The Topps Company to Acquire WizKids
The Topps Company has announced that it is acquiring WizKids, LLC, the
Bellevue, WA-based designer and marketer of such collectible strategy games as
Mage Knight, HeroClix, and MechWarrior, all of which
utilize collectible miniature figures with a patent-pending "combat dial" that
encodes relevant game information in the base of each piece.
"The acquisition of WizKids represents an important step in our strategy for growing the entertainment segment of the business as it provides efficient entry to the growing collectible games market," said Topps Chairman and CEO Arthur T. Shorin. "Founded in 2000, WizKids enjoys a strong reputation for its innovative game design, effective marketing skills, and high-level customer care. In addition to the existing product line, there is a healthy pipeline of new games in development.
"Joining forces with WizKids will enhance the licensing reach of both companies and further leverage Topps brand franchises," he added. "We look forward to welcoming the management and employees of WizKids to the Topps family."
WizKids Co-Founder and CEO Jordan Weisman will be responsible for the day-to-day management of WizKids and its 95 employees. Weisman has been one of the gaming industry's most successful and prolific designers over the past 20 years. He will report directly to Topps Entertainment Division Executive Vice President Scott Silverstein.
"We are delighted to join with Topps and look forward to enhancing the company's product offerings with the addition of collectible strategy games," said Weisman. "With the support of Topps resources, its distribution know-how, industry presence, and brands, we are excited to realize the full value of our game products and to play a role in the successful evolution of Topps' entertainment lines."
Look for new products from Topps and WizKids each month in Previews. For a listing of in-stock WizKids products, click here; for a listing of in-stock Topps products, click here.
r e p o r t a g e p e r i o d . < b r > < / d i v >
< / b o d y >
< / h t m l >
t h a t i t i s a c q u i r i n g W i z K i d s , L L C , t h e
B e l l e v u e , W A - b a s e d d e s i g n e r a n d m a r k e t e r o f s u c h c o l l e c t i b l e s t r a t e g y g a m e s a s
< i > M a g e K n i g h t < / i > , < i > H e r o C l i x < / i > , a n d < i > M e c h W a r r i o r < / i > , a l l o f w h i c h
u t i l i z e c o l l e c t i b l e m i n i a t u r e f i g u r e s w i t h a p a t e n t - p e n d i n g " c o m b a t d i a l " t h a t
e n c o d e s r e l e v a n t g a m e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e b a s e o f e a c h p i e c e . < b r > < b r > " T h e
a c q u i s i t i o n o f W i z K i d s r e p r e s e n t s a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p i n o u r s t r a t e g y f o r g r o w i n g
t h e e n t e r t a i n m e n t s e g m e n t o f t h e b u s i n e s s a s i t p r o v i d e s e f f i c i e n t e n t r y t o t h e
g r o w i n g c o l l e c t i b l e g a m e s m a r k e t , " s a i d T o p p s C h a i r m a n a n d C E O A r t h u r T . S h o r i n .
" F o u n d e d i n 2 0 0 0 , W i z K i d s e n j o y s a s t r o n g r e p u t a t i o n f o r i t s i n n o v a t i v e g a m e
d e s i g n , e f f e c t i v e m a r k e t i n g s k i l l s , a n d h i g h - l e v e l c u s t o m e r c a r e . I n a d d i t i o
"The acquisition of WizKids represents an important step in our strategy for growing the entertainment segment of the business as it provides efficient entry to the growing collectible games market," said Topps Chairman and CEO Arthur T. Shorin. "Founded in 2000, WizKids enjoys a strong reputation for its innovative game design, effective marketing skills, and high-level customer care. In addition to the existing product line, there is a healthy pipeline of new games in development.
"Joining forces with WizKids will enhance the licensing reach of both companies and further leverage Topps brand franchises," he added. "We look forward to welcoming the management and employees of WizKids to the Topps family."
WizKids Co-Founder and CEO Jordan Weisman will be responsible for the day-to-day management of WizKids and its 95 employees. Weisman has been one of the gaming industry's most successful and prolific designers over the past 20 years. He will report directly to Topps Entertainment Division Executive Vice President Scott Silverstein.
"We are delighted to join with Topps and look forward to enhancing the company's product offerings with the addition of collectible strategy games," said Weisman. "With the support of Topps resources, its distribution know-how, industry presence, and brands, we are excited to realize the full value of our game products and to play a role in the successful evolution of Topps' entertainment lines."
Look for new products from Topps and WizKids each month in Previews. For a listing of in-stock WizKids products, click here; for a listing of in-stock Topps products, click here.
