WizKids Reorganizes Organized Play
Around Brands

January 26, 2006
WizKids is reorganizing its Approved Play program to a more brand-centric structure. Each game's brand manager will now have authority over organized play for the brand, rather than having a centralized organized play department that runs essentially the same program for all brands. This more brand-specific organized play "will result in more diverse and creative types of events driven more by each games' unique needs and fictional universe," according to WizKids.

A number of personnel moves will be made to effect the change in organization. James Carrott, who's currently running WizKids Approved Play as Director of Consumer Experience, will become the HeroClix brand manager. And some lines will add newly created positions of community managers who will report directly to the brand managers. Community managers will be responsible for instore events, and for developing the game's community and envoy programs online.

The changes are expected to be complete by mid-March.

http://www.icv2.com/articles/home/8128.html

Doesn't look like it will impact Heroclix, but organized play for WK's other games may change....

I wonder if this means we will see more Marvel specific events, for example.

Doesn't sound like anything is really changing to me.

What I'm betting we will see is more variety in the types of events that will be offered - especially at conventions. With a Brand manager in charge, they can tailor the events to make more sense for the product line...rather tahn having one person try to juggle all the events.

So what you're saying is that the events for every game line won't be using the same template anymore.

That's pretty much it. WK has seen that different lines need different approved play needs. This change is to help facilitate that and move away from the "one size fits all" approach.

Sounds like the smart thing to do.

If only my company differentiated more between its different brands!

I don't think I get it...are they going back to the "each universe is its own format" approach?

Brazil can be put in charge of Creepy Freaks, and have his own site "Brazillo World"..........

I don't think so. It seams to me that the Herclix approved play will be different than the MechWarrior approved play, which will be different than the Pirates approved play, ect.

I don't think they would go back to the Marvel-only and DC-only format...

I hope you are right.

Right... I think that's the basic jist of it. It sounds like that's why each line is getting its own community manager.

Corporate card shuffling is all. Smoke and mirrors. Bill gets Sharon's job. Todd is now in charge of Bill and Sarah. Milton gets a stapler.

"These are not the Creepy Freaks you are looking for..."

Moving along.

Thanks. For a moment, I forgot that they made more than one game...heh.