Design Philosophy

The Metagame Design Model

A proven framework for enduring trading card games.

Characteristics of Games book cover
Based on Characteristics of Games (MIT Press)

By Richard Garfield, George Skaff Elias, & K. Robert Gutschera. This book lays out the foundational framework GQL applies to every product and service we design. It's available to anyone — and we encourage partners, publishers, and game creators to explore it.

The basic game is in the box — but the metagames layered on top make TCGs enduring and a global phenomenon.

Six Metagame Layers

The lens through which we design, build, and sustain TCGs.

01

Collecting

Building and curating a personal card collection.

02

Investing

Card value, rarity markets, and collectible economics.

03

Organized Play

Competitive & casual play from local to Pro Tour.

04

Social & Community

Content creation, streaming, and fan engagement.

05

Story & Media

Narrative, animation, and transmedia storytelling.

06

Digital Companion

TCGO, apps, digital pack opening, and eSports.

Why TCGs Must Evolve

  1. TCGs need to evolve with the market over each expansion.
  2. Metagame designs never end for games that endure.
  3. A TCG publisher needs to build an operating company that supports each new metagame as they grow.

GQL applies this framework to every product and service — it's the lens through which we design, build, and sustain TCGs.