Citing 'a major decline in the number of hobby gaming retailers over the past several months,' John Zinser, CEO of the Alderac Entertainment Group has implemented a number of cost saving measures, including 'substantially downsizing our workforce.'  In a letter published on the company's Website, Zinser noted: 'AEG is in the process of being retooled as a tighter, refocused company.'

Mike Leader, head of AEG's Retail Support and Customer Service, told ICv2 that AEG was concentrating its efforts on its core brands, especially the Legend of Five Rings (L5R).  Leader told ICv2 that the Lotus Edition for L5R, one of AEG's key products for 2005, would be released on October 31st as planned.  Leader also said that announcements about AEG's other product lines, which include a City of Heroes CCG, would be forthcoming next week.