Robot Viking

When you have 32 missiles on your shoulders, is the skull and crossbones really necessary?

If you’re the sort of gamer who prefers your bipedal war machines to be made of metal, hand-painted, and equipped with hit location tracking charts, then we have a treat for you. Guest writer Brian Compter from ScrapYardArmory.com leads us through the twisted real-world history of one of the best sci-fi universes ever created – Battletech.

Catalyst Rising

Classic Battletech is a war game with a long history both on and off the pages of its many source books and novels. Ownership twists and turns over the decades have brought this storied franchise into the hands of Catalyst Game Labs. While Catalyst is a new name on the game manufacturers’ block, the talent behind the scenes is not.

From the FASA days to the present, the Battletech franchise has been handled by a number of companies. From WizKids to FanPro to InMediaRes to Catalyst, it is only reasonable to hear the naysayers cynically ask, “Who owns Battletech this week?” The transfer of power over the years has put a strain on the fan base, but those who have endured have been treated to a near constant stream of material for their beloved universe. Looking back on the frequent changing of hands leads to an appreciation for how resilient the brand has become.

The FASA Years

For 17 years FASA presided over the Battletech franchise, releasing novels, source books, and all manner of game accessories that enhanced and evolved the Battletech universe. Some of the most drastic and arduous twists in Battletech’s plot line took place under FASA’s watch. Gamers and fans often had a love-hate relationship with the material FASA published. Quality and presentation issues hampered adoption, while older gamers longed for the good old days of feudal themes complete with carefully woven stories of futuristic knights-errant in a universe torn apart by centuries of war.

The first era of Battletech was the longest so far. FASA lasted almost two decades before reality caught up with the company’s owners.

FASA Closes – The Dark Ages

2001 was the beginning of the Dark Age both literally and figuratively for Battletech. The writing was on the wall and FASA closed it’s doors. Many fans faded into the background assuming the worst. Meanwhile, the many universes under FASA’s care would eventually find a home with WizKids, which was led by one of original founders of FASA, Jordan Weisman.

Wizkids would introduce the new “Click-Tech” rendition of the Battletech game in 2002, while publishing rights for the original game transferred to FanPro. FanPro was a German company whose U.S. subsidiary was born specifically to deal with the old FASA licenses. Luckily for Battletech, the Dark Age it endured was brief. FanPro took up the reins and made the best of the situation, promising great things in the future.

FanPro Begins a Renaissance

Under a new aegis and with the new plan to revitalize the decades old brand, FanPro embarked on an ambitious journey to give Battletech a face lift. For the first time, Battletech donned the Classic moniker. The game took on a revised presentation and polished flare with the release of a new core rules book, Total Warfare, reviving interest in the game.

While FanPro allowed the Battletech line to continue and begin to flourish, the issue of control loomed over the developers. A separate company, InMediaRes, which up to this point held the rights for online fiction publication, waited in the wings for the opportunity to change the guard and bring home the Classic Battletech line. Trouble from within the German arm of FanPro in 2007 gave Battletech developers the chance they needed.

The Catalyst Era

When FanPro collapsed, the right to publish Battletech games transferred to InMediaRes, which promptly created a subsidiary to handle their new property. Catalyst Game Labs emerged from InMediaRes to carry on the task of publishing the Classic Battletech line. The change from FanPro to Catalyst was mostly cosmetic in nature – the same developers from FanPro were at the helm of Catalyst.

Throughout the tumultuous trading of intellectual property over the years, the true owners of Battletech never changed. It always belonged to people who cared. People like Randall Bills, Loren Coleman, and Herb Beas. These are the people in whose hands the universe rested, in good times and bad. Many have been faithful stewards of Battletech from the FASA days and have endured because they see a bright future for the game and the universe.

Right now, as the current Jihad story arc nears its zenith, fans of the game are looking forward to another Dark Age for Classic Battletech. This time, the Dark Age is one engineered by the writers and developers.

One thing is clear. War never ends, especially in the 31^st century. So long as gamers continue to be fascinated by 100 ton anthropomorphic tanks bristling with missiles, lasers, and autocannons, there will be battles to fight and stories to tell in the Battletech universe.

Here’s hoping Battletech sees a 50^th anniversary to match it’s 25^th this year.

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