FASA

FASA Corporation is an American tabletop-games publisher and intellectual-property company associated with role-playing games, board games, wargames, miniature games, fiction, and licensed science-fiction properties. The company was founded in 1980 in Chicago by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III, initially operating as a publisher of material connected with Game Designers’ Workshop’s Traveller role-playing game. Its name was a humorous reference to the fictional “Freedonian Aeronautics and Space Administration” from the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, reflecting a playful tone that also appeared in the company’s game writing and setting design. FASA expanded beyond Traveller supplements during the 1980s. Its Star Trek role-playing game and Starship Tactical Combat Simulator helped establish the company among science-fiction fans, at a time when official reference material about the Star Trek universe was less readily available. The company then developed original properties that became more commercially significant. BattleTech, first released in 1984 under the name BattleDroids and renamed BattleTech in 1985, grew from a tabletop combat game into a broad entertainment property encompassing role-playing games, fiction, miniatures, computer games, virtual-reality venues, and an animated television series. Shadowrun, launched in 1989, combined cyberpunk, fantasy, and supernatural themes and became one of the best-known role-playing settings of its period. Earthdawn, released in 1993, offered a fantasy setting connected conceptually to the company’s wider creative cosmology. The business also diversified into books and metal miniatures. Mort Weisman, Jordan Weisman’s father, joined the company in 1985 after selling Swallow Press and took responsibility for operational management. FASA worked with British distributor Chart Hobby Distributors and licensed BattleTech miniature production to Minifigs. It later acquired Ral Partha, a United States manufacturer associated with those figures. In parallel, the company pursued computer entertainment and virtual reality. Its ESP subdivision developed the Virtual World concept, which produced BattleTech Centers and other early networked virtual-reality gaming experiences. FASA Interactive, another important technology-oriented arm, was acquired by Microsoft, while the BattleTech-related electronic-game business continued under changing ownership and licensing arrangements. FASA announced the closure of its active publishing operations in January 2001 and ceased those operations on April 30, 2001. The company did not declare bankruptcy; instead, its owners chose to stop operating the publishing business while they regarded the company as financially sound and retain the underlying intellectual property. Rights to major properties were subsequently divided among different owners and licensees. BattleTech and Shadowrun passed to WizKids and were later published under licenses by FanPro and Catalyst Game Labs. Earthdawn also passed through WizKids and other publishers before returning to FASA-controlled ownership. Other properties, including Crimson Skies and VOR: The Maelstrom, followed separate rights paths. FASA remained an intellectual-property holding and licensing company after the closure of its publishing division. In 2012, FASA Games Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, began operating under license from the parent company. FASA Games works with Ral Partha Europe on new editions and products connected with properties such as Earthdawn and Demonworld, as well as new games set within or related to the FASA creative tradition. FASA Games has released a fourth edition of Earthdawn and developed 1879, a game intended to explore an alternative future associated with the company’s broader setting concepts. The modern FASA organization is therefore best understood as an IP owner and licensor with a publishing subsidiary, rather than as the continuously operating game publisher that existed before 2001.

FASA Corporation was established in 1980 by Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III, fellow gamers who had attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The company began with limited capital and initially worked as a licensee for Game Designers’ Workshop’s Traveller role-playing game. FASA’s early output included supplements, particularly material associated with the Keith brothers, and helped the young company build expertise in science-fiction publishing and tabletop design. The company’s scope broadened during the 1980s. Mort Weisman, Jordan Weisman’s father, joined in 1985 after selling the publishing company Swallow Press. He provided additional capital and took charge of operational management while the founders concentrated more heavily on game development, computer games, and emerging virtual-reality concepts. FASA added books and miniature figures to its business. Through arrangements involving Chart Hobby Distributors and Minifigs, it developed a manufacturing and distribution path for BattleTech miniatures and later acquired Ral Partha, the United States manufacturer connected with that line. FASA became prominent through licensed and original games. Star Trek: The Role Playing Game and Starship Tactical Combat Simulator gave fans structured ways to explore the Star Trek universe. The company’s original properties were even more influential. BattleTech began in 1984 as BattleDroids and was renamed the following year. It became a major tactical science-fiction brand with tabletop combat, role-playing, fiction, miniatures, computer games, virtual-reality BattleTech Centers, and an animated television adaptation. Shadowrun followed in 1989, merging cyberpunk technology with fantasy races and magic. Earthdawn, introduced in 1993, developed a fantasy world with deep historical and metaphysical links to the company’s broader setting concepts. Technology and electronic entertainment were important parts of FASA’s strategy. A subdivision initially known as ESP developed the Virtual World concept, producing some of the earliest commercial virtual-reality gaming suites. FASA also operated FASA Interactive, which was acquired by Microsoft. The relationship between tabletop properties and electronic games produced several adaptations and licensed projects, including MechWarrior and Crimson Skies. FASA’s interest in multiple formats helped its settings reach audiences beyond traditional tabletop wargaming. The original corporation unexpectedly ended its active publishing operations in 2001. A public announcement dated January 25 preceded the closure on April 30. The decision was not presented as a bankruptcy; the owners chose to leave the publishing market while they considered the business financially sound. Mort Weisman had been considering retirement, and the owners believed the value of the intellectual property could be preserved through licensing without maintaining the former operating structure. The company therefore continued as an IP-holding and licensing entity. The post-2001 rights landscape was fragmented. WizKids acquired BattleTech and Shadowrun and licensed publication to FanPro and later Catalyst Game Labs. Earthdawn also moved through WizKids and other publishing arrangements before returning to FASA-controlled ownership. Crimson Skies remained associated with Microsoft after the acquisition of FASA Interactive. Rights to VOR: The Maelstrom reverted to its designer, although later publication plans faced legal and practical obstacles. These changes meant that the FASA name no longer represented a single unified publishing program, even though its settings remained active through licensees. In 2012, FASA Games Inc. was presented at Gen Con as a wholly owned subsidiary operating with permission to use FASA’s name and logo. FASA Games works with Ral Partha Europe on new material and editions, including Earthdawn and Demonworld. It has also developed 1879, a new property designed around an alternative future and ideas connected with the FASA cosmology. The corporation consequently remains active primarily through ownership, licensing, and supervision of its intellectual property, while FASA Games provides a route for renewed tabletop publishing.

