Very interesting article, in part because I knew little about the background.
For most of my life, my schedule has been too congested to make it easy to play D & D on a regular basis. But I did become a big fan of fantasy RPG on the computer.
For D & D fans like me who can't often manage the live experience, I recommend Neverwinter Nights (recently remastered and available in its new incarnation on Steam and Gog. I also recommend the work of modders like The Players' Resource Consortium (currently operating on Discord), who increased the range of playable races and classes as well as making the game more compliant with PNP D & D rules.
The cases of TSR and Ion Storm have parallels in other aspects of the entertainment industry in terms of too-quick expansion, conflicting management styles and a lack of understanding about what business the company is supposed to be in...
Thanks for this great article! While you seem very well-researched on both these topics, if you'd like some more reading I highly recommend the Digital Antiquarian, who has, for more than a decade, been blogging his way through the history of computer games, with a special focus on adventure games (with extra-special attention given to text adventures).
I don't think DND would have been as popular as it was in its early days if it wasn't for Tolkien. I know for myself, I was drawn to the game because of my love for LOTR and Tolkien.
Open question: why are there so many books about the history of D&D and basically no books about the history of Magic: the Gathering? There's a lot of first-hand testimony about how the game came to be from people like Richard Garfield, of course, but there's a lot that could be unearthed about WOTC by a sufficiently dedicated sleuth. I remember reading about Jamboree a few years ago blew my mind: https://www.matobadesign.com/jamboree ... and surely there are more stories like this.
This is a good question! I imagine the main reason why there are so many about D&D specifically is because of the bizarre rollercoaster it went on. Dirt poor guy ends up being a millionaire overnight, burns through most of it, loses his company in the process, and then the company gets bought up by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. And, of course, along the way the fact that both people given credit for inventing Roleplaying went from friends to enemies and went through various court settlements.
I do think it's why the story of id Software is one that's been told as well, rather than, like, the story of Squaresoft or even Nintendo. I think without the wild personalities, the catapulting of obscene success, and then the dissolution is what makes certain stories more appealing!
But I would happily read a book about Magic: The Gathering! So someone come along and write it.
Very interesting article, in part because I knew little about the background.
For most of my life, my schedule has been too congested to make it easy to play D & D on a regular basis. But I did become a big fan of fantasy RPG on the computer.
For D & D fans like me who can't often manage the live experience, I recommend Neverwinter Nights (recently remastered and available in its new incarnation on Steam and Gog. I also recommend the work of modders like The Players' Resource Consortium (currently operating on Discord), who increased the range of playable races and classes as well as making the game more compliant with PNP D & D rules.
Thanks for the recommendation! I've heard those games are great
The cases of TSR and Ion Storm have parallels in other aspects of the entertainment industry in terms of too-quick expansion, conflicting management styles and a lack of understanding about what business the company is supposed to be in...
Definitely!
Thanks for this great article! While you seem very well-researched on both these topics, if you'd like some more reading I highly recommend the Digital Antiquarian, who has, for more than a decade, been blogging his way through the history of computer games, with a special focus on adventure games (with extra-special attention given to text adventures).
The Digital Antiquarian's detour into D&D: https://www.filfre.net/2011/07/dungeons-and-dragons/
A more thorough look into id Software begins here: https://www.filfre.net/2020/05/the-shareware-scene-part-3-the-id-boys/
But really, I enjoyed ruining my sleep schedule for a bit and reading all thirteen years' worth:
https://www.filfre.net/sitemap/
Thanks again for all your great writing!
Thanks for the recommendation! I'm a big fan of history and gaming so the history of gaming has been a keen interest of mine. I'll take a look!
I don't think DND would have been as popular as it was in its early days if it wasn't for Tolkien. I know for myself, I was drawn to the game because of my love for LOTR and Tolkien.
Definitely true! And I do think the success of D&D led, in part, to the massive success of the Lord of the Rings movies.
Open question: why are there so many books about the history of D&D and basically no books about the history of Magic: the Gathering? There's a lot of first-hand testimony about how the game came to be from people like Richard Garfield, of course, but there's a lot that could be unearthed about WOTC by a sufficiently dedicated sleuth. I remember reading about Jamboree a few years ago blew my mind: https://www.matobadesign.com/jamboree ... and surely there are more stories like this.
This is a good question! I imagine the main reason why there are so many about D&D specifically is because of the bizarre rollercoaster it went on. Dirt poor guy ends up being a millionaire overnight, burns through most of it, loses his company in the process, and then the company gets bought up by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. And, of course, along the way the fact that both people given credit for inventing Roleplaying went from friends to enemies and went through various court settlements.
I do think it's why the story of id Software is one that's been told as well, rather than, like, the story of Squaresoft or even Nintendo. I think without the wild personalities, the catapulting of obscene success, and then the dissolution is what makes certain stories more appealing!
But I would happily read a book about Magic: The Gathering! So someone come along and write it.