HeroClix

HeroClix is a collectible miniatures game that uses the Clix system that centers on the world of superhero comic books, especially the DC Comics and Marvel universes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. Players construct teams of comic book heroes, villains, or characters from various video games series such as Street Fighter, Gears of War, and Halo and engage in a turn-by-turn battle on grid maps based on various storyline locations. The game was originally designed and produced by WizKids, but was discontinued in November 2008 when WizKids owner Topps shut down their HeroClix line. In September 2009, collectible toy producer National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA) purchased some of the WizKids' intellectual property from Topps, including the HeroClix rights and then soon after began to produce and sell new HeroClix series, the HeroClix series of the DC Universe and Marvel Universe (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Hulk, Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four etc.). The HeroClix game utilizes the "combat dial system" originally created for the Mage Knight game. The Combat Dial keeps track of a figure's game statistics via a rotating dial in the base. As the figure suffers damage, the dial is turned a required number of "clicks" to reveal new stats and possibly special abilities. HeroClix was designed to appeal to comic book fans and players of wargames and subsequently also became collector items due to the quality of detail in the HeroClix figures. The first game set, Marvel's Infinity Challenge, was released in 2002 and included figures and maps. The original HeroClix figures were all from comic books printed by Marvel Comics, but later expanded to include sets from DC Comics and from various independent comic book publishers such as and Dark Horse Comics. Later expansions also added new card-based mechanics such as "Feats" and "Battlefield Conditions", expanding the game beyond the addition of new characters.