View source for TSR, Inc.

{{Short description|Former company, publisher of "Dungeons & Dragons"}}
{{Infobox company
| name          = TSR, Inc.
| logo          = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:TSR logo Planescape Torment.png|200px]] -->
| fate          = Acquired and discontinued
| successor     = [[Wizards of the Coast]]
| foundation    = 1973
| defunct       = 1997
| location      = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]], United States
| industry      = [[Role-playing game]] publisher
| key_people    = [[Gary Gygax]], [[Brian Blume]], [[Lorraine Williams]]
| products      = ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''
| num_employees = 
| parent        = 
| subsid        = 
}}
'''TSR, Inc.''' was an American game publishing company and the publisher of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''D&D'').

When [[Gary Gygax]] could not find a publisher for ''D&D'', a new type of game he and [[Dave Arneson]] were co-developing, Gygax and [[Don Kaye]] founded '''Tactical Studies Rules''' in October 1973 to self-publish their products.<ref name="tsr-founding">{{cite book | title = Playing at the World | last = Peterson | first = Jon | publisher = Unreason Press | year = 2012 | location = San Diego, California | pages = 78–79 | isbn = 978-0615642048}}</ref> However, needing immediate financing to bring their new game to market before several similar competing products were released, Gygax and Kaye brought in [[Brian Blume]] in December as an equal partner.<ref name="tsr-founding"/> When Kaye died suddenly in 1975, the Tactical Studies Rules partnership restructured into TSR Hobbies, Inc. and accepted investment from Blume's father Melvin.<ref name="ambush">{{cite web | last = Peterson | first = Jon | title = The Ambush at Sheridan Springs: How Gary Gygax Lost Control of Dungeons & Dragons | work = Medium | url = https://medium.com/@increment/the-ambush-at-sheridan-springs-3a29d07f6836| access-date = 2015-03-20}}</ref> With the now popular ''D&D'' as its main product, TSR Hobbies became a major force in the games industry by the late 1970s.  Melvin Blume eventually transferred his shares to his other son Kevin, making the two Blume brothers the largest shareholders in TSR Hobbies.

TSR Hobbies ran into financial difficulties in the spring of 1983, prompting the company to split into four independent businesses, with game publishing and development continuing as TSR, Inc. (TSR). After losing their executive positions due to the company's underperformance, the Blume brothers subsequently sold their shares to TSR Vice President [[Lorraine Williams]], who in turn engineered Gygax's ouster from the company in October 1985.<ref name="ambush"/> TSR saw prosperity under Williams, but by 1995, had fallen behind their competitors in overall sales. TSR was left unable to cover its publishing costs due to a variety of factors, so facing insolvency, TSR was purchased in 1997 by [[Wizards of the Coast]] (WotC). WotC initially retained use of the TSR name for their ''D&D'' products, but by 2000, the TSR moniker was dropped, coinciding with the release of the 3rd edition of ''D&D''.

WotC allowed the TSR [[trademark]] to expire in the early 2000s.<ref name="wired0" /> Two new companies have since utilized the TSR trademark commercially.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-29|title=TSR Games cuts business ties with Ernest G. Gygax, Jr. and second RPG publisher calling itself TSR|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/tsr-games/news/tsr-games-ernie-gygax-cut-ties|access-date=2021-06-30|website=Dicebreaker|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

==History==

===Tactical Studies Rules===
{{Infobox company
| name          = Tactical Studies Rules
| logo          = Tsr logo GK.png
| logo_caption  = Original logo of Tactical Studies Rules: the entwined initials of founders Gary Gygax and Don Kaye.
| fate          = dissolved
| successor     = TSR Hobbies, Inc.
| foundation    = 1973
| defunct       = 1975
| location      = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]], United States
| industry      = [[Role-playing game]] publisher
| key_people    = [[Gary Gygax]], [[Don Kaye]], [[Brian Blume]]
| products      = ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''
| num_employees = 
| parent        = 
| subsid        = 
}}
Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) was formed in [[1973 in games|1973]] as a partnership between [[Gary Gygax]] and [[Don Kaye]], who collected together $2,400 for startup costs, to formally publish and sell the rules of ''Dungeons & Dragons'', the creation of Gygax and [[Dave Arneson]] and the first modern role-playing game (RPG).<ref name="Wired">{{cite news | last = Kushner | first = David | title = Dungeon Master: The Life and Legacy of Gary Gygax | work = Wired.com | url = https://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/news/2008/03/ff_gygax | access-date = 2008-10-16 | date=2008-03-10}}</ref> The first TSR release, however, was ''[[Cavaliers and Roundheads]]'', a [[miniature wargaming|miniature game]], to start generating income for TSR. The partnership was subsequently joined by [[Brian Blume]] and (temporarily) by Arneson. Blume was admitted to the partnership to fund further publishing of ''D&D'' instead of waiting for ''Cavaliers and Roundheads'' to bring in enough revenue.<ref name="ODD009">{{cite web |url =http://www.dragonsfoot.org/files/pdf/ODD09.pdf |title = An Interview with Gary Gygax, Part I |access-date =2007-11-09 |last = Sacco |first = Ciro Alessandro |date=February 2007 |work = OD&Dities issue 9 |publisher = Richard Tongue |pages =7  }}</ref> In the original configuration of the partnership, Kaye served as president, Blume as vice-president, and Gygax as editor.<ref name="tsr-founding"/>

