Topps released the results of its second fiscal quarter (ended August 28, 2004) on Thursday; WizKids and non-sports cards were the bright spots in an otherwise disappointing quarter. WizKids outperformed expectations, according to the release, and along with other non-sports products, including Lord of the Rings, Garbage Pail Kids, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, helped to partially offset a decline in sports cards in Topps' 'entertainment' division.
WizKids' Pirates of the Spanish Main was mentioned by Topps chairman Arthur Shorin as 'showing good promise among gaming enthusiasts' (see 'Pirates of the Spanish Main Sold Out'); the initial reception in the gaming channel was described as 'very, very strong' in the conference call. Topps also confirmed that it will be testing Pirates in mass channels before the end of the year (see 'First Expansion for Pirates of the Spanish Main'), with an eye toward a broad launch in mass channels in the spring of 2005. Topps' incentive to get more out of Pirates is strong; the company described margins on the line as 'very healthy.'
