Fantasy Games Unlimited was a publisher of
miniature war games and
fantasy role playing games. It was started in 1975 by Scott Bizar.
It's probably most famous for being the original publisher of
Chivalry & Sorcery and
Space Opera. Although generally known as a role playing game company, its first two products were wargames called "
Gladiators" and "
Royal Armies of the Hyborean Age" (based on the
Conan universe). It also released a very early role playing game in 1976 called
Bunnies and Burrows. As the name might imply to some, it was based on
Watership Down.
It was not actually a game development company. No games were developed in house. It solicited outside works from authors and then published them and arranged distribution. FGU seemed to favor highly complicated rule sets, things hardcore gamers really got off on. Authors were generally signed to contracts that allowed them to retain the rights to their games but could not sign over republishing rights to another company as long as Fantasy Games Unlimited was actively publishing.
For a time the company was based in
New York state. In the late '80s it moved to
Gilbert, Arizona. Around 1987 it ceased general operation. Bizar kept the company alive on paper by opening a hobby store by the same name and a quasi-real
mail order business selling reprints of games. Much to the
chagrin of the authors, this limited reprint scheme fulfills the letter of their contracts and has prevented the rights for some FGU cult classics like
Bushido and Space Opera to revert to the authors and return to store shelves.
In 1996
Gold Rush Games attempted to bring back an updated version of Bushido, however, Bizar refused to part with rights to the game unless
draconian fees are paid, even though it was clearly earning him little to no money. Instead of paying what they felt was double the development cost of a role playing to simply buy back the name "Bushido" the company chose to release an updated Bushido under the title
Sengoku.
Some cult classic FGU games have faired better.
Steve Jackson Games was remarkably successful in acquiring the rights to Bunnies and Burrows.
Edward Simbalist was miraculously able to get back his rights to Chivalry & Sorcery and license the game to Highlander Games. (Apparently, Simbalist's experience with Highlander Games turned sour and the rights moved to
Brittannia Game Designs).
FGU seems to have gone belly up because of general mismanagement. Bizar had a keen eye for spotting a trend and a large niche. Chivalry & Sorcery was
D&D for those who wanted a more historically accurate RPG and highly detailed combat. Space Opera was everything
Traveller lacked and came out in time when
The Empire Strikes Back was re-stoking Sci Fi fever. Bunnies and Burrows came out just as Watership Down was enjoying a resurgence because of a movie and resurgence in all things fantasy because of a resurgence in all things
Tolkienesque. Bushido's released coincided with the release of the wildly successful
Shogun minseries.
Villains and Vigilantes was one of the first super hero RPGs to hit the market. Trend spotting can quickly become biting off more than you can chew when you're a small time company. FGU's ability and willingness to promote and support a dozen role playing games was beyond Bizar's small staff. Authors became quickly disgruntled, especially when they had to hound Bizar for royalty checks.