Michael Witwer is a lifelong gamer and gaming enthusiast. His work, which originated as a master's thesis at the University of Chicago, delves into the world of gaming. He brings a deep understanding of gaming culture and its impact on modern life to his writing. Witwer offers a unique perspective, drawing from his extensive experience.
A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition of the World's Greatest Roleplaying Game
416 pages
15 hours of reading
Delve into the rich history of the beloved fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons through captivating interviews and stunning artwork. This illustrated account features insights from the designers, storytellers, and creators who shaped the game's evolution, showcasing the creative process and the visual elements that define its unique charm. Explore the behind-the-scenes stories and the impactful contributions that have made this edition a favorite among fans and players alike.
This collection of Dungeons & Dragons artwork provides a chronicle of the game's past, present and future. As the years passed, the game evolved from a "Satanistic" basement game for weirdos to celebrate a resurgence as a mainstream cultural phenomena. The look of the game evolved, and this visual archive explores the familiar imagery as well as one-of-a-kind rarities. -- adapted from foreword, introduction and back cover
The life story of Gary Gygax, godfather of all fantasy adventure games, has been told only in bits and pieces. Michael Witwer has written a dynamic, dramatized biography of Gygax from his childhood in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to his untimely death in 2008. Gygax's magnum opus, Dungeons & Dragons, would explode in popularity throughout the 1970s and '80s and irreversibly alter the world of gaming. D&D is the best-known, best-selling role-playing game of all time, and it boasts an elite class of alumni--Stephen Colbert, Robin Williams, and Junot Diaz all have spoken openly about their experience with the game as teenagers, and some credit it as the workshop where their nascent imaginations were fostered. Gygax's involvement in the industry lasted long after his dramatic and involuntary departure from D&D's parent company, TSR, and his footprint can be seen in the genre he is largely responsible for creating. But as Witwer shows, perhaps the most compelling facet of his life and work was his unwavering commitment to the power of creativity in the face of myriad sources of adversity, whether cultural, economic, or personal. Through his creation of the role-playing genre, Gygax gave two generations of gamers the tools to invent characters and entire worlds in their minds. Told in narrative-driven and dramatic fashion, Witwer has written an engaging chronicle of the life and legacy of this emperor of the imagination.