https://flyingbuffalo.com/pages/the-flying-buffalo-press-release
Corbin, Kentucky (August 4, 2021) - Webbed Sphere Inc. announced today that it finalized acquisition of pioneering, award-winning game publisher Flying Buffalo, Inc., best known for the Tunnels and Trolls role playing game and bestselling Nuclear War card game series.
The deal was finalized July 31 with the estate of Flying Buffalo founder Richard Loomis. Loomis created the play-by-mail game Nuclear Destruction in 1970, and founded Flying Buffalo with Steve MacGregor in 1972. The company initially focused on running play-by-mail games, and later became well known for publishing the second-ever role playing game Tunnels and Trolls, originally designed by Ken St. Andre, starting in 1975. The Scottsdale, Arizona company is currently the oldest active publisher of pen-and-paper role playing games in existence.
“Flying Buffalo and Rick Loomis hold an esteemed position in the history of gaming, and we are proud to now be a part of that legacy,” said John Ward, CE
legacy,” said John Ward, CEO of Webbed Sphere. “Flying Buffalo has thrilled generations of gamers over the past 50 years, and it will make a great compliment to our Toy Vault and Mchezo brand lines. I am excited about what the future holds.”
Since its founding, Flying Buffalo published many popular board games and roleplaying game titles including: Tunnels and Trolls, Nuclear War, Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes; Death Dice, Ace of Aces, Lost Worlds, Monsters! Monsters!, Imperialism, Origin’s award winning Citybooks and a series of role playing supplements that included the famous Grimtooth’s Traps. The company was also groundbreaking in its release of the first solo role playing game modules using it’s Tunnels and Trolls system, starting with “Buffalo Castle,” written by Rick Loomis and published in 1976.
“It's always hard when your child finally grows up and leaves home, but I'm looking forward to a bigger, brighter future for Tunnels & Trolls under the organization of Webbed Sphere,” said Ken St. Andre, creator of Tunnels and Trolls. “May T&T spread even further to the greater world than it already has, and may Webbed Sphere make all their saving throws going forward!”
Douglas Malewicki, the inventor of the Nuclear War™ card game in 1965, said he’s excited about the opportunities the purchase of Flying Buffalo represents.
“I’m excited and really look forward to working with the new Flying Buffalo team,” Malewicki said. “I definitely want to help ensure that Nuclear War continues to improve, evolve and thrill new generations of gamers. The fun begins!”
Specific announcements about Flying Buffalo properties will be forthcoming in the near future. The company plans to work diligently with retailers and distributors to make sure products are in stock and available to the public.
Flying Buffalo also plans to be an exhibitor at Gen Con, to be held in Indianapolis Sept. 16-19, and will release more exciting news as the show approaches.
About Webbed Sphere
Webbed Sphere Inc. is a management and holding company for numerous ventures including online retailer Troll and Toad, home decor brands Darware, Decorae and AuldHome; game and toy publisher Toy Vault, and jigsaw puzzle manufacturer Mchezo. Its array of companies also specialize in property acquisition and development, business and consumer fulfillment services, liquidation outlets, and hobbyist gardening supplies.
About Flying Buffalo, Inc.
Flying Buffalo, Inc. is a publishing company best known for the second ever role playing game distributed to the mass market - Tunnels and Trolls. It was founded in 1972 by Rick Loomis and Steve MacGregor as a play-by-mail game company, but also published numerous popular role playing games, card games, and gaming supplements. It is located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
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The glorious day will be when someone buys out Judges Guild.
ReplyDeleteYes - We've been working on this for 2 years and I'm very glad we have reached this point. I know that they will grow and expand the reach of T&T and the rest of the Buffalo lines to the broader world. I'll continue to be available to aid them as the transfer process continues.
ReplyDeleteWe're very pleased to know that Flying Buffalo, the legacy of Rick Loomis will carry forward with WebbedSphere. We know that John Ward and his team have the best intentions for the games we have created, and we look forward to working with them to take Tunnels & Trolls, Nuclear War and all the rest of our lines to a wider audience. We have no doubt that they are going to keep the Buffalo Flying.
ReplyDeleteAlso the Flying Buffalo Play-By-Mail games will still be run by the "old" Flying Buffalo under the name Rick Loomis PBM Games. Email us at games@rickloomispbm.com to get a free newsletter that gives you more info about that.
Great. So they hired a guy who hasn't anything on his resume since 1972. Terrific. He ought to do wonders for advancing gaming.
ReplyDeleteWho are you referring to?
DeleteIt means that a larger company has bought in rights and the inventory of Flying Buffalo and they can start reprinting and distributing on a much larger scale than we ever could. So this is great news for T&Ts future.
ReplyDeleteKen, Liz and Myself will continue to play a role in all this to varying degrees. We have several projects that are in development and we anticipate the new Flying Buffalo will be putting them to good use.