I was first introduced to M:TG cards when I was in high school, one of my cousins bought a pack in the mall for some reason.  I was instantly drawn to the different colorful artworking adorning each card, then later noticed that some of them had text seemingly drawn from a book somewhere telling a story.  It wasn't until later that I found out these cards were actually part of a game played between two or more people.  Each card representing a different attribute, either an offensive/defensive creature or spell or a piece of land used to "power" said features.  I learned the basics of playing, even getting my mom interested in it, but still, it's the artwork that draws me to them.  The pictures range from cartoony to near realistic and I was hooked.  I couldn't begin to tell you how many of these cards I have now, and many of them are duplicates (the perils of buying packs and boxes of cards), but as a collector of things (some in my family would just say packrat) I keep collecting.  Special edition cards are released that are metallic, or holographic or have the artist's signature, something special to look forward to when opening the pack of cards you just purchased.

I know there are thousands of people out there that collect the cards for playing purposes, scouring each pack for the one card that can give them an edge in the next game they play.  Competitions are held locally, nationally and worldwide, the winners of which receive everything from merchandise to cash.  Some of the original cards have been known to sell for over $1000.00 USD.  Books have been written based on the world depicted in the cards.  But with all that being said, I will still just buy them for the pretty pictures.