Editing Games Workshop (section)

==History==

=== Early years ===
Founded in 1975 at 15 Bolingbroke Road, London by [[John Peake (game designer)|John Peake]], [[Ian Livingstone]] and [[Steve Jackson (UK)|Steve Jackson]] (not to be confused with U.S. game designer [[Steve Jackson (US game designer)|Steve Jackson]]), Games Workshop was originally a manufacturer of wooden boards for games including [[backgammon]], [[mancala]], [[nine men's morris]], and [[Go (board game)|Go]].<ref>{{cite journal | last = Livingstone | first = Ian | author-link = Ian Livingstone | title = Editorial | journal =[[Owl and Weasel]] | issue = 3 | page = 2 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = April 1975 }}</ref> It later became an importer of the U.S. role-playing game ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', and then a publisher of wargames and role-playing games in its own right, expanding from a bedroom mail-order company in the process.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/article/4-things-we-should-thank-games-workshop-for/|title=Four things we should thank Games Workshop for|date=20 January 2016|publisher=Nerdist|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

[[File:White Dwarf 1st edition.png|thumb|left|150px|Cover of ''White Dwarf'' Issue #1, June/July 1977]]
In order to promote their business and postal games, create a games club, and provide an alternative source for games news, the newsletter ''[[Owl and Weasel]]''<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson interview|url = http://www.gamesradar.com/ian_livingstone_and_steve_jackson_interview/|website = GamesRadar+| date=24 August 2007 |access-date = 18 January 2016}}</ref> was founded in February 1975. This was superseded in June 1977 by [[White Dwarf (magazine)|''White Dwarf'']].<ref name="Livingstone 6">{{cite journal | last = Livingstone | first = Ian | author-link = Ian Livingstone | title = White Dwarf  | journal = [[Owl and Weasel]] | issue = 25 | pages = 6 | publisher = Games Workshop |date=April 1977 }}</ref>

From the outset, there was a clear, stated interest in print regarding "progressive games", including [[computer gaming]],<ref>{{cite journal | last = Jackson | first = Steve | author-link = Steve Jackson (UK) | title = Editorial | journal =[[Owl and Weasel]] | issue = 1 | page = 1 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = February 1975 }}</ref> which led to the departure of John Peake in early 1976, who preferred "traditional games" (such as backgammon). The loss of Peake also meant the loss of the fledgling company's main source of income.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Livingstone | first = Ian | author-link = Ian Livingstone | title = Editorial | journal =[[Owl and Weasel]] | issue = 12 | page = 2 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = Jan 1976 }}</ref> However, having successfully obtained official distribution rights to ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and other [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]] products in the UK, and maintaining a high profile by running [[Games Day|games conventions]], the business grew rapidly. It opened its first shop in April 1978.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://unbound.com/books/games-workshop/|title=Dice Men: Games Workshop 1975 to 1985: Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson with Jamie Thomson|date=11 January 2017 |publisher=Unbound|isbn=9781407181301 |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

[[File:gamesws1.jpg|thumb|left|Games Workshop opening day at 1 Dalling Road, Hammersmith, London, in April 1978.<ref>{{cite journal | title = A new dungeon for Games Workshop | journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 7 | page = 23 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = June–July 1978 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Maps|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@51.4931701,-0.2349181,3a,75y,265.2h,90.86t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1saTjTViLN2Sy1xz3MfwGWNg!2e0!6s//geo1.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=aTjTViLN2Sy1xz3MfwGWNg&output=thumbnail&cb_client=maps_sv.tactile.gps&thumb=2&w=203&h=100&yaw=178.58362&pitch=0&thumbfov=100!7i16384!8i8192|access-date=18 September 2020|website=Google Maps|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=OpenStreetMap|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/|access-date=18 September 2020|website=OpenStreetMap|language=en}}</ref>]]
In late 1978 Games Workshop provided the funding to co-found [[Citadel Miniatures]] in [[Newark-on-Trent]]. Citadel would produce the metal miniatures used in its role-playing games and tabletop wargames. The "Citadel" name became synonymous with Games Workshop Miniatures, and continues to be a trademarked brand name used in association with them long after the Citadel company was absorbed into Games Workshop.<ref>{{cite journal | title = News | journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 11 | page = 10 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = Feb–Mar 1979 }}</ref><ref name="Vector">{{cite journal |last=Baxter |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Baxter (author) |title=Freedom in an Owned World: Warhammer Fiction and the Interzone Generation |journal=Vector Magazine - the Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association |issue=229 |publisher=British Science Fiction Association |year=2006 |url=http://www.vectormagazine.co.uk/article.asp?articleID=42 |access-date=7 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216083901/http://www.vectormagazine.co.uk/article.asp?articleID=42 |archive-date=16 February 2012  }}</ref> For a time [[Gary Gygax]] promoted the idea of [[TSR, Inc.]] merging with Games Workshop, until Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone backed out.<ref name="Kyngdoms">{{cite web | last = Sacco | first = Ciro Alessandro | title = The Ultimate Interview with Gary Gygax | work = thekyngdoms.com | url = http://www.thekyngdoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37 | access-date = 24 October 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120208133710/http://www.thekyngdoms.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=37 | archive-date = 8 February 2012 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

The company's publishing arm also released UK reprints of American RPGs such as ''[[Call of Cthulhu (role-playing game)|Call of Cthulhu]],'' ''[[RuneQuest|Runequest]],'' ''[[Traveller (role-playing game)|Traveller]]'' and ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'', which were expensive to import (having previously done so for ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' since 1977).<ref>{{cite journal | title = News | journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 4 | publisher = Games Workshop }}</ref>

