Fantasy Productions
Encyclopedia
Fantasy Productions Medienvertriebsgesellschaft GmbH (aka FanPro ) is a German publishing company based in Erkrath
.
The company was founded in 1983 by Ulrich Kiesow
, Werner Fuchs and Hans Joachim Alpers
to produce small metal miniature figure
s. When the Droemer Knaur Verlag
and the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH published Kiesow's role playing game "Das Schwarze Auge
", Kiesow organised the editorial work at FanPro. After the bankruptcy of the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH in 1997, FanPro published Das Schwarze Auge by itself.
In 2001, when FASA closed, FanPro founded a sister company based in Chicago, although most of its employees worked remotely. This sister company was named FanPro LLC, and is sometimes referred to as FanPro USA or Fantasy Productions USA, although neither title is correct. FanPro LLC initially licensed the rights to produce English-language Shadowrun
books in early 2001, and by the summer of 2001 had also signed an agreement to publish Classic BattleTech
in English.
From 2001 to 2005, FanPro LLC released over a dozen original Shadowrun titles and reprinted core titles that FASA had originally released. In 2005, FanPro LLC released Shadowrun
, Fourth Edition. Likewise, FanPro LLC continued to release new Classic BattleTech
books in English, and in 2006 released Total Warfare, the first in a series of revised full-color books for Classic BattleTech
. FanPro GmbH continued to translate these books into German, along with German-only Shadowrun
books. FanPro LLC also published an English translation of The Dark Eye
, but it did not fare well in the marketplace.
Until early in 2007 FanPro was a publisher for fantasy books and various role playing games. The company owned licensing agreements with WizKids
to produce the German-language versions of Classic BattleTech
, Shadowrun
, Pirates of the Spanish Main
, and the "Clix
" games of Mage Knight
and HeroClix
.
In 2007, the company gave up first the RPG license of Das Schwarze Auge (the license went to Ulisses Spiele), then all game licenses. Since then the company focuses on publishing novels only, although it continued its preexisting novel series for Das Schwarze Auge; the Shadowrun and BattleTech series ceased publications in 2008, following disagreements between WizKids and Fantasy Productions concerning the German licence for those properties.
Erkrath
Erkrath is a town in the district of Mettmann, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany-Geography:Erkrath is situated on the Düssel river, directly east of Düsseldorf and west of Wuppertal, close to the famous Neandertal....
.
The company was founded in 1983 by Ulrich Kiesow
Ulrich Kiesow
Ulrich Kiesow was the creator of the pen and paper role-playing game The Dark Eye and its accompanying universe. Besides contributing to many publications regarding this game, Kiesow used the pseudonym Andreas Blumenkamp to write satirical articles for the now defunct German roleplaying game...
, Werner Fuchs and Hans Joachim Alpers
Hans Joachim Alpers
Hans Joachim Alpers was a German writer and editor of science fiction and fantasy. Together with Werner Fuchs and Ulrich Kiesow he founded Fantasy Productions, which became one of the premier German RPG- and board game producers and retailers...
to produce small metal miniature figure
Miniature figure
A miniature figure is a small-scale representation of a historical or mythological entity used in miniature wargames, role-playing games, and dioramas. Miniature figures are commonly made of metal, plastic, or paper...
s. When the Droemer Knaur Verlag
Droemer Knaur
Droemer Knaur is a German publishing house, with headquarters located in Munich. The company was founded in 1901 by bookbinder Theodor Knaur. It is owned jointly by Holtzbrinck and Weltbild.- External links :* official homepage...
and the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH published Kiesow's role playing game "Das Schwarze Auge
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye , is a German role-playing game created by Ulrich Kiesow and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye"...
", Kiesow organised the editorial work at FanPro. After the bankruptcy of the Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH in 1997, FanPro published Das Schwarze Auge by itself.
In 2001, when FASA closed, FanPro founded a sister company based in Chicago, although most of its employees worked remotely. This sister company was named FanPro LLC, and is sometimes referred to as FanPro USA or Fantasy Productions USA, although neither title is correct. FanPro LLC initially licensed the rights to produce English-language Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
books in early 2001, and by the summer of 2001 had also signed an agreement to publish Classic BattleTech
BattleTech
BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...
in English.
From 2001 to 2005, FanPro LLC released over a dozen original Shadowrun titles and reprinted core titles that FASA had originally released. In 2005, FanPro LLC released Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
, Fourth Edition. Likewise, FanPro LLC continued to release new Classic BattleTech
BattleTech
BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...
books in English, and in 2006 released Total Warfare, the first in a series of revised full-color books for Classic BattleTech
BattleTech
BattleTech is a wargaming and science fiction franchise launched by FASA Corporation in 1984, acquired by WizKids in 2000, and owned since 2003 by Topps. The series began with FASA's debut of the board game BattleTech by Jordan Weisman and L...
. FanPro GmbH continued to translate these books into German, along with German-only Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
books. FanPro LLC also published an English translation of The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye
The Dark Eye , is a German role-playing game created by Ulrich Kiesow and launched by Schmidt Spiel & Freizeit GmbH and Droemer Knaur Verlag in 1984. The name literally means "the black eye"...
, but it did not fare well in the marketplace.
Until early in 2007 FanPro was a publisher for fantasy books and various role playing games. The company owned licensing agreements with WizKids
WizKids
WizKids, Inc. is an American New Jersey-based company that first made its mark in the game industry producing collectible miniatures wargames. WizKids was purchased by and is a subsidiary of National Entertainment Collectibles Association. The company was founded in 2000 by Jordan Weisman, a...
to produce the German-language versions of Classic BattleTech
Classic BattleTech
Classic BattleTech is a table-top wargame set in the fictional BattleTech universe that simulates combat between futuristic mechanized forces. Originally published by FASA Corporation, the game is now produced by Catalyst Game Labs under license from WizKids...
, Shadowrun
Shadowrun
Shadowrun is a role-playing game set in a near-future fictional universe in which cybernetics, magic and fantasy creatures co-exist. It combines genres of cyberpunk, urban fantasy and crime, with occasional elements of conspiracy fiction, horror, and detective fiction.The original game has spawned...
, Pirates of the Spanish Main
Pirates of the Spanish Main
The Pirates Constructible Strategy Game is a tabletop game manufactured by WizKids, Inc., with aspects of both miniatures and collectible card genres. Pirates of the Spanish Main is the world's first "constructible strategy game," referring to the mechanics of creating game pieces from components...
, and the "Clix
Clix
Clix can be:* CLIX , a version of UNIX developed by Intergraph* Clix , a Portuguese triple play brand* Axe Clix, a deodorant* iriver clix, rebrand of the iriver U10, a multimedia player...
" games of Mage Knight
Mage Knight
Mage Knight is a miniatures wargame using collectible figures, created by WizKids, Inc. The game was designed by founder Jordan Weisman along with Kevin Barrett. The game is the first to use Wizkids' Clix system, combining roleplaying and wargaming elements with aspects of collectible card games....
and HeroClix
HeroClix
HeroClix is a collectible miniatures game that uses the Clix system. Originally designed and produced by WizKids, it is now owned and marketed by NECA. Players construct teams of comic book heroes, villains, and other characters from popular video games such as Street Fighter, Gears of War, and Halo...
.
In 2007, the company gave up first the RPG license of Das Schwarze Auge (the license went to Ulisses Spiele), then all game licenses. Since then the company focuses on publishing novels only, although it continued its preexisting novel series for Das Schwarze Auge; the Shadowrun and BattleTech series ceased publications in 2008, following disagreements between WizKids and Fantasy Productions concerning the German licence for those properties.