Knowledge (XXG)

Steve Jackson (American game designer)

Source 📝

1249: 51: 361:
Jackson had an idea in the middle of 1981 for designing and publishing a new detailed and realistic roleplaying system, intending it to be logical and organized well, and wanted it to adaptable for any kind of setting and play level. Jackson announced
266:
as four separate books instead of a more expensive boxed set, and changed his production methods so that Jackson would be unable to check the final proofs of the game. As a result of these actions, Jackson left Metagaming and founded
950: 963:
I wrote about Amanda Feuk who displayed "The Tree" at Brickworld Chicago in 2015 and ended up selling it to fellow attendee Steve Jackson, of Steve Jackson Games, creator of the Munchkin card game.
884: 546: 517: 1078: 258:
was initially scheduled for release in February 1978, but the design and development required more work than Jackson had anticipated and the game was not released until March 1980.
942: 231:
to gain a better understanding of combat, but as his interest grew he started fighting in SCA live-action combat as Vargskol, the Viking-Celt. Metagaming also published his game
844: 1091:
This is the Texas Brick Railroad or at least the version of it for this show. We are a LEGO train club. We like building LEGO and we especially like trains and monorail.
1058:
At conventions, Jackson runs his pirate game for up to 20 players at once, all down on their knees pushing big plastic ships across the hotel carpet and shouting "boom!"
536:; when Jackson went to Secret Service headquarters the next day to ask them to return his book drafts, the Secret Service agents told him that they believed 581:
train community and has been an active member of several LEGO users groups including TBRR (Texas Brick Railroad) and the Texas LEGO Users Group.
1301: 1281: 806: 764: 374: 31: 540:
was a "handbook for computer crime", despite his protestations that it was just a game. Through the newly created civil-rights organization
460:
project prompted the launch of a second successful project - running from Nov 29, 2019, through Jan 6, 2020 - to help re-launch the popular
1331: 1070: 598: 456:
game became the highest grossing boardgame project at Kickstarter, with 5,512 backers pledging a total of $ 923,680. The success of the
822: 1351: 338: 150: 1366: 473: 228: 1341: 1295: 299:, and the lawsuit was settled with an agreement that was reached on November 26, 1981, leaving Jackson with the full rights to 259: 1045: 541: 681: 1336: 526:
raided the offices of Steve Jackson Games on March 1, 1990 based on suspicion of illegal hacker activity by game designer
342:. Jackson wanted to get into computer gaming software in the early 1980s, but instead wound up licensing gaming rights to 1212: 1161: 784: 523: 315:
from back Thompson after Metagaming closed down in April 1983, but Thompson declined the offered price of $ 250,000.
1187: 1006: 1356: 983: 793: 1136: 221:, but did not like the various-sized dice or the combat rules, and bemoaned the lack of tactics, so he designed 410: 916: 890: 866: 670:
Rice University Class of 1974 Commencement Folder, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University
1361: 1326: 798: 146: 56: 217: 1111: 50: 1346: 1321: 1124:
What else would you like to see from your Texan LEGO train club? Send comments to Steve Jackson at...
612: 404: 318:
Jackson designed or co-designed many of the games published by SJ Games, including minigames such as
295:
to Metagaming. However, Thompson sought legal action against SJG for the rights to the short wargame
125: 102: 1271: 332: 268: 233: 208: 186: 172: 167: 84: 752: 498: 929:
His other interests include gardening (especially water gardening), Lego, pirates, trains, ....
838: 802: 760: 379: 354: 326: 202: 851: 673: 527: 486: 246: 484:. The confusion is exacerbated by the fact that while the UK Jackson was co-creator of the 1305: 870: 532: 311:(whose ownership was questioned during the legal proceedings). Jackson wanted to purchase 287: 142: 1248: 620: 591: 504: 492: 481: 343: 336:(1981), and a published version of an informal game played on college campuses, called 1315: 1290: 703: 619:
He was honored as a "famous game designer" by being featured as the king of clubs in
181: 114: 80: 640: 244:
could be expanded into a complete fantasy role-playing game, and started working on
17: 788: 563: 544:, SJG filed a lawsuit against the government, which went to trial in early 1993 as 422: 281: 223: 1037: 665: 508:), and the books did not acknowledge that this was a different 'Steve Jackson'. 449: 437:
Jackson has exhibited his elaborate Chaos Machine at several science fiction or
416: 197: 943:"Buying a Chunk of a Legendary LEGO Masterpiece... with Some Assembly Required" 1277: 387: 1216: 1183: 1157: 894: 438: 368:
in 1983, although his time spent managing magazines delayed development of
212:(1978), which were both set in a futuristic universe that Jackson created. 1286: 1014: 707: 477: 442: 348: 320: 192: 94: 975: 566:-themed) sets. He has written a miniatures game that uses Pirate sets, 490:
gamebook series, the US Jackson also wrote three books in this series (
138: 677: 616:
were named to the Origins Hall of Fame for 1999 and 2012 respectively.
