In Case You Haven't Been Paying Attention 11/14/08

The Topps Company announced this week that WizKids will immediately cease operations and discontinue its product lines.

Scott Silverstein, CEO of Topps, said “This was an extremely difficult decision. While the company will still actively pursue gaming initiatives, we feel it is necessary to align our efforts more closely with Topps current sports and entertainment offerings which are being developed within our New York office.”

Upon notifying our partners, Topps will immediately pursue strategic alternatives so that viable brands and properties, including HeroClix, can continue without noticeable disruption. To that end, WizKids will continue supporting Buy it By the Brick redemptions for Arkham Asylum, and the December Organized Play events for HeroClix.

For consumer announcements, please refer to http://www.wizkidsgames.com/%5C%5Cwww.wizkidsgames.com over the coming days for further information.

Source: Wiz Kids Announcement

WOW minis debuted in stores this past Tuesday. Some stores have reported that they have already completely sold out of their allotment. Some figures are reported to already be re-selling at $50 and up.

Official Launch Events are scheduled this weekend across the country. Some stores not participating in the Official Launch Event have also scheduled demos for this weekend, however, due to selling out of product, may cancel those demos. If you were planning to purchase or attend a demo or launch event, we recommend calling ahead to make sure minis are still available and the event is still running.

3 Figure Boosters SRP $14.99

4 Figure Starter Sets SRP $24.99

6 Figure Deluxe Starter Sets $39.99

For more information and a listing of Launch Events: http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/wowminis/en/

Every Toys R Us nationwide is holding a "Call to Brawl" tournament this Saturday, November 15 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Bring your own Bakugan balls and cards. And don't expect to be able to purchase what you need when you get there.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers are being called THE hot game for the holidays. Stores every where are sold out, or only have limited quantities of starter sets and boosters. Bakugan items are selling for 2 to 5 times their SRP (normally $5.49 - $29.99) on e-bay and amazon.

For more information: http://www.bakugan.com/en/index.html

Also check out Sagrilarus Review of Bakugan: Bakugan: The Ultimate Option for your Trashers in Training 

Because it isn't a news week unless we report something on Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game, according to FFG's website it should be on store shelves now!

Many of the online retailers are showing it in stock now, and reports are coming in on the other boardgaming websites that people are spotting it in their own FLGS.  It will be one of the hottest boardgames for the holiday season, and "Game of the Year" talk has followed it since it debuted at the major conventions, so if you didn't pre-order you might want to snatch one up sooner rather than later.

UPDATE:  Thoughthammer has updated their status to reflect that they can't fulfill all their pre-orders and it might be December before they'll list the item as in-stock.  If you see one somewhere and want it before Christmas, you'd better grab it, and quickly.

The new Watchmen trailer will be showing in front of the new Bond movie "Quantum of Solace", debuting today.

However, if you just can't wait to check it out, you can see the trailer in its entirety on Yahoo! movies.

Just go here and enjoy:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808406490/video/10658091

Hellboy II: The Golden Army was released on DVD this week.  This was a great movie that didn't get the business it deserved as it (along with everything else) was steamrolled by The Dark Knight juggernaut.

You can see F:AT's review of the theatrical release here:  http://fortressat.com/index.php/Articles/Trash-Culture/Movies-Hellboy-II-The-Golden-Army-Review/menu-id-318

The three disc set includes tons of special features, including a digital copy of the movie for watching on your PC or iPod, something that's becoming a bit of a standard.

You can get your copy of the movie from Amazon.com here:  Hellboy II: The Golden Army (3 Disc Special Edition)

In television news, two series are reportedly hitting the chopping block:  Pushing Daisies and My Own Worst Enemy.  Personally, "Daisies" was probably too quirky-cute for its own good, and "Enemy" tried to burn through two seasons worth of storyinlines in the span of four episodes.   "Enemy" was intended to be NBC's next big hit, so that's got to be a big disappointment.

F:AT favorite (Ed. note:  okay, just Ken B.'s) Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has been picked up for a full season.  It will move at mid-season to Fridays, joining Joss Whedon's new show Dollhouse.

In "the show that absolutely would not die" news, Smallville had season record ratings for its November 6th episode.  Initially it was rumored that this (Season 8) would be the last for the show.  However, executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders recently had this to say:  "The cast, crew, writers and producers are all working full-steam ahead on a story-line for Clark that allows for seasons of further trials and adventures for our favorite hero. As always, we all have you to thank for achieving eight years of this amazing show that Al and Miles created, and we're looking far beyond!"

In related news, plans for a show focusing on Batman sidekick Robin's early years, entitled The Graysons, have been scrapped entirely.  Without being able to feature Bruce, they were worried about being able to make the show "gay enough."   (Ed. Note:  That last bit was completely fabricated.)

(Source for cancellation/renewal news:  www.aintitcool.com.  Source for Smallville and The Graysons news items:  www.kryptonsite.com)

Man, there's a lot of stuff going on tomorrow.

Source: National Game Day @ Your Library

The Mainstream big dogs have a new award that "celebrates the creativity, originality and summary of accomplishments of the inventor(s) or company." A couple familiar names have made the short list. Richard Borg for Game Inventor, and the boys at Smirk & Dagger Games for, no not Game Inventor, but for Rising Star Inventors of the Year. They weren't nominated for their games, which include Cutthroat Caverns, but for their invention of Crayloa's 3D Sidewalk chalk. If you have kids, you know that this chalk was THE hotness this summer.

The nominees were chosen by "industry peers," but the final winners will be chosen by the voting public. 

You can vote here: Cast your vote for TAGIE award