In January 1974, TSR—with Gygax's basement as a headquarters—produced 1,000 copies of ''D&D'', selling them for $10 each (and the extra dice needed for another $3.50). This first print sold out in 10 months.<ref name="Wired"/> In January 1975, TSR printed a second 1,000 copies of ''D&D'', which took only another five or six months to sell out.<ref name="printruns">{{cite book | title = Playing at the World | last = Peterson | first = Jon  | publisher = Unreason Press | year = 2012 | location = San Diego, California | page = 496 | isbn = 978-0615642048}}</ref> Also in 1974, TSR published ''[[Warriors of Mars (game)|Warriors of Mars]]'', a miniatures rules book set in the fantasy world of [[Barsoom]], originally imagined by [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] in his series of novels about [[John Carter of Mars]], to which Gygax paid homage in the preface of the first edition of ''D&D''. However, Gygax and TSR published the ''Mars'' book without permission from (or payment to) the Burroughs [[estate (law)#Inheritance|estate]], and soon after, a [[cease and desist order]] was issued, and ''Warriors'' was pulled from distribution. In 1975, TSR published Blume's ''[[Panzer Warfare]]'', a [[World War II]]-based [[miniature wargaming]] set of rules for use with [[1:285 scale]] [[micro armour]].{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

At its inception, TSR sold its products directly to customers, shipped to game shops and hobby stores, and wholesaled only to three distributors that were manufacturers of [[miniature figure (gaming)|miniature figurines]]. In 1975, TSR picked up one or two regular distributors. The next year, TSR joined the Hobby Industry Association of America and began exhibiting at their annual trade show, and began to establish a regular network of distributors.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

When Don Kaye died of a heart attack on January 31, 1975, his role was taken over by his wife Donna Kaye, who remained responsible for accounting, shipping, and the records of the partnership through the summer.<ref name="partnership">{{cite book | title = Playing at the World | last = Peterson | first = Jon  | publisher = Unreason Press | year = 2012 | location = San Diego, California | pages = 522–523 | isbn = 978-0615642048}}</ref> By the summer of 1975, those duties became complex enough that Gygax himself became a full-time employee of the partnership in order to take them over from Donna Kaye. Arneson also entered the partnership in order to coordinate research and design with his circle in the Twin Cities.<ref name="partnership"/>

===TSR Hobbies, Inc.===
{{Infobox company
| name          = TSR Hobbies, Inc.
| logo          = Tsr logo game wizards.png
| fate          = Split up
| successor     = TSR, Inc., TSR Ventures, TSR International and TSR Entertainment Corporation
| foundation    = 1975
| defunct       = 1983
| location      = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]], United States
| industry      = [[Role-playing game]] publisher
| key_people    = [[Gary Gygax]], [[Brian Blume]], [[Kevin Blume]]
| products      = ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]''
| num_employees = 
| parent        = 
| subsid        = Greenfield Needlewomen
}}

Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc.,<ref name="history">{{cite web| url=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| title=The History of TSR| publisher=[[Wizards of the Coast]]| access-date=2005-08-20| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818164322/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_History.asp| url-status=dead| archive-date=2000-08-18}}</ref> with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share.<ref name="ambush3">{{cite web | last = Peterson | first = Jon | title = The Ambush at Sheridan Springs: How Gary Gygax Lost Control of Dungeons & Dragons | work = Medium | url = https://medium.com/@increment/the-ambush-at-sheridan-springs-3a29d07f6836| access-date = 2015-03-20}}</ref> From the start, Gygax served as president of TSR Hobbies, and Blume as vice president and secretary. Originally, TSR Hobbies was created as a separate company to market miniatures and games from several companies, an enterprise which was also connected to the opening of the Dungeon hobby shop in Lake Geneva.<ref name="partnership"/> The Dungeon would become the effective headquarters of the company, including the offices of Blume and Gygax. On September 26, 1975, the former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc.<ref name="assets">{{cite book | title = Playing at the World | last = Peterson | first = Jon  | publisher = Unreason Press | year = 2012 | location = San Diego, California | page = 535 | isbn = 978-0615642048}}</ref> TSR Hobbies subcontracted the printing and assembly work in October 1975, and the third printing of 2,000 copies of ''D&D'' sold out in five months.<ref name="printruns"/> [[Tim Kask]] was hired in the autumn of 1975 as Periodicals Editor, and the company's first full-time employee.

''[[Empire of the Petal Throne]]'' became the first game product published by TSR Hobbies, followed by two supplements to ''D&D'', ''[[Greyhawk (supplement)|Greyhawk]]'' and ''[[Blackmoor (supplement)|Blackmoor]]''.<ref name="history"/> Also released in 1975 were the board game ''[[Dungeon!]]'' and the Wild West RPG ''[[Boot Hill (role-playing game)|Boot Hill]]''.<ref name="history"/> The company took $300,000 in revenues for the fiscal year of 1976.<ref name="inc"/> TSR began hosting the [[Gen Con]] Game Fair in 1976, and featured the first ever ''D&D'' open tournament that year.<ref name="history"/><ref name="D&Dfaq">{{cite web| url = https://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| title = ''Dungeons & Dragons'' FAQ| access-date = 2021-06-30| publisher = [[Wizards of the Coast]]| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081002132129/http://www.wizards.com/dnd/DnDArchives_FAQ.asp| url-status = live| archive-date = 2008-10-02}}</ref> ''D&D'' supplements ''[[Eldritch Wizardry]]'' and ''[[Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes]]'' were released in 1976, and the original ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set|D&D Basic Set]]'' was released in 1977.<ref name="history"/> Also in 1977, TSR Hobbies published the original ''[[Monster Manual]]'', the first hardbound book ever published by a game company, and the first product in the ''[[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (''AD&D'') line. The next year, the ''[[Player's Handbook]]'' was published, followed by a series of six [[Adventure (Dungeons & Dragons)|adventure modules]] that had previously only been used in tournaments.<ref name="history"/> Also in 1978, TSR Hobbies moved out of Gygax's home and into downtown [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin|Lake Geneva]], above the Dungeon Hobby Shop.<ref name="history"/> In 1979, the ''[[Dungeon Master's Guide]]'' was published, and radio ads featuring "Morley the Wizard" were broadcast.<ref name="history"/>

