My friend (and long-time White Wolf fan) daobear shares some insight about what’s going on with Mage: the Awakening.
I’d like to contrast the new Mage the Awakening with the old Mage the Ascension. Despite their superficial similarities, these are radically different games. As far as system goes, the new one is clearly superior in my opinion, and I think one could easily apply the new system to the old setting, which is cool. But the settings and general themes of the game are as different as epic, Tolkien-inspired fantasy and Sword and Sorcery.
I think it’s an awesome parallel. (Also, he finds the new Mage more reminicent of Sorceror, which is interesting since we’ve played / are playing both games togther.)