WizKids
Encyclopedia
WizKids, Inc. is an American New Jersey
-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames
. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association
. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman
, a veteran of the game company FASA. It was purchased by sports-card manufacturer Topps
, Inc. in 2003. (Topps was, in turn, acquired by Michael Eisner
's Tornante
Company and Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007.)
Topps shut down Wizkids operation in November 2008 giving the economic downturn as the reason for the closure. The company was then purchased in September 2009 by NECA
.
s (or CMGs) Mage Knight
, HeroClix
, MechWarrior
, and HorrorClix
, all of which made use of the company's Clix
system, in which the changing combat statistics and abilities of each figure were indicated by a turnable dial inside the base underneath the figure. Their last CMG was Halo ActionClix (based on the console game Halo
), released in August 2007.
WizKids was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, previously of FASA, to publish Mage Knight
. Mage Knight was the first collectible miniatures game. Early employees joining Jordan in this endeavor were his wife Dawne, who led the company's graphic design; his father Mort, who ran international sales; his brother-in-law Ray, who ran domestic sales; and Jenny (Trisko) Berg, previously of Bungie, who was in charge of marketing.
In 2001 the company went from being "virtual" to having its own office in Bellevue, WA. Employees had previously been spread through Washington, Illinois, and Missouri. Mage Knight was selling as fast as it could be made, and the company moved into the hobby's list of 10 largest publishers. The employee count went up to over 30, including Don Gorski, COO; Tom Virgin, CFO; and Martin A. Stever, Executive V.P.
Though they proved less successful, WizKids also produced the short-lived CMGs Crimson Skies
, Shadowrun Duels
, and Creepy Freaks, as well as a baseball-themed CMG called MLB SportsClix. A CMG called ToonClix was announced in March 2006, but canceled before it was released.
In July 2004, WizKids created a new product category with the release of their first constructible strategy game
(or CSG), Pirates of the Spanish Main, featuring miniature ships assembled from pieces punched out of styrene cards. Their next CSG was a science fiction game called Rocketmen
, released in the summer of 2005, followed by a NASCAR
CSG called RaceDay later that year, though these last two games were discontinued shortly after. By 2007, WizKids was also calling some of their releases involving CSG elements "PocketModel" games, beginning with the Star Wars PocketModel
game.
In 2005, WizKids released their first collectible card game
, High Stakes Drifter, which was discontinued after its initial set. In May 2006, they released their second CCG, a licensed game
based on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica TV series.
WizKids entered the board game market with a board game
called Tsuro
in 2005, followed in 2006 by Oshi
and Pirates: Quest For Davy Jones' Gold
, a board game based on the Pirates constructible strategy game.
The company also owned the rights to the role-playing game
s Shadowrun
and Classic Battletech
, which they licensed to FanPro in 2001. Later in 2007, the franchise was licensed to InMediaRes
, the games' publisher. A game created by the company called Zypods (with a physical structure similar to Matryoshka doll
s) had a limited release, but was never distributed nationwide.
In the statement announcing the close of WizKids, Topps also indicated that it was pursuing alternatives to discontinuing brands so that brands such as HeroClix could continue on without any noticeable disruption in future product offerings.
(NECA) was showing off a Thor
figure for Heroclix, indicating that they might be the new parent company for WizKids. On September 14, 2009, NECA announced that they had purchased the assets of WizKids from The Topps Company. NECA will be continuing the HeroClix family of games under the WizKids brand. The WizKids assets sold did not include Shadowrun and Battletech, which were retained by Topps Inc.
The "Buy It By the Brick" retail promotion returned with the Marvel HeroClix: Hammer of Thor set. Unlike previous offerings, the promotional figure (Ragnarok
Surtur) was available with the 10-pack brick purchase at retail locations, rather than through mail-in redemption. With the following set DC HeroClix: Brave and the Bold the promotional figure (a Batman and Catwoman duo-figure) returned to redemption through WizKids/NECA, though this time done online.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames
Miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association
National Entertainment Collectibles Association
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video-games, sports, music, and television based in New Jersey...
. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman
Jordan Weisman
Jordan Weisman is an American game designer, author, and serial entrepreneur who has founded four major game design companies, each in a different game genre and segment of the industry.-Biography:...
, a veteran of the game company FASA. It was purchased by sports-card manufacturer Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
, Inc. in 2003. (Topps was, in turn, acquired by Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner
Michael Dammann Eisner is an American businessman. He was the chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 until 2005.-Early life:...
's Tornante
Tornante
The Tornante Company is a privately held investment firm founded by former The Walt Disney Company CEO Michael Eisner in 2005. Tornante invests in and creates media and entertainment....
Company and Madison Dearborn Partners in 2007.)
Topps shut down Wizkids operation in November 2008 giving the economic downturn as the reason for the closure. The company was then purchased in September 2009 by NECA
National Entertainment Collectibles Association
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video-games, sports, music, and television based in New Jersey...
.
History
WizKids was best known for its collectible miniatures gameCollectible miniatures game
Collectible miniatures games or CMGs are a form of miniature wargaming that is also similar to collectible card games — the primary difference being that while CCGs are card-based games, CMGs feature miniature figures....
s (or CMGs) Mage Knight
Mage Knight
Mage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
, HeroClix
HeroClix
HeroClix is a collectible miniatures game that uses the Clix system. Originally designed and produced by WizKids, it is now owned and marketed by NECA. Players construct teams of comic book heroes, villains, and other characters from popular video games such as Street Fighter, Gears of War, and Halo...
, MechWarrior
MechWarrior
MechWarrior is the title of a series of computer and video games set in the fictional universe of BattleTech-Games:In these games, players take control of a single BattleMech and combat other BattleMechs, tanks, infantry, and more, from within the cockpit of their machine. A third-person alternate...
, and HorrorClix
HorrorClix
HorrorClix is a collectible miniatures game. Released on August 30, 2006, it uses WizKids' Clix system. The game's tagline is "wicked fun." The product was discontinued in November of 2008 when WizKids' new owner Topps shut down the company...
, all of which made use of the company's Clix
Clix (miniatures)
Clix is a miniatures wargaming system developed by WizKids. It is characterized by the use of a dial wheel in the base of miniature figurines. The dial can be turned to represent the statistics of the figurine.Clix games include:* Creepy Freaks...
system, in which the changing combat statistics and abilities of each figure were indicated by a turnable dial inside the base underneath the figure. Their last CMG was Halo ActionClix (based on the console game Halo
Halo (series)
Halo is a multi-million dollar science fiction video game franchise created by Bungie and now managed by 343 Industries and owned by Microsoft Studios. The series centers on an interstellar war between humanity and a theocratic alliance of aliens known as the Covenant...
), released in August 2007.
WizKids was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, previously of FASA, to publish Mage Knight
Mage Knight
Mage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
. Mage Knight was the first collectible miniatures game. Early employees joining Jordan in this endeavor were his wife Dawne, who led the company's graphic design; his father Mort, who ran international sales; his brother-in-law Ray, who ran domestic sales; and Jenny (Trisko) Berg, previously of Bungie, who was in charge of marketing.
In 2001 the company went from being "virtual" to having its own office in Bellevue, WA. Employees had previously been spread through Washington, Illinois, and Missouri. Mage Knight was selling as fast as it could be made, and the company moved into the hobby's list of 10 largest publishers. The employee count went up to over 30, including Don Gorski, COO; Tom Virgin, CFO; and Martin A. Stever, Executive V.P.
Though they proved less successful, WizKids also produced the short-lived CMGs Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies
Crimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
, Shadowrun Duels
Shadowrun Duels
Shadowrun Duels is a collectible miniatures game that was produced by WizKids, based on the Shadowrun role-playing game originally produced by FASA Corporation....
