Catalyst Game Labs, LLC

Catalyst Game Labs, LLC (CGL), formerly InMediaRes Productions, LLC (IMR), is the current producers of BattleTech and Shadowrun (among others).

InMediaRes Productions

IMR was founded in July of 2003 by Loren and Heather Coleman following the conclusion of the original BattleTech novel line to license the ability to publish new, canonical digital fiction from the new BattleTech IP holder WizKids for what was now Classic BattleTech (to distinguish it from the new MechWarrior: Dark Age setting). WizKids granted this license to IMR in the fall of 2003, initially limited to short fiction of up to 40,000 words. This resulted in the year-long development of the subscription-based BattleCorps website, and the successful product launch on 2 August 2004. A similar project for Shadowrun called "Holostreets" was planned, but never implemented.

While IMR had obtained a license to publish BattleTech tie-in fiction online, the license to produce the actual game and game supplements had been granted to FanPro in 2001. FanPro did publish new, original German print novels for BattleTech, but for reasons that have not been explained publicly the publication of English-language (Classic) BattleTech print novels had stopped after 2002 as Roc Books voiced no interest in continuing that line. (The impression given is that Roc Books still had the license, preventing FanPro or IMR from producing new print novels, while making no use of it themselves.)

Catalyst Game Labs

On 20 April 2007, IMR announced that it was in negotiations with WizKids and FanPro to acquire the full licenses for Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun, as FanPro's licenses were set to expire. IMR created Catalyst Game Labs as an imprint in May 2007 for the purpose of publishing Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun sourcebooks in print. In June 2007, WizKids transferred the licenses for both (Classic) BattleTech and Shadowrun to CGL. Most of the FanPro staff working on the BattleTech and Shadowrun lines moved from FanPro to CGL when they acquired the licenses.

In an interview Coleman said he was approached about stewardship for the BattleTech and Shadowrun IPs because FanPro's licenses were running out and because he already was a minor licensee through IMR, well-connected with other writers and very knowledgeable about these gaming universes.

On 27 June 2008, CGL announced new novels for Shadowrun and Classic BattleTech, as well as the MechWarrior series. However, the print novels project ran into unspecified problems, delaying the publication of new novels for a time. The first new (Classic) BattleTech novel to appear in print under CGL's aegis was Embers of War in 2015. By that time, the classic print format had effectively been replaced by digital and print-on-demand publishing. (FanPro initially sought to publish more novels in their line of original German Classic BattleTech novels, but ceased publication in 2008 following a disagreement with InMediaRes/Catalyst Game Labs over whether or not FanPro still had the rights to publish new German BattleTech novels.)

Frank Trollman Case

Main article: Frank Trollman case

In mid-March, 2010, a former freelancer, Frank Trollman, publicly accused Loren Coleman of being behind the disappearance of a significant amount of money – allegedly around $850,000 – from IMR/CGL, implying criminal conduct. The accusation caused a shakeup among fans as well as staff, with several valued employees or freelancers quitting CGL. Third party attempts to enforce bankruptcy proceedings came to naught. The ultimate outcome was not announced, but Coleman remained at the head of the firm, did not lose the licenses and was apparently not tried or convicted for any criminal actions. CGL released a public statement providing a summary of the results of a financial review of the company, in which it disclosed strong sales and an increased demand growth of their products. Included in the review was the discovery of some accounting procedures that mixed private funds of the owner with the company's operating capital, due to "accounting procedures [that] had not been updated as the company continued to grow". The realization of this issue resulted in a reported restructuring of the accounting procedures, the start of an administrational organization review and discussions with partners and freelancers regarding indemnification.

IMR becomes CGL

In an amendment to the 2003 Certificate of Formation, on 26 June 2018 the name of the company was officially changed from InMediaRes, LLC to Catalyst Game Labs, LLC.

External Links

• Catalyst Game Labs website
• Website of the Washington Secretary of State (UBI 602 309 999; relevant documents: 0004873361 (Certificate of Formation IMR) / 0010746177 (Amended Certificate of Formation)