OT: Steve Jackson

[Darkfather]

Originally Posted by onomastikon

Anybody remember the good old days of Steve Jackson's boxed games, such as Car Wars or Ogre? I do. Fond memories. Now, more than 30 years later, I live in a foreign country and nobody here has ever heard of them, not surprisingly. Yet my own boy will soon be old enough to play them. Anyone know if they are still available for purchase anywhere? (I lost my copies decades ago...)

On a related note, I could not help wonder why the SJ game "Ogre" and its subsequent expansions was never made into a SP computer game. From my attempts at searching, I come up with nothing. But perhaps you wise people here who know the indie computer market much better than I would have an idea: Do you know of a decent iteration of a game similar to SJ's "Ogre"? Something nice and simple, and hence equally well-employable for an AI.

Thanks much!

Ogre and Car Wars were a different era of gaming. They sold for around $5 each when they first hit the shelves and were designed during the lean and mean era of Steve Jackson. In some ways they were a counter point to Avalon Hill which was looking to publish their games at a much higher price point. SJG has now matured as a company and (mostly) works with much higher price point products. I am not sure now how Steve feels about Car Wars or its revival as I have never asked him about it, but he certainly was passionate about it in the early days. I am sure the right offer with the right backing would bring it back.

A Car Wars type autoduel MMO was produced and if I remember did not do well, it was not based on the IP.

Car Wars had a GURPs supplement that is likely still available.

[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.

[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...