Press Release
Leading licensed collectibles maker and game creator, National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA)/WizKids today announced development on the upcoming online game, HeroClix Online. With plans to bring the popular tabletop game to PC, fans and enthusiasts are encouraged to enter the HeroClix Online Paid Beta today.
Since 2002, players of the combat-oriented tabletop game have enjoyed all-out battle with collectible miniatures from several of their favorite licensed media properties. In HeroClix Online, developed in conjunction with North Carolina-based game developer, Icarus Studios, players have the ability to participate in those same matches and tournaments with their favorite HeroClix characters–24/7 on a 3D virtual tabletop with players around the globe.
“Many of our most loyal players are unable to get to the store to play for one reason or another, but still want to play the game they’ve come to know and enjoy on a platform that fits their lifestyle,” said V.P. of Marketing at NECA, Justin Ziran. “Our ultimate goal is to re-engage players that don’t play in stores any longer and cross pollenate the online world and in-store world via achievements and our event locator.”
Through the HeroClix Online Paid Beta, players may take part in the digital version of the game, selecting from maps and figures from HeroClix sets such as the Hammer of Thor set and the Fantastic Four starter set. Using the same rules, miniatures and play mechanics as the tabletop game, participants may join public matches and tournaments with up to 64 players to a single tournament. Special items and prizes are awarded to winning teams.
As the online game continues to develop, new HeroClix expansions including maps and figures will be released later this year.
HeroClix Online, available for PC, is now in Paid Beta and can be downloaded at the Heroclix Online page. As part of the Beta program, all products and rewards that participants earn during their Beta period will transfer to their full account at launch. Additionally, players who sign up for the Beta by July 5 will receive an exclusive Clix at launch.
For more information on HeroClix and other licensed products based on the books, visit www.heroclix.com.
For more information on the Paid Beta program, please visit the FAQ.
For news updates and announcements, follow HeroClix Online at www.facebook.com/wizkids and @wizkidsgames now.
About WIZKIDS/NECA, INC.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Entertainment Collectibles Association Inc. (NECA), WizKids/NECA is a New Jersey-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating games driven by imagination. The HeroClix brand is the most successful collectible miniatures games on the market today, with over 250 million miniature game figures sold worldwide. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.
About ICARUS STUDIOS, INC.
Located in Cary, North Carolina, Icarus Studios is a next generation game developer and technology provider. The studios’ xScape game development platform enables the production and cross integration of massively multi-player online games, iPhone and Facebook applications. Icarus Studios’ recent game credits include co-developing the award winning MMOG Fallen Earth, and developing Showtime’s Dexter iPhone game. Icarus Studios provides its partners with a total solution that includes design and content production, monetization, customer support, hosting, and a tightly integrated technology platform.
3 Comments
Neat! I liked the Heroclix game, but I live in a pretty small area and hardly ever found anyone to play with.
PAID BETA?!?!?!? If I’m understanding this properly, that means “I”, the user, am PAYING for the ‘privilege’ of being a guinea pig??? Wow, I thought this was a strategy limited to physical products in order to get the ‘early adopters’ to do your beta testing for free (1st gen. iPod, iPad, etc), but I guess the digital world is catching up to the material one in almost every way possible. :o(
Yeah, isn’t a Beta usually a buggy mess that is being tested by normal people to see what could use fixing? Why would people pay to play an unfinished and unpolished game?
If they’re smart though, they’ll push the sales of the actual HeroClix by packaging the new figures with a code that allows them to play that Clix on the game, and can only be redeemed once, so that if you want the new characters in your online game, you have to go out and buy the physical characters at the store too. It’d push both markets a little I think.