There’s an item of interest over at RPGnet, and it brings attention to a massive research project many gamers will be interested in. Shannon Applecline’s Designers & Dragons: The Column launched today, bringing back his detailed histories of various game companies – from Atlas Games to Wizards of the Coast – that first appeared in his A Brief History of Game columns. Obviously the new column is primarily timed to give some love to Designers & Dragons, Shannon’s book coming soon from Mongoose Publishing, which compiles and greatly expands his old columns. However, in the months ahead the new column will expand its historical coverage to encompass a wider range of companies. Keep an eye out for these – it’s often surprising to hear how your favorite publishers got their starts, or how they faded away.