State of the Corp - July 1998

by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes

Since I last wrote, there have been many exciting developments in both the TRC and the world of Netrunner. We held our very first World Championship and showed the world that this game is far from dead. We've been signing on new City Grids almost on a daily basis, passing the 100 mark not long ago. More and more new players are coming to the game, and more store owners are recognizing this customer potential. DCI tournament sanctioning will start shortly. Players have been lobbying hard for printing of the Silent Impact expansion, and the brand team is paying attention.

As I write, there are cost analyses underway to find the cheapest and fastest way to bring Silent Impact out. Ideas for this include low-cost wrapping, no display packaging, and Web-based sales and marketing. That doesn't mean it's a sure thing, but it is closer than we have come in nearly two years. And we have you, this amazing group of people who work long and hard with no monetary reward, to thank for revitalizing a game that should never have been allowed to get so sick.

As we move into the second half of 1998, I see great hope for a true Netrunner revival. In addition to sanctioning and the possibility of a new expansion at last, I expect a playtest of an experimental league-play format and hope to finalize the membership rewards program. I am looking into the costs of producing items, such as special T-shirts or alternate-art cards, that could make exciting prizes for leagues, tournaments, and of course, all of you deserving TRC members. We wouldn't have come so far so fast without you.