Wizards of the Coast - Definition and Overview

Wizards of the Coast (often referred to as WotC or simply Wizards) is a publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes. Originally a basement-run role-playing game publisher, they popularized the collectible card game genre with Magic: The Gathering in the mid-1990s.

Wizards of the Coast corporate headquarters in Renton, WA

History

Wizards of the Coast was founded by Peter Adkison in 1990 just outside Seattle, Washington, and their headquarters is still in nearby Renton. At Gen Con in August 1993, the company debuted Richard Garfield's Magic: The Gathering. The success of Magic generated revenue that virtually carried the company out of the original basement headquarters and into its own offices.

In 1997, they bought the cash-strapped makers of Dungeons & Dragons, TSR. The game and toy giant Hasbro bought Wizards of the Coast in September 1999.

Wizards of the Coast also ran a chain of gaming retail stores for several years. It announced in December 2003 that it would close these stores in order to concentrate on game design. The stores were closed in the spring of 2004.

Games and products

Board games

• RoboRally
• Filthy Rich

Collectible card games

• Magic: The Gathering
• DuelMasters
• Netrunner
• Star Wars: The Trading Card Game
• Guillotine

Role-playing games & supplements

• Dungeons & Dragons
• Star Wars RPG
• The Primal Order

Wizards of the Coast drafted the Open Game License used by Open Gaming Foundation and the d20 system.

Fantasy novel series

Wizards of the Coast also publishes many fantasy novel series based on its other game products. Some of these are now out-of-print.

• Birthright
• Dark Sun
• Dragonlance
• Forgotten Realms
• Greyhawk
• Legend of the Five Rings
• Mystara
• Planescape
• Ravenloft
• Spelljammer

External links

• Wizards of the Coast's official site (http://www.wizards.com)
• Death to the Minotaur (part one (http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/03/23/wizards/print.html) & part two (http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/03/26/wizards_part2/print.html)) by John Tynes, published by Salon.com