During this era, there were a number of competitors and unofficial supplements to ''D&D'' published, arguably in violation of TSR's copyright, which many ''D&D'' players used alongside the TSR books. Among these were the ''[[Arduin#The Arduin Trilogy|Arduin Grimoire]]'', the ''Manual of Aurenia'', and variants such as ''Warlock'' and ''[[Tunnels & Trolls]]''. TSR regarded these very warily, and in cases where they felt their trademarks were being misused, they issued cease-and-desist letters. More often than not, this legal posturing resulted in only slight changes to competitors' works, but caused significant animosity in the community.<ref name="tsr-founding555">{{cite book | title = Playing at the World | last = Peterson | first = Jon | publisher = Unreason Press | year = 2012 | location = San Diego, California | pages = 555 | isbn = 978-0615642048}}</ref>

Gygax granted exclusive rights to [[Games Workshop]] to distribute TSR products in the United Kingdom, after meeting with [[Ian Livingstone]] and [[Steve Jackson (UK game designer)|Steve Jackson]]. Games Workshop printed some original material and also printed their own versions of various ''D&D'' and ''AD&D'' titles in order to avoid high import costs. When TSR could not reach an agreement with Games Workshop regarding a possible merger, TSR created a subsidiary operation in the UK, TSR Hobbies UK Ltd, in 1980.<ref name="history"/> Gygax hired [[Don Turnbull (game designer)|Don Turnbull]] to head up the operation, which would expand into continental Europe during the 1980s. TSR UK published a series of modules and the original ''[[Fiend Folio]]''. TSR UK also produced ''[[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]]'' magazine for 31 issues.

The first published [[campaign setting]] for ''AD&D'', the [[Greyhawk|World of Greyhawk]], was introduced in 1980. The espionage role-playing game ''[[Top Secret (role-playing game)|Top Secret]]'' came out in 1980; reportedly, a note written on TSR stationery about a fictitious assassination plot, part of the playtesting of the new game, brought the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] to TSR's offices.<ref name="history"/> That same year, the [[RPGA|Role Playing Game Association]] was formed to promote quality roleplaying and unite gamers around the country.<ref name="history"/> In 1981, [[Inc. (magazine)|''Inc.'']] magazine listed TSR Hobbies as one of the hundred fastest-growing privately held companies in the US.<ref name="inc">{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/magazine/19820201/3601.html|title=TSR Hobbies Mixes Fact and Fantasy|date=1982-02-01|author=Stewart Alsop II}}</ref> That same year, TSR Hobbies moved its offices again, this time to a former medical supply building with an attached warehouse. In 1982, TSR Hobbies broke the 20&nbsp;million mark in sales.<ref name="history"/>

In 1982, TSR Hobbies decided to terminate [[Grenadier Miniatures]]'s license and started producing its own ''AD&D'' miniatures line, followed by a line of toys. Part of the licensing of the ''AD&D'' toy line went to [[LJN]]. Also that year, TSR introduced two new roleplaying games, ''[[Gangbusters (role-playing game)|Gangbusters]]'' and ''[[Star Frontiers]]''.<ref name="history"/> Exclusive distribution of the ''D&D'' game was established in 22 countries, with the game being translated first into French, followed by many other languages including Danish, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, and Swedish. In 1982, an educational department was established to develop curriculum programs for reading, math, history, and problem solving, with the most successful program being the ''[[Endless Quest]]'' book series.<ref name="history"/>

Melvin Blume's shares were later transferred to Kevin Blume. With the board of directors consisting of Kevin and Brian Blume plus Gygax, Gygax in later interviews described his position as primarily a figurehead president and CEO of the corporation, with Brian Blume as president of creative affairs and Kevin Blume as president of operations, as of 1981.<ref name="Kyngdoms">{{cite web | last = Sacco | first = Ciro Alessandro | title = The Ultimate Interview with Gary Gygax | work = thekyngdoms.com | url = http://www.thekyngdoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37 | access-date = 2008-10-24}}</ref><ref name="inc"/> In that year, TSR Hobbies had revenues of $12.9&nbsp;million and a payroll of 130.<ref name="inc"/>

TSR Hobbies sought diversification, acquiring or starting several new business ventures; these include a [[needle craft]] business, miniatures manufacturing, toy and gift ventures, and an entertainment division to pursue motion picture and television opportunities.<ref name="history"/> The company also acquired the trademarks and copyrights of [[Simulations Publications, Inc.|SPI]] and ''[[Amazing Stories]]'' magazine.<ref name="history"/>

