WizKids announced the remainder of its 2006 releases at the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas last week, provided some additional information on some previously announced products, and talked about some of its promotional plans for the year. 

For its HeroClix line ('HeroClix 2006 Schedule Announced'), WizKids provided some additional details on the Marvel:  X-Men Danger Room game, a new starters-only product that will provide two players with everything they need to play the game.  It will include six exclusive X-Men figures, two new 3-d objects, updated rules, and a new full-size map.  In September, WizKids will release the DC:  Green Lantern Corps Collectors Set to collectors that buy bricks from stores. 

In October, WizKids will ship Marvel:  Supernova, a new Marvel HeroClix base set. 

The HeroClix organized play program will be re-tooled and relaunched as HeroClix In-Store Play in October. 

WizKids has been using different release strategies for its multiple channels for the Pirates CSG line, and that will continue in 2006.  The line has been selling very well in mass market channels to date, with hobby retailers getting the advantage of substantial advance release on some products.  TV support has ended for now, although it may be resumed this fall.  Pirates of Davy Jones Curse, shipping in May, will be shipped to both mass and hobby channels in a relatively short time frame (two-four week spread) to get the maximum benefit from the release of Pirates of the Caribbean II that month.  Sea monsters will be introduced in that set.  In October, WizKids will release Pirates of the Mysterious Islands only to the hobby channel and Pirates Tins to both the core and mass channels at the same time. 

For MechWarrior, in addition to previously announced changes, (see 'WizKids Tweaks MechWarrior'), WizKids will begin including some old mechs from Battletech in each set, beginning with MechWarrior:  Vanguard in May.  Other upcoming MechWarrior releases include Wolf Strike in September and Outlaws in January. 

WizKids has three 2006 releases planned for its NASCAR Race Day CRG.  Race Day 2006 Series 1 shipped in February, Race Day 2006 Series 2 (featuring cars with 2006 paint schemes and the Talladega track) and Race Day Tins will ship in July, and Race Day 2006 Series 3 will ship in October.   Free boxes of the October 2005 launch release with the Pocono track are being provided to retailers as in-store demo kits for support of the 2006 releases.  Demos at NASCAR events and radio station giveaways in targeted market will support this line this year. 

Battlestar Galactica CCG (see 'Battlestar Galactica CCG Scheduled for May') sell-in has already been better than expected, according to a WizKids spokesperson.

Of course, WizKids has also announced two other launches for 2006, ToonClix (see 'ToonClix from WizKids'), and HorrorClix (see 'WizKids Announces HorrorClix').

WizKids also said that it will no longer support its High Stakes Drifter CCG, which did not receive enough support to justify continuing it.