gilravadry
gilravadry
Joined:
October 22, 2007
Posts: 39
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 Posted: Post subject: Gary Gygax, Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, dies at 69 |
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Salutations,
This is mostly for those of us geeks, dorks, and nerds who play Dungeons & Dragons, but I thought they all might want to know this. Clipped from the Associated Press:
Quote: MILWAUKEE - Gary Gygax, who co-created the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons and helped start the role-playing phenomenon, died Tuesday morning at his home in Lake Geneva. He was 69. He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax. Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies. Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game's legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family's home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said. "It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them," Gygax said. "He really enjoyed that." Dungeons & Dragons players create fictional characters and carry out their adventures with the help of complicated rules. The quintessential geek pastime, it spawned a wealth of copycat games and later inspired a whole genre of computer games that's still growing in popularity. Funeral arrangements are pending. Besides his wife, Gygax is survived by six children.
Gygax is one of those names you thought would live forever. Sure, he was old when he made the game, but who seriously thought that he'd die? It's just like those great names of Michael Jordan, or Bill Gates; You grow up hearing the name for so long, and you think to yourself "There will ALWAYS be a (name)..." Now to hear that a legend had taken his final bow? It's rather hard to believe. I found myself thinking the same thing when Robbert Jordan passed away (I was still in Iraq, and found out a month late...). It's to my dismay that I never had an opportunity to meet Mr. Gygax, but at least I had the pleasure of enjoying his fine game, and exploring the worlds he created that I might otherwise have passed by.
To me, loosing Gary Gygax is like loosing Mr. Rogers; He's had THAT much of an impact on people, and he will never be replaced. He made Dungeons & Dragons. He IS Dungeons & Dragons, so I like to think that as long as kids out there in libraries and houses, at kitchen tables and folding-tables in local game stores are still rolling dice and laughing about trying to attack gazebos, he lives on in some small way. The Lord bless thee and keep thee, Gary. We hardly knew thee, but we'll still feel your touch for generations to come, and we'll still hear your voice in every rattle of the dice.
-Ryan
-Stay safe, carry ALWAYS, and when the need is greatest, a 1911 is faster than 911. |
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