RPG Research's Historical Timeline
This page contains a short summmary of the evolution of our organization.
This page just contains the text-only simple timeline.
You can see photos from some of our history at our RPG Research Photo History Timeline Page (pending).
Throughout oure Knowledgebase Archives and our Blog you can find the details for each of the items listed in this timeline. Over time, pending volunteer availability, we'll add links from this timeline to the details for each item listed for thse wanting to read more details. (pending)
Here you can learn more the history of the 100% volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit research and human services charitable organization RPG Research.
Our volunteer staff study the effects of all role-playing game formats: tabletop, live-action, electronic and hybrids.
Our roots begin around 1977. And since 2004 our website has provided the world's largest free and open, international repository of research information on the effects and uses of role-playing games. Our multidisciplinary programs draw from therapeutic recreation, music, neuroscience, psychology, computer sciences, nursing, and other knowledge domains. Based on the available research, our community programs help people achieve their educational, recreational, and therapeutic goals, measurably improving their quality of life and/or functioning.
Our Pre-History
Events contributing to our creation.
Before 1977
....BC
16xx AD
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18xx AD
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1913
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195x
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1968
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1969
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1970
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1971
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1972
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1973
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1974
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1975
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1976
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Early Founding Roots: 1977-1979
1977
pending
- How to optimize the RPG experience to be more immersive
- How to decrease the time it takes for a GM to prepare a game
- How to build and anage a long-term campaign and retain players for years
- How to speed up results and combat resolution
- How to create computer programs that simulate the TRPG experince
- How to use technology to improve the TRPG and larp experiences
- How to manage multiple groups every week
- How to create, recruit players, and advertize RPG sessions
- Also more generally pretty much just learning the ins and outs of RPGing, social dynamics, different stages of game master development (monty haul, killer, etc.)
- Text-based multiple-choice RPGs (not natural language like Zork) with full game system mechanics rules incorporated into results determination
- Game Master tools to help GM with tabletop RPGs creation, management, and maintenance (logs, maps, rosters, etc.)
- Immersoin enhancement experiments such as ambient sounds, music for specific RPG and larp scenese, etc.
- TRPG Weekly community open Drop In and RPG at Hammonds Toys and Hobbies
- TRPG Monthly, then semi-weekly, then weekly community open Drop In and RPG at Holladay Library
- TRPG Periodic (a few times a year) Drop In and RPG at Salt Lake City Library
- LRPG larp: Murray/Holladay Park Larp on the dunes, roughly monthlyl
Increased the informal but intensive and extensive experimentation with RPGs.
Primary learning the RPG variants, and beginnings of optimizing the experience.
Between tabletop and computer-based efforts, sometimes intensive periods of 16 hours a day, especially during school breaks, weekends, and summers, while still balancing many other interests, working, physical activity, outdoors activities, sports teams, etc.
RPG Research founder, early software development of role-playing game aides (dice roller, music, graphics/mapping)
Software development, text-based dungeon, if/then, story selection only.
Text-based dungeon, add randomization, combat resolution, action resolution, etc. above the simple story if/then.
Many, many computer-based RPGs (mostly offline), some early ARPANET and BBS text-only online RPGing.
Early online text-based RPG experiments through BBSes and precursor to Internet (ARPA/DARPA net).
Game systems/settings
CRPG Systems Apple II & IIe TRS-80 PDP (11?) TI 99/4a Atari 2600 IBM PC
CRPG Games: Zork
RPG/TRPG Game systems/settings OD&D AD&D1 AD&D1 adapted to Middle-earth
LARP: None
SABM Choose Your Own Adventure
Research Questions from this time period Can you turn an SABM adventure into mor eof a TRPG experience, by pulling up creatures from the Monster Manual (etc.), and using AD&D rules, when run into encounters in the book, to see if overcome, rather than just the if-/then features of the book.
Experimented, writing in BASIC and others, how well turn CYOA's into text-based CRPG, but with randomization added for the encounter results and combat situations. Easily enough done, worked pretty well, added much to the Zork-like experience.
1978
pending
1979
pending
1980s
Text-based dungeon, add randomization, combat resolution, action resolution, etc. above the simple story if/then.
