1982: Why do we play TABLETOP GAMES? | Fields of Play | Classic BBC clips | BBC Archive

[@DrunkenKnuckle]

"The game, in my view, is an aspirin for headaches developed in living in stratified societies". That's amazing!

[@gruberjens4354]

I was born in the 80s, so I missed this gaming world. But the 90s where a great time for games too and might I say it? Today is a wonderful time to be a board game fan too.

[@ActualChef]

An argument could be made we’re in the best era ever of tabletop games. The independent gaming community has spilled over into big box stores like Target. It’s awesome! Dungeons & Dragons has never been bigger.

[@jdub-replicant]

Wow I remember top secret and all these games. Seeing all those D&D modules brought back so many feels. I feel like I was transported back. This was a beautiful clip posted thank you so much.

[@bencrowbeardfletton9510]

Great days, remember the thrill of Games Day in the 80's (I even had the t-shirt!)

[@pulcherius]

Those were the days, we thought they would never end. In a way they haven't.

[@Cynidecia]

original Basic books & modules. Wonderful stuff.

[@seanfsmith]

Sid Sackson! His work is phenomenal

[@akaken23]

Love seeing all of these old games again.

[@MrShooter72]

MAN, I wish Sid Sackson was around to see what games have become and continue to contribute.

[@ActualChef]

These archive vids are wonderful!

[@blahlbinoa]

Imagine my surprise clicking on a random video about Tabletop games and two of the people being interviewed are from Pittsburgh, lol

[@ChrisPollitt]

I love these videos!

[@hkoizumi3134]

I remember this so well. Also, it was a game called Myst for PC that broke the cycle of board games in #1 game of the year.

[@KabukiKid]

I wanted to see more of this! :-D Fun time capsule! btw, D&D came out in 1974, not 1975. ;-)

[@SeniorAdrian]

I really liked the academic commentary in this report. Any ways we can see a full report? And maybe BBC do a modern version with the same deep of academic commentary on his subject?

[@dwkGravey]

Just casually buying a brand new copy of Magic Realm.

[@davedogge2280]

I bought two copies off ebay because I was worried that mine would have component parts missing which are never itemized and accounted for on the sales page.

[@stuhh]

Didn't the 1979 first edition of Magic Realm have an incomprehensible rule book? Or has that been exaggerated? 🤔

[@skinlesswalnut6259]

Some of those board games on the shelf go for hundreds on eBay! Lol

[@michaeljpastor]

It cracks me up that they keep referring to the University of Pittsburgh as Pittsburgh University.

[@Spectrescup]

It's probably the funniest thing I've ever heard

[@billgamble9520]

The Wall Street Journal reported that Wizards of the Coast, based in Renton, Wash., posted revenue of $816 million for 2020 22 mill today is about 65 so they are still about 12.5 times more valuable even after inflation

[@David-0100]

No. Presumably that figure, if accurate, pertains to ALL products of Wizards of the Coast (WotC), of which a sizeable portion is Magic the Gathering (MtG) that's *not* a table-top role-playing game. To accurately gauge any difference, you would need the D&D sales of WotC, which are never released and then compare those to D&D sales quoted in this video. Alas, in any case but especially so now, all table-top games are niche hobbies. (It will always be this way).

[@thecaveofthedead]

@@David-0100 TTRPGs are at unprecedented levels of popularity. No. They don't compete with football. But compared with 1982, you've got two very different levels of 'niche.' Apart from the general growth in the hobby, the domination of boys and men has declined very greatly. So just the fact that girls and women are now a large part of the hobby would already make it far bigger.

[@MemphiStig]

Meanwhile, in America in 1982, "D&D is making our kids worship the Devil!" But that guy at the end nailed it: "all these games are really open-ended, in that you build your own rules on them."

[@NormanRetusFunkyFetus]

Cool

[@Tom-bn8ml]

Is it just me? Or am I the only guy who noticed a stunningly beautiful and intelligent girl at all of these conventions like the one at the Nine Minute Mark? It was like every game convention had one.

[@Crinklechip-s]

Get me into a time machine and I'll buy me a copy of Magic Realm!!

[@mattia9743]

I can sell it to you, ahah!

[@Crinklechip-s]

@@mattia9743 Are in the uk? How much?

[@mattia9743]

@@Crinklechip-s Italy. Actually I do not have an idea.

[@Crinklechip-s]

@@mattia9743 never mind.

[@aaronstull9853]

A bit surprised that all of the unplayed games are at the bottom of the list. at the very least, i would suspect anticipation of a game would beat out something you dread but have played before no? It could have been a competition of who knows themselves better, based on where the unplayed games would slot in after being played. would love to see that comparison.

[@TeoRandi]

BoardGameGeek News brought me here :)

[@shawnzeppimiller]

I may have to enroll at Pitt to get a PhD in game theory psychology. Hahaha.

[@megatron774]

Can somebody tell me where can I access all the episodes of the 'Fields of Play' documentary series?

[@TheValarClan]

Gary Gygax was a co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons. Not a sole inventor. And really a whole group of people helped test and create the game, starting in MN.

[@Spectrescup]

Well that changes everything

[@jonnyblade9965]

Them stacks of modules are worth aton of bucks now .

[@andrewlivingston1590]

I’ve just gotta know what the deal is with “The Middle Class Game”!

[@thesnare100]

what kind of ancient computer is he using? The green text is too faint for me to read. Someone told me they never saw Gary Gygax smoke, show them this video

[@MarcosElMalo2]

It might be a terminal. Otherwise I would guess it’s running CP/M.

[@BirgerJarl-it5lz]

2.25 Nerds never change. I hope this guy lived long enough to see the rise of Online roleplaying games. Many people dont think about this, but MMORPG is the ultimate form of gaming. Imagine roleplaying with people all around the world from home. Its a massive achievement

[@neogeo1670]

wish more table top games would make it to video game format, just imagine all the different games! chess and risk are the biggest in digital format

[@EF-fc4du]

Notice it's overwhelmingky designed and played by White men? From the very beginning, it was they who created the D&D phenomenon. Years later Wizards of the Coast would repay them by saying there were too many of them in their community.

[@boobio1]

wotc hates its players and dnd's past.