WizKids announces their first CCG

I don’t know, do you think they can handle such a commercial type of game, with such high production values? High Stakes Drifter is a CCG due in November, which “uses a betting and bluffing system similar to Hold ‘Em where players challenge each other based on Skills, Smarts, and Luck.” Right, because the Hold ‘Em trend won’t be over in five minutes. No siree. I give ’em credit, though, they are lining up lots of not-obviously-bad designs and appear generally serious about survival as a company. PDF press release here, full text after the jump.

While we’re talking about WK, though: 1) we never talked about the official death of Mage Knight, and still don’t have anything to add except that, um, now I guess we’ve talked about it; 2) if you haven’t watched any of the animated Rocketmen “webisodes,” don’t, unless you want your brain to hurt. That is all.

The following is press release text from WizKids.

WIZKIDS ANNOUNCES FIRST CCG: HIGH STAKES DRIFTER

July 15, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., creator of the runaway hit games HeroClix® and Pirates of the Spanish Main™, is proud to announce their first Collectable Card Game (CCG): the multi-player wild west game High Stakes Drifter! “High Stakes Drifter mixes the excitement of betting and bluffing in a saloon-style game with the customizable fun of a CCG,” said Mike Samora, vice president of Sales and Marketing at WizKids®. “Unlike many CCGs, High Stakes Drifter becomes increasingly fun as more people join the game. Large groups work best!” The game uses a betting and bluffing system similar to Hold ‘Em where players challenge each other based on Skills, Smarts, and Luck.

High Stakes Drifter also features the fickle favor of Lady Luck in the form of Kicker Chips that are playing chips included in every booster pack that can have positive or negative effects on game play.

High Stakes Drifter will be sold in Starter Sets (MSRP 9.99) and Booster Packs (2.99), and will be available in November of 2005. Everything two people need to play comes in one Starter Set, including a predetermined deck and kicker chips. Players expand their collections through randomly inserted cards and chips in Booster Packs. Founded by 25-year game-industry veteran Jordan Weisman, WizKids is a Seattle-based game developer and publisher dedicated to creating tabletop games driven by imagination. Its Mage Knight®, MechWarrior® and HeroClix CMGs and Pirates and Rocketmen™ CSGs are among the most successful games on the market today, and the company has sold hundreds of millions of game pieces worldwide. WizKids Inc. is owned by The Topps Company Inc. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.