Target Games
Encyclopedia
Target Games was a Swedish publisher of role-playing game
s active from 1980 until the year 1999 when they went into bankruptcy proceedings.
.
They released the role-playing games Drakar och Demoner
(1982), Mutant (1984) (with the later versions Mutant (1989) Mutant RYMD (1992) and Mutant Chronicles
), Kult
(1991), Chock (1985, a translation of Chill
), Sagan om Ringen (1986, a translation of Middle-earth Role Playing
) and Stjärnornas Krig (1988, a translation of the WEG
Star Wars RPG). Target Games also published Warzone
, a miniature wargame
.
They also released three generic sourcebooks, Grymkäfts fällor (1987) (translated from the classic game supplement Grimtooth's Traps), Stadsintermezzon (1988) and Skattkammaren (1988) as well as many adventures and sourcebooks for their games. Until the mid 1990s Target Games published their Swedish roleplaying games under the brand
name Äventyrsspel (meaning "adventure games"). Target Games was reconstructed in 1999 and ceased publication of all of its inventory and the intellectual property
rights were transferred to the daughter company Paradox Entertainment
, which later became an independent company. Some of the titles have since been licensed to new game companies.
Beside role-playing games, the company had its own magazine named Sinkadus, published translated gamebook
s (the Lone Wolf
series among others) as well as translated fantasy
novels (beginning with a Conan the Barbarian
book). Target Games also published a Drakar och Demoner computer game in 1999.
company Neogames
.
The name Mutant was used for a series of unrelated science fiction themed role-playing games. The 1984 version was set in a post-apocalyptic world similar to the one in Gamma World
. The 1989 version was a cyberpunk
game while the later Mutant RYMD and Mutant Chronicles
where science fantasy
games set in space. All versions used variants of the Basic Role-Playing
for rules.
trading card game as well as the Warzone
tabletop game.
on multiple occasions. This resulted in Swedish toy stores refusing to sell the game.
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s active from 1980 until the year 1999 when they went into bankruptcy proceedings.
Publications
They published much of their early material in the form of stapled books in G5 (169 by 239 mm) format in a box together with diceDice
A die is a small throwable object with multiple resting positions, used for generating random numbers...
.
They released the role-playing games Drakar och Demoner
Drakar och Demoner
Drakar och Demoner is a Swedish fantasy role-playing game first published in 1982 by the game publishing company Äventyrsspel .First edition was basically a translation of Steve Perrin's Basic Role-Playing Drakar och Demoner (Swedish for Dragons and Demons, in Sweden commonly referred to by the...
(1982), Mutant (1984) (with the later versions Mutant (1989) Mutant RYMD (1992) and Mutant Chronicles
Mutant Chronicles
Mutant Chronicles is a pen-and-paper role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world, originally published in 1993. It has spawned a franchise of collectible card games, miniature wargames, video games, novels, comic books, and a film of the same title based on the game world.Mutant Chronicles...
), Kult
Kult
Kult is a contemporary fantasy horror role-playing game originally designed by Gunilla Jonsson and Michael Petersén, first published in Sweden by Target Games in 1991. The first English edition was published in 1993 by Metropolis Ltd., a now defunct American publisher...
(1991), Chock (1985, a translation of Chill
Chill (role-playing game)
Chill is a role-playing game that captures the feel of 20th-century horror films. Players take on the role of envoys, members of a secret organization known as S.A.V.E...
), Sagan om Ringen (1986, a translation of Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing
Middle-earth Role Playing is a 1984 role-playing game based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien under license from Tolkien Enterprises. Iron Crown Enterprises published the game until they lost the license on 22 Sep 1999.-Setting:The setting for MERP is an expanded version of J. R. R...
) and Stjärnornas Krig (1988, a translation of the WEG
West End Games
West End Games was a company that made board, role-playing, and war games. It was founded by Daniel Scott Palter in 1974 in New York, but later moved to Honesdale, Pennsylvania...
