MLB SportsClix - New Baseball Game from WizKids

WizKids, a subsidiary of The Topps Company, has unveiled plans to market MLB SportsClix, a collectable baseball game, under a licensing agreement with Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

MLB SportsClix will be the company's first sports-themed entry into the collectable miniatures game market. It's scheduled to hit store shelves in March 2004, during baseball's spring training.

MLB SportsClix features real major league ballplayers sculpted as two-inch-high game pieces. Players act as team managers, collecting and trading the miniature baseballers to face each other on a ballpark playmat.

"We think the combination of fun strategic game-play, and the excitement of collecting your favorite players, will appeal to fans of all ages," said Scott Silverstein, executive vice president of The Topps Company, in a press release.

MLB SportsClix simulates real game situations by using specially-designed dice together with actual statistics that are contained in each player-specific figurine. The Alex Rodriguez figure, for example, will be a powerful player in the SportsClix world just as he is in real life. And Mark Prior will be an intimidating presence on the mound.

"In our game, anyone can decide starting lineups, where to play the fielders and what kinds of pitches to throw. It simulates what it's like to make the important decisions that affect the outcome of a real big-league game," said Jordan Weisman, founder and CEO of WizKids, in the release. "Anyone who enjoys baseball will have fun playing MLB SportsClix." MLB SportsClix will be sold in Starter Sets and Booster Packs. Starter Sets will contain a full team of nine figures, a stadium playmat, dice, rules, and everything else one player needs to field a team. The suggested retail price will be $19.99.

Booster Packs allow collectors to add major leaguers to their teams. Two-figure Boosters will retail for $4.99; three-figure Boosters will sell for $6.99.

To date, WizKids has sold more than 100 million miniature figures under the Mage Knight, MechWarrior and HeroClix game brands, making it one of the fastest-growing game companies in the United States.