Francis Tresham (game designer)
Francis Tresham (1936 – 23 October 2019) was a British board game designer who produced board games since the early 1970s. Tresham founded and ran games company Hartland Trefoil (founded 1971), a company well-known for its Civilization board game, until its sale to MicroProse in 1997.[1] His 1829 game was the first of the 18xx board game series[2] and some of his board games inspired Sid Meier computer games such as Railroad Tycoon.
Francis Tresham was the first to introduce a technology tree into his boardgames.[3] This idea had a large influence on later board and computer games.
He was managing director of Tresham Games, which produced 18xx-style board games. In 2013, he was one of the first inductees in the UK Games Expo Hall of Fame.[4] He died on 23 October 2019.[5]
Published board games
- 1825
- 1829
- 1829 Mainline
- 1830
- 1853
- Civilization
- Revolution: The Dutch Revolt 1568–1648
- Shocks & Scares
- Spanish Main
- The Game of Ancient Kingdoms
References
- "MicroProse, Inc. Announces Acquisition of Creator of Civilization(TM) Board Game". Press Release. MicroProse inc. 2 December 1997.
- "Blackwater Station : Personal". www.18xx.net.
- Stewart Woods (2012). Eurogames – The Design, Culture and Play of Modern European Board Games. London: Mc Farland. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7864-6797-6.
- "Uk Games Expo Hall of Fame". www.ukgamesexpo.co.uk.
- "18XX Legend – Francis Tresham – passed away". 23 October 2019.