Here's an unusual TSR advertisement that started appearing during the summer of 1983.
I've long called science fiction an "also ran" genre in the hobby of roleplaying games, because, with the exception of Traveller in its heyday (and West End's Star Wars some time later), SF RPGs rarely captured a significant share of players. That's why it's interesting to see TSR trying to promote its various science fiction properties, like Star Frontiers and Gamma World, not to mention the recently acquired Ares magazine, as part of the company's "new directions."
I can't help but wonder if ads like this suggest that TSR is simply doing so well that it feels confident enough of its position in the market to expand seriously into SF or rather that doing so had become a necessity as D&D's sales were slowing. I assume the former, but I have no special insights into the matter. Regardless, being a SF fan at heart, I appreciate seeing advertising like this (even if I wonder why TSR included the original 1978 version of Gamma World rather than the new one released the same year).
That is really fascinating. I'm researching the history of sci-fi RPGs now so this is a great find. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget Raid on Antares, also pictured. Its influence on the hex and counter genre of portable games cannot be overstated. It can't.
ReplyDeleteTrue! I absolutely love Revolt on Antares and should have highlighted it in the post.
DeleteIts impact was so dramatic I typo'd its name. Revolt on Antares. Of course! Inexcusable on my part.
DeleteThat Revolt on Antares was news to me, but I ended up finding a fan RPG inspired by it! https://www.rpgpub.com/threads/i-made-an-rpg-inspired-by-revolt-on-antares.7657/
ReplyDelete83' was a great year. Nothing but cool stuff TSR was putting out.
ReplyDeleteThis phrasing smacks of desperation.
ReplyDeleteWhether they actually WERE desperate is another question, but if you told me TSR went bankrupt the next year I'd've believed you.
What's exactly is desperate about TSR marketing their products? That's what business do to get customers, if you don't already know.
DeleteSigh. Yeah, because THAT'S what I said.
DeleteYou really don't find "D&D is super successful - we're going to do other stuff too, but it's not because D&D isn't continuing to do awesome" to be a weird line to take?
In this ad they are protesting too much about how well they and D&D are doing for me to take it at face value.
Why shouldn't TSR - or that matter ANY game company - not want to try and put out other products? Some stuff it going be successful, and obviously others won't. But that's the risk companies take when they create new product. It's Business 101.
DeleteI'm not questioning them wanting to put out other products. Indeed, I expect NO ONE would question them doing other stuff.
DeleteWhich is why them insisting that putting out a new product is not a sign that D&D is doing badly is so odd.
If your neighbour were to start selling crafts they made, I suspect you would think nothing of it. If your neighbour sold crafts they made, while insisting that they were doing fine financially, I think that would create a different impression.
Do you get this yet?
more nostalgia!. i remember owning revolt on antares and the vampire small game one too! they sold these at Krochs and Brentanos downtown. that bookstore was always stocked with game products, from Avalon Hill to TSR
ReplyDeleteStar Frontiers was an immediate success with us, replacing Traveller. Altho we did poach rules and character gen from Traveller to Star Frontiers
i always thought the first 2 editions of gamma world (i also like the 4th? edition d20) captured the 'feel' of the genre, but no one wanted to play them. maybe it was because of The Day After movie that scared us all as kids.
Little late to the party, but to understand TSR's sudden shift to science fiction, you don't have to look much farther than the NYT best seller lists for that year.
ReplyDelete