The Shadowrun Situation

[TheFlatline]

Wow what an unexpected and interesting night.

I just caught up with an old friend of mine that I hadn't seen in a couple of years, and I can't go into too many details, but I will say that it turns out that he has first hand, direct knowledge of, and has worked with Wizkids LLC and IMR, including the owners in question.

After a good 45 minutes of careful discussion on both our parts to avoid putting him in an unprofessional situation, I can say that without going into too much detail, pretty much 100% of the information Frank was given and has shared with us is accurate, and probably 90% of what he conjectures is accurate as well. What he couldn't talk to me about he did state was extremely significant to the situation, and that Frank's conjecture was pretty damn accurate.

I sadly can't state what that 10% he's off the mark in his suppositions refers to, as I don't want to get my friend in trouble for talking about this with me. But I will say this. My friend's boss agrees that it looks very much like wizkids is circling the drain.

[Username17]

I sadly can't state what that 10% he's off the mark in his suppositions refers to, as I don't want to get my friend in trouble for talking about this with me. But I will say this. My friend's boss agrees that it looks very much like wizkids is circling the drain.

Truly, sometimes people doing stuff in this fiasco surprise me. I had originally thought that getting the copies of Runner's Companion printed in mid March would get them to distributors in late March. That they hadn't actually paid for that printing and were trying to squeeze it out between invoice deadlines was a new one on me.

But I do need to jump here and offer a correction:

InMediaRes LLC is circling the drain. WizKids is a publishing imprint owned by NECA and no longer directly relevant to the Shadowrun situation. Also, they don't seem to be circling the drain.

-Username17

[TheFlatline]

I sadly can't state what that 10% he's off the mark in his suppositions refers to, as I don't want to get my friend in trouble for talking about this with me. But I will say this. My friend's boss agrees that it looks very much like wizkids is circling the drain.

Truly, sometimes people doing stuff in this fiasco surprise me. I had originally thought that getting the copies of Runner's Companion printed in mid March would get them to distributors in late March. That they hadn't actually paid for that printing and were trying to squeeze it out between invoice deadlines was a new one on me.

But I do need to jump here and offer a correction:

InMediaRes LLC is circling the drain. WizKids is a publishing imprint owned by NECA and no longer directly relevant to the Shadowrun situation. Also, they don't seem to be circling the drain.

-Username17

Apologies. He kept saying Wizkids meaning Catalyst tonight (he was drunk, and I did correct him at first, then stopped as it was derailing the conversation). He got it stuck in my brain. Monkey hear, monkey... er... say.

[Username17]

Heh. No problem.

By the way, am I missing something, or is there still no filing for the IMR side in the bankruptcy case? This isn't some accusation on he internet, you don't get to decline to respond. As I understand it, if they don't respond, the court appoints a trustee to run their remaining assets in their absence. There should at least bean extension request filed, and I'm just not finding it.

What with Saturday not being a working day, I won't be in full-blown what-the-fuck mode until closing time in Washington State on Monday (Tuesday morning for me). But I'm already head-scratching.

-Username17

[TheFlatline]

From what my friend and a few other people have said, it's possible that it was received but not processed yet. I'm *really* not sure, but depending on the situation, the change of legal council might have padded the time out.

I should ask one of my lawyer friends about that.

[Username17]

So the update is that CGL has made a response, but it's not open for general downloading/linking yet any place I can see. I am not a lawyer, and I can't tell if it's enough to stop the bankruptcy train. My gut instinct says no.

In other news: the Topps independent audit and the Catalyst internal audit that Jason was throwing around are different audits, being conducted by different people. Also, the license runs out when the month does. So they basically have until May 31st to digitally print a copy of Corporate Guide with Jason's rewrites of Ancient History's material in order to successfully get the spiteful revenge piece in against him.

-Username17

[Stahlseele]

Anybody really think they will be able to do that? no? thought so . .

[Kithkanan]

So the update is that CGL has made a response, but it's not open for general downloading/linking yet any place I can see. I am not a lawyer, and I can't tell if it's enough to stop the bankruptcy train. My gut instinct says no.

In other news: the Topps independent audit and the Catalyst internal audit that Jason was throwing around are different audits, being conducted by different people. Also, the license runs out when the month does. So they basically have until May 31st to digitally print a copy of Corporate Guide with Jason's rewrites of Ancient History's material in order to successfully get the spiteful revenge piece in against him.

-Username17

So there's no way that Catalyst will keep publishing SR?

[TheFlatline]

So there's no way that Catalyst will keep publishing SR?

The magic 8-ball says signs don't look so good.

They could secure a large amount of capital investment cash and settle their problems, they could pay off Topps or come out on the up and up in the audit and make a successful bid, or a number of other things.

It's not likely though. My particular source of information said in essence "it's probably over for them", and he's in a position to know.

[Username17]

So there's no way that Catalyst will keep publishing SR?

