BattleTech - The Board Game of Armored Combat

Off Topic and Technical Support => Off Topic => Topic started by: worktroll on 18 June 2017, 18:36:07

Title: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: worktroll on 18 June 2017, 18:36:07
Fascinating read - an FOI request obtained the FBI's report on TSR and Gary Gygax.

https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/3866268/TSR-Pt-4.pdf

Some of the comments are still very relevant today. An intriguing look into the ancestry of gaming in general, and proof that there's nothing new under the Sun.

(BTW, there's a small section on politics. Let's not go there. Plenty else to talk about.  [copper]

W.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 18 June 2017, 19:13:47
It have some very redacted portions. Wonder why.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: worktroll on 18 June 2017, 19:37:21
Apparently, the FBI investigated TSR as part of the Unibomber case - TSR having received bomb threats, as mentioned in the PDF. Standard policy would be to remove specific items about that investigation, and/or personal details about informants.

Kozinsky was believed linked to the Fresno gaming club (FRESNO in the document).
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Giovanni Blasini on 18 June 2017, 20:20:37
That was...weird.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Baldur Mekorig on 18 June 2017, 22:04:36
Apparently, the FBI investigated TSR as part of the Unibomber case - TSR having received bomb threats, as mentioned in the PDF. Standard policy would be to remove specific items about that investigation, and/or personal details about informants.

Kozinsky was believed linked to the Fresno gaming club (FRESNO in the document).

The guy was highly intelligent, but from what i read about him, i dont think that he fited in the "gamer" profile.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Nav_Alpha on 18 June 2017, 23:05:52
That was rather interesting. I was actually expecting a report on D&D and how it links to Satanism or something. Didn't see a Unabomber and radical peace activists coming...
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: CrossfirePilot on 18 June 2017, 23:12:13
in the last couple years I have felt bad for Gary, practicing catholic, gets burned at the stake for making a popular game... 
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Sharpnel on 19 June 2017, 07:16:32
That was rather interesting. I was actually expecting a report on D&D and how it links to Satanism or something. Didn't see a Unabomber and radical peace activists coming...
In J. Edgar Hoover's day, it probably would have been.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Kidd on 19 June 2017, 08:55:08
What I'd like to see is the FBI's report on Battletech and "...this here suspicious 'Jihad' thing these so-called grognards are always on and on about 8) "

Thoughts on the report: Wow, this is a FBI report? Reads like a hastily-written abstract, I'd get my butt kicked at work producing something like this.

Quote
"(redacted) further advised that the typical war gaming enthusiast is overweight and not neat in appearance"
OOO FBI THROWING SHADE Y'ALL  ;D

1 of the Redacteds seems to have been Gygax's link with the Pentagon. No wonder Redacted's name is withheld.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 19 June 2017, 09:19:53
What I'd like to see is the FBI's report on Battletech and "...this here suspicious 'Jihad' thing these so-called grognards are always on and on about 8) "

They didn't bring it up when interviewing Herb.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Frabby on 19 June 2017, 10:25:49
They didn't bring it up when interviewing Herb.
Huh? I thought Herb said they did, and not just in passing.
Title: Re: The FBI's report on Gary Gygax
Post by: Kit deSummersville on 19 June 2017, 10:33:12
Huh? I thought Herb said they did, and not just in passing.

Nope. Just asked about the writer who was in the Special Agent recruitment process.