RE: [getting very OT] Re: Background?

> Just adding my $0.02
> There are still games companies that spend a very long time
> designing systems.
> FASA Corp. employed a Mathematics professor to design a system
> for Earthdawn.
> (Unfortunately FASA is now owned by Micro$oft after the very
successful
> Mechwarrior series of games got M$ executives having dollar signs
> lighting up
> in their eyes)

Actually only FASA Interactive (their computer game division) was bought
by
Microsoft so they could get their hands on Mechwarrior and other
computer
games.	The rest of FASA is not owned by MS, but will soon be owned by
Decipher, the company who makes the Star Trek and Star Wars CCGs.

Crimson Skies (Fasa's game alternate history air battle game) has MS on
the
back of the game and miniature blisters since the concept originated at
FASA
Interactive.

Ral Partha was bought by FASA (who is being bought by Decipher)

TSR was bought by WOTC who are now being bought buy Hasboro.

Avalon Hill was bought by Hasboro and it looks like they will be run as
part
of WOTC.

Everybody got all that?  ;)
Check each company's website for news releases.

Dean