597:
In 1982, he became the youngest game designer to be inducted into the
1140: 1255: 1145:
Many thanks to Steve Jackson for help in putting together this FAQ.
908: 863: 606: 530:, and seized (among other materials and media) his manuscript for 364: 119: 98: 60: 1267: 578: 574: 559: 1103: 1261: 200:. Jackson got his first design for the company published as 1242: 1071:"Steve Jackson Shows Off the Texas Brick Railroad (Video)" 1160:. Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD). 885:
Steve Jackson Games, Inc. v. United States Secret Service
547:
Steve Jackson Games, Inc. v. United States Secret Service
518:
Steve Jackson Games, Inc. v. United States Secret Service
573:
Jackson has combined his fondness for model trains and
666:""Rice University Class of 1974 Commencement program"" 550:. SJG won the lawsuit, receiving $ 50,000 in damages. 90: 76: 68: 41: 825:. Archived from the original on December 14, 2007 843:: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ( 623:'s 2011 Famous Game Designers Playing Card Deck. 390:replaced Jackson in 1995 as the line editor for 1207: 1205: 1302:Pen & Paper listing for Steve Jackson (US) 512:1990 Secret Service incident and legal actions 402:Jackson also designed the strategy card games 137:Steve Jackson was born in 1953, and is a 1974 117:whose creations include the role-playing game 909:"Steve Jackson: Biography and Public Warning" 8: 864:Steve Jackson – Biography and Public Warning 747: 745: 743: 741: 739: 737: 1256:Steve Jackson: Biography and Public Warning 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 725: 723: 721: 719: 717: 452:funding project for the 6th Edition of his 1247: 372:until 1984, making the combat system book 262:, owner of Metagaming, decided to release 153:, but left to start a game design career. 38: 570:, and has run it at several conventions. 285:was an immediate success. Jackson bought 1264:(1990 to 1993 legal case) at SJgames.com 1262:Steve Jackson Games v. US Secret Service 426:(2010), as well as Zombie Dice variants 291:from Metagaming, and sold the rights to 632: 1114:from the original on February 27, 2021 986:from the original on September 9, 2011 836: 1282:Internet Speculative Fiction Database 1274:, with no library catalog records 873:from Steve Jackson's personal website 480:and video game writer who co-founded 375:Man to Man: Fantasy Combat from GURPS 32:Steve Jackson (British game designer) 7: 778: 776: 55:Steve Jackson signing autographs at 1190:from the original on March 28, 2014 1048:from the original on August 3, 2021 953:from the original on April 23, 2021 684:from the original on March 17, 2017 599:Charles Roberts Awards Hall of Fame 919:from the original on July 22, 2018 590:Jackson has received over a dozen 27:American game designer (born 1953) 25: 1164:from the original on May 11, 2019 1081:from the original on May 29, 2021 641:"SFE: Jackson, Steve [2]" 448:On May 11, 2012, Steve Jackson's 196:(1976), a space conquest game by 151:University of Texas School of Law 1215:. Flying Buffalo. Archived from 1184:"Awards for Steve Jackson Games" 558:Jackson is an avid collector of 441:conventions, including the 2006 386:appeared the next year in 1986. 227:in response. Jackson joined the 49: 706:(LinkedIn profile) – via 346:, which produced games such as 149:. Jackson briefly attended the 1036:Varney, Allen (May 15, 2007). 