• 2012

  FASA Games Inc. is revealed

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  A wholly owned subsidiary begins operating under license to develop and publish new FASA-related tabletop content.

• 2001

  Active publishing operations close

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  FASA ends its publishing operations on April 30 while retaining corporate and intellectual-property interests.

• 1993

  Earthdawn launches

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  FASA releases Earthdawn, a fantasy role-playing game connected to the company’s wider creative cosmology.

• 1989

  Shadowrun launches

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  FASA publishes Shadowrun, a role-playing setting combining cyberpunk, fantasy, and magic.

• 1985

  BattleDroids becomes BattleTech

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  FASA changes the name of its flagship tactical science-fiction game to BattleTech.

• 1984

  BattleDroids launches

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  The tabletop game later known as BattleTech is introduced under the BattleDroids name.

• 1982

  Star Trek role-playing game published

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  FASA releases Star Trek: The Role Playing Game, strengthening its position in licensed science-fiction gaming.

• 1980

  FASA Corporation is founded

  [1]FASAen.wikipedia.org

  Jordan Weisman and L. Ross Babcock III establish FASA in Chicago as a tabletop-game company.

A setting-driven tabletop-games and intellectual-property house focused on science fiction, fantasy, tactical conflict, licensed media universes, and cross-format world building.

• Wargame and shared intellectual property · 1984

  BattleTech

  BattleTech is FASA’s best-known tactical science-fiction property. First released in 1984 as BattleDroids, it was renamed BattleTech in 1985. The setting centers on mechanized combat and developed into a large franchise spanning board and miniature games, role-playing systems, novels, computer games, virtual-reality venues, and an animated television series. Publication and electronic rights later moved among different owners and licensees.

• Role-playing game · 1989

  Shadowrun

  Shadowrun combines cyberpunk urbanism, advanced technology, fantasy species, magic, and megacorporate intrigue. Introduced by FASA in 1989, it became one of the company’s most recognizable original settings and later supported fiction, computer games, and multiple publishing arrangements after FASA closed its original publishing division.

• Fantasy role-playing game · 1993

  Earthdawn

  Earthdawn is a fantasy role-playing setting introduced in 1993. Its worldbuilding explores the aftermath of a catastrophic age and incorporates historical and conceptual links to other FASA-developed settings. The property passed through several publishers before returning to FASA-controlled ownership; FASA Games has supported later editions, including a fourth edition.

• Licensed role-playing game · 1982

  Star Trek: The Role Playing Game

  FASA’s Star Trek role-playing game translated the television universe into a tabletop format. Its supplements supplied setting information and background details that were particularly valuable to fans when comprehensive official reference material was not widely available.

• Licensed tactical board game

  Starship Tactical Combat Simulator

  This Star Trek tactical game focused on starship combat and complemented FASA’s role-playing products. Like the company’s Star Trek supplements, it extended the licensed universe into a structured gaming experience for fans beyond the traditional wargaming audience.

• Miniature game · 1999

  Demonworld

  Demonworld is a fantasy miniature-game property associated with FASA and Ral Partha Europe. A second edition appeared in 2011 with miniatures produced by Ral Partha Europe, while the first edition had been released by Hobby Products in 1999.

• Role-playing game

  1879

  1879 is a later FASA Games property intended to explore an alternative future and ideas associated with the company’s broader cosmology. It was developed as a new setting rather than simply as a reissue of one of FASA’s earlier flagship games.

• 2012

  Re-enter tabletop publishing through FASA GamesStrategy

  Background

  FASA continued to own or manage intellectual property but no longer operated its former publishing division.

  Action taken

  FASA Games Inc. began operating as a wholly owned subsidiary under license from FASA Corporation, working with Ral Partha Europe on new editions and properties.

  Aftermath

  The FASA name returned to new tabletop releases, including later Earthdawn material and the 1879 setting.

  Source

• 2001

  End active publishing while retaining intellectual propertyStrategy

  Background

  FASA’s owners believed the value of its intellectual property remained high but were less confident in the future of the paper-based games market. Mort Weisman was also considering retirement.

  Action taken

  The company announced the closure of its publishing business and ended active operations on April 30, continuing primarily as an intellectual-property holder and licensor.

  Aftermath

  Major properties moved to different owners and licensees, while the corporate entity continued to manage or license retained rights.

  Source

• 2001

  Separate major properties among new rights holdersM&A

  Background

  After the publishing closure, FASA’s settings required different ownership and licensing arrangements.

  Action taken

  BattleTech and Shadowrun were sold to WizKids, while Earthdawn also moved through WizKids and later publishers. Crimson Skies remained with Microsoft after the FASA Interactive acquisition.

  Aftermath

  The FASA portfolio became distributed across multiple publishers and electronic-game companies rather than remaining under one active publishing operation.

  Source

1. 1FASAen.wikipedia.org
2. 2FASA Gamesfasagames.com