We see a few key differences here from the Heroclix we know and love. The goal would be to achieve happiness instead of KOing opposing figures. As well, the additional cards to create diorama backgrounds is something that appeals more to collectors and young players, that are more likely to play with the figures outside of a game setting.

Wizkids also planned to use this product line to break into mass market stores while supporting brick and mortar stores.

ToonClix will be released in both the mass-market and in the core hobby market but the core will receive a number of advantages including a four-month lead on the initial release, 12 exclusive nostalgia figures not available in the mass, and an exclusive Buy-It-By-the-Brick promotion (see ‘WizKids Plans HeroClix Promotion’) to drive customers to brick and mortar hobby stores.
The way in which the figures are collated into channel-specific products should also help the hobby stores. The hobby will receive Core Set 1A, which will have 18 figures, in October and Core Set 1B, with the other 18 figures, in January, while the one mass-market release will be in January and will only include 24 of the first series’ 36 figures. WizKids is planning a TV ad campaign in early 2007 that will include spots on the Cartoon Network and the Kids’ WB.

WizKids has set September as the release month for its new ToonClix Collectible Miniature Game (see ‘ToonClix from WizKids’). MSRP has been set at a low $3.99, as befits the younger target demo. A Golden Scooby Doo promotion, centered around a 14-carat solid gold figure, is planned in support of the launch

So, two big things there, besides the corporate speak. Boosters were set at $3.99 a booster which, if I remember correctly, was cheaper than a booster of Heroclix at the time. It was essentially half the cost of a booster of Sinister (which release in June of 2006). That definitely makes it an impulse friendly buy, considering just a few years later we would be being $2.99 for a single Gravity Feed figure.

Unfortunately, three months after announcing ToonClix the company went through a reorganization that cut a number of positions and planned games. Among them, were ToonClix.

ToonClix is an interesting case of What If? in Clixtory. HorrorClix and MLB SportsClix are both examples of Clix system games that had their own amount of success but were not able to sustain it. Often the blame for this is placed on them not being compatible with the main Heroclix line. Similarly, Star Trek Tactics were technically compatible but “shadow banned” by not being allowed to be played, officially, with Heroclix due to issues of scale and immersion. Due to all of these reasons, ToonClix may have had a similar fate of an exciting launch but ultimately being relegated to a short-lived game.

Or, it may have changed how everything was done. If it had gained a foothold with younger players and nostalgia collectors, it could have created a ToonClix to HeroClix pipeline that brought new, younger players into the game and venues for years. It may have even expanded the Heroclix license library, with sculpts of ToonClix characters being reused for Heroclix releases.

There may even be a world where ToonClix becomes more popular than Heroclix and we’re talking about approaching the 20^th Anniversary of ToonClix instead of the 25^th Anniversary of Heroclix.

Sources: ICv2: ToonClix from Wizkids

ICv2: Wizkids Sets ToonClix Release

ICv2: Wizkids Cuts Include Race Day