Whatweplay Gaming Network

[flightleader]

Dear MechWarrior Fans,
About a month ago, I wrote a letter discussing in broad terms that WizKids would be looking closely at where we were going to take the MechWarrior brand in the future. I now have a clearer vision of the situation and would like to provide an overview of our plan to you.
Our desire at WizKids is to create and own our own brands. So when I say that I have no intention of canceling MechWarrior, know that it is because not only do I personally love it, but also because MechWarrior is very much in line with our corporate philosophy.
The practical issue at hand is that the current overall business model does not work for anyone. It doesn’t work for consumers in that although our player base has remained constant, the products and services that we create under the current model do not seem to excite players the way they used to. As consumer enthusiasm wanes, so does retailer enthusiasm—and so does our ability to continue such a product without changing the format.
Through all of our recent expansions, we have tried to incorporate all of the low-impact changes that as a company we thought could turn the product in the right direction. None of these changes worked as well as we hoped. So now we have to resort to stronger measures.
Analyzing and fixing all of the problems that exist with the brand (IP Management and Development, Game Play, organized play, and product configuration) will take quite a bit of time in order to do properly.
As we revitalize MechWarrior, I would like to avoid mistakes made in the past. So here are our goals for this process:
1. Continue organized play support for MechWarrior.
2. Create some level of new product for ’Mech fans.
3. Create a game that is backward compatible with your current collection.
4. Do something fun for ’Mech fans during the transition.
With these goals in mind we are announcing today that Outlaws in its current form is being replaced with a different product configuration. In calendar 2007 we will produce a series of Action Packs similar in concept to the Poseidon Action Pack for MechWarrior and the X-Men Danger Room Game that WizKids created for Marvel HeroClix. These Action Packs will feature new ’Mech configurations and new sculpts. The full schedule for these Packs will be announced soon.
We will also officially be launching the rules and play system for Solaris VII in 2007. For years, ’Mech fans have asked WizKids to create the rules for the gladiatorial-style battles found within the story arc for this planet. Our R&D group has already been working on fleshing out these rules and is completing them for tournament use starting summer 2007.
While these two efforts are going on, WizKids will be enlisting the help of players, envoys, and retailers to fully review the MechWarrior brand. I believe that by gaining a better understanding of how players and retailers interact with our product, we will be able to enact the necessary changes to the game—including organized play and product configurations—that will make MechWarrior successful and exciting again in the future.
Sincerely,
Joe Hauck

[flightleader]

Dear Mechwarrior player,

Please feel free to put your questions and other issues concerning this under this topic! I will try to answer as much as possible.

Thanks

[Kristof]

does this means that random boosters will disapear and tha Faction packs will become the main product?

Solaris VII offical rules are great; is there a way we (BM's) can playtest them?

[flightleader]

[candy12345]