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Game Wizards

The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons
By Jon Peterson
Series: Game Histories
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Game Wizards by Jon Peterson explores the untold history of how Dungeons & Dragons, a seminal role-playing game, was created and the turbulent early days of its development. It dives into the fascinating dynamics and creative conflicts between its creators, offering an insightful look into the business and personal challenges they faced. This book is not about cooking or food but rather about the origins and impact of a cultural phenomenon.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5500
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"A detailed history about the early years and drama of TSR, Inc., the company that founded Dungeons and Dragons"--

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The story of the arcane table-top game that became a pop culture phenomenon and the long-running legal battle waged by its co-creators.

Discover the colourful history of the table-top RPG phenomenon, Dungeons & Dragons, as a D&D expert examines its surprising successes, setbacks, and controversies.

"The battle over Dungeons & Dragons was the ultimate geek war." -Wired

When Dungeons & Dragons was first released to a small hobby community, it hardly seemed destined for mainstream success—yet this arcane tabletop role-playing game became an unlikely pop culture phenomenon.

In Game Wizards, Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from hobbyist pastime to mass market sensation, from the initial collaboration to the later feud of its creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Inside you'll learn about:

  • Gygax and Arneson's first meeting and their work toward the 1974 release
  • The founding of TSR and its growth as a company
  • Arneson's acrimonious departure and subsequent challenges to TSR
  • "Satanic Panic" accusations that plagued D&D—and boosted its popularity
  • TSR's reckless expansion and near-fatal corporate infighting
  • And much more!

With Game Wizards, Peterson restores historical particulars long obscured by competing narratives spun by the one-time partners. That record amply demonstrates how the turbulent experience of creating something as momentous as Dungeons & Dragons can make people remember things a bit differently from the way they actually happened.

Series: Game Histories

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  • Game Wizards
    The story of the arcane table-top game that became a pop culture phenomenon and the long-running legal battle waged by its co-creators. Discover the colourful history of the table-top RPG phenomenon, Dungeons & Dragons, as a D&D expert examines its surprising successes, setbacks, and controversies. "The battle over Dungeons & Dragons was the ultimate geek war." -Wired When Dungeons &...
    By Jon Peterson
    Paperback
    $5500
    In Stock
    Ships today

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780262542951

Publisher: MIT Press Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 12 October 2021

Country: United States

Imprint: MIT Press

Illustration: 30 black and white illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 600g

Pages: 368

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Best Sellers at Book Hero Board Games Gifts $50-$100 In-Stock Board Games Jon Peterson Series: Game Histories

About the Author

Jon Peterson, a leading expert on Dungeons & Dragons and role-playing games, is the author of Playing at the World, Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana (a Hugo Award finalist), the New York Times bestseller Heroes' Feast, and The Elusive Shift- How Role-Playing Games Forged Their Identity (MIT Press).

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  • Dungeons and Dragons Art and Arcana
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