===TSR===
In 1983, the company was split into four companies: TSR, Inc. (the primary successor), TSR International, TSR Ventures, and TSR Entertainment, Inc.<ref name="ODD009" />

Gygax left for Hollywood to found TSR Entertainment, Inc., later Dungeons & Dragons Entertainment Corp., which attempted to license ''D&D'' products to movie and television executives. His work would eventually lead to only a single license for what later became the [[Dungeons & Dragons (TV series)|''Dungeons & Dragons'' cartoon]].<ref name="Gamespy-GaryGygax">{{cite web | url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/538/538820p1.html | title=Gary Gygax Interview - Part 2 | last=Rausch | first=Allen | work=[[GameSpy]] |publisher=[[IGN]] | date=2004-08-16 | access-date=2006-07-05}}</ref> However, the series spawned more than 100 different licenses, and led its time slot for two years.<ref name="history"/>

TSR, Inc. released the ''[[Dragonlance]]'' saga in 1984 after two years of development, making TSR the number one publisher of fantasy and science fiction novels in the USA.<ref name="history"/> ''Dragonlance'' consisted of an entirely new game world promoted both by a series of game supplements and a trilogy of novels written by [[Margaret Weis]] and [[Tracy Hickman]]. ''The Dragons of Autumn Twilight'', the first novel in the series, reached the top of [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller list]], encouraging TSR to a launch a long series of paperback novels based on the various official settings for ''D&D''.

In 1984, TSR signed a license to publish the ''[[Marvel Super Heroes (role-playing game)|Marvel Super Heroes]]'', ''[[The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game|Indiana Jones]]'', and ''[[Conan Role-Playing Game|Conan]]'' role-playing games. In 1985, the Gen Con game fair moved to [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], due to a need for additional space. The ''[[Oriental Adventures]]'' hardback for ''AD&D'' was released that same year, becoming the biggest seller for 1985. TSR introduced the ''[[All My Children]]'' game, based on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] daytime drama, with more than 150,000 copies sold. In 1986, TSR introduced the ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon Adventures]]'' magazine, a bi-monthly magazine featuring only adventure scenarios for ''D&D''.<ref name="history"/>

===Williams ownership===
Hearing rumors that the Blumes were trying to sell TSR, Gygax returned from Hollywood and discovered the company was in bad financial shape despite healthy sales.<ref>Gygax: "I was alerted to a problem: Kevin Blume was shopping TSR on the street in New York City. I flew back from the West Coast, and discovered the corporation was in debt to the bank the tune of circa {{USD|1.5 million}}." {{cite web | title = Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part XII, Page 28) | work = EN World | date = 2007-01-21 | url = http://www.enworld.org/forum/archive-threads/171753-gary-gygax-q-part-xii-28.html | access-date = 2009-03-15}}</ref> Gygax, who at that time owned only about 30% of the stock, requested that the board of directors remove the Blumes as a way of restoring financial health to the company. The Blumes were forced to leave the company after being accused of misusing corporate funds and accumulating large debts in the pursuit of acquisitions such as latchhook rug kits that were thought to be too broadly targeted.<ref name="magicnmemories2">{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539197p1.html |title=Magic & Memories: The Complete History of ''Dungeons & Dragons'' - Part II |last=Rausch |first=Allen |work=[[GameSpy]] |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=16 August 2004 |access-date=2008-12-20}}</ref>{{Rp|4}} Within a year of the departure of the Blumes, the company was forced to post a net loss of US$1.5&nbsp;million, resulting in layoffs of approximately 75% of the staff. Some of these staff members went on to form other prominent game companies, such as [[Pacesetter Ltd]] and [[Mayfair Games]], or to work with [[Coleco]]'s video game division.

However, in an act many saw as retaliation, the Blumes sold their stock to [[Lorraine Williams]].<ref name="magicnmemories2" />{{Rp|5}} Gygax tried to have the sale declared illegal; after that failed, Gygax sold his remaining stock to Williams and used the capital to form New Infinity Productions.

Williams was a financial planner who saw potential for rebuilding the debt-plagued company into a highly profitable one. However, she was disdainful of the gaming field, viewing herself as superior to gamers.<ref name="Gygax-GygaxFAQ">{{cite web | url=http://www.gygax.com/gygaxfaq.html#What%20Happened%20to%20Gygax%20-%20TSR?| title=What Happened to Gygax – TSR? | publisher=gygax.com | access-date=2006-07-04| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128161605/http://www.gygax.com/gygaxfaq.html#What%20Happened%20to%20Gygax%20-%20TSR? | archive-date=1999-01-28}}</ref><ref name="Gamespy-MagicMemories3">{{cite web| url=http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539628p1.html| title=Magic & Memories: The Complete History of Dungeons & Dragons – Part III: Tyrants & Wizards| pages=1| publisher=Gamespy| date=2004-08-17| access-date=2006-07-04}}</ref>

TSR released the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' campaign setting in 1987. That year, a small team of designers began work on the second edition of the ''AD&D'' game. In 1988, TSR released a ''[[Bullwinkle and Rocky Role-Playing Party Game|Bullwinkle & Rocky]]'' RPG, complete with a spinner and hand puppets. That same year, TSR released the wargame ''[[The Hunt for Red October (board game)|The Hunt for Red October]]'' based on Tom Clancy's novel ''[[The Hunt for Red October]]'', which became one of the biggest selling wargames of all time. In 1989, the [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition|''AD&D'' 2nd edition]] was released, with a new ''Dungeon Master's Guide'', ''Player's Handbook'', the first three volumes of the new ''Monstrous Compendium'', ''[[The Complete Fighter's Handbook]]'', ''[[The Complete Thief's Handbook]]'', and a new campaign setting, ''[[Spelljammer]]'', all released in the same year.

