battletech

BattleTech is a long-running American wargaming military science fiction and mecha franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps company.

The game was heavily influenced by real robot anime like Gundam and Macross. It is set predominantly in the 31st Century, where humanity has colonized numerous star systems, but is divided among a number of feudal "Great Houses" and various minor states after its ruling government, the Star League, collapsed several centuries prior. War is a frequent occurrence and is often waged with BattleMechs at the forefront, giant robots that are treated more akin to walking tanks than the ultimate weapon.

The series began with FASA's debut of the mid-80s board game BattleTech (originally named BattleDroids) by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III.

It has since grown to include numerous expansions to the original game, several computer and home console video games, a collectible card game, a series of more than 100 novels, an animated television series and more.

While Battletech initially used licensed designs from Taiyou no Kiba Dougram and Choujikuu Yousai Macross, these were later replaced with original designs.

Relatively well-known titles in Japan are:

• Tabletop role-playing game (Japanese: メックウォリアーRPG; sometimes called メックウォリアーTRPG)
• MechWarrior (1989 video game) (Super Famicom: バトルテック / PC-98 & X68000: バトルテック ~奪われた聖杯~ released in 1992 in Japan simply as Battletech)