New Shadowrun Fiction Anthology, Looking for Submissions

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Catalyst Game Labs released a new fiction anthology for Shadowrun with the first issue of Augment. This "Spring 2083" issue of the in-universe publication From the product description:

Magic is in the air and within the pages of this issue. Learn words of wisdom in an exclusive one-on-one interview with VIP CEO Michael Bishop. Listen to DJ Smash and Will-o-Wisp as they share their insight into the combination of magic, machine, and music. Discover how runestorms are endangering the Caribbean. Enjoy reviews of new products, clothing, tech, and so much more!

Catalyst Game Labs also issued open calls for submissions not just for future issues of Augment, but also for the Shrapnel fiction anthology for BattleTech. Guidelines are available at the links above. Augment wants fiction fitting a specific theme, while Shrapnel is more open to any fiction set in the BattleTech universe.

Augment is looking for short stories from 2000-3000 words of anonymous confessionals from people committing illegal acts presented as an in-universe publication by the megacorporation Horizon. Shrapnel wants 3000-5000 word short stories set in the BattleTech universe in any era of the setting's history (but a focus on BattleMechs is preferred). Stories should be character-focused but should not feature "Vanity stories, which include personal units, author-as-character inserts, or tabletop game sessions retold in narrative form.
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Both publications are paying $0.06 per word on publication with all rights purchased including characters. Please see the links for the Augment guidelines and Shrapnel guidelines for full information. You can also purchase the first issue of Augment from DriveThruFiction or the Catalyst Game Labs store for $5.99 or the the latest issue of Shrapnel from Catalyst or DriveThru for $6.99.

 

[Cergorach]

Does anyone know why purchasing assigns rights to The Topps Company? I couldn't tell if Topps owns Catalyst (InMediaRes owns Catalyst but appears to be owned by individuals), is licensed to publish the anthology, or was a copy/paste error. Or some fourth thing I haven't imagined.

Catalyst is the licensee of the Shadowrun IP, The Topps Company, Inc. is the owner of the Shadowrun IP. Catalyst is offering to pay you, but they and by extension Topps owns your work when they pay you.

EDIT: To put it context, if you write a 3000 word short story, they'll pay you $180 and they'll own everything you wrote...

 

[ShoelessPete]

Catalyst is the licensee of the Shadowrun IP, The Topps Company, Inc. is the owner of the Shadowrun IP. Catalyst is offering to pay you, but they and by extension Topps owns your work when they pay you.

EDIT: To put it context, if you write a 3000 word short story, they'll pay you $180 and they'll own everything you wrote...

Ah, I see. Owned by WizKids, which was acquired by Topps. Thanks for connecting the dots!

 

[Abstruse]

Does anyone know why purchasing assigns rights to The Topps Company? I couldn't tell if Topps owns Catalyst (InMediaRes owns Catalyst but appears to be owned by individuals), is licensed to publish the anthology, or was a copy/paste error. Or some fourth thing I haven't imagined.

Okay..long story here...

So FASA Corporation owned Shadowrun when it was originally created in 1989 up until the company ceased active production in 2001.

At that point, the rights to Shadowrun (and BattleTech, just pretend I added "and BattleTech" to all these) were purchased by WizKids, which was owned by FASA co-founder Jordan Wiseman.

WizKids was then purchased by Topps for their sports figures. Topps shuttered WizKids shortly after. All of the WizKids assets were then purchased by NECA, another sports memorabilia and general collectible company...EXCEPT the rights to Shadowrun. Those were still held by Topps.

Meanwhile, all video game rights to Shadowrun are permanently owned by Microsoft as part of their purchase of FASA Interactive in the 1990s.

Yeah, the rights are a bit of a mess.