The story of Games Workshop and Fighting Fantasy Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. The story of Games Workshop and Fighting Fantasy Good choice. Podcast by Robert Purchese Senior Staff Writer Updated on 29 Aug 2022 Imagine getting a phone call from a guy called Gary Gygax in America and he's reading a newsletter you wrote for a games business you're running out of a messy flat in London, and he likes it so much he wants to send you a copy of a new game he's working on called Dungeons & Dragons. You end up loving the game and he likes what you're about, so he grants you exclusive rights to introduce Dungeons & Dragons to the UK, and to Europe, and to sell it there for three years. You can only afford six copies but it doesn't matter: you'll soon be able to afford a lot more. That's not even the best story my guests have! They've done so much and created so much. That games business they were running? It was only Games Workshop, wasn't it - a business that would change the face of tabletop gaming. But, not content with running only that, this pair would work well into their nights to create a series of game books called Fighting Fantasy, making themselves best-selling authors in the process. The series has sold more than 20 million copies today. And that's not all: from there, they'd go on to sign video games like Tomb Raider and Hitman, and create studios like Lionhead and make beloved series like Fable. They'd receive awards and knighthoods - even be tasked by the government to evaluate the games industry to see where it could do better. Without Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson, my guests today, games simply wouldn't be the same. But it's about Fighting Fantasy in particular we talk today, on this, the series' 40th anniversary - an occasion for which they've both written new books. It's startling to hear how originally, the series didn't sell well at all, and to hear how they actually put the complicated things together in the first place. They tell me their favourite books, their favourite deaths in those books, and everything in between. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Manage cookie settings Episode 21 of One-to-one, featuring Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson, is now live on all major podcast platforms. Look for Eurogamer Podcasts there to find it. Alternatively, here are some handy links: iTunes Google Podcasts Spotify Audible RSS One quick note about this episode: there were some technical difficulties with the recording platform that meant Steve had trouble joining us, though he did get there eventually, and that resulted in some odd audio glitches later on. There's nothing I can do about them I'm afraid, but apologies all the same. See you next time! Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More Podcasts Weekly What's week one been like in Overwatch 2? Mei, Mei. 9 Podcast Exactly how realistic are horses in games? What they get right, and what they get wrong. Weekly All the goss from EGX London Street Fighter 6! Wo Long! More. Podcast Nearly a decade of video with Eurogamer's Ian Higton And his world famous jorts. 11 Latest Articles Genshin Impact Path of Gleaming Jade dates, login event rewards Including other anniversary rewards and how to claim them. Atari will hold RollerCoaster Tycoon rights for another decade Ups and downs. 7 Jelly Deals Logitech's G Pro X gaming headset is its lowest-ever price during Amazon's Early Access sale Prime Members can get it for just £52. Jelly Deals Save over £500 off the retail price on this beefy ASUS TUF Dash gaming laptop from Amazon Under £1080 for an RTX 3070 laptop. Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store