Sabertooth Games
Encyclopedia
Sabertooth Games is a now defunct Memphis, Tennessee
based game company, founded in 2001. The company primarily produced collectible card games as a subsidiary
of Games Workshop, PLC
. Sabertooth Games was considered a "sister company" of the other divisions in BL Publishing
.
, Horvath notes that the company encourages players to "buy the game where you play the game." Towards this end, the company often sponsors events and provides free promotional cards at local stores.
The games produced by Sabertooth Games made use of existing game licenses or intellectual property
. Traditionally, these games were been based on other board game
or role-playing game
properties, such as the Warhammer 40,000
universe. However, with the introduction of the Universal Fighting System
in 2006, the company expanded into the area of video game properties, partnering with Capcom
, Namco
, and others.
In early 2008, following the financial difficulties of Games Workshop, a number of Sabertooth Games' assets, including the Universal Fighting System, were sold to Fantasy Flight Games
, along with licenses for board games.
Each of these products includes several different sets or expansions, and new expansions continued to be released on an ongoing basis (for at least several of these) in order to maintain consumer interest. Previously published games which are now out-of-print include Horus Heresy
and the Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game
.
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
based game company, founded in 2001. The company primarily produced collectible card games as a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of Games Workshop, PLC
Games Workshop
Games Workshop Group plc is a British game production and retailing company. Games Workshop has published the tabletop wargames Warhammer Fantasy Battle and Warhammer 40,000...
. Sabertooth Games was considered a "sister company" of the other divisions in BL Publishing
BL Publishing
BL Publishing is a division of Games Workshop, and is split into three sections:* The Black Library publishes novels, art books, background books and graphic novels set in the Warhammer Fantasy world and the Warhammer 40,000 universe....
.
Background
Sabertooth Games was a small company which primarily targeted hobby stores, rather than attempting to sell through standard mass-market channels. The company's mission statement from CEO Stephen Horvath emphasizes that this focus benefited and helped to support such smaller retailers. In an interview with GameSpyGameSpy
GameSpy Industries, Inc., known simply as GameSpy, is a division of IGN Entertainment, which operates a network of game websites and provides online video game-related services and software. GameSpy dates back to the 1996 release of an internet Quake server search program named QSpy. The current...
, Horvath notes that the company encourages players to "buy the game where you play the game." Towards this end, the company often sponsors events and provides free promotional cards at local stores.
The games produced by Sabertooth Games made use of existing game licenses or intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
. Traditionally, these games were been based on other board game
Board game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
or role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
properties, such as the Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000
Warhammer 40,000 is a tabletop miniature wargame produced by Games Workshop, set in a dystopian science fantasy universe. Warhammer 40,000 was created by Rick Priestley in 1987 as the futuristic companion to Warhammer Fantasy Battle, sharing many game mechanics...
universe. However, with the introduction of the Universal Fighting System
Universal Fighting System
The Universal Fighting System is a collectible card game originally designed by Sabertooth Games. The themes of the cards are drawn from a multitude of licensed gaming universes, principally Fighting game licenses...
in 2006, the company expanded into the area of video game properties, partnering with Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
, Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
, and others.
In early 2008, following the financial difficulties of Games Workshop, a number of Sabertooth Games' assets, including the Universal Fighting System, were sold to Fantasy Flight Games
Fantasy Flight Games
Fantasy Flight Games is a Roseville, Minnesota-based game company that creates and publishes role-playing, board, and card games. Fantasy Flight Publishing was founded in 1995 by its CEO, Christian T. Petersen. Since the release of its first game product in 1997, the company has been doing...
, along with licenses for board games.
Games
The company produced and sold the following collectible card game products:- Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card GameWarhammer 40,000 Collectible Card GameWarhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game, sometimes denoted WH40KCCG is a collectible card game released in 2001 by Sabertooth Games. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. The players may select various factions around which they could base their personalized deck...
- Horus HeresyHorus Heresy (card game)Horus Heresy is a collectible card game by Sabertooth Games set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. The card game attempts to recreate the struggle between the Loyalist forces of the Emperor of Mankind and the Traitor forces of Warmaster Horus, during the time known as the Horus...
- Dark MillenniumDark MillenniumDark Millennium is the successor to the Horus Heresy collectible card game set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. The base card set was launched in October 2005 by Sabertooth Games.-Storyline:...
- Universal Fighting SystemUniversal Fighting SystemThe Universal Fighting System is a collectible card game originally designed by Sabertooth Games. The themes of the cards are drawn from a multitude of licensed gaming universes, principally Fighting game licenses...
- WarCryWarCry (game)WarCry is a collectible card game set in the world of Warhammer Fantasy and published by Sabertooth Games. The base game cards were released in 2003, with newer expansions introduced in the months since...
Each of these products includes several different sets or expansions, and new expansions continued to be released on an ongoing basis (for at least several of these) in order to maintain consumer interest. Previously published games which are now out-of-print include Horus Heresy
Horus Heresy (card game)
Horus Heresy is a collectible card game by Sabertooth Games set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. The card game attempts to recreate the struggle between the Loyalist forces of the Emperor of Mankind and the Traitor forces of Warmaster Horus, during the time known as the Horus...
and the Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game
Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game
Warhammer 40,000 Collectible Card Game, sometimes denoted WH40KCCG is a collectible card game released in 2001 by Sabertooth Games. It is set in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe. The players may select various factions around which they could base their personalized deck...
.