Gary Gygax Is No More

Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of RPGs, and hence, one of the founders of computer games period, has passed away today.

I'll have to pour out a 2 liter of Mountain Dew for our dead homie.

Gygax was something of a running joke in my crowd, but the debt we owe him can not be understated. Even if you haven't played pen and paper D&D, the influence of that game is pervasive. It's everywhere. Pretty much every video game you can play today that's not 3D chess owes some of it's game mechanics to D&D- hit points, statistics, proficiencies, casting times, whatever- it all started with D&D, and hence, Gygax. He took wargaming and gave it a personal touch, and that framework he created has spawned countless ideas and stories from people of all walks of life. Even if you have never touched a tabletop RPG, if you enjoy EV or if you want to play Midnight Oil, you owe a debt to this man.

Gary, thank you for starting a hobby that has inspired an industry in which we can find our happiness and our fortunes.