From: "Andrew Walters" Subject: Re: What ever happened to... Someone asks this question about every three months on the Microgame mailing list. It ought to be in an FAQ somewhere. Here's the short version: Steve Jackson was never a Metagaming employee, but a contractor who wrote several games (really good ones, IMHO). Howard Thompson ran Metagaming, and after a string of great games, a great magazine, and various awards things started to decline. He became strongly disinterested (read into that what you like) in running a game company, sold The Space Gamer to somebody and disappeared *completely* from gaming of all kinds. Lots of people have looked for him, interested in buying rights or whatever, but no sign. Steve Jackson had the rights to the Ogre material he designed, but not The Fantasy Trip. He started Steve Jackson Games in the same city, but its an entirely different operation. SJ Games first games were One Page Bulge, Raid On Iran, Kung Fu 2000, and I don't remember what else. Now they make mostly role playing but some board games, all *very* high qualitiy but no real wargames. Somewhere along the lines he picked up the rights to Triplanetary, though. There wasn't any "split" or bad blood. Howard Thompson, a good game designer, got sick of the game business and shut down. Metagaming and Steve Jackson Games coexisted briefly, but that was during Metagaming's steep decline. Some of the other people who worked for Metagaming are still in the business. Steve Jackson Games has an awesome web page, including info on the Secret Service affair, a long list of dealers in out-of-print games that's helped me a couple of times find something for less than eBay and still in shrikwrap, and some other good stuff. If Howard Thompson is listening, send me an email. Andrew >Can someone relate the story of Metagaming and SJ games? I know there >was a split. Anyone know the details and what happened to Metagaming?? > >-- >Tim Keennon > >TKeennon@tsc.com >(310) 954-2200 ext. 323 >(310) 477-2196 (fax) > >Technology Service Corporation >11400 West Olympic Blvd., Suite 300 >Los Angeles, CA 90064