542:Electronic Frontier Foundation 472:Jackson is often mistaken for 1: 215:Jackson became interested in 145:, where he was a resident of 524:United States Secret Service 1332:Role-playing game designers 1308: (archived May 6, 2009) 1007:"Evil Stevie's Pirate Game" 976:"Evil Stevie's Pirate Game" 414:(2003), and the dice games 180:1976) based on a design by 113:(born 1953) is an American 72:1953 (age 70–71) 1383: 515: 275:1980s: Steve Jackson Games 162:1970s: Metagaming Concepts 59:2006 gaming convention in 29: 1352:American gamebook writers 794:Hobby Games: The 100 Best 568:Evil Stevie's Pirate Game 48: 1298:by Tom Vasel, April 2005 1042:www.escapistmagazine.com 891:816 F. Supp. 432 783:Jackson, Steve (2007). " 468:The two "Steve Jacksons" 57:Lucca Comics & Games 30:Not to be confused with 1367:American game designers 1186:. Steve Jackson Games. 1077:. Texas. May 20, 2013. 980:www.classic-pirates.com 759:. Mongoose Publishing. 757:Designers & Dragons 458:Ogre Designer's Edition 190:role-playing game, and 1342:Rice University alumni 1104:"Texas Brick Railroad" 869:July 22, 2018, at the 799:Green Ronin Publishing 604:His role-playing game 240:Jackson realized that 218:Dungeons & Dragons 147:Sid Richardson College 1108:www.texasbrickrr.com/ 378:(1985) available for 1337:Board game designers 1268:Steve Jackson, 1953– 1158:"AAGAD Hall of Fame" 1017:on November 12, 2020 801:. pp. 231–235. 254:was even published. 206:(1977), followed by 187:Tunnels & Trolls 170:, Jackson developed 18:Steve Jackson (U.S.) 1272:Library of Congress 753:Appelcline, Shannon 645:sf-encyclopedia.com 464:franchise as well. 382:1985, and the full 269:Steve Jackson Games 173:Monsters! Monsters! 168:Metagaming Concepts 85:Steve Jackson Games 1143:on April 2, 2017. 1075:games.slashdot.org 982:. March 26, 2011. 941:Heiseldal, Are M. 554:Personal interests 499:Demons of the Deep 123:and the card game 808:978-1-932442-96-0 766:978-1-907702-58-7 271:later that year. 184:connected to his 166:While working at 108: 107: 16:(Redirected from 1374: 1357:Fighting Fantasy 1251: 1246: 1245: 1243:Official website 1229: 1228: 1226: 1224: 1219:on March 4, 2016 1209: 1200: 1199: 1197: 1195: 1180: 1174: 1173: 1171: 1169: 1154: 1148: 1147: 1139:. Archived from 1133: 1127: 1126: 1121: 1119: 1100: 1094: 1093: 1088: 1086: 1067: 1061: 1060: 1055: 1053: 1033: 1027: 1026: 1024: 1022: 1013:. Archived from 1005:Jackson, Steve. 1002: 996: 995: 993: 991: 972: 966: 965: 960: 958: 938: 932: 931: 926: 924: 907:Jackson, Steve. 904: 898: 888: 880: 874: 861: 855: 848: 842: 834: 832: 830: 819: 813: 812: 780: 771: 770: 749: 712: 711: 700: 694: 693: 691: 689: 662: 656: 655: 653: 651: 637: 528:Loyd Blankenship 487:Fighting Fantasy 313:The Fantasy Trip 293:The Fantasy Trip 264:The Fantasy Trip 256:The Fantasy Trip 247:The Fantasy Trip 53: 39: 21: 1382: 1381: 1377: 1376: 1375: 1373: 1372: 1371: 1312: 1311: 1306:Wayback Machine 1241: 1240: 1237: 1232: 1222: 1220: 1211: 1210: 1203: 1193: 1191: 1182: 1181: 1177: 1167: 1165: 1156: 1155: 1151: 1135: 1134: 1130: 1117: 1115: 1102: 1101: 1097: 1084: 1082: 1069: 1068: 1064: 1051: 1049: 1035: 1034: 1030: 1020: 1018: 1004: 1003: 999: 989: 987: 974: 973: 969: 956: 954: 940: 939: 935: 922: 920: 906: 905: 901: 882: 881: 