In 1984 Games Workshop ceased distributing its products in the U.S. through hobby games distributors and opened its Games Workshop (U.S.) office. Games Workshop (U.S.), and Games Workshop in general, grew significantly in the late 1980s, with over 250 employees on the payroll by 1990.<ref name="WD126">{{cite journal | title = White Dwarf | journal =[[White Dwarf (magazine)|White Dwarf]] | issue = 126 | publisher = Games Workshop | date = June 1990 }}</ref>

=== Refocus ===
Tom Kirby became General Manager in 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://investor.games-workshop.com/our-history/|title=Our history - Games Workshop Group PLC - Investor Relations|date=7 February 2011|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref> 
Following a management buyout by him and [[Bryan Ansell]] in December 1991, when Livingstone and Jackson sold their shares for {{currency|10|GBP}} million,<ref name=independent>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/a-visit-to-the-fantasy-world-of-ian-livingstone-1162339.html | author=McGrath, Melanie | title=A Visit to the Fantasy World of Ian Livingstone | work=[[The Independent]] | date=2 June 1998 | access-date=11 January 2018}}</ref> Games Workshop refocused on their [[Miniature wargaming|miniature wargames]] ''[[Warhammer Fantasy Battle]]'' (WFB) and ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' (WH40k), their most lucrative lines. The retail chain refocused on a younger, more family-oriented market. The change of direction was a great success and the company enjoyed growing profits, but the more commercial direction of the company made it lose some of its old fan base. A breakaway group of two company employees published ''[[Fantasy Warlord]]'' in competition with Games Workshop, but the new company met with little success and closed in 1993. Games Workshop expanded in Europe, the US, Canada and Australia, opening new branches and organising events in each new commercial territory. Having been acquired by private equity firm [[ECI Partners]] the company was floated on the [[London Stock Exchange]] in October 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mergr.com/eci-partners-exits-games-workshop-group|title=ECI Partners Exits Games Workshop Group &#124; Mergr|website=mergr.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/prices-and-markets/stocks/summary/company-summary/GB0003718474GBGBXSSMM.html|title=Games Workshop|publisher=London Stock Exchange|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> In October 1997 all UK-based operations were relocated to the current headquarters in [[Lenton, Nottingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lentontimes.co.uk/streets/willow_road.htm|title=Willow Road |publisher=Lenton Times|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

The company diversified by acquiring Sabretooth Games (card games), creating the [[Black Library]] (literature), and working with [[THQ]] (computer games).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/26/thq-extends-warhammer-40k-licensing-deal/|title=THQ extends Warhammer 40K licensing deal|date=26 November 2004|publisher=Engadget|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Drakenburg.jpg|thumb|A Games Workshop store in [[Düsseldorf]], Germany, pictured in 2009]]
In late 2009 Games Workshop issued a succession of ''[[cease and desist]]'' orders against various Internet sites it accused of violating its intellectual property generating anger and disappointment from its fan community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2009/11/28/games-workshop-decla.html|title=Games Workshop declares war on best customers. Again. / Boing Boing|website=boingboing.net|date=28 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/264704.page |title=GW Fansites vs. GW: Cease & Desist Fallout - Forum |publisher=DakkaDakka |access-date=11 February 2013}}</ref>

On 16 May 2011, Maelstrom Games announced that Games Workshop had revised the terms and conditions of their trade agreement with independent stockists in the UK. The new terms and conditions restricted the sale of all Games Workshop products to within the [[European Economic Area]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maelstromgames.co.uk/index.php?act=new&ref=212|title=Games Workshop Changes|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>

On 16 June 2013, WarGameStore, a UK-based retailer of Games Workshop products since 2003, announced further changes to Games Workshop's trade agreement with UK-based independent stockists.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqBGtuKrJaQ&feature=c4-overview&list=UUryD5rJgGsJ8JiqrFwgzRSA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/gqBGtuKrJaQ| archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Games Workshop UK Retailer Trade Terms Changes 2013|last=WarGameStore|date=18 June 2013|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Tom Kirby stepped down in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://investor.games-workshop.com/2017/07/25/retirement-of-tom-kirby-as-non-executive-chairman/|title=Retirement of Tom Kirby as non-executive chairman - Games Workshop Group PLC - Investor Relations|date=25 July 2017|access-date=15 June 2019}}</ref>

In July 2021, Games Workshop made changes to their IP guidelines, adopting a "zero tolerance" stance towards fan-made games, videos and animations, drawing criticism from fans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Clayton|first=Natalie|date=21 July 2021|title=Games Workshop is trying to shut down fan animations|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games-workshop-is-trying-to-shut-down-fan-animations/|access-date=7 September 2021|website=PC Gamer|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Creative Assembly reiterates stance on Total Warhammer mods in wake of Games Workshop IP changes|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/total-war-warhammer-2/mods-radious-games-workshop-ip|access-date=7 September 2021|website=PCGamesN|date=5 August 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 July 2021|title=Lookout YouTube, GW Just Updated Their IP Guidelines|url=https://spikeybits.com/2021/07/lookout-youtube-gw-just-updated-their-ip-guidelines.html|access-date=7 September 2021|website=Spikey Bits|language=en-US}}</ref>

The presence of Games Workshop in the East Midlands has led the region to become the centre of the wargames industry in the UK, known as the [[Lead belt (wargaming)|lead belt]] with numerous other 
companies founded by former employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why Games Workshop is worth more than Marks & Spencer and Centrica |url=https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/07/02/why-games-workshop-is-worth-more-than-marks-and-spencer-and-centrica |access-date=25 August 2021 |newspaper=The Economist |date=2 July 2020}}</ref>