It all started in the pages of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine with a full-page ad in 1986 for a groundbreaking new tabletop card game called Champions of the Galaxy. The game featuring a futuristic battleground combining professional wrestling action with comic book characters and storylines.
Forty years later Filsinger Games is still going strong and they have expanded their line of games from Champions of the Galaxy to include real-life professional wrestlers such as Randy Savage and Ted Dibiase in their Legends of Wrestling Card Game series. Filsinger Games also releases game cards for independent wrestlers and popular wrestling promotions like Ring of Honor.
Champions of the Galaxy was created by Tom Filsinger. He has created over 200 original characters and over 60 game editions including the latest Champions of the Galaxy expansion called Superhero Earth. Filsinger’s game earned a loyal fan following right out of the gate.
The game has received praise from no less than Marvel Comics creator and legend Stan Lee who called Champions of the Galaxy, “a really cool
game.” Filsinger and Lee collaborated on a book of political satire called Election Daze which was released in 2008. The book sold over 10,000 copies and comedian Dennis Miller called it, “absolutely hysterical.”
Filsinger Games also boasts a long-running annual convention devoted to their games called GalactiCon which began in 1990. The 37 th annual convention was held live on July 28-29 in two locations, Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, and Burbank, California. Fans that did not attend in person participated virtually online, including game fans in Canada, England, and Australia.
“This has been an amazing ride,” said Tom Filsinger. “And it’s not over yet. We’ve got the best fans in the galaxy. We’re looking forward to new areas of growth and gaming excitement!”
Tom has collaborated with real-life professional wrestlers and has their support. Filsinger works closely with the Cauliflower Alley Club, a nonprofit organization that supports professional wrestlers, and the Tragos-Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in Waterloo, Iowa. According to Filsinger,
“We share the same goals to keep the amazing history of professional wrestling alive and recognizing the achievements of legendary wrestlers from the past as well as up-and-coming wrestlers today.” Brian Blair, President of the Cauliflower Alley Club, formerly a wrestler on the popular Killer
Bees tag team, said: “When I feel like getting back in the ring, I play with Filsinger Games cards and it’s game on!”
The matches in the game are played with action charts and dice, moving along at a rapid-fire pace. Game fans can simulate a real-life arena wrestling event in less than an hour as the promoter and main booker either playing alone or with friends. Over 50,000 game editions have been sold since 1987. The games can also be played as an online simulation to complement the tabletop version.
In addition to being a game creator, writer, and entrepreneur, Tom Filsinger has had a dual career as a psychology professor at six colleges in four states including John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. He has given talks on the Psychology of Creativity at colleges, libraries, and game conventions.
“Creativity is a passion of mine,” says Filsinger. “It’s an important part of our game community and the creativity of our fans is amazing. This is what life is about: Fun, games, and community. There’s no expiration date for that.”
Champions of the Galaxy’s Tom Filsinger on 34 years of magic, might and mayhem