Many, many computer-based RPGs (mostly offline), some early ARPANET and BBS text-only online RPGing.
Early online text-based RPG experiments through BBSes and precursor to Internet (ARPA/DARPA net).
Game systems/settings
CRPG Systems Apple II & IIe TRS-80 PDP (11?) TI 99/4a Atari 2600 IBM PC
CRPG Games: Zork
RPG/TRPG Game systems/settings OD&D AD&D1 AD&D1 adapted to Middle-earth
LARP: None
SABM Choose Your Own Adventure
Research Questions from this time period Can you turn an SABM adventure into mor eof a TRPG experience, by pulling up creatures from the Monster Manual (etc.), and using AD&D rules, when run into encounters in the book, to see if overcome, rather than just the if-/then features of the book.
Experimented, writing in BASIC and others, how well turn CYOA's into text-based CRPG, but with randomization added for the encounter results and combat situations. Easily enough done, worked pretty well, added much to the Zork-like experience.
1983 Beginning of slightly more formal research efforts, increases in formality over the decades.
Beginning of writing down some research ideas, scoping possible experiments, observational notes, verbal surveys post-game, etc.
Project founder witnessing increasing experiences of backlash/stigma against gamers in Utah, Idaho, California. Verbal surveys of people implementing bans, attempting to determine why they thought they should ban, the sources they referenced (usually television and newspaper media).
Literature Review and 8 page essay on "The Myths and Realities of Role-Playing Games", and read aloud to the entire upper (small) private school Realms of Inquiry, "a school for gifted & talented children".Notably improved bias behaviors in the school toward RPGers, though still not completely eliminated negative attitudes.
Experiments in paid gaming. Received payment from every player for every game session, from regular groups. The players were happy about this, since they enjoyed the quality of the game, and they knew the money would be spent to enhance the game by buying more RPG books, miniatures, modules, etc.
While still mostly focusing on improving DM & Player skills for the game itself, after writing paper
CRPG Systems: Commodore 64 IBM PC XT
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG ICE MERP ICE Rolemaster Call of Cthulhu Fasa Star Trek RPG Car Wars (we adapted to RPG)
Research Questions from this time period
1984 Experiments in computer-generated music for role-playing games, and ambient sounds during TRPG sessions (while running Dragonlance and other series).
Began creating verbal and handout surveys/questionnaires for feedback to help improve the gaming experience. In hindsight, these were efforts to optimize the game experience to improve immersion and experiences of flow state.
Experiments in group sizes (up to about 10-12 players per group)
Early experiments in number of groups per week (up to 6 groups per week)
Early experiments in duration of sessions (up to 16 hours, and as short as 2 hours).
Edperimented with incorporation of other physical activities to break up long sessions (6+ hours), and rejuvinate player excitements. Experimented with hack sack circles (cooperative in nature), boffer LARP sessions in the field, swimming sessions with in-water adventure themes tied in, etc.
Experiments with one-on-one gaming. Various games.
Experiments with "Gladiatorial Battles with the gods". AD&D 1st Edition
CRPG Systems: IBM PCjr Macintosh
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG Twilight 2000 Iron Crown Enterprises Middle-earth Role-Playing (ICE MERP) Rolemaster AD&D 1st Edition Paranoia Elfquest
Research Questions from this time period
1985 - 1989 Experiments on using RPGs in educational settings.
Education program on RPGs, 5 days per week, last period, Realms of Inquiry. As a consequence all negative stigmatic behavior toward RPGers in the school was visibly eliminated. Can't account for thoughts, only behaviors. While most participants did not go on to become regular RPGers, several did. Meanwhile those that participated but didn't embrace it regularly, at least no longer had misunderstandings about what the games entailed, and were defenders/advocates that it was "just a game", albeit different than others. PROGRAM PLAN/CURRICULUM - Realms of Inquiry "A School for Gifted & Talented Children", Salt Lake City, UT - Learn How to Play and Run Role-Playing Games. Monday through Friday, 5+/- weeks.
