Pirates and Mage Knight Take Top Prizes At Origins 2005

July 2, 2005 (SEATTLE) — WizKids Inc., creators of the runaway hit games Mage Knight® and Pirates of the Spanish Main™, are proud to announce that those games took the top two awards at Origins 2005: Mage Knight was inducted into the Origins Hall of Fame, and Pirates of the Spanish Main received the Vanguard Award — the most prestigious award in the gaming industry.

“Everyone associated with these games, from players to designers, couldn’t be happier with this recognition,” said Mike Samora, vice president of Sales and Marketing at WizKids®. “Mage Knight changed the face of gaming forever, and Pirates is one of the most innovative games in years. It is wonderful to be recognized by the gaming community for these accomplishments.” Only one game, which must have significantly impacted the industry, is inducted into the Hall of Fame each year. The Vanguard Award is awarded when a game meets the strictest of requirements, including offering something entirely innovative to the industry. The last Vanguard Award was issued in 2003.

Origins and the Origins Awards are functions of GAMA, the Game Manufacturers Association.

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.

Well done on the two prizes and the induction into the hall of fame for mage knight. it has to be said, of course, that it may somewhat of a phrrhic victory given that the cost of the mage knight win is it's removal as a flagship product. Nonetheless, I'm still an MK fan and I'm glad the game I loveso much has been rewarded in this way!

That's great news but it's kind of ironic the game is cancelled.

Hmmmm,

In pro sports (A.K.A. the Big Leagues, The Show) you have to be retired for five years to be placed into the Hall of Fame. Funny ,MK announced that there quitting and then they get into the hall approximately five days later. Well, I guess that's how things work in the minor leagues of mini gaming.

p.s. usually when it is considered a "runaway hit" you don't cancel it.

sorry, but I am finding the irony very amusing, and I am somewhat bitter

Does kinda seem ironic, doesn't it?

How can you be one of the best games in exsistance if no one is buying your game? Just an intresting thought.

But congrats to WK! It's nice to know someone in the professional gaming community realizes the true value this game as brought the entire industry. My honest, heartfelt congrats to the enitre WK crew who created the best mini game in the industry!

Hey, Drad? Any chance of reconsidering the cancelation after this news? (I can always hope!).

In gaming, games in the Hall-of-Fame tend to be active. Look at the games in the Origins Hall-of-Fame:

Ace of Aces
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
Axis and Allies
Battletech Mechs & Vehicles
Call of Cthulhu
Cosmic Encounter
Diplomacy
Dungeons and Dragons
Empire
Illuminati Play-by-Mail
Magic: The Gathering
Middle-earth Play-by-Mail
Nuclear War
Risk!
Traveller
Settlers Of Catan

He's not that wise after all.:D I believed him to be, before. Not anymore.

It that case, "Hit and Run" will be more appropriated. ;)

Well, MK was a runaway hit when it was first released and did revolutionize the mini-gaming market, so the "runaway" status of MK still stands.

- Saber

While I normally ignore the Origins awards (the vote-based popularity contest ones), I can't argue with this award. Mage Knight fits that award description perfectly. Well done and well deserved!

Okay, I have to remember that one. :D

I still can't believe they're continuing to use this statement:

"Its Mage Knight, MechWarrior® and HeroClix® CMGs and Pirates and Rocketmen™ CSGs are among the most successful games on the market today, "

I'm gonna yell it as loud as I can: "ROCKETMEN IS NOT OUT YET!! IT CAN'T BE A SUCCESSFUL GAME UNTIL IT'S RELEASED!!" The press release writers are idiots.

And I keep noticing this Vice President of Sales and Marketing is quoted in all these releases. They used to quote Jordan. hmmmm

Coming on the heels of Wiseman's announcement, this sounds like a load of stinky caca to me.

...I'm a player, and I could by A LOT happier! Hellooooo!? WizKids? Anybody home!????!?

I applaud the MK hall of fame induction. I agree it fits the description. As for Pirates, all I have to say is....

Z-Cardz!! Same idea, less marketing.....

Congrats Wizkids! Hopefully you're new MK will be here sooner and better than expected!
Maybe you'll get inducted again!;)