Game up at Decipher?

[Ghostwind]

It would depend upon how well sales were doing for Mongoose. If the line was setting every sales record in the book, then Mongoose might pursue. However, given the current trend of RPG sales, I would think that Mongoose would likely discontinue support.

 

[mcrow]

It would depend upon how well sales were doing for Mongoose. If the line was setting every sales record in the book, then Mongoose might pursue. However, given the current trend of RPG sales, I would think that Mongoose would likely discontinue support.

It would be a shame for that to happen, there is so much potential in that game.

 

[trancejeremy]

I figured that WK was in trouble when Jordan Weismen sold it to Topps. It wouldn't show up for a couple years, but it would eventually.

Which is a shame, MK is a pretty neat game. I just could never really afford to get into it.

 

[VirgilCaine]

It will be sad to see the LOTR CCG and the former makers of the Star Wars CCG go, but then...they DID make the Star Trek CCG. They had it coming.

 

[Ottergame]

It will be sad to see the LOTR CCG and the former makers of the Star Wars CCG go, but then...they DID make the Star Trek CCG. They had it coming.

Yeah, they should have known in 1995 when they made they game that it would ruin them!

 

[armac]

They over exteneded themselves and did it by producing bad games. Wizkids is heading the same way, they just ended the Mageknight line and are very close to doing the same to the Mechwarrior line.

Let's see, where to start...

I'll show my bias by announcing that I'm an Envoy in the WizKids system.

I don't believe that WizKids is overextending themselves. Yes, they have branched out from their CMGs (Collectible Miniature Games) into CSGs (Constructible Strategy Games), yes they have a board game coming out in September, and yes they have announced a CCG, but I don't see a problem with diversification of their game types. If everything was a miniatures clix game, then there is a large segment of gamers that they wouldn't appeal to, and they would likely just be getting their established players redirecting their spending into the new games. Coming out with Pirates last year was a big change, and it really seemed to pay off.

Oh, to and anyone going to GenCon, I recommend stopping by the WizKids retail booth and trying their new board game, Tsuro. Based on my experiences at Origins, I would be surprised if an Envoy working in the demo area couldn't teach you the rules in one minute, and would also be surprised if you don't have fun with the game. Hopefully I'll be in the demo area to see you.

Sadly, yes, Mage Knight in its current form is ending with Nexus, the upcoming set. WizKids has said, though, that they still have plans for the Mage Knight world, and hope to have a new game set there in a couple of years. In the meantime, they can license out the Mage Knight world, and next spring Namco is releasing a computer game set in the Mage Knight universe. http://www.namco.com/games/mkapocalypse/

WizKids was very upfront with their announcement of the cancellation of the Mage Knight line. They announced that Nexus would be the last expansion before retailers had to place their pre-orders with the distributors. They didn't just keep quiet to grab whatever money they could on it.

Also, the Mage Knight decision was a WizKids decision, not a Topps decision. The Mage Knight Brand Manager discusses this in a sticky thread in the Mage Knight: General Discussion forum at the WizKids website.

MechWarrior is in no danger of going the route of Mage Knight. Players have been happy with the changes brought about in MW:Age of Destruction, and are happy that 'mechs are being given the respect that they are due. Things seem to be going fine. MW:Annihilation will be coming out shortly, and MW: Domination has been announced for the end of January.

Anyways, enough of my rambling...

Angus - first attracted to WizKids games by HeroClix

 

[mcrow]

Let's see, where to start...

I'll show my bias by announcing that I'm an Envoy in the WizKids system.

I don't believe that WizKids is overextending themselves. Yes, they have branched out from their CMGs (Collectible Miniature Games) into CSGs (Constructible Strategy Games), yes they have a board game coming out in September, and yes they have announced a CCG, but I don't see a problem with diversification of their game types. If everything was a miniatures clix game, then there is a large segment of gamers that they wouldn't appeal to, and they would likely just be getting their established players redirecting their spending into the new games. Coming out with Pirates last year was a big change, and it really seemed to pay off.

