Author Topic: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer  (Read 13493 times)

Cubby

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Catalyst Game Labs Announces Executive Editor, New BattleTech and Leviathans Line Developers

Lake Stevens, WA (Sept. 12, 2019) – Catalyst Game Labs announced today the appointments of a new Executive Editor and new line developers for BattleTech and Leviathans, building on the momentum of the company’s recent success with the BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter campaign.

As new BattleTech and Shadowrun fiction bursts forth, John Helfers will move into a full-time role as Catalyst’s Executive Editor, charged with continuing his reinvigoration and growth of fiction across both universes and other Catalyst properties.

“From the beginning of my career at Catalyst Game Labs, we've always been working toward the goal to rebuild both the BattleTech and Shadowrun fiction lines, both by bringing the older books back into print and creating new stories in these great worlds,” Helfers said. “I’m thrilled to be expanding my role with Catalyst to make the fiction lines what I had envisioned them to be when I first came on board, and expanding them to reach as many readers as possible.”

Ray Arrastia, previously the BattleTech Assistant Line Developer, will step into the role of BattleTech Line Developer. He takes over the position from Brent Evans, who will remain Catalyst’s Senior Art Director and continue to oversee art and design across the company’s full range of gaming products. The position of BattleTech Assistant Line Developer will remain vacant at this time.

A versatile graphic designer, production manager and game developer, Arrastia is also a co-founder of CamoSpecs, a community of elite artists whose talents have graced BattleTech miniatures since 2003.

BattleTech has been a major part of my life, and I hope to direct the line with the same love and enthusiasm that I have for the game and universe as all the past Line Developers have had,” Arrastia said. “I'm honored to take the helm and am excited for what the future holds for all of us BattleTech fans."

Finally, the upcoming relaunch of Leviathans has a new captain at the helm, with the selection of Bryn Bills as Line Developer. Bills will steer the Kickstarter campaign for Leviathans: The Great War, launching summer 2020.

“In many ways, Bryn was the unsung hero of the initial Leviathans,” said Catalyst Game Labs Managing Director Randall N. Bills. “Even at 14 and 15 he was frightfully good at tearing game designs down and figuring out the problems and potential solutions. And his enthusiasm for Leviathans always matched my own and often exceeded it, as he kept the ships afloat several times during those dark days of Free Taiwan.”

Explore Catalyst’s innovative games at store.catalystgamelabs.com. BattleTech is produced by Catalyst Game Labs under license from The Topps Company, Inc. For more information, please visit bg.BattleTech.com. Stay up to date on the return of Leviathans at www.monstersinthesky.com.


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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #2 on: 13 September 2019, 12:12:03 »
Wooo!!! Ray Arrastia! Couldn't happen to a nicer dude.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #3 on: 13 September 2019, 12:24:51 »
Great news, keep the story going and the players more.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #4 on: 13 September 2019, 12:41:14 »
Interesting to hear the news but . . .

where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #5 on: 13 September 2019, 12:41:26 »
Quote
"...both by bringing the older books back into print and creating new stories in these great worlds,"

Yessss.

Congrats, and good luck.
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Cubby

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #6 on: 13 September 2019, 12:50:38 »
Interesting to hear the news but . . .

where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?

Art will be in MechWarrior: Destiny.

I'm assuming it's a VTOL, no neurohelmet.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #7 on: 13 September 2019, 13:06:45 »
I for one welcome our new BattleTech overlord!  :thumbsup:
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #8 on: 13 September 2019, 13:50:43 »
Congrats Ray!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #9 on: 13 September 2019, 13:53:45 »
I for one welcome our new BattleTech overlord!  :thumbsup:

And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #10 on: 13 September 2019, 14:27:51 »
And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.

As an admin,  I can throw disloyal moderators to the mines too.

 >:D
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #11 on: 13 September 2019, 14:51:39 »
Congratulations, Ray!

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #12 on: 13 September 2019, 15:47:22 »
And as a trusted moderator, I can identify dissidents who can be put to work in the salt mines.

are there any untrusted moderators?

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #13 on: 13 September 2019, 15:50:04 »
are there any untrusted moderators?

*raises hand?*
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #14 on: 13 September 2019, 15:53:01 »
Cubby, when are they going to start paying you for your outstanding work?  ???

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #15 on: 13 September 2019, 15:55:32 »
are there any untrusted moderators?

You're not cleared for that information.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #16 on: 13 September 2019, 16:19:15 »
You're not cleared for that information.

And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!
The solution is just ignore Paul.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #17 on: 13 September 2019, 16:51:19 »
And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!

Please proceed to the nearest termination booth, citizens!  And on the way, enjoy a bouncy bubble beverage
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #18 on: 13 September 2019, 18:14:42 »
Congratulations Ray :)
Soooo ... where can I sign up as Assistant LD?  :D ;D :))
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #19 on: 13 September 2019, 18:17:46 »
Congratulations Ray!

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #20 on: 13 September 2019, 18:29:32 »
Cubby, when are they going to start paying you for your outstanding work?  ???

There was probably sufficient dragon piss left over from cons to pay in kind  :))

And its treasonous to even suggest that there could be untrusted moderators. Assume the position for processing, treacherous scum!

I’m already in the salt mines any processing will be a blessing

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #21 on: 14 September 2019, 00:47:09 »
where did that Commando art come from?  Is that a VTOL attacking it with green-tinged explosions?
:o
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Should we read some great news into that?
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #22 on: 14 September 2019, 00:53:05 »
Huzzah and congratulations!
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #23 on: 14 September 2019, 09:16:23 »
Congrats to Ray, John, and Bryn! Hard working fellow getting their just rewards!

Question. Changing of the guard of the Battletech line dev, will there be a change of directions on how the franchise is being developed? When Brent was the line director he had said that the direction of the game was going to focus on fiction and making more action especially in the source books. Is there going to be a change in direction from that?
« Last Edit: 14 September 2019, 22:44:18 by Wrangler »
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #24 on: 14 September 2019, 09:54:29 »
Ray’s promotion will finally remove the roadblocks to realize his dream of implementing btu fiction written to be performed as avant-garde atonal hip hop opera

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #25 on: 14 September 2019, 10:19:07 »
In Klingon.
Warning: this post may contain sarcasm.

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #26 on: 14 September 2019, 10:24:51 »
Thanks everyone.

When Brent was the line director she had said that the direction of the game was going to focus on fiction and making more action especially in the source books. Is there going to be a change in direction from that?
Not to my knowledge, and John’s promotion to full time Executive Editor should illustrate that’s not the case.
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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #27 on: 14 September 2019, 10:31:23 »
All hail our new overlord! :bow:

Now get back to work Ray :whip: :beatdown:

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #28 on: 14 September 2019, 11:11:34 »
Thanks everyone.
Not to my knowledge, and John’s promotion to full time Executive Editor should illustrate that’s not the case.

*ahem* Combat Manuals?  8)

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Re: NEWS: Catalyst Game Labs Announces New BattleTech Line Developer
« Reply #29 on: 14 September 2019, 12:19:52 »
Oh, yes - a belated Congratulations to Ray!
Truth be told, I don't see much if anything changing here though. Brent's still the art director and with the Kickstarter I think that's one hell of a hat to wear in and of itself, and probably why he's not the LD anymore.
Meanwhile Ray has been very present on the forums already in his Assistant LD days, so from a fan/forumite perspective he was already doing a terrific fanbase communication part anyways. Not sure how promoting him from ALD to full LD will change anything behind the scenes.
Titles may change, but the team's the same. Keep up the good work CGL!
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