I wouldn't say "no way." The world is vast, and there is a possibility of a phenomenally stupid angel investor. Here are the problems:

• IMR's debt is substantial, more substantial than their projected earnings.
• IMR is being audited by Topps, and there is a substantial difference between the royalties they've paid and the royalties they have been due.
• IMR has delayed or refused all kinds of payments to all kinds of people, alienating potential business relations throughout the industry at every level from creative staff to printers.
• IMR has a looming lawsuit that could easily dismember the company at any point.

So basically, why would Topps give them a license back? A tabula rasa company with no history at all and no assets is actually a better bet than IMR is. IMR has negative value, financially and socially. They have no future, no trustworthiness, no war chest. And any company that looks at them closely would know that.

-Username17

[BeeRockxs]

Since the current license runs out in 14 days, I don't think anymore speculation is really helpful.
Let's just wait and see what happens.

[TheFlatline]

Since the current license runs out in 14 days, I don't think anymore speculation is really helpful.
Let's just wait and see what happens.

Do you got a deck of cards or something?

And actually, most of what has been said is *not* speculation. It's been verified by two different sources. Franks and (unexpectedly) mine.

[Crissa]

What's wrong with speculation? If you don't write it down before hand, you can't really find out if you were thinking this way or that in the future.

Besides, it's not like anyone is denying that IMR hasn't been paying its license.

-Crissa

[Taharqa]

Apologies. He kept saying Wizkids meaning Catalyst tonight (he was drunk, and I did correct him at first, then stopped as it was derailing the conversation). He got it stuck in my brain. Monkey hear, monkey... er... say.

So let me get this straight. Your friend was drunk and didn't know the name of the company involved. And you seriously expect us to just drop everything and head for the doors? Give me a break.

[RobbyPants]

I've been pretty drunk before, but it's usually not that hard to at least convey a thought. Just because the guy said the wrong name a couple of times doesn't mean he's out of his mind.

[Taharqa]

I've been pretty drunk before, but it's usually not that hard to at least convey a thought.

Its also pretty easy to embellish, exaggerate, and engage in hyperboly when one is drunk.

So what information do we have here:
1) hearsay (my friend says...)
2) anonymous
3) drunk
4) unable to get the name of the company correct

You be the judge.

[Crissa]

Good thing he's not a primary source, huh?

Or do we have someone here who believe that Topps et al is involved in forcing bankruptcy proceedings for no reason?

-Crissa

[Clutch9800]

Good thing he's not a primary source, huh?

Or do we have someone here who believe that Topps et al is involved in forcing bankruptcy proceedings for no reason?

-Crissa

I know you put an "et al" in there, but I just wanted to try and set the record straight.

Topps is not in any way involved in the forced bankruptcy suit. That comes from Wildfire Studios, and two other parties that are owed some money.

Clutch

[Kithkanan]

Sounds like no one knows what is going on. I just want my 6WA.

[TheFlatline]

I've been pretty drunk before, but it's usually not that hard to at least convey a thought.

Its also pretty easy to embellish, exaggerate, and engage in hyperboly when one is drunk.

So what information do we have here:
1) hearsay (my friend says...)
2) anonymous
3) drunk
4) unable to get the name of the company correct

You be the judge.

Good thing I don't give a shit if you call me a liar or not.

Tell you what. If IMR and Catalyst go under, I'll tell you how my friend was related to them and spill some details. If they don't, it won't matter, you can call me a liar, and that'll be the end of it.

Deal?

[Taharqa]

Good thing I don't give a shit if you call me a liar or not.

Similarly, I don't give a shit about your "so a friend says that his boss's friend's..." lame excuse for evidence. Its just rumormongering in its worst form.

[Maxus]

Funny thing is, most people are watching this fiasco with some satisfaction.

It's nice to see the bad guys go down. I actually don't mind some rumormongering in this case, seeing as how the truth is turning out to be a lot worse than what rumors people could come up with (Like...$100,000 from a convention being reported as $6,000. I'm pretty sure that can't be excused with bad penmanship or a poor head for numbers)

Also, I'm inclined to believe Flatline because, dude, if he wanted to make something up, I'm sure he'd make up something more credible and glamorous.

[Username17]

So the IMR defense is up for download now. You can get it Here.

The defense against Sugarboard is the weirdest. They claim that they don't owe him any money because they lost the records showing what amount of money they owe him.

I don't think "We lost his invoices" counts as an excuse for non-payment, like at all. Also, it was filed after the deadline to respond to summons, so I don't know if anything counts there.

Sounds like no one knows what is going on. I just want my 6WA.

Well, one of the people brought in to do rewrites failed to do so and they are bringing in someone else to rewrite the rewritten sections. So... very god chance it won't be done in the next 2 weeks, and then it won't be released even in a purely electronic format by IMR.

-Username17

[TheFlatline]

Similarly, I don't give a shit about your "so a friend says that his boss's friend's..." lame excuse for evidence. Its just rumormongering in its worst form.

You care enough to make multiple posts about it.

[TheFlatline]

The defense against Sugarboard is the weirdest. They claim that they don't owe him any money because they lost the records showing what amount of money they owe him.

Nope... That's actually an admission of guilt.