, and Creepy Freaks, as well as a baseball-themed CMG called MLB SportsClix. A CMG called ToonClix was announced in March 2006, but canceled before it was released.
Constructible strategy game
A constructible strategy game is a tabletop strategy game employing pieces assembled from components....
(or CSG), Pirates of the Spanish Main, featuring miniature ships assembled from pieces punched out of styrene cards. Their next CSG was a science fiction game called Rocketmen
Rocketmen
Rocketmen was constructible strategy game produced by WizKids and released in 2005 and discontinued in 2006. Part of its marketing included animated adventures based on the character of Nick Sion, a rebel and adventurer facing the evil alliance of Terra and Mars.Recently announced by Capcom,...
, released in the summer of 2005, followed by a NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
CSG called RaceDay later that year, though these last two games were discontinued shortly after. By 2007, WizKids was also calling some of their releases involving CSG elements "PocketModel" games, beginning with the Star Wars PocketModel
Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game
Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game is a tabletop game manufactured by WizKids, Inc. that debuted in 2007, based on the Star Wars universe. The game was designed by Mike Elliott and Ethan Pasternack....
game.
In 2005, WizKids released their first collectible card game
Collectible card game
thumb|Players and their decksA collectible card game , also called a trading card game or customizable card game, is a game played using specially designed sets of playing cards...
, High Stakes Drifter, which was discontinued after its initial set. In May 2006, they released their second CCG, a licensed game
Battlestar Galactica Collectable Card Game
The Battlestar Galactica Collectible Card Game is a collectible trading card game based on the Battlestar Galactica science fiction media franchise. The game, published by WizKids, saw first release in May 2006 and was officially canceled in March 2007....
based on the reimagined Battlestar Galactica TV series.
WizKids entered the board game market with a 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...
called Tsuro
Tsuro
Tsuro is a tile-based board game designed by Tom McMurchie, originally published by WizKids and now published by Calliope Games.Tsuro is a board game for two to eight players. Each player takes their turn by selecting a tile from their "hand", and places the tile on the board to build a path that...
in 2005, followed in 2006 by Oshi
Oshi
Oshi is a strategy board game published by WizKids and designed by Tyler Bielman. Oshi is played on a 9×9 board and each player controls a set of 8 pieces .-Story of the game:...
and Pirates: Quest For Davy Jones' Gold
Pirates: Quest For Davy Jones' Gold
Pirates: Quest For Davy Jones' Gold is the board game version of the popular Pirates of the Spanish Main tabletop game. It is produced by WizKids....
, a board game based on the Pirates constructible strategy game.
The company also owned the rights to the 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...
s Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
and Classic Battletech
Classic BattleTech
Classic BattleTech is a table-top wargame set in the fictional BattleTech universe that simulates combat between futuristic mechanized forces. Originally published by FASA Corporation, the game is now produced by Catalyst Game Labs under license from WizKids...
, which they licensed to FanPro in 2001. Later in 2007, the franchise was licensed to InMediaRes
InMediaRes
InMediaRes Productions, LLC was founded in 2003 by Loren & Heather Coleman, Tara & Randall N. Bills and Philip DeLuca with the express purpose of licensing the rights to publish new, canon Classic BattleTech fiction to the Internet from WizKids. Wizkids granted this license to IMR in the fall of...
, the games' publisher. A game created by the company called Zypods (with a physical structure similar to Matryoshka doll
Matryoshka doll
A matryoshka doll is a Russian nesting doll which is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo...
s) had a limited release, but was never distributed nationwide.
Topps Shuts Down WizKids
The Topps Company announced on Monday, Nov. 10 2008 that it would be closing down WizKids and discontinuing product lines including HeroClix. Topps CEO Scott Silverstein commented "This was an extremely difficult decision. But in light of the current economic conditions, we feel it is necessary to align our gaming initiatives more closely with Topps current sports and entertainment offerings which are already being developed within our New York office."In the statement announcing the close of WizKids, Topps also indicated that it was pursuing alternatives to discontinuing brands so that brands such as HeroClix could continue on without any noticeable disruption in future product offerings.