Oh, to and anyone going to GenCon, I recommend stopping by the WizKids retail booth and trying their new board game, Tsuro. Based on my experiences at Origins, I would be surprised if an Envoy working in the demo area couldn't teach you the rules in one minute, and would also be surprised if you don't have fun with the game. Hopefully I'll be in the demo area to see you.

Sadly, yes, Mage Knight in its current form is ending with Nexus, the upcoming set. WizKids has said, though, that they still have plans for the Mage Knight world, and hope to have a new game set there in a couple of years. In the meantime, they can license out the Mage Knight world, and next spring Namco is releasing a computer game set in the Mage Knight universe. http://www.namco.com/games/mkapocalypse/

WizKids was very upfront with their announcement of the cancellation of the Mage Knight line. They announced that Nexus would be the last expansion before retailers had to place their pre-orders with the distributors. They didn't just keep quiet to grab whatever money they could on it.

Also, the Mage Knight decision was a WizKids decision, not a Topps decision. The Mage Knight Brand Manager discusses this in a sticky thread in the Mage Knight: General Discussion forum at the WizKids website.

MechWarrior is in no danger of going the route of Mage Knight. Players have been happy with the changes brought about in MW:Age of Destruction, and are happy that 'mechs are being given the respect that they are due. Things seem to be going fine. MW:Annihilation will be coming out shortly, and MWomination has been announced for the end of January.

Anyways, enough of my rambling...

Angus - first attracted to WizKids games by HeroClix

I did not say that diversification is bad in general, just when you diversify by publishing bad games. Rocketmen is the stupidest minis concept I have seen in a while and will likely go the way of Crimson Skies, Shadowrun, and MLB clicks. Big flop.

 

[VirgilCaine]

Yeah, they should have known in 1995 when they made they game that it would ruin them!

I just said that because I don't like Star Trek.

 

[Ed Cha]

How could they afford such a big staff? Laying off 50 people at a time?

Stupid question. I guess they couldn't.

 

[Ghostwind]

From Warren Holland:

A Message From Warren Holland

Warren Holland

12 Aug 2005


I want to thank each and every one of you for all the support and dedication you've shown over the years. Obviously, 2005 has been a challenging year for Decipher. The hobby game industry itself is going through a trying time and Decipher is no exception to those economic realities. We've reorganized to a more manageable size and making the adjustment to a smaller operation has been taxing on everyone.

When dramatic changes like this occur, rumors and stories tend to fly out of control and perspective gets distorted. The truth is, Decipher has more employees today than when we launched the Star Wars and Star Trek CCG's ten years ago. I know that many of the people you know personally are no longer here but there have always been behind-the-scenes staff that you never knew. Also, not all of our human resources are full time Decipherians or live and work in Virginia. Kim Logie is a perfect example of that.

While we've made a lot of progress the last few weeks we still have a ways to go. Many of you have been asking "is Decipher going to make it?" I can tell you with absolute certainty the answer is yes! Production of our Star Trek and The Lord of the Rings games are on track. "Bloodlines" begins to ship this coming Monday and "To Boldly Go..." is off to production and will release in September. Work on "The Hunters" is nearly complete and "Captain's Log" will finish up shortly after that.

Other issues are being resolved as quickly as is humanly possible. Prize support and other shipments are starting to go out again but it will take 6 - 8 weeks to get the thousands of pending shipments caught up so please be patient. The same people who ship the orders handle customer service so please don't bombard them with e-mail inquiries and the orders will ship that much quicker. Winners of cash prizes have all been contacted personally by me and we hope to have them taken care of by the end of the summer. While no one is happy about the delays, least of all us, but the amount of dedicated work that comes from Decipherians is absolutely amazing.

All of you can be a tremendous help and play an important role in the continued future of the products you love. Most importantly, be a positive force in your community. Focus on the games and not the politics and business side of things. And above all have fun! After all, that's what it's all about.

Thanks again for your continued support.

Warren Holland
CEO, Decipher, Inc.