Article Info

Title  Interview: An Interview with Gary Gygax, Part I
Author  Ciro Alessandro Sacco
Book Type  Information: Interview
Genre  Generic
Setting  Generic
Series 

Article Summary

The Italian gamer introduces Gygax, who he finally met at an Italian convention; and Gygax compliments Sacco on his penetrating quetsions. The preliminary questions then cover Gygax's early exposure to games, his belief in the paranormal, his wargame work with Avalon Hill and his relationship with Guidon Games, and the size of the gaming market in the 1970s. The next set cover TSR and D&D, including how D&D was born, the introduction of Brian Blume as a 1/3rd partner in Tactical Studies Rules, assembling the first edition of the game, early distribution channels, and how fast the rules sold out (all 1,000 in seven months). The next topic is Dave Arneson, including his role in creating D&D, the lawsuits, and their current relationship. There are also questions about the recalled B3: Palace of the Silver Princess (Kevein Blume had a fit), Don Kaye's contributions and how things would have been better with TSR if he had lived, more on the Blumes, the James Dallas Egbert III incident and how it impacted sells (phenomenonally), the book the private detective wrote (Gygax never read it), distribution deal with Random House in 1981, the Divine Right game, licensing, how Gygax's relationship with the Blumes deteriorated, miniatures, a possible acquisition by Mattel, and the 1983 restructuring.


This article is contained in OD&DITIES #9.

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