older, blue version while everywhere else the logo has been updated for yellow with red trim. After the blue version was locked on the card back, the brand team realized that blue was a poor choice for packaging and advertising. [3]
The only paper cardbacks with the updated yellow logo are the oversized Commander cards. The idea is that as long as all the oversized cards have the same back, even if it’s slightly different, it doesn’t matter. [4].
Deckmaster
When Magic was first designed, Wizards of the Coast had plans for a series of trading card games. To group these games together, they were all given the name "Deckmaster". Magic, Jihad (renamed Vampire: the Eternal Struggle) and Netrunner, for example, were all Deckmaster games. Wizards of the Coast eventually abandoned this method of grouping their trading card games, but the Magic card back is locked so the Deckmaster logo remains. [5]
There are the markings of a ballpoint pen over the 'T' and 'R' in Deckmaster which accidentally were introduced to the logo before the printing. [6][7]
Trademark
One more detail on the back of the card that has changed everywhere but remains the same on the back of the card is the trademark of the logo. Everywhere else the logo is used it now has a registered trademark (an ®) rather than a simple trademark (a ™). At the time of the original printing, the logo didn't yet have a registered trademark. [8]
Double-faced cards
A double-faced card's back face is indicated by the moon symbol in its upper left corner.
Digital
In the digital Duels of the Planeswalkers, the "Deckmaster" logo has been removed. Also, the Magic: The Gathering logo has been changed from blue to yellow. [9]
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (Monday, January 27, 2003). "Frames of Reference". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Magic Arcana (Monday, August 05, 2002). "Almost a Different Back". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/26
- ↑ http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/20411844980/i-know-the-magic-logo-only-blue-on-card-backs-yellow
- ↑ http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0404
- ↑ http://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/20275314599/ok-this-has-bothered-me-for-like-the-past-10-years
- ↑ http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtgcom/askwizards/0504#052204
- ↑ http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/mm/26
- ↑ http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/arcana/1045