fighting fantasy

Today, my guest is Sir Ian Livingstone – games pioneer, entrepreneur and the bestselling author of the Fighting Fantasy book series.

Widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of the UK games industry, Ian co-founded Games Workshop in 1975 with Steve Jackson, launching Dungeons & Dragons in Europe, Warhammer, White Dwarf, Citadel Miniatures, and the Games Workshop retail chain. Whilst he exited the company in 1991, he soon embarked on a hugely successful career in the video games industry. In 1995, he co-led the merger which created video games publisher Eidos  where he served as Executive Chairman, launching blockbuster titles such as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Hitman.

In this conversation, we discuss his brilliant book Dice Men – The Origin Story of Games Workshop, how games like Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons came to be, the evolution of gaming and why he set up his own school – The Livingstone Academy.

Ian Livingstone was awarded a Knighthood (becoming a Sir) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to the online gaming industry.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Ian and I am sure you will enjoy it too.

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Sir Ian Livingstone Twitter / Fighting Fantasy / Games Workshop / Hiro Capital / Buy Dice Men here.

Danielle on Twitter @daniellenewnham and  Instagram @daniellenewnham   / Newsletter 

The meatgrinder continues!  Cris attempts to dive deeper in the Sorcery Fighting Fantasy Gamebook, The Crown of Kings!  

If you like what you hear, head on over to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get you podcasts and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

It's time for some more fighting fantasy!  This time it's the last book in the Sorcery series, which means that we are so close to getting that crown.  Horrible death awaits!

If you like what you hear, head on over to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get you podcasts and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

I'm sure this is going to be fine.  All the keys, easy out of the city, no more traps. Or circling around in the sewer till Cris finally gets ground to paste.  Yay City of Traps!

If you like what you hear, head on over to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get you podcasts and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

It's a long journey this one, and I am going to give you the time codes below so if you don't want spoilers then please, avert your eyes.

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Below are the timecodes for all the different segments and my guest links. Feel free to let me know where you think I got it wrong or right and of course stay safe out there & I'll see you next month.

• 0.00 - Introduction
• 11.09- The Worst Horror Movies of 1982
• 22.13 - Also Rans (Part 1)
• 37.24 - The Entity
• 47.38 - Halloween III w/ Mike Muncer
• 1.14.20 - Xtro w/ John Tantalon 
• 1.47.30 - Human Lanterns
• 1.53.16 - The Fan
• 2.01.43 - The Plague Dogs
• 2.11.12 - Class of 1984
• 2.20.00 - Sci-Fi Corner (Part 1)
• 2.21.56 - Fighting Fantasy Books w/ Marc Canale
• 2.40.52 - Sci-Fi Corner (part 2)
• 2.55.45 - E.T. w/ Benjamin Bowles

Cris once again dives into a fighting fantasy gamebook.  In this one he gets all Mad Max in Freeway Fighter.  With his supped up muscle care bristling with weapons this book does not stand a chance!  Or, he die pointlessly on a bad roll.

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Time for another solo quest!  This time it's time for an island vacation, huge crab included!  I'm sure this will be a wonderful, relaxing, and enjoyable time in a jungle paradise.  

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Cris once again dives deep into a fighting fantasy gamebook!  In this episode it's all about the dungeons and the deaths and the dungeons.  Can he survive?  Or will he get eaten by a worm?  Tune in to find out.  

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Our hero is still on the prowl through the Forest of Doom, looking for those ax parts.  Will he find them?  Or will he come out of the forest a broken man with an incomplete artifact.  

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Cris and only Cris delves into the fighting fantasy gamebook, The Forest of Doom.  Time to find the lost parts to an ancient weapon for some dwarves!

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Mazes are the worst.  Join Cris and only Cris as he continues on toward the center of Firetop Mountain.  Again, Mazes are the absolute worst.  

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Cris and only Cris delves back into the fighting fantasy gamebook series with the first book ever written, The Warlock of Firetop Mountain.  Can his lucky character make it to the end?  Or will this all end in some awful pit trap.  Tune in to find out!

If you like what you hear, head on over to Itunes and leave us a review.

If you are in the Grand Rapids area check out our meetup at https://www.meetup.com/We-Hate-Bards/ to check out our games. We've got games going every week.

If you want to throw some coin our way head on over to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wehatebards

Backers will receive early access to our Epic Tales podcasts, homebrew modules and games, and other members only access items.

Running time: 01:44:25