Experiments in organized play, RPGA and other events. 1986: CONVENTION - RPGA, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition - Organized, hosted, and ran RPGA-based 12 hour mini-convention. 12 players. Hosted at home, Salt Lake City, UT. 1987: CONVENTION - RPGA, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st Edition (AD&D1) - Organized, hosted, trained Dungeon Masters (DM), supervised event. RPGA-based 2-day convention, 60 participants. Millcreek Library, Salt Lake City, UT
RPG unofficial/semi-official/official bans at SLC libraries spreading.
RPG unofficial/semi-official/officialbans at SLC public schools spreading.
Early experiments in facilities/environment effects on game play and enjoyment.
Experiments in larger organized play. Same module for all tables/DMs, non-competitive.Increasingly standardizing training of DM's to try to deliver the homemade adventures in the same style based on earlier game testing participants feedback.
Experiments in running even larger TRPG groups sizes, including 20 players (merged 3 groups in Greyhawke campaign) over 1-2 months of weekly sessions. Had to implement a number of changes in DM and player style and interaction, to keep balanced and avoid boredom for others waiting turn, and keep down chaos. Merging 3 weekly full groups, 20+ players in overlapping shared campaign.
Experiment with introducing RPGs to miners at a gold mine in central Idaho (The Lost Packer Mine). Used Iron Crown Enterprises Middle-earth Role-Playing. Several sessions after dinner each night. They were very skeptical, but willing to give it a shot. Went surprisingly well.
CRPG Systems: IBM PCjr Amiga
CRPG Games:
LARP Our own bofferr and adventure LARPs Society for Creative Anachronism (yes, I know, they don't consider themselves a LARP)
SABM
TRPG Paranoia Doctor Who RPG Mechwarrior (tried adapting to RPG) Robotech RPG
Research Questions from this time period
1990 - 1995
RPG SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT - MerpMaker Software -
CRPG Systems: Amiga 2000
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
1980
pending
1981
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1982
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1983
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1984
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1985
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1986
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1987
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1988
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1989
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'
1990s
1995 - 2003
Many experiments in audio/video remote TRPG sessions over various technologies, mostly CuSeeMe on WhitePine reflector, but also ICQ, and many others.....
Toward end of 2003, looking into therapeutic professions.
Information coming soon...
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
1990
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1991
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1992
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1993
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1994
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1995
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1996
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1997
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1998
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1999
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2000s
2000
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2001
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2002
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2003
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2004
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Significant increase in formality of research on RPGs. Begining of the name "The RPG Research Project".
Research focus begins rapidly transitioning from studies mostly just on overal leffects of RPGs, data on RPGers, and using in educational settings. Focus now shifts larger focus toward potential of therapeutic applications (in addition to continuing to a lesser degree the prior research foci) to achieve specific goals for different populations.
Establishment of online repository (under other websites through Hawkes-haven.com, merp.com, etc.).
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG D&D 3.5
Research Questions from this time period
2005
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2006
pending
Establish The RPG Research Project's own dedicated website domain: rpgresearch.com
Begin moving content from older server to new server.
Uploading of much more content from decades of accumulated and scattered electronic and handwritten notes (many turned out to be lost over the decades unfortunately, though every now and then, something thought lost, someone finds, and can add to the repository).
Greatly increased time spent searching all university databases that had access to.
Greatly increased time spent reaching out to contact authors for permission to add their research to the site. For those without permission, still upload, but only make private accessible to the PI, not publicly accessible until permission granted.
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2007
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2008
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2009
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2010s
2010
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2011
pending
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2012
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2013
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2014
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2015
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2016
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2017
Incorporated the non-profit 501(c) organization "RPG Research", dropped the "project" portion of name.
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2018
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
2019
CRPG Systems:
CRPG Games:
LARP
SABM
TRPG
Research Questions from this time period
List of Research Questions This section hopes to provide one area to find all of the RPG Research questions that have been asked over the years. Some might have some kinds of answers (likely generating more questions), or at least list the attempts for trying to answer them. Many others are placeholders for future research to attempt to answer these questions, either through additional literature review on the subject, or through direct experiments by RPG Research staff.
2020s
2021
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2022
2023
2024
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2025
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2026
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2027
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2028
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2029
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