Fantasy Flight Games to Exclusively Publish Board Games, Card Games, and Roleplaying Games based on Games Workshop properties, Second deal to include Sabertooth Games' Universal Fighting System CCG
Roseville, Minnesota (February 22, 2008) – Fantasy Flight Games (“FFG”) and Games Workshop (“GW”)
jointly announced today that they have reached an agreement for Fantasy Flight Games to become the exclusive publisher of board games, card games (including collectible card games), and roleplaying games based on Games Workshop’s family of renowned intellectual properties including Warhammer Fantasy Battles and Warhammer 40,000. Additionally, the deal will grant FFG the exclusive rights to publish new versions of the classic board and card games titles published by Games Workshop over the last 25 years.
Additionally, a second agreement between the parties will transfer the publication rights and system of the Universal Fighting System CCG, formerly published by Sabertooth Games, to FFG.
“We are just so thrilled to partner with Games Workshop in such an encompassing deal,” said Christian T. Petersen, CEO and founder of FFG. “Not only will we be able to continue the publication of some phenomenal roleplaying, card, and board games currently on the market, but we look forward to creating new games for the popular GW universes!”
"In Fantasy Flight Games, we’ve found a partner who shares our passion for gaming and our dedication toproducing the highest quality products,” said Andy Jones, Head of Legal and Licensing for Games Workshop. “our legacy of our board, card, and roleplaying games is in the best possible hands with them, and we are extremelyexcited about the prospects of seeing some fabulous new games set in our universes as well. ”
"This is the beginning of an exciting new era for the Universal Fighting System," said Stephen Horvath, CEO of Sabertooth Games. “Fantasy Flight Games are the perfect choice to carry on the UFS line, and fans can expect great new content and more fantastic events supporting their favorite CCG going forward.
FFG will take over the production of Talisman, and plan to produce a new printing and expansions for the 4th edition of this ever-popular classic board game.
for the Universal Fighting System CCG, the Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay RPG, and the new smash-hit Dark Heresy RPG. More details on FFG’s publication plans for these titles will be provided in the weeks to come.
The agreement does not include certain GW titles in which miniatures feature as the predominant component of the game, such as Space Hulk and Blood Bowl.
The Universal Fighting System CCG will continue to be sold as starter and booster packs in a traditional CCG format. FFG has no current plans to adopt the game to its LCG™ (“Living Card Game”) sales model.
About Fantasy Flight Games
Roseville, Minnesota’s Fantasy Flight Games is a publisher of board, card, and role-playing games. Founded by Christian T. Petersen in 1995, Fantasy Flight has published many titles, including World of Warcraft: the Board Game, The Lord of the Rings series of board games; board and card games based on H.P. Lovecra"’s Cthulhu mythos and George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones, and many original board games such as Twilight Imperium and Runebound.
For more information, visit the Fantasy Flight Games website at www.fantasyflightgames.com.
LCG (Living Card Games) is a trademark of Fantasy Flight Games, All Rights Reserved.
About Games Workshop
Games Workshop is the world's largest tabletop wargames company. Based in Nottingham, UK, it designs, manufactures and distributes its range of Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000 games, miniature soldiers, novels, and resin models through more than 340 of its own Hobby centers, mail order, Internet and independent retail channels in more than 50 countries worldwide. Further details on the company can be obtained at
www.games-workshop.com.
For further information and media interviews:
Jeremy Stomberg
jstomberg@fantasy#ightgames.com
651-639-1905
Games Workshop, Warhammer, Warhammer 40,000, Blood Bowl, Talisman, the foregoing marks’ respective logos and all associated marks, logos,
places, names, creatures, races and race insignia/devices/logos/symbols, vehicles, locations, weapons, units and unit insignia, characters, products,
illustrations and images from the Warhammer World, the Talisman game setting, and the Warhammer 40,000 universe are either ®, TM and/or © Games
Workshop Ltd 2000-2008, variably registered in the UK and other countries around the world. All Rights Reserved.
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OK, I spoke with Jeremy at length over the phone after he dropped the bomb…rather than transcribe the conversation and eschew my job any further, I’m just giving you the key points. Now, some of this is unconfirmed, "industry rumour" level stuff and _highly_ subject to change so don't go around trumpeting this stuff as the gospel.
- FFG can do anything (board games/card games), CCGs involving the 40K and Fantasy Battle licenses
- Everything published by Black Libraries has been picked up by FFG, including the DARK HERESY 40K RPG and the WARHAMMER FANTASY RPG
- No SPACE HULK, damn it.
- There are no specific titles, reprints, or developments on the table right now, but TALISMAN is one of the first things they want to get out.
- TALISMAN will not be called a 5th edition. The FFG edition will update the rulebook and cards with errata and components will be upgraded to meet FFG standards/printing. There is discussion of an upgrade path for those with the Black Industries edition.
- No TALISMAN miniatures.
- No timelines are set for anything right now.
- Eon stuff- COSMIC ENCOUNTER will hopefully be available by Gen Con. Kevin Wilson is a CE nut from way back- it’s his favorite game and he’s really putting a lot of heart into the new edition. Jeremy and I talked a lot about how FFG is big on putting people who really have a passion for licenses and redevelopments on projects, which I think really shows.
- ROAD TO LEGEND- “Soon”. Previews every Monday, Wednesday, Friday; rules a week before it releases. Watch for FFG’s own THAAD to make a guest appearance.
- Corey K. is developing the BSG game. As it stands, it is semi-cooperative but anything may change at this point.
Pretty damn awesome, ain't it? If the thought of FFG doing a WARHAMMER 40K board game doesn't make you cry tears of blood then you need to just turn your F:AT membership in right now. There's so much potential here it's ridiculous- and it opens up the great GW universe to those of us with neither the time, inclination, nor money to pursue the miniatures hobby.
The mind reels...could a new edition of DUNGEONQUEST be in our future? Hell, I'm thrilled that there's even the potential for a CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB reprint!
And TALISMAN expansions...the Black Industries reprint was great despite the gaffs, but with FFG at the helm it could only get better. And I think we're all relieved that a great return isn't going to die on the vine after all.
So let's all lift a glass to Jeremy, Christian, and the rest of the folks at FFG- SALUD!