B5 Licence will not be renewed in 2009

[AdrianH]

If they do kill it off I will be out. I'm not interested in getting mini-games from companies that will not support the games they produce but kill them off and expects me to get into the next new thing with the same short life.
Also it's B5 that I love and that got me into ACTA without it I might as way play whatever.

Ditto, 100%. I got into B5:ACTA precisely because it was B5. If I were to play some generic SF wargame with its own universe, it would probably be Battlefield Gothic because our club has more players for that.

Having said that, just because there's no new stuff being published doesn't mean I have to stop playing B5:ACTA. It just means I can keep playing it without having to buy new stuff.

 

[Foxmeister]

How does this affect Iron Wind? Do they have a licence with Warner Bros or are they using the Mongoose license in which case they won't be able to sell soon? I missed the Iron Wind "takeover" so have no idea how this all pans out......

I suspect (or at least would hope) that IWM were already aware of this and plan to take on the license themselves. Perhaps if the new ACTA went OGL (which I really hope it does) and assuming that IWM are picking up the B5 license, they could produce their own B5 supplements for the "new" game.

As I recall, Matt had said in the past that it wouldn't be possible for another manufacturer to take on production of B5 miniatures as a sub-licensee of Mongoose, so the very fact that IWM are now actually doing this leads me to believe that IWM have a plan that involves the continuance of the B5 line.


Regards,

Dave

 

[Poi]

Matt has already stated that ACTA isn't going OGL.

I doubt IWM would have taken on the B5 stuff without a longer term commitment than next year. Otherwise they won't have a chance to make back their set up costs. But even if they have a longer license for the models, it will be a diminishing return unless someone else licenses a rules set.

 

[Jal]

There will also be a new version of A Call to Arms. The space combat game set in the universe of Babylon 5 has too many fans for us to let it fall by the way side. So, expect a new universe, new ships, and a lot of the core mechanics you have been asking for – including a solid points-based system!

as soon as i read this i assumed MP had lost the licence..... AOG all over again.

i really hope IWM knew about this because it`s a very low blow if they didn`t.

 

[H]

mm, but at the end of the day, hands up if you honestly didn't expect this?

IWM may or may not have plans, heck, they may even have a new writer lined up to do a new ACTA, maybe B5 wars is about to return, maybe not.

remember, when mongoose stopped mini production they said no-one else could make mini's, then IWM come in on a seeming sub licence, so you can never really believe anything you hear.

It also explains the anti mini's approach by S+P, why have articles for a line that you discontinue.

 

[Narchy]

Is there any point in continuing to playtest P&P?

 

[inq101]

...no more Babylon 5 screen projects unless funding is made available for a major feature film.

So all we need to do is raise the $1-200million to make the B5 film to prove the franchise isn't dead, then MGP might pick up the license again.

I'll wait until I hear more about the future ACTA product and what Iron Wind is doing before I give up on it. The game went on when MGP dropped the miniatures and it will keep on now.

 

[katadder]

dont even think this was a mongoose decision as I know someone who contacted WB about the license and WB said they are not interested in renewing it with anyone as its not worth the money or hassle to them of having to sort out contracts, have a contact etc

 

[H]

but does that mean if someone made a B5 game unlicensed, would they persue it, if it's not worth licensing. . mmm....

 

[B_Steele]

but does that mean if someone made a B5 game unlicensed, would they persue it, if it's not worth licensing. . mmm....

I can't say whether or not WB would chase them down, but I would say it is a fair bet that JMS would. It really is HIS baby, at this point. He may or may not have any legal right to it (I honestly don't know) but he absolutely has enough clout with WB to make them notice someone using their IP license.

-Bry

 

[M1ndr1d3rs]

I'm sketchy about copyright law, so I have to ask: What exactly will (or could) go on and what will stop when the license is not renewed?

 

[H]

but does that mean if someone made a B5 game unlicensed, would they persue it, if it's not worth licensing. . mmm....

I can't say whether or not WB would chase them down, but I would say it is a fair bet that JMS would. It really is HIS baby, at this point. He may or may not have any legal right to it (I honestly don't know) but he absolutely has enough clout with WB to make them notice someone using their IP license.

-Bry

best make sure the rules include fleet lists for the norn regime, the terran alliance, the pointyhairs etc ;-)

 

[Jal]

but does that mean if someone made a B5 game unlicensed, would they persue it, if it's not worth licensing. . mmm....

I can't say whether or not WB would chase them down, but I would say it is a fair bet that JMS would. It really is HIS baby, at this point. He may or may not have any legal right to it (I honestly don't know) but he absolutely has enough clout with WB to make them notice someone using their IP license.

-Bry

best make sure the rules include fleet lists for the norn regime, the terran alliance, the pointyhairs etc ;-)

not to mention the Purple/Green lizard men, the Showdies, Velures, Ninboni and the Gakh (is that name copyrighted?!). :?

 

[Tolwyn]

Mhm, does this mean P&P will not surface,too?

 

[Da Boss]

apparently yes - according to Mr Sprange on another thread

 

[Chernobyl]

can't say I'm entirely suprised, but I bet IWM is wishing they had some lube right now.

 

[Greg Smith]

A sad day indeed.


IWM have had to negotiate a contract extension for Battletech, following Wizkids closing. They must be having a bad time of it.

 

[Chernobyl]

I wonder if its feasible to port B5 over to BFG rules...

 

[Da Boss]

ANyhting is possible - the scale of ships is a little different - but not as bad as say Star Trek - I would think a B5 Cruiser is about the same size as a large BFG Escort and the Battleships would match a BFG Cruiser. The BFG Battleships are really big however...............

I'd be suprised if no one has done it before

 

[katadder]

well i was doing it the other way.
mini-beams become lances, beams = pulse lances, holofields are basically stealth 5+ so work that back as stealth 5/6+ being 2+ save, lower stealth lower save.
most guns obviously end up as just gun batteries with special rules for some.