Peter Adkison
Encyclopedia
Peter D. Adkison is the founder and first CEO of Wizards of the Coast
(1993 to 2001), as well as a hobby game professional.
During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the Gathering", which started the collectible card game category. It also distributed the Pokémon
trading cards, and later acquired the Dungeons & Dragons
roleplaying game, releasing a successful new edition.
Adkison is the current owner of Gen Con
, a massive yearly game convention in the Midwest. In January 2001, Adkison sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
. As of 2005, he is the current CEO of Hidden City Games
, publishers of the Bella Sara
collectible card game for girls.
As a long time fan of role-playing games, Adkison has recently become an advocate for indie RPGs. His own game design work includes The Primal Order
, a "capstone system" for use with any of a number of different role-playing game
s.
As a child, Adkison enjoyed playing strategy games and war games, and in 1978, he was exposed to Dungeons & Dragons
, which "blew [him] away." In 1981, he created a Dungeons & Dragons campaign titled Chaldea, which he continues to run today. As of 2002, Adkison was running two Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and playing in three. He enjoys a wide variety of games including Magic: the Gathering
, Twitch, The Settlers of Catan
, Robo Rally, Call of Cthulhu
, Vampire: The Masquerade
, and the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game
.
While working at Hidden City Games, his public biography from 2005 claimed that he was married to Melissa Reis Adkison.
degree in Computer Science
from Walla Walla College
in 1985. He also has a MBA
degree from the University of Washington
. From 1985 to 1991, he worked as a systems analyst for Boeing
.
While working for Boeing, he became involved in the founding of Wizards of the Coast. With the success of Magic: the Gathering
, Peter began working full-time for Wizards of the Coast. As CEO of Wizards of the Coast, he presided over Wizards purchase of TSR, Inc.
. According to game designer Ed Stark, Adkison said, "Look, computer gaming is the future of roleplaying. We've got to get involved in this."
In January 2001, Adkison sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
and entered "semi-retirement", engaging in rock-climbing and "lying around". In May 2002, Adkison purchased Gen Con
from Hasbro, which he had been attending since 1992. Adkison claims to have "always loved" Gen Con.
In 1999, Pyramid
magazine named Peter Adkison as one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons "at least in the realm of adventure gaming".
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
(1993 to 2001), as well as a hobby game professional.
During Adkison's tenure, Wizards of the Coast rose to the status of a major publisher in the hobby game industry. Wizards achieved runaway success with its creation of "Magic: the Gathering", which started the collectible card game category. It also distributed the Pokémon
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game is a collectible card game based on the Pokémon video game series, first introduced in Japan in October 1996, then North America in December 1998...
trading cards, and later acquired the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
roleplaying game, releasing a successful new edition.
Adkison is the current owner of Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
, a massive yearly game convention in the Midwest. In January 2001, Adkison sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
. As of 2005, he is the current CEO of Hidden City Games
Hidden City Games
Hidden City Entertainment, formerly known as Hidden City Games, Inc., was founded in 2004 by Peter Adkison and Jesper Myrfors. The company, started in Seattle, Washington was originally founded for the sole purpose of publishing Clout Fantasy a game invented by Jesper Myrfors.Hidden City...
, publishers of the Bella Sara
Bella Sara
Bella Sara is an international children's card trading game, combining a world of magical horses with game play. Published by Seattle-based game company Hidden City Entertainment, Bella Sara began as a trading card game that has since expanded into an international product line...
collectible card game for girls.
As a long time fan of role-playing games, Adkison has recently become an advocate for indie RPGs. His own game design work includes The Primal Order
The Primal Order
The Primal Order, or "TPO", is a religion-based fantasy roleplaying game supplement". Of particular note, TPO was the first work published by Wizards of the Coast and its president, Peter Adkison...
, a "capstone system" for use with any of a number of different role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s.
Background
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, which "blew [him] away." In 1981, he created a Dungeons & Dragons campaign titled Chaldea, which he continues to run today. As of 2002, Adkison was running two Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, and playing in three. He enjoys a wide variety of games including Magic: the Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, Twitch, The Settlers of Catan
The Settlers of Catan
The Settlers of Catan is a multiplayer board game designed by Klaus Teuber and first published in 1995 in Germany by Franckh-Kosmos Verlag as Die Siedler von Catan. Players assume the roles of settlers, each attempting to build and develop their settlement while trading and acquiring resources...
, Robo Rally, Call of Cthulhu
Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)
Call of Cthulhu is a horror fiction role-playing game based on H. P. Lovecraft's story of the same name and the associated Cthulhu Mythos.The game, often abbreviated as CoC, is published by Chaosium.-Setting:...
, Vampire: The Masquerade
Vampire: The Masquerade
Vampire: The Masquerade is a role-playing game. Created by Mark Rein·Hagen, it was the first of White Wolf Game Studio's World of Darkness role-playing games, based on the Storyteller System and centered around vampires in a modern gothic-punk world....
, and the Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game
Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game
The Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game is a role-playing game originally written by John Wick and published by Alderac Entertainment Group, under license from Five Rings Publishing Group, in 1997...
.
While working at Hidden City Games, his public biography from 2005 claimed that he was married to Melissa Reis Adkison.
Career
Adkison received a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Computer Science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
from Walla Walla College
Walla Walla University
Walla Walla University is a University offering liberal arts, professional, and technical programs located in College Place, Washington, just a few miles from Walla Walla. The current President is John McVay. It was founded in 1892 and is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.The...
in 1985. He also has a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
degree from the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. From 1985 to 1991, he worked as a systems analyst for Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
.
While working for Boeing, he became involved in the founding of Wizards of the Coast. With the success of Magic: the Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
, Peter began working full-time for Wizards of the Coast. As CEO of Wizards of the Coast, he presided over Wizards purchase of TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
. According to game designer Ed Stark, Adkison said, "Look, computer gaming is the future of roleplaying. We've got to get involved in this."
In January 2001, Adkison sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro
Hasbro
Hasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
and entered "semi-retirement", engaging in rock-climbing and "lying around". In May 2002, Adkison purchased Gen Con
Gen Con
Gen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
from Hasbro, which he had been attending since 1992. Adkison claims to have "always loved" Gen Con.
In 1999, Pyramid
Pyramid (magazine)
Pyramid is a gaming magazine, publishing articles primarily on role-playing games, but including board games, card games, and other sorts of games. It began life in 1993 as a print publication of Steve Jackson Games for its first 30 issues, though it has been published on the Internet since March...
magazine named Peter Adkison as one of The Millennium's Most Influential Persons "at least in the realm of adventure gaming".