I was thought that Battletech had a HUGE fan base and something like 20yrs of being out in the market. This is what really help that game line find its legs again...also (taking a shot in the dark) most retailers,I believe, dont have any bad history with game line.
Yep.
The good experiences Retailers had with FASA and the fan-base helped alot.
Warzone had similar early on during the 1st Edition days. The changeover to Target as sole owner hammered a few folks, especially when 2e came out.
When the events that led to EE getting the license occured, Target and Paradox had already hammered the systems name; what momentum was there with 1st (hello thirty percent market share!!) almost evaporated, having initially being melted away with the rules... then the year(s) of silence in their fall.
We will not discuss EE's holding of things. That is a dead horse.
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I think the state of the Fanbase is still healthy, though not as healthy as it could be. With Josh's efforts for Chrono (sporting Thom's blessing helps) and what I hope to run by him, things look to be gaining a little bit of steam.
Not alot... but at least we still have the game... and people to play with.