Under Williams' direction, TSR solidified its expansion into other fields, such as magazines, paperback fiction, and comic books. Through her family, she personally held the rights to the [[Buck Rogers]] license and encouraged TSR to produce Buck Rogers games and novels. TSR would end up publishing a board game and a role-playing game, the latter based on the ''AD&D'' 2nd Edition rules.<ref name="magicnmemories2" />

In 1990, the ''[[Ravenloft]]'' setting was released, and Count [[Strahd von Zarovich]] soon became one of the most popular and enduring villains. The West Coast division of TSR was opened to develop various entertainment projects, including a series of science fiction, horror, and action/adventure comic books. In 1991, TSR released the ''[[Dark Sun]]'' campaign setting. TSR also released the first of three annual sets of collector cards in 1991. In 1992, TSR released the ''[[Al-Qadim]]'' setting. TSR's first hardcover novel, ''[[The Legacy (Salvatore novel)|The Legacy]]'' by [[R. A. Salvatore]], was published that year, and climbed to the top of the ''[[New York Times]]'' bestseller list within weeks. In 1992, the Gen Con Game Fair broke all previous attendance records for any U.S gaming convention, with more than 18,000 people. In 1993, the ''[[DragonStrike (board game)|DragonStrike]]'' Entertainment product was released as a new approach to recruiting new players, including a 30-minute video which explained the concepts of role-playing. 1994 saw the release of the ''[[Planescape]]'' campaign setting.<ref name="history"/>

In 1994, TSR signed an agreement with Sweetpea Entertainment for [[Dungeons & Dragons (2000 film)|''D&D'' movie]] rights.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gardner|first1=Eriq|title=Hasbro Sues to Stop Warner Bros. 'Dungeons and Dragons' Film|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/hasbro-sues-stop-warner-bros-522262|access-date=August 8, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 14, 2013}}</ref>

By 1995, TSR had fallen behind both [[Games Workshop]] and [[Wizards of the Coast]] in sales volume. Seeing the profits being generated by Wizards of the Coast with their [[collectible card game]] (CCG) ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'', TSR attempted to enter this market in 1995 in a novel way with ''[[Dragon Dice]]''. Similar to collectible card games, each player started with a random assortment of basic dice, and could improve their assortment by purchasing booster packs of more powerful dice. In addition to this initiative, TSR also decided to publish twelve hardcover novels in 1996, despite a previous history of publishing only one or two hardcover novels each year.

Sales of ''Dragon Dice'' through the games trade started strongly, so TSR quickly produced several expansion packs. In addition, TSR tried to aggressively market ''Dragon Dice'' in mass-market book stores through [[Random House]]. However, the game did not catch on through the book trade, and sales of the expansion sets through traditional games stores were poor.{{cn|date=July 2021}} In addition, the twelve hardcover novels did not sell as well as expected.{{cn|date=July 2021}}

The year 1995 also saw TSR's attempt to create an [[audiobook]] equivalent to the [[gamebook]] format.{{cn|date=July 2021}} Similar in premise to the [[X-files]] or [[White Wolf Publishing]]'s [[World of Darkness]] line, the four ''Terror T.R.A.X'' ("Trace, Research, Analyze, and Exterminate") games cast the player in the role of the head of a secret government agency that protects the world from monsters.  By switching audio tracks, the player could give orders to their agents, and learn the aftermath of their decisions.  Four such games were ultimately released (''Track of the Vampire'', ''Track of the Werewolf'', ''Track of the Creature'', and ''Track of the Mummy'').

===TSR's demise===
By 1996, TSR was experiencing numerous problems, as outlined by Shannon Appelcline: "CCGs were continuing to shrink the RPG industry. Distributors were going out of business. TSR had unbalanced their ''AD&D'' game through a series of lucrative supplements that ultimately hurt the long-time viability of the game. Meanwhile, they had developed so many settings – many of them popular and well-received – that they were both cannibalizing their only sales and discouraging players from picking up settings that might be gone in a few years. They may have been cannibalizing their own sales through excessive production of books or supplements too."<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|30}} [[David M. Ewalt]], in his book ''Of Dice and Men'', adds that ''Spellfire'' and ''Dragon Dice'' "were both expensive to produce, and neither sold very well".<ref name=ODaM>{{cite book | first=David M. | last=Ewalt | author-link= David M. Ewalt | year=2013 | title= Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It | publisher=Scribner | isbn=978-1-4516-4052-6 }}</ref>{{rp|174}}