Continuation and NECA Purchase
At the July 2009 San Diego Comic-Con, National Entertainment Collectibles AssociationNational Entertainment Collectibles Association
The National Entertainment Collectibles Association or NECA is an American manufacturer of collectibles typically licensed from films, video-games, sports, music, and television based in New Jersey...
(NECA) was showing off a Thor
Thor (Marvel Comics)
Thor is a fictional superhero who appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #83 and was created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and penciller Jack Kirby....
figure for Heroclix, indicating that they might be the new parent company for WizKids. On September 14, 2009, NECA announced that they had purchased the assets of WizKids from The Topps Company. NECA will be continuing the HeroClix family of games under the WizKids brand. The WizKids assets sold did not include Shadowrun and Battletech, which were retained by Topps Inc.
The "Buy It By the Brick" retail promotion returned with the Marvel HeroClix: Hammer of Thor set. Unlike previous offerings, the promotional figure (Ragnarok
Ragnarök
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...
Surtur) was available with the 10-pack brick purchase at retail locations, rather than through mail-in redemption. With the following set DC HeroClix: Brave and the Bold the promotional figure (a Batman and Catwoman duo-figure) returned to redemption through WizKids/NECA, though this time done online.
Board Games
- OshiOshiOshi is a strategy board game published by WizKids and designed by Tyler Bielman. Oshi is played on a 9×9 board and each player controls a set of 8 pieces .-Story of the game:...
- TsuroTsuroTsuro is a tile-based board game designed by Tom McMurchie, originally published by WizKids and now published by Calliope Games.Tsuro is a board game for two to eight players. Each player takes their turn by selecting a tile from their "hand", and places the tile on the board to build a path that...
- Pirates: Quest For Davy Jones' GoldPirates: Quest For Davy Jones' GoldPirates: Quest For Davy Jones' Gold is the board game version of the popular Pirates of the Spanish Main tabletop game. It is produced by WizKids....
- Freddy Vs Jason Forest of fear
- GremlinsGremlinsGremlins is a 1984 American horror comedy film directed by Joe Dante, released by Warner Bros. The film is about a young man who receives a strange creature—called a Mogwai—as a pet, which then spawns other creatures who transform into small, destructive, evil monsters. It was followed by a sequel,...
- Quarriors
- Mage KnightMage KnightMage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
[release date: 2011]
Collectable Card Games
- Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica Collectable Card GameThe Battlestar Galactica Collectible Card Game is a collectible trading card game based on the Battlestar Galactica science fiction media franchise. The game, published by WizKids, saw first release in May 2006 and was officially canceled in March 2007....
- High Stakes Drifter
Collectable miniatures games
- ClixClix (miniatures)Clix is a miniatures wargaming system developed by WizKids. It is characterized by the use of a dial wheel in the base of miniature figurines. The dial can be turned to represent the statistics of the figurine.Clix games include:* Creepy Freaks...
games- Creepy Freaks
- Crimson SkiesCrimson SkiesCrimson Skies is a media franchise and fictional universe created by Jordan Weisman and Dave McCoy. The series' intellectual property is currently owned by Microsoft Game Studios , although Weisman's new company, Smith & Tinker Inc., has announced that it has licensed the electronic entertainment...
- Halo ActionClix
- HeroClixHeroClixHeroClix is a collectible miniatures game that uses the Clix system. Originally designed and produced by WizKids, it is now owned and marketed by NECA. Players construct teams of comic book heroes, villains, and other characters from popular video games such as Street Fighter, Gears of War, and Halo...
