INMEDIARES PRODUCTIONS LLC. ENTERS NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CLASSIC BATTLETECH AND SHADOWRUN LICENSES FROM WIZKIDS INC.
As reported by IMR/BattleCorps:
INMEDIARES PRODUCTIONS LLC. ENTERS NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE CLASSIC BATTLETECH AND SHADOWRUN LICENSES FROM WIZKIDS INC.
Everett, WA, April 20, 2007—InMediaRes Production LLC has entered into negotiations with WizKids, Inc. and FanPro, LLC to explore the acquisition of RPG publishing rights for the Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun Intellectual Properties. IMR is confident in the strength of Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech and the commitment that WizKids, Inc. has shown in supporting these two long-standing properties.
About InMediaRes Productions LLC
InMediaRes Productions LLC has developed BattleCorps.com as the premiere on-line fiction source for Classic BattleTech. BattleCorps.com actively support the Classic BattleTech community, their BattleShop offers everything from poster maps to PDF sourcebooks, miniatures to software, and is the one-stop-shop for any fan of the BattleTech/MechWarrior universe. Their subscription-based services also take the Classic BattleTech experience to a whole new level, featuring a stable of authors from national best sellers to great new talent, new art, unique product previews, faction specific message boards and moderated chats with authors and developers.
About WizKids, Inc.
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Topps Company (TOPP), WizKids is a Seattle-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating tabletop games driven by imagination. Its HeroClix® and Pirates brands are among the most successful games on the market today, with over one hundred million miniature game figures sold worldwide. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.
Loren L. Coleman’s Letter to the Community
Some of you may have heard the rumors beginning to build. Well, the announcements are now getting out there. Negotiations have begun, seeking to move the Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun properties to a new company, InMediaRes Productions.
As this moves forward, I’m certain we will hear information of long-time employees moving between companies, as well as dark rumors as to the fate of CBT and Shadowrun. I want not only to strike down such rumors, I can tell you that I see nothing but brighter, better days ahead for both game lines.
I have spoken with WizKids, and can assure you that this move is in the best interest of both Classic BattleTechand Shadowrun. I have every confidence in WizKids, in their support for the game lines, and their ability to ensure that the games we enjoy so much will only grow stronger.
I also think we owe a deep debt of gratitude to FanPro and its employees, as well, for bringing the properties this far. They have done an exceedingly hard job, taking over after FASA closed its doors, and the quality of the product we’ve seen in the last several years is a testament to their hard work and love for the games.
I know that I, and all other industry professionals I’ve spoken to, have re-committed ourselves to the game lines, no matter what. This is not something we would do if we were worried about their future. In fact, we are more excited than ever to have the ability to take both Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun to new and greater heights.
We look forward to seeing you there, along for the ride!
Loren L. Coleman
InMediaRes Productions
Rob Boyle’s Letter to the Community
I’ve been the lead Shadowrun line developer for FanPro LLC since the day it started, through good times and bad. Along with the other developers and freelancers, we have all been absolutely committed to continuing and and growing this game line in new and exciting ways.
The time has now come to transfer the Shadowrun line into the hands of a new company. We are not saying goodbye, however–we’re coming along for the ride as well. Everyone who is part of the core Shadowrun production crew is looking forward to relocating the line to IMR’s stewardship and continuing to publish one of the best games out there. Despite the delays we’ve recently faced, we are excited that things will be getting back on track quite quickly.
Rob Boyle
Shadowrun Line Developer
Randall Bills’ Letter to the Community
The last ten years I’ve seen the Classic BattleTech property and community thrive. I’ve been a part of the development of over one hundred products and novels for this universe. I’ve also been the key driving force behind the largest re-branding and revitalization Classic BattleTech has seen in well over a decade, including the creation and launching of the Dawn of Jihad sourcebook and storyline, as well as Total Warfare.
FanPro has made the above accomplishments possible. With the expiration of the license and WizKids’ desire to position the Classic BattleTech product to achieve even more, WizKids, Inc. is working with both FanPro LLC and InMediaRes Productions LLC. to transition the Classic BattleTech license to InMediaRes.
I have immensely enjoyed the working relationship between myself and WizKids and the other licensees surrounding Classic BattleTech/MechWarrior, such as Iron Wind Metals, InMediaRes Productions and so on. I completely support this move by all involved and look forward to an even stronger relationship between the various licensees that positions Classic BattleTech/MechWarrior to even greater heights.
