View Full Version : Around The 'Net: NECA Buys Into Icarus Studios
<img src="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/80851/HCRealms.com/logos/neca_icarus.jpg" style="width:200px;padding-right:5px" align="left">For those that have been following the progress of HeroClix Online; you'll know that it's being developed by Cary, NC-based Icarus Studios (http://www.icarusstudios.com/). That being said; it has recently been announced that NECA has invested $1.1 Million into Icarus Studios to make NECA the majority. What does this mean for NECA/WizKids and all of the other license that NECA holds? Maybe a Mage Knight reboot? Creepy Freaks video game? With all the licenses that NECA has access to; this certainly makes sense ... if the licenses also cover video game rights.
Blue_Shield
04/05/2011, 09:36
This has great possibilities.
As long as I get my Tabletop Heroclix miniatures, great.
I would rather get some news about upcoming clix releases.
kirbunkle
04/05/2011, 10:07
I'm really just a heroclix guy, myself. I couldn't see me playing any other tabletop based video game.
Carbon Rod
04/05/2011, 10:07
NECA as a company has made some major moves over the last year or so, all of them for the better. Buying Wizkids Games, they have gone from just a collectible making company (which they were doing great at already) into a collectible and gaming juggernaught. I'm so happy that Wizkids has a stable company backing them now because that means clix as a game is stable.
But as Blue Shield said, this now opens up some great possibilities. Now if we can just get NECA to get more of their properties into heroclix ... I'm looking at you, Ninja Turtles!
I think this is an investment for HeroClix Online; which is a great long term vote of confidence for it ... especially since we're talking digital assets, and the possibility of some fly-by-night company just shutting down servers with what's equivalent to "real money" sitting on their hard drives. At least if something goes wrong with HCO; they have it in their power to just convert digital assets to physical product.
Also; since Icarus does mobile app development; we might see an official HeroClix app to supplement both the on/offline games. :)
Bat-Phreak
04/05/2011, 10:12
NECA as a company has made some major moves over the last year or so, all of them for the better. Buying Wizkids Games, they have gone from just a collectible making company (which they were doing great at already) into a collectible and gaming juggernaught. I'm so happy that Wizkids has a stable company backing them now because that means clix as a game is stable.
But as Blue Shield said, this now opens up some great possibilities. Now if we can just get NECA to get more of their properties into heroclix ... I'm looking at you, Ninja Turtles!
Not only a stable company, but a company that ties in extremely well with comics and, to a lesser extent, gaming.
The acquistion of WizKids seems to be allowing NECA to expand their business outside of their core compentencies, but still staying in the same industry.
Very nice synergy, to coin a phrase! :cool:
A_Higher_Level
04/05/2011, 10:12
I tracked down and bought/owned MageKnight for the Nintendo DS.
As a single player game it was abyssmal since the computer AI was not competitive in the least. Unfortunately I had no one I knew with the game to play head to head.
I have high hopes for anything that is accessible online as it opens itself up to a larger market.
Maybe they'll be an android and iPhone app for it as well. :)
SlayerOfAres
04/05/2011, 10:33
I tracked down and bought/owned MageKnight for the Nintendo DS.
As a single player game it was abyssmal since the computer AI was not competitive in the least. Unfortunately I had no one I knew with the game to play head to head.
I have high hopes for anything that is accessible online as it opens itself up to a larger market.
Maybe they'll be an android and iPhone app for it as well. :)
They made a mageknight game?!!!???!???
wow it's about time someone had the steel to put these games online GREAT job NECA!!! Best of wishes also. Put me down for one of everything please.
Roderic_Cliche
04/05/2011, 10:35
What all games/projects have Icarus Studios done? What are they best known for?
WhoaDirty
04/05/2011, 10:51
I hope someone at NECA is an iFanatic so we can get a Mac version of the game. :)
I am excited over the possibilities this could have, but I have this nagging feeling in the back of my head that's yelling....
"Please don't bite off more than you can chew!"
This is probably a side effect of the old Wizkids, but its there none the less.
Given Neca's track record however, I am sure they know exactly what they are doing.
So.... go Neca! Let's see where you can take all of this wacky stuff!
:cool:
Imbalance
04/05/2011, 11:58
Hopefully this comes to greater fruition than the old deal with Flashman Studios.
A_Higher_Level
04/05/2011, 12:00
They made a mageknight game?!!!???!???
Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier (http://http://ds.ign.com/articles/738/738301p1.html)
Imbalance
04/05/2011, 12:01
They made a mageknight game?!!!???!???
Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier
Reviewers panned it on its lack of muli-player, but it is a decent representation of a solitaire campaign. It fleshed out a lot of those 2.0 characters that never had lore write-ups, too.
Huh. The pieces are starting to fall into place. After all, NECA has already made moves at creating distribution avenues (http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/18984.html) for their electronic media. It'll be fun to see if there's going to be any tie-ins a la steam or GameFly.
CheeseWiz
04/05/2011, 12:22
Yes! The first step in many for my long awaited: TWILIGHT, THE VIDEOGAME :)
(You gotta wonder if that's where the capital comes from.) As an F.Y.E. Manager, every two years, my store becomes NECA central with just about anything Twilight. Twilight Lip Gloss? Check. Twilight Pilliowcases? Got'em. Need Bella's costume jewelry? By golly, we got that too! So, it's just a matter of time for the Neca/Icarus videogame, right? :knockedou
American Dragon
04/05/2011, 12:55
You hear that giant explosion? That's my jaw dropping on the floor. This actually, figures. (Pun, not intended.)
AmDrag
AngrySalad
04/05/2011, 12:56
Anyone remember Leaping Lizard Software's role in developing MTG:Online? Let's just hope Icarus Studios' forray goes better.
CowboyBebop
04/05/2011, 13:16
This is great news.
On a side note: "Hey, Topps! Look how stupid you turned out to be."
boggyghost
04/05/2011, 16:57
All i got to say is that i hope it leads to a more developed Heroclix online. I have reeeeally enjoyed it so far, even with a few bugs. so here's to a hopeful wonderful union with much promise. Keep up the good work guys!
boggyghost
04/05/2011, 16:57
This is great news.
On a side note: "Hey, Topps! Look how stupid you turned out to be."
Right
man i bet they are kicking themselves now.
Ironman1994
04/05/2011, 17:36
What all games/projects have Icarus Studios done? What are they best known for?
Fallen Earth, a semi-popular apocalyptic shooter/rpg mmo, and the Dexter game for the... iPhone I believe.
This is great news.
On a side note: "Hey, Topps! Look how stupid you turned out to be."
They should be well aware of how stupid they are to drop a successful product. As a whole Wizkids Topps may not have been very profitable, but well Neca seems to be selling out almost every set... so well how do we put this best... Nah nah nah, nah, naah, nah.
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