877: 871:Wayback Machine 862: 858: 835: 828: 826: 823:"WorldCon 2006" 821: 820: 816: 809: 782: 781: 774: 767: 751: 750: 715: 704:"Steve Jackson" 702: 701: 697: 687: 685: 664: 663: 659: 649: 647: 639: 638: 634: 630: 587: 556: 538:GURPS Cyberpunk 533:GURPS Cyberpunk 520: 514: 470: 400: 384:GURPS Basic Set 288:The Space Gamer 277: 260:Howard Thompson 164: 159: 143:Rice University 135: 64: 44: 35: 28: 23: 22: 15: 12: 11: 5: 1380: 1378: 1370: 1369: 1364: 1359: 1354: 1349: 1344: 1339: 1334: 1329: 1324: 1314: 1313: 1310: 1309: 1299: 1293: 1284: 1275: 1265: 1259: 1258:at SJgames.com 1253: 1252:at SJgames.com 1236: 1235:External links 1233: 1231: 1230: 1201: 1175: 1149: 1128: 1095: 1062: 1028: 1011:sj.sjgames.com 997: 967: 933: 913:sj.sjgames.com 899: 875: 856: 814: 807: 772: 765: 713: 695: 657: 631: 629: 626: 625: 624: 621:Flying Buffalo 617: 610:and card game 602: 595: 592:Origins Awards 586: 583: 555: 552: 516:Main article: 513: 510: 505:Robot Commando 493:Scorpion Swamp 482:Games Workshop 469: 466: 432:Dino Hunt Dice 399: 396: 344:Origin Systems 301:One-Page Bulge 297:One-Page Bulge 276: 273: 163: 160: 158: 155: 134: 131: 106: 105: 92: 91:Known for 88: 87: 78: 74: 73: 70: 66: 65: 54: 46: 45: 42: 26: 24: 14: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1379: 1368: 1365: 1363: 1362:GURPS writers 1360: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1327:Living people 1325: 1323: 1320: 1319: 1317: 1307: 1303: 1300: 1297: 1294: 1292: 1291:BoardGameGeek 1288: 1287:Steve Jackson 1285: 1283: 1279: 1278:Steve Jackson 1276: 1273: 1269: 1266: 1263: 1260: 1257: 1254: 1250: 1244: 1239: 1238: 1234: 1218: 1214: 1208: 1206: 1202: 1189: 1185: 1179: 1176: 1163: 1159: 1153: 1150: 1146: 1142: 1138: 1132: 1129: 1125: 1113: 1109: 1105: 1099: 1096: 1092: 1080: 1076: 1072: 1066: 1063: 1059: 1047: 1043: 1039: 1032: 1029: 1016: 1012: 1008: 1001: 998: 985: 981: 977: 971: 968: 964: 952: 948: 947:bricknerd.com 944: 937: 934: 930: 918: 914: 910: 903: 900: 896: 892: 887: 886: 879: 876: 872: 868: 865: 860: 857: 854: 853: 846: 840: 824: 818: 815: 810: 804: 800: 796: 795: 790: 789:Lowder, James 786: 779: 777: 773: 768: 762: 758: 754: 748: 746: 744: 742: 740: 738: 736: 734: 732: 730: 728: 726: 724: 722: 720: 718: 714: 709: 705: 699: 696: 683: 679: 675: 671: 667: 661: 658: 646: 642: 636: 633: 627: 622: 618: 615: 614: 609: 608: 603: 600: 596: 593: 589: 588: 584: 582: 580: 576: 571: 569: 565: 561: 553: 551: 549: 548: 543: 539: 535: 534: 529: 525: 519: 511: 509: 507: 506: 501: 500: 495: 494: 489: 488: 483: 479: 475: 474:Steve Jackson 467: 465: 463: 459: 455: 451: 446: 444: 440: 435: 433: 429: 425: 424: 419: 418: 413: 412: 407: 406: 397: 395: 393: 389: 385: 381: 377: 376: 371: 367: 366: 359: 357: 356: 351: 350: 345: 341: 340: 335: 334: 329: 328: 323: 322: 316: 314: 310: 306: 302: 298: 294: 290: 289: 284: 283: 274: 272: 270: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 248: 243: 238: 236: 235: 230: 226: 225: 220: 219: 213: 211: 210: 205: 204: 199: 195: 194: 189: 188: 183: 182:Ken St. Andre 179: 175: 174: 169: 161: 156: 154: 152: 148: 144: 140: 132: 130: 128: 127: 122: 121: 116: 115:game designer 112: 111:Steve Jackson 104: 100: 96: 93: 89: 86: 83:, founder of 82: 81:Game designer 79: 77:Occupation(s) 75: 71: 67: 62: 58: 52: 47: 43:Steve Jackson 40: 37: 33: 19: 1223:February 