Tag Archives: neca

NECA Acquires Chia Pet and Clapper Companies

Posted on by Leave a comment

National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), Joseph Enterprises, Inc. (JEI) and Joseph Pedott Advertising and Marketing, Inc. (JPAM) have announced the closing of an agreement under which NECA has acquired both companies. The globally recognized powerhouses behind the creation and success of iconic creations Chia Pet and The Clapper join the growing NECA family of specialty entertainment companies, which are poised for cross-company collaboration.

JEI and JPAM will proceed as NECA subsidiaries under the auspices of current vice presidents Michael Hirsch and Al Lam, and will continue as normal. JPAM has deep expertise producing and broadcasting television commercials throughout the USA and Canada over its 55 years of existence and will continue to purchase TV time on behalf of its clients and JEI. The companies will remain headquartered in San Francisco, and gain the support of NECA’s vast network of suppliers, creatives and internal team members.

Joseph Pedott, founder of both companies and the man responsible for the decades-long success of Chia Pet (which debuted in 1982) and The Clapper (first sold in 1985), will remain involved for the transition to help oversee the businesses as they are integrated into the NECA family.

NECA is a producer of collectibles of action figures as well as the owner of WizKids, a company focused on the publishing of board games.

WizKids/NECA, Announce Quarriors! For iPad

Posted on by Leave a comment

Game creator WizKids/NECA today announce the upcoming release of Quarriors! compatible with iPad, based on the hit original dice building game Quarriors!, created by Mike Elliot and Eric M. Lang.  Since its release in 2011, Quarriors! has received several awards, including Most Innovative Game of the Year in 2011 by Dice Tower. It has also been nominated for many awards, such as Best Family Game by Games Magazine Awards in 2012.  The digital release is slated for November in the US.

The game offers single player and 2 to 4 player online and offline Multi-player and Pass-n-play action! For ages 14 and up, Quarriors! is a unique blend of strategy and chance featuring a revolutionary dice building game mechanic! As a Quarrior! – a mighty mystical warrior – only you have the power to capture dangerous Quarry from the untamed wilds! But your rivals plot against you! They will send their own Creatures and Spells to destroy your Quarry before you can deliver them to Empress Quiana and claim your reward! Summon your Creatures and protect them from your foes and you will earn Glory for yourself. The first player to earn enough Glory will be hailed as the Champion of the Empress. Deck building strategy without the tedium of shuffling!

Features include:

  • Full and faithful transliteration of the original dice building board game Quarriors! by Mike Elliot and Eric M. Lang.
  • Single player and up to 4 player Multi-player and Pass-n-play modes.
  • Full tutorial included.
  • Automatic scoring and rules enforcement.
  • Challenging strategic gameplay.
  • Immersive sounds, art and engaging special effects bring the tabletop game to life!
  • Compatible with iPad (2nd Generation), iPad (3rd Generation), iPad (4th Generation) and iPad Mini running iOS 5.1 or greater.

For more information on Quarriors! for iPad®, visit www.quarriorsgame.com.

photo-01 photo-02

Kickstarter Spotlight: NECA and 4K Media Inc. Exclusive Yu-Gi-Oh! Licensed Game Wallet

Posted on by Leave a comment

Chalk this up to something I wasn’t expecting to see and cool enough to deserve it’s own Kickstarter Spotlight. Entertainment conglomerate National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), and 4K Media Inc., the newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today launched a Kickstarter campaign for a Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Art branded Game Wallet designed by a fan vote exclusively for Kickstarter.

This is a product designed by fans and funded by fans, an interesting strategy for NECA, a company known for products catering to niche, but rabid, fanbases. By gathering ijsight and opinions from Yu-Gi-Oh! fans, the two companies have ensured this is a product they want and looking forward to. This is crowdsourcing at it’s best, both in design and funding.

For instance, fans said the wallet should include:

  • Fits smartphones & calculators
  • Water-resistant ballistic nylon
  • Black exterior with ID-pocket
  • Nine interior card sleeves
  • High quality zipper closure
  • Mesh dice holder
  • Two pen holders

The Kickstarter tier rewards include two Standard Game Wallets and one Elite Edition Game Wallet, which will be limited to 520 units. Both versions of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Art branded Game Wallet are available exclusively on Kickstarter. Additional tier rewards include Yu-Gi-Oh! branded apparel, bags, key chains, lanyards, dog tags, pins, and more, all featuring some of the most well-known and beloved monsters.

There’s cool items here for Yu-Gi_Oh! and non-Yu-Gi-Oh! fans alike.

yu-gi-oh wallet

Best Pledge: $44 – Gets you the game wallet

Risk: LOW – Unless this thing blows up and some time frames get messed up due to scale, I think the issues with this will be minimal. I consider this about as safe as ordering the same products through their website if you could.

WizKids/NECA Adds Marvel Super Heroes to TabApp Elite

Posted on by Leave a comment

Gold_TabAppGet ready for a heroic expansion as WizKids/NECA and MFV, developers of the recently launched TabApp Elite, today released a new update adding famed Marvel Super Heroes to the app. Three new physical figures featuring The Invincible Iron Man have hit store shelves, available as a TabApp Elite Starter and Booster Pack. The free update for iPad and Android tablets is available now.

Accompanying the three new physical figures, Iron Man, War Machine and Iron Patriot, the content update includes 13 Marvel Super Villains, such as Iron Monger, Red Skull, M.O.D.O.K. and Magneto.  Also with the new update, the action now takes place in exciting new 3D Isometric perspective.

With the integration of Marvel Super Heroes to TabApp Elite, original HeroClix TabApp physical figures (which include the Marvel Super Heroes pack and Wolverine & the X-Men pack) are also fully compatible and can be used in game by placing them directly on the mobile device.

