The story of Wizards is one of independence, inspiration, and opportunity. It's the epic story of a humble game company starting in its owner's basement and climbing to its current perch atop the global hobby gaming business. It entails a journey of discovery, in which entirely new worlds were conceived and brought to life through the vibrant shards of countless pieces of fantastic art.
It's the story of the pioneering days of our industry, when icons like Gary Gygax and Richard Garfield created unprecedented types of games and introduced the world to entirely new play experiences. It's the story of our firsts and the foundation of gaming that's still being shaped by our efforts to this day.
It's also the personal story of any gamer and the paths we open up to their individual creativity. It's a celebration of face-to-face connectivity and spontaneous imagination. It's the story of individual gaming groups coming together to celebrate their shared passion.
It's the story of those who live to game.
The list that follows isn't just a chronicle of significant moments in the company's history, it also includes some of the interesting and fun things that have happened around here-the stuff that makes Wizards what it is-the place we love to work.
2008
- D&D 4th Edition
-
Magic: The Gathering celebrates its 15th Anniversary.
- D&D Insider launches.
2007
-
Avalon Hill celebrates its 50th Anniversary.
- Wizards publishes the Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition.
-
A Practical Guide to Monsters
debuts at #3 on the New York Times picture book best-seller list.
2006
- D&D Icons miniatures debut with the Gargantuan Black Dragon and Colossal Red Dragon.
-
A Practical Guide to Dragons
spends 13 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.
- The 1,000,000th sanctioned Magic Tournament is held (March; Japan).
- Wizards (with the help of Hasbro) announces the My Little Pony Roleplaying Game—one of wizards.com's most infamous April Fool's Jokes (right up there with a sixth color of mana for Magic: The Gathering and news that the Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance campaign worlds are set on opposite sides of the same planet.)
2005
-
Magic's Pro Tour Hall of Fame is established and inducts its first members.
- Wizards Headquarters move to 1600 Lind Ave. Motorists are puzzled by the group of people toting a huge sculpture of a dragon across the street.
-
Vegas Showdown is published.
2003
-
Magic: The Gathering celebrates its 10th Anniversary.
- An epic Nerf War rages throughout two floors, around three buildings, and across the Mana Pool courtyard.
- D&D prepainted, plastic miniatures are introduced, with the Harbinger set.
2002
- Magic Invasion and D&D Basic Game posters make cameo appearances on the walls of Peter Parker's bedroom in the movie, Spider-Man.
- Magic Online goes live.
- Wizards holds a Campaign Setting search, garnering over 11,000 entries—the winning entry became the Eberron Campaign Setting.
-
Duel Masters Trading Card Game is released.
- The d20 Modern Roleplaying game is published.
- Wizards publishes the d20 Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game, along with a promotional limited-edition CD of Lovecraftian-themed music by The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets.
2001
- Wizards Office in Renton is hit by the (Mw 6.8) Nisqually Earthquake (ironically as the RPG R&D team contemplates rules for environmental hazards?)
- Working closely with author Robert Jordan, Wizards publishes the Wheel of Time roleplaying game.
2000
- Wizards celebrates its 10th Birthday with a lavish Austin Powers-themed party set up in a huge tent in the parking lot (Peter loves that movie).
- D&D 3rd Edition releases, introducing the d20 System.
-
Friday Night Magic Debuts.
- The (d20) Star Wars Roleplaying Game makes its debut at a launch party held at Planet Hollywood, Seattle—attendees included artists Drew Struzan and Adam Hughes as well as actors Jake Lloyd (young Anakin Skywalker) and Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca).
1999
- Wizards begins publishing the Pokémon TCG.
- Wizards of the Coast is acquired by Hasbro.
1998
- Wizards publishes Twitch, Pivot, AlphaBlitz, and Go Wild!
- The Alternity RPG is published.
1997
- Wizards acquires TSR.
- Wizards is granted U.S. Patent 5,662,332, for collectible card games.
- The First Magic Grand Prix takes place in Amsterdam.
1996
- First Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour takes place in New York City.
- The BattleTech TCG is published.
1995
- The First Magic Prerelease tournament is held in New York City (Set: Homelands).
-
The Great Dalmuti is published.
1994
- Wizards of the Coast opens its first office after operating out of Peter's basement since its inception.
-
RoboRally, the frenzied game of computer-driven chaos is published.
- First Magic World Championships (also at Gen Con).
1992
- Wizards releases the 3rd Edition of Talislanta.
1990
- Wizards of the Coast is founded by Peter Adkison.