How Voltron Came to Monsterpocalypse

As promised, today we’ll be looking at Voltron’s trail from cartoon hero to Monsterpocalypse figure. From its inception, part of the plan for Monsterpocalypse was an open-ended format. From alien invaders and giant robots to Lovecraftian horrors, anything was possible in the world of Monsterpocalypse, and monsters from a broad range of media could find a place within that world.

Matt Wilson’s original vision for the setting allowed for the possibility of “guest stars” from movies, cartoons, novels, or comic books. These guest stars would appear in their own stand-alone games but could also smash their way onto Monsterpocalypse game maps around the world to fight our own monstrous creations.

Voltron is the first of those guest stars.

When it comes to licensing and Privateer Press products, we turn to Brent the Legal Guy, and setting up our very first Monsterpocalypse guest star license was no exception. Brent had several criteria for choosing any licenses we would pursue for Monsterpocalypse.

First off, the characters had to fit the game mechanics. The timing worked out perfectly here, as Brent began looking into licensing about the time the morpher game mechanics entered playtesting. Frequent playtest sessions with Legionnaire and Galaxius-4 were a constant reminder of the Voltron lions and their own combining mechanics from the cartoon.

Secondly, Brent was looking for characters that would really resonate with the existing Monsterpocalypse player base. Many Monsterpocalypse players (such as those found throughout the Privateer Press offices) grew up with the Voltron cartoons and toys, so the nostalgia factor was very high with our target audience.

Finally, the monsters chosen would need to be something easy to present within the Monsterpocalypse world but also as a stand-alone product. By zeroing in on Lion Voltron and his nemesis from the Fleet of Doom movie, we had a nice self-contained game that also stayed true to the story. This allowed us to make a product that appeals to new players but also fits seamlessly into the broader Monsterpocalypse game.

So Brent the Legal Guy excitedly contacted World Events Production, owners of the Voltron license, and the rest is a story for another day. Join me in my next blog as I explore how the Voltron lions converted from cartoon heroes into Monsterpocalypse game figures.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites