Though not specifically video game related, it would be impossible to say that the RPG industry would be anywhere near what it is today without Gary Gygax, the famed co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons and the modern Role Playing Game who died this morning in his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He was 69.

Though Gygax stopped being directly involved in D&D in the mid 80's his legacy in the RPG and Sci-Fi world continued well until his untimely end. To quote Ray Muzyka, CEO of BioWare "It would be hard to imagine where role playing games would be without the direct influence of Gary Gygax and his work on D&D.

There would still be a BioWare, but there wouldn't be games like Baldur's Gate and NeverWinter Nights, both set in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. What Gary Gygax did with his part in the creation of D&D was to help to ignite the imagination of an entire generation and inspire us to pass on the experience of exciting exploration, gripping combat, engaging progression and great stories and characters to our fans."

Gygax may have started with a simple idea for a pen and paper hobby, but he leaves a legacy that has spread across multiple gaming formats and across the whole world.

Tags : BioWare : D&D : Dungeons & Dragons : Gary Gygax : Lake Geneva : Ray Muzyka : Wisconsin

Comments

By: Arrrrathreel On: 07:55 Mar 4th, 2008 Offline	Ah, all the good humor I've heard today on this one. Although I feel like a little piece of me has died, some things just made me chuckle. "Gary Gygax: Rolling in his grave." "Gary Gygax: Missed his last Saving Throw." Some of them are pretty catchy, you have to admit. I think I'm going to get a group of people together this weekend to play one of his board games: Dungeon. And then we will play a nice rousing game of D&D Trivia. Then eat cake. Maybe cheesecake. Or something.

By: Dragonfly On: 02:26 Mar 5th, 2008 Offline	He's in chaotic good heaven now. I've never been involved with the D&D table top RPG scene, but it's not hard to realise how important and influence this man's creation was the gaming industry. He'll be sorely missed, no doubt about that.

By: Evren On: 06:43 Mar 5th, 2008 Offline	Going to play D&D tonight. In his memory. Chaotic good? Hmmm. I like that.

By: Misha Aogail On: 12:27 Mar 7th, 2008 Offline	Quoted from another board: posted by themocaw Quote: Suddenly, things didn't hurt so much. The pain was gone, and the darkness as well. The touch of his loved ones' hands faded away, as did the pain. He was free. He wasn't sure when it happened, just that it did. There was a burst of light, and a feeling of utter calmness, and then a moment of understanding. He looked back only once, but already, what had been was fading away. A part of him longed to return, but a voice whispered to him that his time there was over. Something new lay ahead. But first, there was something he wanted to do. They were already waiting for him, smiling, just like he remembered. Sheets of paper with arcane symbols and numbers lay in front of them next to glasses of drink and small, polyhedral shapes that glowed in brilliant colors that no human eye could have seen. Faces long since missed. Friends and loved ones that he'd wished he could have seen one more time, and now he could. There was one empty seat waiting for him at the head of the table. He took his seat and cleared his throat. Reaching out a hand, he adjusted the shimmering cardboard screen and glanced over his notes. "All right, guys. Roll for initiative," he said.

By: Tiamat On: 07:41 Mar 7th, 2008 Offline	So very many of the things I enjoy most in life exist because of this man. I shall soreley miss him and only hope that his death bring many more people into the fold and ensures that the people who currently do D&D put all the more effort into 4th edition in his memory.