|
FASA Corporation published RPGs,
wargames and boardgames after its creation in 1980 by Jordan Weisman
and L. Ross Babcock III, both cadets at the US Merchant Marine
Academy. The company name was an acronym for "Freedonian Aeronautics
and Space Administration", a humorous reference to the fictional
country referenced by the Marx Brothers in "Duck Soup." The
company was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and begun with an
initial investment of $350.00.
FASA first produced
supplements for the GDW role playing game Traveller and
further established itself with science fiction and fantasy titles,
including futuristic military titles such as BattleTech. The
only true historical military title produced by FASA was the
Behind Enemy Lines RPG in 1982.
In 1985, Jordan
Weisman's father Mort joined FASA to take leadership of operational
management after selling off Swallow Press, a book publishing
business. The injection of capital took the company into a new
direction, diversifying into books and miniature figures. FASA also
took an interest in computer games, and Microsoft eventually
acquired subsidiary FASA Interactive, which Babcock accompanies. |
|
 |
|
Founded: |
1980 |
|
Produced: |
►Military Role Playing
Game |
|
Demise: |
2001, still exists as
corporation with intellectual property rights |
|
|
|
FASA ceased their
active business operations in April 2001 while retaining
intellectual property rights, and still exist as a corporation.
Several properties, including the lucrative BattleTech and
Shadowrun interests, were sold to the independent Whizkids
venture formed by Jordan Weisman, then back to FASA. In 2007, an
announcement was made that a new venture named Smith & Tinker, also
run by Weisman, had regained the intellectual property rights to
these interests.
Behind Enemy Lines remains a rarity among Role Playing Games
in having conventional Second World War military forces as its
theme.
Military
Tactical Wargames Published by FASA
|
