The man signing autographs looked up to the next youngster, asked his name, and then said: "Did you like the game? That's great. What did you like about the game?" Sounds as if a new designer was signing one of his first autographs; but this designer is Gary Gygax, co-author of the Dungeons & Dragons game, and it took place at GenCon (Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, game convention) in 1984. A few months later, Gygax spoke at a meeting of the American and Canadian Academies of Child Psychiatrists in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The meeting covered fantasizing in the child and adolescent. There was a lot of support for role-playing games as positive forms of fantasy, necessary to growing up, and for the Dungeons & Dragons game in particular. "In fact, I had several psychiatrists stand up and give what I thought were unsolicited testimonials. I felt I was treated as a celebrity there. I really was quite unprepared for it because these were, in fact, very respected professional men and women. And I'm just a game designer." What the psychiatrists endorse is the co-operative, as opposed to competitive, spirit of the game. Gygax sees the competition arising from middle class values. "The middle class has got to compete. It's not what you learn and how you apply it to your life that counts. The idea is the grade." Gygax would rather see people learn because they enjoy it. I wasted a lot of time when I was in school, and I want children today to be motivated to learn, because it can be a joy and add so much to your life. " What Gygax doesn't like is all the negative publicity that several suicides have garnered for the Dungeons & Dragonsg line. "I can understand distraught parents looking for some reason. There is a nationwide epidemic of suicide in teenagers, and naturally everyone is looking for some reason. There is a lot of yellow journalism out there and not one bit of clinical evidence that the problems stem from Dungeons & Dragons. Of course, the media wants to say it had something to do with Dungeons & Dragons, but the parents having a loaded gun in the house is far more significant." When Game News talked with Gygax, he was in Lake Geneva overseeing the latest reorganization of his company, TSR Inc. In spite of the internal restructuring going on, Gygax spoke of the continued expansion of the various TSR product lines and new fields that were being investigated by his company and its subsidiary, D&DO Entertainment Corporation. Things like a feature film, a game being developed for the mass market, and the new line of 25mm metal miniatures by Citadel Miniatures (a division of Games Workshop). TSR Inc. didn't always have such far- flung international activities. There was a time, in 1974, when Gygax was doing shoe repairs to earn money while designing war games, publishing miniatures rules, and marketing that "weird" new game, Dun- geons & Dragons. Gygax passed up an opportunity to continue to work as an insurance underwriter with a company in Tennessee because he wanted to remain in the Lake Geneva area and stay in the game design business. Prior to the emergence of the Dungeons & Dragonss game as its best-selling product, the Tactical Studies Group (TSR) was known for its miniatures rules such as CAVALIERS & ROUNDHEADS and CHAINMAIL. "CHAINMAIL was the pro-genitor of D&D ' " Gygax was known then for his board game designs such as ALEXANDER, manufactured by The Avalon Hill Game Company of Baltimore. About this time GenCon was started as an annual miniatures and war game convention in Lake Geneva. There are still a lot of miniatures events at GenCon and loyal groups come from as far as Alabama to participate in them. TSR Inc. publishes few miniatures rules now. The release of the BATTLESYSTEM FANTASY COMBAT SUPPLEMENT in March, 1985, is the first set of miniatures rules published since TRACTICS. While Gygax is very interested in miniatures, "the market is just too small, and we're (TSR) looking to serve the most customers. " Gygax elaborated on the directions TSR Inc. is taking in the mass market. Not only is the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Show on CBS, but Steven Spielberg~ Amazing Stories (based on TSRs magazine of the same name) will be debuting in the fall on NBC. When asked what was planned for ABC, Gygax said, "both Lorimar Productions (television production studio known for producing Dallas and other shows) and Columbia Pictures TV want to option properties." Gygax would retain creative control as he does now with the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Show TSR Inc. does not have control over Steven Spielberg Amazing Stories. TSR Inc. owns the rights to the name through its ownership of Amazing Stories magazine, which it purchased in 1983. "Mr. Spielberg is buying the right to use the name and some of the