FASA

This article is about the role-playing game company. See also the Federated Ambulatory Surgery Association, a trade group representing the ambulatory surgery industry.

FASA Corporation was an American publisher of role-playing games, wargames and boardgames from 1981 till 2001. Originally the name FASA was an acronym for "Freedonian Aeronautics and Space Administration", a joking allusion to the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup, though in later years the letters of the name did not actually stand for anything. This tongue-in-cheek attitude was carried over in humorous self-references in its games. For example, in Shadowrun, a tactical nuclear device was detonated nearby FASA's offices at 1100 W. Cermak Rd, Chicago, Illinois.

FASA first appeared as a Traveller licensee, producing supplements for that GDW role-playing game, especially the work of the Keith Brothers. The company went on to establish itself as major gaming company with the publication of the first licensed Star Trek RPG, then several successful original games. Noteworthy lines included Battletech and Shadowrun. Their Star Trek role-playing supplements and tactical ship game enjoyed popularity outside the gaming hobby as, at the time, official descriptions of the Star Trek universe were not common, and the gaming supplements offered details the fans craved. The wildly successful Battletech line led to a series of video games, some of the first virtual reality gaming suites called Virtual World (created by a subdivision of the company known at the time of development as 'ESP,' an acronym for 'Extremely Secret Project') and a Saturday-morning animated TV show.

Games published by FASA included:

FASA unexpectedly ceased active operations in early 2001, but still exists as a corporation holding IP (intellectual property rights) which it licenses to other publishers. Contrary to popular belief, the company did not go bankrupt. Allegedly the owners decided to quit while the company was still financially sound in a market they perceived as going downhill.

The BattleTech, Shadowrun and Earthdawn properties were licensed off to WizKids, who in turn licensed their publication to FanPro LLC. However, the Earthdawn license was recently returned to FASA. Living Room Games publishes Earthdawn (Second Edition) while RedBrick Limited now holds a license to continue publishing First Edition material. Crimson Skies was originally developed by Zipper Interactive under the FASA Interactive brand in late 2000 and used under license by FASA; FASA Interactive had been purchased by Microsoft, so naturally the rights for Crimson Skies stayed with Microsoft. Rights to the miniatures game VOR the Maelstrom reverted to the designer Mike "Skuzzy" Nielson, but it has not been republished in any form due partly to legal difficulties.