- DC HeroClix
- Marvel HeroClix
- Indy HeroClix
- The BPRDBPRDBPRD may mean:* Bureau of Police Research and Development, the premier Indian police modernising agency of India.* Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, a fictional organization in the comic book work of Mike Mignola....
and HellboyHellboyHellboy is a comic book superhero created by writer-artist Mike Mignola. The character first appeared in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2 , and has since appeared in various eponymous miniseries, one-shots and intercompany crossovers...
HeroClix - City of HeroesCity of HeroesCity of Heroes is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the superhero comic book genre, developed by Cryptic Studios and published by NCsoft. The game was launched in North America on April 27, 2004 and in Europe on February 4, 2005 with English, German and French language...
HeroClix - City of VillainsCity of VillainsCity of Villains is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the superhero comic book genre, developed by Cryptic Studios and published by NCSoft. Released on October 31, 2005 , the game is integrated with their previous release, City of Heroes...
HeroClix - Gears of WarGears of WarGears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
HeroClix - InvincibleInvincible (comics)Invincible is a superhero in the . Created by writer Robert Kirkman and artist Cory Walker, the character first appeared in Tech Jacket #1 , before graduating to his own self-titled regular series in 2003, as a title in Image's then-new superhero line.Invincible is the teenaged son of Omni-Man, an...
HeroClix - Iron MaidenIron MaidenIron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
HeroClix - The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
HeroClix - Street FighterStreet Fighter, commonly abbreviated as SF, is a series of Fighting Games developed in Japan in which the players pit the video games' competitive fighters from around the world, each with his or her own unique fighting style, against one another...
HeroClix
- The BPRD
- HorrorClixHorrorClixHorrorClix is a collectible miniatures game. Released on August 30, 2006, it uses WizKids' Clix system. The game's tagline is "wicked fun." The product was discontinued in November of 2008 when WizKids' new owner Topps shut down the company...
- Lord of the Rings
- Mage KnightMage KnightMage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
- MechWarriorMechWarriorMechWarrior is the title of a series of computer and video games set in the fictional universe of BattleTech-Games:In these games, players take control of a single BattleMech and combat other BattleMechs, tanks, infantry, and more, from within the cockpit of their machine. A third-person alternate...
- MechWarrior: Dark AgeMechWarrior: Dark AgeMechWarrior: Dark Age was a tabletop wargame by WizKids set in the BattleTech universe that uses the Clix system...
- MechWarrior: Age of Destruction
- MechWarrior: Dark Age
- Shadowrun DuelsShadowrun DuelsShadowrun Duels is a collectible miniatures game that was produced by WizKids, based on the Shadowrun role-playing game originally produced by FASA Corporation....
- SportsClix
- MLB SportsClix
- ToonClix
Constructible Strategy Games
- Pirates Constructible Strategy Game
- RocketmenRocketmenRocketmen was constructible strategy game produced by WizKids and released in 2005 and discontinued in 2006. Part of its marketing included animated adventures based on the character of Nick Sion, a rebel and adventurer facing the evil alliance of Terra and Mars.Recently announced by Capcom,...
- NASCAR Race DayNASCAR Race DayNASCAR Race Day is a tabletop game with aspects of both miniatures and collectible card genres. The creators of the game, WizKids, dubbed it a "Constructible Racing Game".- Description :...
- Lord of the Rings CSG (Unreleased)
Pocketmodel Games
- Star Wars PocketModel Trading Card GameStar Wars PocketModel Trading Card GameStar Wars PocketModel Trading Card Game is a tabletop game manufactured by WizKids, Inc. that debuted in 2007, based on the Star Wars universe. The game was designed by Mike Elliott and Ethan Pasternack....
- Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModelsPirates of the Caribbean PocketModelsThe Pirates of the Caribbean PocketModel Game is the 10th expansion for the Pirates of the Spanish Main constructible strategy game released by WizKids.-History:...
Star Trek Games
- Star Trek: Expeditions [release date: 2011]
- Star Trek: Fleet Captains [release date: 2011]