OT: Steve Jackson

[ghoul31]

The video game was called Autoduel. It was actually an awesome game

[Darkfather]

Originally Posted by oldrocker99

Origin (of ULTIMA fame) and Steve Jackson Games had a deal going in the mid-80s (C=64 days) and OGRE and CAR WARS were released. CAR WARS was a simple arcade game with none of the delicious complexity and backstory of the PNP game, while OGRE was a bit more successful as a translation. OGRE did not contain the GEV expansion; it was the basic map.

It's my supposition (only) that Steve Jackson was so disappointed with CAR WARS that he abandoned computer games; he has been spotted wearing a T-shirt saying (recalling from memory here), "I'm Steve Jackson. The other one [there's a UK game designer with the same name]. I have ideas for a computer game. Talk to me."

I don't think anything came of it; his company is still producing lots of board games, and 16 years ago, made the best collectible card game ever (imho), ILLUMINATI: NEW WORLD ORDER.

Steve and I were talking about both having the same name and the confusion with Steve Jackson in the UK, and he suggested we each change our name to Gary Gygax, a moniker so original that it would end all confusion...

[Darkfather]

The sad fact is that MMOs cost between 7 and 40 million to produce. Lots of cool MMOs never see the light unless they come attached to a killer IP, and even then it takes a lot of effort to make a good enough game that makes money.