Randall Bills
Classic BattleTech Line Developer
April 20th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
That sure will make some talk, here and there 🙂
April 21st, 2007 at 7:11 pm
OMG. I’m not sure what they’ll do with SR
April 26th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
[…] While all this is happening, Shadowrun’s license has been sold again. The new company is (ironically, if you know the game) based in Seattle, which puts them close to FASA Interactive, a Microsoft owned company that owns the electronic rights to the game, which they are using to make a multiplayer shooter video game to be released Real Soon Now. I’m not sure the proximity will be relevant, but could be interesting. It also implies that SR will probably have a Fifth Edition before too long, even though it is the same staff as it was under WizKids. […]
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:34 am
Here’s hoping the new company cans that cockjob Rob Boyle and retracts the entire fourth edition rules/changes/concepts. What a nightmare Shadowrun has become since moving away from the FASA-bred original works! Just look at that god-AWFUL video game they’re making! You can teleport, firefighting is not just encouraged but demanded of you, along with about a million other travesties of justice! Fourth Edition is not Shadowrun! ARGH…
Rant over.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:19 pm
While you’re free to hate on SR4 all you like, FanPro and Rob didn’t have anything to do with the Microsoft computer game, so directing hate onto them for that is completely inappropriate.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I enjoy the new 4th edition and I have run all four editions of the game. It is faster and doesne’t have that crazy success curve that third edition had. I think it is faster and for my new crew of shadowrun junkies fast combat that is easy for new players to learn. I just want them to bring out the gear book and perhaps a matrix book before they go all crazy with the system. I want a complete set of rules before they blow it up with a 5th edition. The game just came out last year and is growing in support again. Just bring out the books that were already in production and don’t wait a year or interest will tank and the game will die.
May 28th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I hope that if there is some sort of shake up, it will be an MMO along the lines of World of Warcraft. With the upcoming FPS by Microsoft (which is based on some non-canon material set in the 2050 and is not related to the 4th edition set in the 2070), and the videogame market itching for some cyberpunk goodness, I think that all this could prove good all around if somebody who loves the license gets a hold of it. Tolkien + Gibson = AWESOME.
May 30th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
“It also implies that SR will probably have a Fifth Edition before too long, even though it is the same staff as it was under WizKids.”
What the …? So, we’re left with a crippled 4th editions, with magicians having their rulebook, but not riggers, deckers, street sams?
May 30th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Wordman’s implication is wrong; Catalyst Game Labs will continue publishing Fourth Edition products.
June 5th, 2007 at 3:05 am
I really hope that with a move to a new company, they decide to go back to the 3rd edition ruleset. I love Shadowrun and used to be fairly active in the community, but when 4th edition came out, I stopped buying the books. I didn’t want to have to learn new rules (liked the old ones just fine, thanks), and now the books are of no use to me, as they don’t pertain to the rules I play.
InMediaRes, please support us 2nd/3rd Ed. vets!
June 8th, 2007 at 2:57 am
Really 4th has promise, the thing holding it down is that it is currently the rules are uncompleted and there is little source material that pertains to other parts of the world and professionalisms after the crash (let alone rules for them), they are supposedly releasing a book on the events leading up to the crash.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
iTango, the book that discusses the lead up to the crash is System Failure, and has been available since the fall of 2005.
June 20th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
who has the rights to publish fiction then….
June 20th, 2007 at 7:36 pm
IMR/Catalyst Game Labs has the rights to publish online fiction. To the best of my understanding, nobody currently has the rights to publish Shadowrun novels in English.
June 29th, 2007 at 3:04 am
Pls Pls started publishing the novels again i got into shadowrun because i read the first novel all those years ago.
4th edition is ok but i myself do prefer 3rd edition things do not need to be dumbed down to make them more playable.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:33 am
hey has anyone tried to get on to shadowrunrpg.com? its not working for me
August 21st, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Hey all SR fans. Is there another website for SR4 content? The link I have sends me to a german websales site…WTH? Pls help and post some of the links available for content. And what was wrong with the old site design?
August 21st, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Hey guys — until we can work out the problems with ShadowrunRPG.com, check out CatalystGameLabs.com and Shadowrun4.com