11, 1221:. Retrieved 1217:the original 1213:"Poker Deck" 1194:February 11, 1192:. Retrieved 1178: 1168:December 20, 1166:. Retrieved 1152: 1144: 1141:the original 1137:"TexLUG FAQ" 1131: 1123: 1116:. Retrieved 1107: 1098: 1090: 1083:. Retrieved 1074: 1065: 1057: 1050:. Retrieved 1041: 1038:"LEGO Games" 1031: 1019:. Retrieved 1015:the original 1010: 1000: 988:. Retrieved 979: 970: 962: 955:. Retrieved 946: 936: 928: 921:. Retrieved 912: 902: 883: 878: 859: 850: 829:February 26, 827:. Retrieved 817: 792: 756: 698: 686:. Retrieved 669: 660: 648:. Retrieved 644: 635: 611: 605: 577:through the 572: 567: 562:(especially 557: 545: 537: 531: 521: 503: 497: 491: 485: 476:, a British 471: 461: 457: 453: 447: 436: 431: 427: 423:Cthulhu Dice 421: 415: 411:Ninja Burger 409: 403: 401: 398:Recent years 391: 383: 373: 369: 363: 360: 353: 347: 337: 331: 325: 319: 317: 312: 308: 304: 300: 296: 292: 286: 282:Raid on Iran 280: 278: 263: 255: 251: 245: 241: 239: 232: 222: 216: 214: 207: 201: 191: 185: 177: 171: 165: 136: 124: 118: 110: 109: 36: 1347:Discordians 1322:1953 births 897: 1993). 893:, 435 ( 450:Kickstarter 430:(2011) and 428:Trophy Buck 420:(2010) and 417:Zombie Dice 408:(2001) and 352:(1985) and 324:(1981) and 198:Lynn Willis 1316:Categories 678:1911/61711 628:References 388:Sean Punch 327:Illuminati 1296:Interview 1118:August 4, 1085:August 3, 1052:August 4, 1021:August 4, 990:August 4, 957:August 4, 923:August 4, 895:W.D. Tex. 688:March 17, 439:wargaming 303:, and to 279:His game 133:Education 1188:Archived 1162:Archived 1112:Archived 1079:Archived 1046:Archived 984:Archived 951:Archived 917:Archived 867:Archived 839:cite web 785:Paranoia 755:(2011). 708:LinkedIn 682:Archived 672:. 1974. 613:Munchkin 478:gamebook 462:Car Wars 443:Worldcon 434:(2013). 405:Munchkin 358:(1986). 349:Autoduel 330:(1983), 321:Car Wars 193:Godsfire 139:graduate 126:Munchkin 103:Munchkin 95:Car Wars 1304:at the 1280:at the 791:(ed.). 650:June 2, 380:Origins 250:before 63:, Italy 889:, 805:  787:". In 763:  585:Honors 564:pirate 502:, and 339:Killer 333:Undead 309:G.E.V. 234:Wizard 209:G.E.V. 157:Career 852:Wired 849:from 607:GURPS 392:GURPS 370:GURPS 365:GURPS 252:Melee 242:Melee 224:Melee 120:GURPS 99:GURPS 61:Lucca 1225:2014 1196:2014 1170:2017 1120:2021 1087:2021 1054:2021 1023:2021 992:2021 959:2021 925:2021 845:link 831:2007 803:ISBN 761:ISBN 690:2017 652:2024 579:LEGO 575:LEGO 560:Lego 522:The 454:Ogre 355:Ogre 307:and 305:Ogre 203:Ogre 69:Born 1289:at 1270:at 674:hdl 229:SCA 178:ca. 141:of 1318:: 1204:^ 1122:. 1110:. 1106:. 1089:. 1073:. 1056:. 1044:. 1040:. 1009:. 978:. 961:. 949:. 945:. 927:. 915:. 911:. 841:}} 837:{{ 797:. 775:^ 716:^ 680:. 668:. 643:. 496:, 445:. 394:. 237:. 129:. 101:, 97:, 1227:. 1198:. 1172:. 1025:. 994:. 847:) 833:. 811:. 769:. 710:. 692:. 676:: 654:. 601:. 594:. 176:( 34:. 20:)

Index

Steve Jackson (U.S.)
Steve Jackson (British game designer)

Lucca Comics & Games
Lucca
Game designer
Steve Jackson Games
Car Wars
GURPS
Munchkin
game designer
GURPS
Munchkin
graduate
Rice University
Sid Richardson College
University of Texas School of Law
Metagaming Concepts
Monsters! Monsters!
Ken St. Andre
Tunnels & Trolls
Godsfire
Lynn Willis
Ogre
G.E.V.
Dungeons & Dragons
Melee
SCA
Wizard
The Fantasy Trip

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.