R. Talsorian Games
Encyclopedia
R. Talsorian Games, based in Renton, WA
(until 1997 in Berkeley, California
), is a publisher of role-playing game
books and accessories. Their titles include the Cyberpunk 2020
series and for anime
-related titles such as Dragonball Z. Their major product line today is the Fuzion
system.
The company's chairman is Mike Pondsmith
, usually known as "Maximum Mike" by players, R. Talsorian Games, and members of their online bulletin board.
Products include Cyberpunk 2020
; Mekton Zeta
, an anime
RPG; Castle Falkenstein
, a Sorcery
and Steampunk
RPG; Teenagers from Outer Space
, an anime universal setting, the first generic anime RPG until the creation of Big Eyes, Small Mouth
using the Tri-Stat system; and several RPGS based around anime Bubblegum Crisis
, Armored Trooper Votoms
and Dragonball Z. They also produced a short-lived RPG based on the setting of the Dream Park
novels.
, its first desktop published books were Mekton II
in 1987, which looked much different from products that R. Tal would be putting out just a few years later (such as Cyberpunk 2020
(1989)). Cyberpunk became wildly popular (by RPG standards), and received most of the company's attention for much of the rest of its lifespan.
After an eight-year hiatus that began with its withdrawal from GenCon in 1998 over a conflict regarding floor space and dealer space, the company began a semi-regular publishing schedule again in 2006. Despite its "major" lines being on hiatus during that period, RTG still supported three licensed anime RPG lines (Bubblegum Crisis, Armored Trooper VOTOMS and Dragonball Z) through its ANimechaniX label and occasionally issued reprints for Mekton Z and Cyberpunk 2020.
On January 4, 2006 R. Talsorian Games founded their first demo team, "The Chrome Berets." The Chrome Berets were founded, and are supervised by David “Knighthawk” Simpson, creator of Knighthawk’s Cyberpunk Archive, a popular fan site for the game. The purpose of The Chrome Berets is to promote the company and products and playtest upcoming products.
Renton, Washington
Renton is an Eastside edge city in King County, Washington, United States. Situated 11 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington, Renton straddles the southeast shore of Lake Washington. Founded in the 1860s, Renton became a supply town for the Newcastle coal fields...
(until 1997 in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
), is a publisher of 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...
books and accessories. Their titles include the Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020 is a cyberpunk role-playing game written by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games.- Overview :This role-playing game is based on the works of William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, and other authors of the "Mirrorshades group"...
series and for anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
-related titles such as Dragonball Z. Their major product line today is the Fuzion
Fuzion
Fuzion is a generic role-playing game system created by the collaboration of R. Talsorian Games and Hero Games. Fuzion is a combination of the Interlock System, , and the HERO system...
system.
The company's chairman is Mike Pondsmith
Mike Pondsmith
Michael Alyn Pondsmith is a roleplaying game and video game designer.He is best known for his work with R. Talsorian Games, where he developed most role-playing game lines from the company's beginning to the present: Mekton , Cyberpunk , Cybergeneration, Teenagers from Outer Space, Castle...
, usually known as "Maximum Mike" by players, R. Talsorian Games, and members of their online bulletin board.
Products include Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020 is a cyberpunk role-playing game written by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games.- Overview :This role-playing game is based on the works of William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, and other authors of the "Mirrorshades group"...
; Mekton Zeta
Mekton
Mekton is a role-playing game which centers on the conventions of mecha anime and science fiction...
, an anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
RPG; Castle Falkenstein
Castle Falkenstein (role-playing game)
Castle Falkenstein is a steampunk-themed fantasy role-playing game designed by Mike Pondsmith and originally published by R. Talsorian Games. A GURPS version and several supplements were later published by Steve Jackson Games. The game is named for a legendary unbuilt castle in the Bavarian Alps...
, a Sorcery
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and Steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
RPG; Teenagers from Outer Space
Teenagers from Outer Space (role-playing game)
Teenagers from Outer Space is a rules-light comedy role-playing game written by Michael A. Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games. It was inspired by gag anime such as Urusei Yatsura and Ranma ½. The game was first released in 1987, when anime was still mostly an underground sensation. The...
, an anime universal setting, the first generic anime RPG until the creation of Big Eyes, Small Mouth
Big Eyes, Small Mouth
Big Eyes, Small Mouth is a roleplaying game that was designed to simulate the action of anime and manga. It is frequently referred to by the acronym BESM. The title alludes to the common anime drawing style of characters with huge, expressive eyes and comparatively small mouths.BESM uses a...
using the Tri-Stat system; and several RPGS based around anime Bubblegum Crisis
Bubblegum Crisis
is a Japanese cyberpunk direct-to-video animated series. It displays strong influences from Blade Runner, also making occasional references to it.- Setting :...
, Armored Trooper Votoms
Armored Trooper Votoms
is a 52-episode anime television series, created by Ryosuke Takahashi and Sunrise, featuring mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara. The series originally aired in Japan from April 1, 1983 to March 23, 1984 on TV Tokyo...
and Dragonball Z. They also produced a short-lived RPG based on the setting of the Dream Park
Dream Park
Dream Park was originally a novel set in a sort of futuristic amusement park of the same name.The books describe a futuristic form of live action role-playing games , although the term was not in use when the original novel was published. The novels inspired many LARP groups, notably the...
novels.
History
Founded in 1985, R. Talsorian Games was one of the first RPG publishers to embrace desktop publishingDesktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
, its first desktop published books were Mekton II
Mekton
Mekton is a role-playing game which centers on the conventions of mecha anime and science fiction...
in 1987, which looked much different from products that R. Tal would be putting out just a few years later (such as Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020
Cyberpunk 2020 is a cyberpunk role-playing game written by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games.- Overview :This role-playing game is based on the works of William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, and other authors of the "Mirrorshades group"...
(1989)). Cyberpunk became wildly popular (by RPG standards), and received most of the company's attention for much of the rest of its lifespan.
After an eight-year hiatus that began with its withdrawal from GenCon in 1998 over a conflict regarding floor space and dealer space, the company began a semi-regular publishing schedule again in 2006. Despite its "major" lines being on hiatus during that period, RTG still supported three licensed anime RPG lines (Bubblegum Crisis, Armored Trooper VOTOMS and Dragonball Z) through its ANimechaniX label and occasionally issued reprints for Mekton Z and Cyberpunk 2020.
On January 4, 2006 R. Talsorian Games founded their first demo team, "The Chrome Berets." The Chrome Berets were founded, and are supervised by David “Knighthawk” Simpson, creator of Knighthawk’s Cyberpunk Archive, a popular fan site for the game. The purpose of The Chrome Berets is to promote the company and products and playtest upcoming products.