Despite total sales of $40&nbsp;million, TSR ended 1996 with little in cash reserves. When Random House returned an unexpectedly high percentage of unsold stock, including the year's inventory of unsold novels and sets of ''Dragon Dice'', and charged a fee of several million dollars, TSR found itself in a cash crunch. With no cash, TSR was unable to pay their printing and shipping bills, and the logistics company that handled TSR's pre-press, printing, warehousing, and shipping refused to do any more work. Since the logistics company had the production plates for key products such as core ''D&D'' books, there was no means of printing or shipping core products to generate income or secure short-term financing.<ref name=30years>{{cite book | title = 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons | publisher = Wizards of the Coast | year = 2004 | location = Renton WA | page = 55 | isbn = 0-7869-3498-0}}</ref> Despite high sales, the company was deep in debt and not profitable in large part due to returns.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|30}} Thirty staff members were laid off in December 1996, and other staff left over disagreements about how the crisis was handled, including [[Jim Ward (game designer)|James M. Ward]].<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|30}} In large part due to the need to refund Random House, TSR entered 1997 over $30&nbsp;million in debt.<ref name=ODaM/>{{rp|174}} TSR was threatened by lawsuits due to unpaid freelancers and missing royalties, but TSR made enough money from products already on the shelves to pay remaining staff through the first half of 1997.<ref name="designers"/>{{rp|30}} With no viable financial plan for TSR's survival, Lorraine Williams sold the company to Wizards of the Coast in 1997.<ref name="Gygax-GygaxFAQ"/><ref name="believer"/> Before the corporate offices in Lake Geneva were closed, some TSR employees accepted the offer of transferring to Wizards of the Coast's offices in Washington. Wizards of the Coast continued to use the TSR name for ''D&D'' products for three years, until the [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition|third edition of ''D&D'']] was released in 2000 under the Wizards of the Coast brand only. In 1999, Wizards of the Coast was itself purchased by [[Hasbro|Hasbro, Inc]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rpg.net/columns/briefhistory/briefhistory1.phtml|title=A Brief History of Game #1: Wizards of the Coast: 1990-Present |website=RPGnet|access-date=2018-01-22}}</ref> In 2002, Gen Con was sold to [[Peter Adkison]].<ref name="designers">{{Cite book|author=Shannon Appelcline|title=Designers & Dragons|publisher=Mongoose Publishing|year=2011|isbn= 978-1-907702-58-7}}</ref>{{rp|291}}

=== Subsequent trademark usage ===
A new TSR company was founded by Jayson Elliot, who co-founded the Roll for Initiative podcast. Elliot found that the TSR trademark had expired around 2004 so he registered it in 2011. He then came up with an idea to launch the new company with assistance from early TSR/D&D contributors including Luke and Ernie Gygax, sons of the deceased D&D co-creator Gary Gygax, and [[Tim Kask]], former editor of ''Dragon'' magazine.<ref name="wired0">{{cite news |last1=Gilsdorf |first1=Ethan |title=A New TSR to Launch Gygax Magazine Saturday |url=https://www.wired.com/2013/01/gygax-magazine/ |access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=January 25, 2013}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Their first product was ''Gygax Magazine'', announced along with the TSR company revival in December 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bricken |first1=Rob |title=The company that created Dungeons & Dragons is back with Gygax magazine (updated) |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/5965512/the-company-that-created-dungeons--dragons-is-back-with-gygax-magazine |access-date=September 27, 2018 |work=io9 |date=December 4, 2012}}</ref> [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] reported that "Elliot stressed that his 'TSR is a new company'."<ref name="wired0" /> Both Gygax brothers left the company in 2016 when the magazine ended.<ref>{{Cite tweet|date=June 27, 2021|title=We no longer have any Gygaxes in our company, since 2016 when Gygax magazine ended. We are definitely pro-LGBT, and love the whole rainbow of gamers and kind humans|number=1409278518576390146|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-28|user=TSRgames|language=en}}</ref> The company operated as TSR Games, producing the ''[[Top Secret (role-playing game)#Top Secret: New World Order|Top Secret: New World Order]]'' role-playing game.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=June 24, 2021|title=TSR, the Original Maker of Dungeons & Dragons, Has Re-Launched as New Company|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-and-dragons-tsr-inc-gary-gygax-returns/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-27|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