All figures are 100% compatible with the HeroClix tabletop game and come with a free code to unlock their HeroClix Online counterpart.

TAE_Screenshot_1 TAE_Screenshot_2 TAE_Screenshot_3

 

The Dominion War – Star Trek Organized Play!

Posted on by Leave a comment

STAW_Dominon_Logo_email

WizKids/NECA, LLC announced the Dominion War Organized Play event for the forthcoming Star Trek HeroClix miniatures game line-up— Star Trek: Attack Wing.

In September, WizKids Games kicks off a six-month storyline Organized Play program centered around The Dominion War. In The Dominion War, the Alpha Quadrant is in a time of struggle and chaos. The Jem’Hadar and the Breen Confederacy have established a presence for themselves in the Alpha Quadrant, and with the help of their recent allies, the Cardassian Union, they plan to conquer everything in their path. This engagement proves to be the most devastating ever fought in the Alpha Quadrant.

In the storyline Organized Play program, stores carrying Star Trek: Attack Wing will host tournaments for players to challenge each other for dominance of the Alpha Quadrant. Players will collect a participation prize each month as well as compete for a new playable ship that will only be offered via the Organized Play events. The player with the best record over the six-month event will be bestowed the title of Fleet Admiral and awarded a special grand prize at the end of the program.

Preorders are still being taken for the Star Trek: Attack Wing Starter Set and first 8 expansions packs that launch this August at GenCon 2013, during which players can experience demos at the WizKids booth as well as limited tournaments to get a first look at this exciting game system.

STAW_Logoe

Heroclix Iron Man Blasts in for Free Comic Book Day from Wizkids

Posted on by Leave a comment

WizKids/NECA have announced the 2013 Free Comic Book Day figure—Marvel’s Iron Man.

Coinciding with the much-anticipated Marvel’s Iron Man 3, in theaters May 3rd, the physical Iron Man FCBD promo figure will hit shelves of local hobby shops May 4, and will be available while supplies last.

Each figure comes with a character card and free code to unlock its digital counterpart in HeroClix Online.

free comic book day iron man

TabApp Elite Launches

Posted on by Leave a comment

Game creators WizKids/NECA and MFV have launched the latest addition to the HeroClix brand. Taking players on a mobile adventure, TabApp Elite is now available for free download for iPad and select Android devices. The app’s physical DC Comics Super Hero figures are also available from Hastings and local hobby and game shops nationally.

The elite version allows for multiple physical figures in game and enhanced visuals.

The DC Comics Superman Starter Pack, which contains a physical Superman TabApp Elite figure and branded ClixStation is available for $14.99 USD. Also available is a Booster Pack, $9.99 USD, containing additional figures, including a Batman TabApp Elite figure and Wonder Woman “Ally” figure, which can be used alongside other hero figures in game and placed directly on the mobile device.

TabApp Elite figures are 100% compatible with the HeroClix tabletop game and come with a free code to unlock their HeroClix Online counterpart.

Original HeroClix TabApp DC Comics figures will also be compatible with TabApp Elite this June.

TabApp Elite

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Artwork Licensed for the First Time

Posted on by Leave a comment

4K Media Inc., the newly formed, wholly owned subsidiary of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. announced today that it is making available for license, for the first time, artwork from its world record setting trading card game. NECA is the first licensee to take advantage of this newest opportunity for the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand.  Under the agreement, NECA will produce action figures, headknockers, collectible replicas, puzzles, jewelry, posters, calendars and accessories utilizing artwork from the ever popular Yu-Gi-Oh! trading card game.

This is a worldwide exclusive deal, not including Asia. This deal is to expand 4K media’s properties in the older collector fanbase. The products are expected to launch during San Diego Comic-Con 2013.

yugioh__Logo

Wizkids Announces Trains and Stations

Posted on by Leave a comment

Trains_Stations_Solicitation_4NECA/WizKids, the leader in collectible gaming, is proud to announce the launch of Trains and Stations a new take on train games designed by Eric M. Lang. Players must make deliveries, develop buildings and profit from their decisions while working with and against other players. Are you going to focus on mines or play a more balanced resource-acquiring game?

Perhaps you will focus on being the delivery king with help from other players and only dabble in the resources that everyone else is scrambling for. Every game will evolve differently with unique twists and turns.

“I’m excited to make a classic style family game that players will want to play over and over and hope others agree that the approach stays true to what people love while offering that little bit extra that will make it worth their time” Lang stated.

WizKids President Justin Ziran says “We are in the business of making games that are fun and unique, Eric delivered again on that promise and we are excited to roll this out at Essen 2013, we welcome fans to come by and see it firsthand!”

NECA/WizKids Announce New Puzzle Strategy Game, Connect With Pieces

Posted on by Leave a comment

NECA/WizKids is taking puzzle gaming to a new level, announcing Connect With Pieces, an upcoming puzzle building platform and game combining strategy and challenge designed by Joel Weinshanker, president and COO at NECA and board game designer Mike Elliott.

Unlike traditional puzzle games, in Connect With Pieces there is more than one way to play for a varied experience. While the ultimate goal is to match all puzzle pieces in a way that garners the most points, Connect With Pieces requires strategy as each piece has five possible combinations, with most fitting in more than one location on the board.

For an added challenge, each piece is embossed with one of five special symbols, that when placed in a particular pattern will earn players bonus points or allow them to block opponents.

Connect With Pieces, available now nationwide MSRP $12.99 USD, is designed for all ages and incorporates themes from several popular franchises, including a Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit and Twilight edition available at launch.

Coinciding with the announcement, NECA/WizKids has also revealed an upcoming Connect With Pieces application for iPad, coming soon.

« Older Entries