Metagaming Concepts

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Metagaming Concepts was a publisher of board games from 1975 to 1982 owned by Howard Thompson. Metagaming created and popularized the microgame format. It specialized in science fiction wargames; titles included Ogre, G.E.V., Godsfire, Stellar Conquest and WarpWar. The company also published the role-playing system The Fantasy Trip and the The Space Gamer magazine. In its later years, Metagaming introduced more fantasy titles into its lineup, and also began to publish games with historical themes, including Hitler's War.

Game designer Steve Jackson got his start at Metagaming and retained the rights to Ogre, G.E.V., and The Space Gamer when he founded Steve Jackson Games. Among the other Metagaming designers were Lynn Willis and Keith Gross.

Metagaming released a house organ, Interplay, intended to be published six times a year. It ran for at least eight issues before the end of the company. The first issue of Interplay was dated May/June 1981, and the eighth was dated September/October 1982.

After going out of business, Howard Thompson disappeared from the gaming hobby, leaving most of Metagaming's intellectual property in limbo.