I didn’t plan on turning the Magic The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed prerelease into a full road trip, but once it started, it just kind of happened. I ended up visiting CoolStuff Games in Hollywood, Gamerz R Us in Cocoa, The Collection Realm in Lake Park, and wrapped it all up at West Orange Comics & Video Games in Ocoee, Florida. Each store felt a little different — some louder, some quieter, some more competitive, some more relaxed — but every stop was good, fun, and full of people who were clearly excited to be there.
By the time I walked into West Orange Comics & Video Games on Monday, January 19, I was told that the store was on it’s third and last prerelease of the evening, the store was already packed and players from earlier prerelease events were leaving as I was walking in. Every table was still full, people were in mid-deck build, and the room had that familiar prerelease feeling where everyone is focused but still chatting and laughing between shuffles. It felt busy in a good way, like the kind of night where you immediately know something fun is happening.
I spent a lot of time just wandering around and watching decks come together. Cards were spread across playmats, booster pack wrappers were stacked up on tables and filled garbage cans, and players were quietly reading cards or leaning over to compare pulls with the person next to them. Some people looked like they knew exactly what they wanted to play the second they opened their kits, while others were still switching things around and talking through choices. It all felt very easy and comfortable.
Once matches started, the room settled into a steady rhythm. Every table had a game going, and there was always something interesting to watch — a close match, a surprising play, or a moment where someone realized a card worked better than they thought. Between rounds, people talked about what surprised them, what they wanted to try next, and what they hoped to open later. It was social without being loud, and competitive without feeling tense.
All of the photos here are from West Orange Comics & Video Games, and they really capture how full the store was that night. Ending the prerelease road trip there felt right. After visiting multiple stores over a few days, Monday night in Ocoee felt like a calm, happy exhale — a room full of Magic players, a new set on the tables, and everyone just enjoying being there.
Sarah Eldraine
Sarah Eldraine, from Miami, is a creative soul, passionate about comic books, gaming, and writing. She weaves narratives in her writing, just as she navigates storylines in her favorite comics and games, embodying the spirit of adventure and storytelling that defines her hobbies.
