Still a significant publisher in tabletop gaming, Mongoose Publishing has just given its fans a status update in the form of its annual State of the Mongoose report (also copied below). Points of interest include plans for Hammers Slammers, a full color Traveller-powered game based on David Drake’s classic sci-fi
Category: Miniatures Games
Catalyst added to WizKids shakeout
Just since our story yesterday on the continuing WizKids closure situation, it was pointed out that another hat was thrown into the ring for picking up the pieces. Catalyst Game Labs has made an offer to Topps to acquire HeroClix, Pirates, BattleTech/MechWarrior, and Shadowrun. Catalyst’s proven track record withClassic BattleTech
Upper Deck has second round of 2008 layoffs
The season of cutting back is fully underway. We hadn’t mentioned the Mattel layoffs yet, so if you hadn’t heard, now you know. In addition, our sources say that Upper Deck has just had more layoffs, and this round is more severe than the company’s cutbacks in early May. If
Shadowrun and BattleTech safe despite WizKids closure
Despite yesterday’s news that WizKids will be closing down, the concern some have expressed over the future of Shadowrun and Classic Battletech licenses is apparently unnecessary. Catalyst Game Labs, which licenses the two game properties from WizKids, posted the following announcement on its site (copied below): The Topps Company announced
WizKids officially shut down
So yeah – Topps is formally exiting the hobby games market and terminating all WK product lines, or what’s left of them anyway. The predictable noises are being made about changing economic times and etc., but one wonders whether the sports trading card business is really that much better to
Audio Report: Miniatures and fear, sort of
Since it was recorded just a few days before Halloween, the latest episode of the OgreCave Audio Report naturally focuses on – miniatures? Yep, Mike and I muse on the recent D&D Miniatures news, and on the sorts of miniatures games a cross-training gamer should have on hand. Then we
Wizards officially ending D&D Minis skirmish game
Since our post on Wednesday (see D&D Miniatures becoming less random in 2009), word has come down from Dungeons & Dragons Senior Brand Manager Scott Rouse at Wizards of the Coast clarifying the company’s plans for D&D Miniatures. Citing “sharp increases […] in manufacturing costs over the last 12 months”
Fantasy Flight ends its distribution of Rackham lines
In case you missed it at the end of last week, Fantasy Flight announced it would no longer be handling distribution for Rackham. So far, no plan has been announced for handling the AT-43 and Confrontation product lines going forward, but retailers and gamers alike don’t seem to care much
D&D Miniatures becoming less random in 2009
Anyone watching the collectible games market over the past year has noticed a distinct trend toward reducing the randomness (note our lack of a Best Collectible Game in this year’s Ogre’s Choice Awards). Now, as has been speculated since the game’s inception, Wizards of the Coast plans to release some
Audio Report: Ogre’s Choice 2008, and prizes!
It’s time once again – okay, fine, it’s a bit overdue – for our annual Ogre’s Choice Awards show, wherein all the Cave Dwellers have contributed to the final award nominee and winner selections. Mike, Steve, and I discuss what we liked this past year, which you can read along
2008 ENnies winners announced at Gen Con Indy
Earlier this evening at Gen Con Indy, the winners of the Gen Con EN World RPG Awards 2008 were announced to all in attendance at the Indianapolis Westin Grand Ballroom (see full list below). Highlights include Paizo Publishing’s win for Fan Choice Best Publisher (Paizo generally dominated the categories, along
This just in from This Just In From Gen Con
The good news is, someone is actually bothering to report live from the show… where “live” is defined as “ways other than writing rambling daily reports that don’t go up until the next day.” The not-bad-but-maybe-weird news is that the reporting is being done in a podcast – a short
Reaper puts the lead back in leads
Not in all of them, granted – just the new P-65 Heavy Metal miniatures line. Apparently, real, honest-to-Orcus lead is perfectly legal in miniatures! That tidbit and a bunch of fascinating other ones are available on the linked FAQ. Kudos to Reaper for finding a way to turn economic necessity
Mutant Chronicles CMG no longer random
The crunch collectible card games are continuing to feel may have contributed to Fantasy Flight’s recent decision to make its Mutant Chronicles CMG non-random. Having already changed their significant CCG lines to “living card games” (read: non-random sets), making the same sort of move for Mutant Chronicles could be an
WizKids cuts everything but HeroClix and card models by year’s end?
So WizKids is moving its offices to Topps’ location in NY, “focusing” on just a few lines, and by year’s end, “aligning its staff with its product portfolio.” Uhh… good times. Rumors still abound that MechWarrior has life ahead of it, but you’ll note that it isn’t in the list