Over the summer, Enterplay exhibited at all of the most popular conventions, and offered a free booster pack with demo. Parents were one of the most common visitors to the learn-to-play tables, and an oft-heard statement just before taking the demo was, "Oh, my daughter would love to play this!" Considering the game IS about brightly colored ponies who are more interested in friendship than fighting, you can't really blame a mom or dad for assuming their kid back at home would be interested. However, unless that daughter is 10 years old and has a love for gaming, she probably isn't quite ready for MLP: CCG. The game was built from the ground up to respect the My Little Pony brand, so it's true that there are no life points and no pony is destroyed in the course of a game. However, that doesn't mean it isn't a compelling, strategic gaming experience! The goal is to use your Mane Character card - essentially the character that represents your presence in the game world - along with Friends, Resources, and Events to solve Problem cards better than your opponent. Any of these card types can have game text, ranging from simple to quite complex, which makes it easier for you or harder for your opponent to solve those Problems. The most potent method to interfere with an opponent's plans are Troublemaker cards, which block Problems from being solved and often come with particularly devastating game effects. Fans will recognize characters, situations, locations, and more than they've seen on the show as they play the CCG (although you don't need to be a fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to appreciate this innovative game engine). Each of the "Mane Six" characters from the show were inspiration for one of the six colors found in the game, and their characteristics are part of the gameplay. For example, the Rainbow Dash, Winged Wonder card included with this issue is inspired by an event where the high-flying Rainbow Dash saved the day; this translates into a Swift card that has a one-time effect to also move a bunch of other Friend cards for free. Any game player, not just fans of My Little Pony, will find this to be a very useful card in a Blue deck! Organized Play is a big part of the MLP: CCG experience for many players. Enterplay has offered monthly OP kits since last year's release of Premiere Edition, which local game shops can order to offer exclusive foil cards to their players. In 2014 a series of Store Championship and Regional qualifying events were held at various conventions and retail locations, culminating in Continental Championships in Essen, Germany; Victoria, Australia; and at Gen Con, Indy. MLP Fan groups are also being supported with foil promo cards of their own, along with new Theme Nights where players can pick up even more rewards for playing together. And all this is just the groundwork. The new MLP: CCG Organized Play site will launch with a full suite of new features. Stores and authorized users will be able to set up sanctioned events that players can track with the Event Finder. The system will display event results, local and global points and ELO rankings, and all the events a player has attended can be viewed on their online profile. Articles about events, players, gameplay, and more will be featured, including chances for players to submit articles that could appear on the front page alongside the developers' insights. A judges quiz will be used to qualify players to officiate for their local stores and events. There will also be a "Learn to Play" section with a printable demo and walkthrough script to get new players going quickly. Another concept beyond normal rankings is "Pony Points", which are just plain fun. These are awarded based on criteria other than winning games, where sportsmanship and participation are key. Everyone who is part of the fun will score some points, but can also potentially earn more by teaching someone to play at an event, wearing something fun and festive at a Theme Night, or being recognized by your store for being a Prized Pony Participant. Players and retailers looking for a well supported CCG with a fresh approach should take this game for a ride.