Catalyst Game Labs
ActiveOverview
Catalyst Game Labs is a top-ten hobby games and fiction publisher specializing in licensed properties, particularly in tabletop role-playing games and miniatures wargaming. The company produces games and fiction across sophisticated game mechanics and dynamic universes, serving both casual players and experienced enthusiasts. As the largest licensee of The Topps Company, Catalyst manages intellectual properties and has held licenses from major companies including Hasbro, MGM, Paramount, Wargaming.net, and Valiant Entertainment.
History
Catalyst Game Labs was created in May 2007 by InMediaRes Productions, LLC to publish print Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech sourcebooks. In June 2007, WizKids transferred the licenses for both Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech to Catalyst from FanPro LLC. The company expanded into novels in 2008 and entered casual gaming with card-oriented games. In 2018, owners Loren and Heather Coleman acquired Rather Dashing Games, integrating it as a division of Catalyst Game Labs.
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| BattleTech | Miniatures wargaming and role-playing in a sci-fi mech warfare setting | $20 - $150 |
| Shadowrun | Urban fantasy role-playing game blending magic, technology, and cyberpunk | $25 - $80 |
| Leviathans | Miniatures wargame featuring lighter-than-air battleships in alternate early 20th century | $40 - $120 |
| Board Games | Strategy and casual board games including The Duke and Wrath of Dragons | $15 - $60 |
Manufacturing
Manufacturing details are not specified in available sources. Products appear to be produced through a combination of print publishing and electronic distribution, with Catalyst leveraging InMediaRes Productions' electronic publishing capabilities alongside traditional printed gaming materials.
Notable Products
- BattleTech Sourcebooks - Print and digital sourcebooks for the BattleTech miniatures wargaming and role-playing universe
- Shadowrun Novels and Sourcebooks - Fiction and gaming materials set in the Shadowrun urban fantasy universe
- Leviathans - Miniatures wargame featuring airship combat in an alternate early 20th century setting
- The Duke - Two-player abstract strategy board game played on a 6x6 grid
- Paparazzi - Casual card-oriented game released as part of Catalyst's entry into casual gaming
Reputation
Catalyst Game Labs is recognized as a significant publisher in the hobby gaming sector with a strong portfolio of established intellectual properties. The company maintains credibility through its management of major licensed properties and partnerships with industry leaders. However, specific critical assessments from enthusiasts and professionals are not detailed in available sources, limiting comprehensive evaluation of perceived strengths and weaknesses within the gaming community.
Sources (7)
- https://www.zoominfo.com/c/catalyst-game-labs/51417924
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalyst_Game_Labs
- https://www.catalystgamelabs.com
- https://www.datanyze.com/companies/catalyst-game-labs/51417924
- https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/pages/about-us
- https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/lake-stevens/profile/video-game-supplies/catalyst-game-labs-1296-22832584
- https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.catalyst_game_labs_llc.0c716c8a04c141753bd20273a547d470.html