In June 2021, a new, separate TSR company was launched by a group including Ernie Gygax, Justin LaNasa and [[Stephen Dinehart]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" /> The company is based out of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; they plan to release tabletop games and operate the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum, which is located in the first office building of the original TSR.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hines|first=Dennis|date=July 11, 2021|title=Lake Geneva Dungeons & Dragons museum receives city approval|url=https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/state-and-regional/lake-geneva-dungeons-dragons-museum-receives-city-approval/article_4e9564d6-53ac-57ed-89fd-af8f868b2ec2.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-11|website=[[Kenosha News]]|language=en}}</ref> Elliot's TSR Games then announced on social media that while they have owned the trademark since 2011, they missed a filing date in 2020 and were considering various options.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=July 1, 2021|title=TSR Games Distances Itself From Ernie G. Gygax Jr., Owner of Another TSR Games|url=https://gizmodo.com/tsr-games-distances-itself-from-ernie-g-gygax-jr-the-1847203067|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Gizmodo|language=en-us|quote=For Dungeons & Dragons fans, TSR: The Game Wizards conjures up memories of gathering around the tabletop for a friendly gaming session. Now, the folks who are trying to revive the company have chosen to give up the name they worked so hard for—because of Gary Gygax’s son’s troubling comments about race, gender identity, and gun violence, as well as his company’s reaction. Owner Jayson Elliot has announced that his company, TSR Games, will no longer have any form of working relationship with Ernest "Ernie" G. Gygax Jr.’s and partner Justin LaNasa’s publisher... also called TSR Games (we’ll be referring to them as "TSR Games Elliot" and "TSR Games LaNasa" from here on out).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|date=June 24, 2021|title=We have owned the TSR trademark since 2011. Last year, we missed a filing date, and another company registered it, though we are still using it in commerce. While we could win a lawsuit, we frankly don't have the money to litigate. So, we're licensing it back from them. (thread)|number=1408199010104479746|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-27|user=TSRgames|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|date=June 27, 2021|title=We are not abandoning the name, just not working with them or licensing anything. More to come.|number=1409210012912652293|url-status=live|access-date=June 28, 2021|user=TSRgames|language=en}}</ref> However, after Ernie Gygax's "troubling comments about race, gender identity, and gun violence, as well as his company’s reaction",<ref name=":2" /> Elliot announced that his company<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-04|title=TSR Games (2) rebrands to Solarian Games|url=https://www.geeknative.com/132861/tsr-games-2-rebrands-to-solarian-games/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Geek Native|language=en-GB}}</ref> would not have "any form of working relationship" with Ernie Gygax's TSR.<ref name=":2" /> Ultimately, Elliot's TSR Games rebranded as Solarian Games in July 2021.<ref>{{cite tweet|date=July 2, 2021|title=We have rebranded officially as SOLARIAN|number=1411153710122602497|url-status=live|access-date=July 3, 2021|user=TSRgames|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Ernie Gygax's TSR then rebranded as Wonderfilled, Inc.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zambrano|first=J.R.|date=July 8, 2021|title=RPG: The New TSR Saga Ends - No More TSR's|url=https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2021/07/rpg-the-new-tsr-saga-ends-no-more-tsrs.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 8, 2021|website=Bell of Lost Souls|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Dicebreaker'' reported that "TSR Games never officially announced its rebranding as Wonderfilled Games" and most of its "Twitter accounts had been locked down or nuked, and the company's old website simply redirected to a new page that – interestingly – listed Dinehart's GiantLands as an in-development title. [...] How much of TSR Games exists in Wonderfilled Games isn’t clear".<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=2021-07-22|title=Both RPG publishers once known as TSR change their name|url=https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/wonderfilled-games/news/tsr-games-wonderfilled-gygax-jr-update|access-date=2021-09-09|website=Dicebreaker|language=en}}</ref>

==Products==
TSR's main products were role-playing games, the most successful of which was ''D&D''. However, they also produced other games such as [[card game|card]], [[board game|board]], and [[dice game|dice]] games, and published both magazines and books.

===Role-playing games===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Alternity]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Amazing Engine]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Boot Hill (role-playing game)|Boot Hill]]'' (1975)
* ''[[High Adventure Cliffhangers Buck Rogers Adventure Game|Buck Rogers Adventure Game]]'' (1993)
* ''[[Buck Rogers XXVC|Buck Rogers XXVc]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Bullwinkle and Rocky Role-Playing Party Game]]'' (1988)
* ''[[Conan Role-Playing Game]]'' (1985)
* ''[[Crimefighters]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Dragonlance: Fifth Age]]'' (Saga System) (1996)
* ''[[DragonStrike (board game)|Dragonstrike]]'' (board game and [[VHS]] tutorial) (1993)
* ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' (1974)
* ''[[Empire of the Petal Throne]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Gamma World]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Gangbusters (role-playing game)|Gangbusters]]'' (1982)
* ''[[The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game|Indiana Jones]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Marvel Super Heroes (role-playing game)|Marvel Super Heroes]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game]]'' (Saga System) (1998)
* ''[[Metamorphosis Alpha]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Star Frontiers]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Top Secret (role-playing game)|Top Secret]]'' (1980) and ''[[Top Secret/S.I.]]''
{{div col end}}

===Wargames===
* ''[[Cavaliers and Roundheads]]'' (1973)<ref name="ODD009"/>
* ''[[Chainmail (game)|Chainmail]]'' (1975)
*''[[Fight in the Skies]] (1976)''

===Other games===
{{div col}}
* ''All My Children'' (board game)
* ''[[Attack Force (microgame)|Attack Force]]'' (microgame)
* ''[[The Awful Green Things from Outer Space]]'' (board game, 1979)
* ''[[Blood Wars (card game)|Blood Wars]]'' (collectible card game, 1995)
* ''[[Buck Rogers - Battle for the 25th Century]]'' (board game, 1988)
* ''[[Chase (board game)|Chase]]'' (board game)
* ''Crosse'' (board game)
* ''[[Divine Right (game)|Divine Right]]'' (board game)
* ''[[Dragonlance (board game)|Dragonlance]]'' (board game)
* ''[[DragonStrike (board game)|Dragon Strike]]'' ( board game, 1993)
* ''[[Dragon Dice]]'' (collectible dice game)
* ''[[Dungeon!]]'' (1975)
* ''Dungeon Fantasy'' (1989)
* ''Elixir'' (board game)
* ''[[Endless Quest]]'' [[gamebook]]s (1982)
* ''[[Escape from New York (game)|Escape From New York]]'' (1981) (board game)
* ''[[Fantasy Forest]]'' (1980) (board game)
* ''[[4th Dimension (board game)|4th Dimension]]'' (board game)
* ''[[The Great Khan Game]]'' (card game)
* ''[[HeartQuest]]'' (game book series)
* ''Honeymooners Game'' (board game, 1986)
* ''Icebergs'' (microgame)
* ''Kage'' (board game)
* ''[[Knights of Camelot]]'' (board game)
* ''Maxi Bour$e'' (board game)
* ''Party Zone: Spy Ring Scenario'' (party game)
* ''Perry Mason'' (board game, 1987)
* ''Remember the Alamo''
* ''[[Revolt on Antares]]'' (microgame, 1980)
* ''[[Saga (microgame)|Saga]]'' (microgame)
* ''[[Spellfire]]'' ([[collectible card game]], 1994)
* ''SnarfQuest'' (game book series) (1983)
* ''[[Snit's Revenge]]'' (boardgame) (1977)
* ''Steppe'' (board game)
* ''Terror T.R.A.X.'' (hybrid audiobook/gamebook line) (1995)
* ''[[They've Invaded Pleasantville (microgame)|They've Invaded Pleasantville]]'' (microgame)
* ''[[Vampyre (microgame)|Vampyre]]'' (microgame)
* ''[[Viking Gods]]''
* ''[[War of Wizards]]''
{{div col end}}