material, if he chooses. He is so involved on this project that I understand he is writing much of the material himself We have protection on our trademark," Gygax noted. Gygax is pleased with the success of the Dungeons & Dragons Cartoon Show. "We do have to operate within the childrens programming standards, and we are thinking about basically an audience which doesn't understand Dungeons & Dragons , per se. Within those limitations, I believe that Marvel and CBS did a very good job. My greatest fear always has been that at a certain point you lose control, and I do have creative control. I can say yes or no, but I can't necessarily write the thing. CBS says who writes." There are plans for a feature film. I think the ultimate audience for Dungeons & Dragons has not been reached." The MARVEL SUPERHERO game was an attempt to "reach the younger boys market," and the response, according to Gygax, "has been favorable." A feature film would reach an even larger audience than the comic book readers. When asked what a possible example of a D&D movie would be, Gygax suggested Peter (Jaws) Benchleys, The Deep, where the characters risked danger and monsters to gain sunken treasure. He's concerned with getting the proper D&D "feel" in a movie. Gygax has been "working with Flint Dille, grandson of the creator of Buck Rodgers. Dille is currently writing for television shows." About rumors that TSR Inc. will be sold to Lorimar Productions: "Absolutely untrue. We (TSR Inc.) are looking for an investor willing to acquire an interest in the company. Lorimar Productions wants to option properties. We're (TSR Inc.) working on the options. I personally sold them a bunch of copy, not because I want more money, but because I want to make sure of TSR~ corporate reorganization here before I commit myself to how much time I'm going to spend on these properties." Gygax takes a personal interest in every line that TSR produces. He plans to oversee some additions to the Dungeons & Dragons line. "I'm working with Frank Mentzer to finish the TI-T4 modules begun with The Village of Hommlet. Also, I'm busy with Unearthly Arcana, featuring new spells and magic items, and a series of oriental adventures with the ninja, and two new hardbound books for the players. The company now has to catch up with the players." He also plans to continue writing for Dragon magazine. "Every year, after GenCon, I sit down and write a lot of material. Then as I think of other things that could be added, I send it along and tell them to add it to the end of something." Gygax is pleased that Citadel Miniatures will be producing the official D&D fantasy figures, although he says there is no connection between the license agreement and the WARHAMMER rules produced by Games Wordshop, the owner of Citadel Miniatures. On the SPI war game line, acquired by TSR Inc., Gygax sees "the need to pay more attention- things aren't followed through. The line requires two to six new releases every year. I have this historical design I did back in 1972, called DUNKIRK, and I'd like to see it revised and upgraded." He also plans to attend conventions. Gygax was preparing a trip to Games Day in Britain this summer when Game News spoke with him. Overall, he found the gainers in the United Kingdom to be more polite, better organized." I've never played another fantasy roleplaying game," Gygax admitted. "If its a competitive product, I don't read it. I have enough ideas, and don't want to be influenced." Gygax enjoys railroad games. He plays both The Avalon Hill Game Company's RAIL BARON and Mayfair Games' EMPIRE BUILDER. In fact, "When there are only two of us available to play, we both play two players, that way we can have a four-player version. It's more fun that way." Does he have other plans? "Sure would like to take a vacation," Gygax says. "The thing is, we end up working or discussing business, even then." Finally, Gygax has some advice for would-be designers: "Save your 'masterworks.' Instead, do the designing or writing that the audience wants. Try to maximize the fun." TSR Inc. called with the following announcement as GAME NEWS was getting to go to the printer: E Gary Gygax, Chairman of the Board of TSR Inc., announced today that the board of directors has entered into a letter of intent with an investment group based in Beverly Hills, California. The group will acquire a major position in TSR Inc. Gygax stated that details would be forthcoming as negotiations proceed toward a definitive agreement. TSR Inc has an active entertainment subsidiary called Dungeons & Dragons Entertainment Corporation based in Beverly Hills. Autograph anecdote courtesy of Carl Smith, of Pacesetter Ltd. Back to Table of Contents -- Game News #2 To Game News List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2000 by Dana Lombardy. 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