Star Wars RPG). Target Games also published Warzone
Warzone (game)
Warzone is a tabletop miniature wargame based on the Mutant Chronicles universe and role-playing game. It features squad-based combat at a skirmish level, although vehicles and large models were introduced in later supplements to the main rule book....
, a miniature wargame
Miniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
.
They also released three generic sourcebooks, Grymkäfts fällor (1987) (translated from the classic game supplement Grimtooth's Traps), Stadsintermezzon (1988) and Skattkammaren (1988) as well as many adventures and sourcebooks for their games. Until the mid 1990s Target Games published their Swedish roleplaying games under the brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
name Äventyrsspel (meaning "adventure games"). Target Games was reconstructed in 1999 and ceased publication of all of its inventory and the intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
rights were transferred to the daughter company Paradox Entertainment
Paradox Entertainment
Paradox Entertainment owns rights to many intellectual properties, the most famous of which is Conan the Barbarian as created by pulp author Robert E. Howard and expanded upon by many other authors over the years. Other properties include Bran Mak Morn, Kull, Solomon Kane, Mutant, Mutant...
, which later became an independent company. Some of the titles have since been licensed to new game companies.
Beside role-playing games, the company had its own magazine named Sinkadus, published translated gamebook
Gamebook
A gamebook is a work of fiction that allows the reader to participate in the story by making effective choices. The narrative branches along various paths through the use of numbered paragraphs or pages...
s (the Lone Wolf
Lone Wolf (gamebooks)
Lone Wolf is a series of 28 gamebooks, created by Joe Dever and initially illustrated by Gary Chalk. The series began publishing in July 1984 and sold more than 10.2 million copies worldwide....
series among others) as well as translated fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novels (beginning with a Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
book). Target Games also published a Drakar och Demoner computer game in 1999.
Drakar & Demoner
Drakar & Demoner was Target Games best selling series of games, today the Drakar & Demoner brand is owned by SwedishSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
company Neogames
Neogames
Neogames is a Swedish role-playing game publisher situated in Gothenburg. They were after the re-creation of Target Games the largest RPG publisher in the country. Neogames control the fantasy RPG license Eon, a role-playing game set in a fairly standard fantasy setting with elves, dwarves and...
.
Mutant
Gamma World
Gamma World is a science fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by James M. Ward and Gary Jaquet, and first published by TSR in 1978. It borrowed heavily from James M. Ward's earlier product, Metamorphosis Alpha.-Setting:...
. The 1989 version was a cyberpunk
Cyberpunk
Cyberpunk is a postmodern and science fiction genre noted for its focus on "high tech and low life." The name is a portmanteau of cybernetics and punk, and was originally coined by Bruce Bethke as the title of his short story "Cyberpunk," published in 1983...
game while the later Mutant RYMD and Mutant Chronicles
Mutant Chronicles
Mutant Chronicles is a pen-and-paper role-playing game set in a post-apocalyptic world, originally published in 1993. It has spawned a franchise of collectible card games, miniature wargames, video games, novels, comic books, and a film of the same title based on the game world.Mutant Chronicles...
where science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
games set in space. All versions used variants of the Basic Role-Playing
Basic Role-Playing
Basic Role-Playing is a role-playing game system which originated in the fantasy-oriented RuneQuest role-playing game rules...
for rules.
Mutant Chronicles
The Mutant Chronicles brand later became so popular that it spawned multiple spin-off's as well, most notably the Doom TrooperDoom Trooper
Doom Trooper is a collectible card game designed by Bryan Winter. It is based on concepts from the Mutant Chronicles franchise. Players use warriors to attack and gain either Promotion Points or Destiny Points. Promotion points can be used to win; Destiny Points are used to purchase more warriors...
trading card game as well as the Warzone
Warzone (game)
Warzone is a tabletop miniature wargame based on the Mutant Chronicles universe and role-playing game. It features squad-based combat at a skirmish level, although vehicles and large models were introduced in later supplements to the main rule book....
tabletop game.
Kult
Kult was released in 1991 and is known to have caused some controversy in SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on multiple occasions. This resulted in Swedish toy stores refusing to sell the game.