===Magazines===
{{div col}}
* ''[[Amazing Stories]]''
* ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]''
* ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]''
* ''[[Imagine (AD&D magazine)|Imagine]]''
{{div col end}}

===Fiction===
In 1984, TSR started publishing novels based on their games. Most ''D&D'' [[campaign settings]] had their own novel line, the most successful of which were the ''[[Dragonlance]]'' and ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' lines, with dozens of novels each.

TSR also published the 1995 novel ''[[Buck Rogers: A Life in the Future]]'' by [[Martin Caidin]], a standalone re-imagining of the [[Buck Rogers]] universe and unrelated to TSR's ''[[Buck Rogers XXVC]]'' game.

TSR published quite a number of fantasy and science fiction novels unconnected with their gaming products, such as [[L. Dean James]]' "Red Kings of Wynnamyr" novels, ''Sorcerer's Stone'' (1991) and ''Kingslayer'' (1992); [[Mary H. Herbert]]'s five "Gabria" novels (''Valorian'', ''Dark Horse'', ''Lightning's Daughter'', ''City of the Sorcerers'', and ''[[Winged Magic]]''); and humorous fantasy fiction, including [[Roy V. Young]]'s "Count Yor" novels ''Captains Outrageous'' (1994) and ''Yor's Revenge''(1995). However, such projects never represented more than a fraction of the company's fiction output, which retained a strong emphasis on game-derived works.

==Criticism==
{{See also|Dungeons & Dragons controversies#Business disputes at TSR}}
After its initial success faded, the company turned to legal defenses of what it regarded as its [[intellectual property]]. In addition, there were several legal cases brought regarding who had invented what within the company and the division of royalties, including several lawsuits against Gygax.<ref name="believer">{{cite journal | last = La Farge | first = Paul | title = Destroy All Monsters | journal = [[The Believer Magazine]] |date=September 2006 | url = http://www.believermag.com/issues/200609/?read=article_lafarge |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920141500/http://www.believermag.com/issues/200609/?read=article_lafarge| url-status = live |archive-date=2008-09-20}}</ref> This included the company threatening to sue individuals supplying game material on websites.<ref>[http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/alex/rec.games.frp.dnd/Copyright Complang.tuwien.ac.at]</ref> In the mid-1990s, this led to frequent use of the nickname "T$R" in discussions on RPG-related Internet [[mailing lists]] and [[Usenet]], as the company was widely perceived as attacking its customers. Increasing product proliferation did not help matters; many of the product lines overlapped and were separated by what seemed like minor points (even the classic troika of ''Greyhawk'', the ''Forgotten Realms'', and ''Dragonlance'' suffered in this regard).

The company was the subject of an [[urban myth]] stating that it tried to trademark the term "[[Nazism|Nazi]]".  This was based on a supplement for the ''[[The Adventures of Indiana Jones Role-Playing Game|Indiana Jones]]'' RPG, in which some figures were marked with "Nazi™".  This notation was because of compliance with the list of trademarked character names supplied by [[Lucasfilm]]'s legal department; all such figures were marked with a trademark symbol, and the Nazi figures were likewise marked accidentally.<ref>{{Cite book | last = Laws | first = Robin D. | author-link = Robin Laws  | date = August 2007 | title = 40 Years of Gen Con | publisher = [[Atlas Games]] | pages = 139 | isbn = 978-1-58978-097-2  |quote=MATT FORBECK: ... the last copy of the ''Indiana Jones'' roleplaying games. ... It actually has one of the legendary counters in it that reads 'Nazi™.' Which apparently was not TSR's idea, but Lucasfilm insisted that everything that appeared in the game have a "TM" next to it.}}</ref> Later references to the error would forget its origin and slowly morph into the urban myth.

==See also==
*[[Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/538/538817p1.html GameSpy interview with Gary Gygax] on the history of TSR (among other things)
*Magic & Memories: The Complete History of Dungeons & Dragons (GameSpy, TSR section): Parts [http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/538/538262p1.html|I],[http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539197p1.html II], [http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539628p1.html III],[http://pc.gamespy.com/articles/539/539972p1.html IV]
*[https://medium.com/@increment/the-ambush-at-sheridan-springs-3a29d07f6836 ''The Ambush at Sheridan Springs'', a history of TSR's corporate governance and Gygax's 1985 ouster]

==External links==
* [https://tsr.games/ TSR Hobbies]
* [https://solariangames.com/ Solarian Games], formerly TSR Games

{{D&D topics}}
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[[Category:1973 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:1997 disestablishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Wisconsin]]
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[[Category:Design companies established in 1973]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons]]
[[Category:Publishing companies disestablished in 1997]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1973]]
[[Category:Role-playing game publishing companies]]
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