By Sagar V. Mankar 
Alan Emrich, a prominent figure in the gaming world and the individual credited with coining the term “4X” to describe expansive empire-building strategy games, has passed away. On January 9, Alan’s friends announced his death in a heartfelt post on the wargaming community site ConsimWorld (Thanks PCGamers).
Emrich made significant contributions to both board and video gaming. According to his bio, he was the founder of Victory Point Games, a publisher specializing in board games, and played a key role in organizing several tabletop gaming conventions.
Emrich also worked on notable video game titles such as Castles 2: Siege and Conquest, Warlords 2, Conquest of the New World, and Master of Orion 3. His expertise was sought after even in recent years, as evidenced by his role as a design consultant on the 2016 remake of Master of Orion.
Beyond game dev, Emrich was also an influential writer and editor. He contributed extensively to Computer Gaming World (CGW), a leading gaming magazine during the 1980s and 1990s. Serving as the magazine’s first-ever “On-Line Editor,” Emrich used his platform to shape the industry in meaningful ways.
In a 1993 review of Master of Orion published in CGW, Emrich referred to the game as a “quadruple-X” experience, laying the foundation for the now universally recognized “4X” designation. He described the genre as one where players must explore uncharted territories, expand their empires, exploit resources, and eliminate competitors, capturing the essence of strategic conquest games.
Wargaming communities and colleagues have paid tribute to Emrich, highlighting his immense contributions. Armchair Dragoons, a well-known wargaming community, described him as a visionary: “Alan founded Victory Point Games, taught game design before it was mainstream, and gave us the term ‘4X’ for the games we love. His influence will continue to resonate in the gaming world for years to come.”
Alan Emrich’s legacy as a game designer, writer, and thought leader will continue to inspire players and creators alike.
RIP Alan!