From:	"XaOs [David Goth]" <xaos@*****.NET>
Subject:	Re: State of the Industry
Date:	Sat, 6 Feb 1999 12:23:18 -0600

> I thought it was a new press release going over what has already been
> covered before. I'm still trying to find more information. If MS truely
> has all rights then I feel (IMO) that Shadowrun (and the rest of the
> company) doesn't have much of a future left. It sits very poorly with me.

And I think that is highly unlikely. Every single other mention of the deal
clearly indicates that it is the computer gaming rights that were sold. No
way in hell does MS want a pen & paper role-playing game.

Here's a press release from FASA:
(The link is at http://www.fasa.com/PressReleases/PR%20FASA%20Sells.htm).

I'll put a /around/ the things that are especially pertinent.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
January 13, 199
For Immediate Release
For more information:
Rett Kipp (FASA)
312-243-5660 ext. 15





FASA sells /computer games division/ to Microsoft.



It is with great pleasure that FASA Corporation announces that on January 7,
1999, Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, WA purchased /FASA Interactive
Technologies, Inc./ of Chicago, IL from its stockholders, of which FASA
Corporation was the largest. FASA Interactive is the producer of the popular
MechCommander™ game and the forthcoming MechWarrior 4™ and MechCommander 2™
computer games.

The acquisition is not expected to affect the anticipated release of
MechWarrior 3™, which will be published by Hasbro Interactive and MicroProse
Inc. under an agreement entered into prior to the acquisition.

FASA Corporation CEO Morton Weisman said, "We at FASA Corporation are very
excited about the future of our core adventure game business. With the
marketing power of Hasbro and Microsoft behind our BattleTech and Shadowrun
properties, they will become even better known worldwide.

"By being able to now focus our resources on expansion and development for
BattleTech®, Shadowrun®, Crimson Skies™ and the soon-to-be-released VOR: The
Maelstrom™, we believe FASA’s presence in the market will become stronger
than ever."

Founded by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III, FASA Corporation has been
creating successful new game worlds since 1980. The current line includes
BattleTech, Shadowrun, Crimson Skies and the soon-to-be-released VOR: The
Maelstrom. FASA has successfully licensed its games for novels, computer
games, virtual reality games, miniatures, toys, a television series, a card
game and more. Additional product information can be found on the World Wide
Web at www.FASA.com.



###



BattleTech, MechWarrior and Shadowrun are registered trademarks of FASA
Corp. /MechCommander/ and VOR: The Maelstrom are trademarks of /FASA Corp./
©1999 FASA Corp. Crimson Skies, MechWarrior 3, MechWarrior 4, and
/MechCommander 2/ are trademarks of /FASA Interactive Technologies Inc./
©1999 FASA Interactive Technologies Inc.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

Even the copyright line is important. Why would they say that MechCommander
is trademarked to FASA Corp? Rhetorical question: It's a computer game,
isn't it?

Put the quotes from Mort together with the trademark line, and it is very
clear that FASA kept the RPG's, and MS got the computer games.

There is another press release from MS at:
http://www.fasa.com/PressReleases/PR%20Microsoft%20Buys.htm

But then, we've gone over all of this before on this list....

-XaOs-
xaos@*****.net
-David Goth-