Some good articles on Gary Gygax's passing (the creator of Dungeons & Dragons) - warning geek alert

[NewJeffCT]

Since he passed away last week, he's had quite a few mainstream media articles written about him...

The NY Times:

GARY GYGAX died last week and the universe did not collapse. This surprises me a little bit, because he built it.

I’m not talking about the cosmological, Big Bang part. Everyone who reads blogs knows that a flying spaghetti monster made all that. But Mr. Gygax co-created the game Dungeons & Dragons, and on that foundation of role-playing and polyhedral dice he constructed the social and intellectual structure of our world.

Dungeons & Dragons was a brilliant pastiche, mashing together tabletop war games, the Conan-the-Barbarian tales of Robert E. Howard and a magic trick from the fantasy writer Jack Vance with a dash of Bulfinch’s mythology, a bit of the Bible and a heaping helping of J. R. R. Tolkien.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/opinion/09rogers.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin


The LA Times:
Remembering his days as a part of the game cult created by Gary Gygax.
March 7, 2008

I was so young when I started playing "Dungeons & Dragons" that I assumed Gary Gygax, the game's creator, wasn't real -- just as I figured there'd never been a Walt Disney or burger chefs named McDonald. When I finally realized Gygax indeed lived in Lake Geneva, Wis., near the post office box address listed on every "D&D" book, I pictured him in a mansion filled with piles of gold and women in metal bikinis. More insane, I deeply believed these outfits would be practical for swimming.

But when Gygax, who conducted a weekly game up until the end, died on Tuesday, he was not rich, despite my best efforts from fourth through eighth grade. And in part, I realize, that is my fault. Because unlike the paunchy, white-ponytailed Gygax, who was not afraid to let his geek flag fly, I have spent the last 20 years avoiding "D&D" because I was ashamed. Gygax influenced my childhood more than any writer, filmmaker or teacher, and I turned my back on him. I am a traitor to my people. Luckily, they are among the few peoples I can beat up.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-stein7mar07,0,7350411.column?track=ntothtml

The BBC:
Gary Gygax, co-creator of the first role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, has died at the age of 69.

Gygax, who developed the game in 1974 with Dave Arneson, had been suffering from health problems for several years.

Famous for its mythical creatures and odd-shaped dice, Dungeons and Dragons was an instant success that spawned a slew of video games, books and films.

Gygax was also an author who wrote numerous fantasy books, including the Greyhawk series of adventure novels.

He died on Tuesday at his home in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, leaving a wife and six children.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7278927.stm

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Gygax was a major hero and influence on my life. I owe a lot of who I am to him.

It's so sad that he reaped almost no reward for creating the multi-billion dollar roleplaying industry.

I remember the annual summer pilgrimages to The Dungeon in Lake Geneva, and going every couple months to Pegasus Games in Madison buying copious amounts of D&D paraphernalia.

I'm very saddened by Gary's passing. He was, perhaps, the most prominent presence in my teen years and into my late 20s, and helped to form and mold the person I am today, even though we never met.

[NewJeffCT]

2. hopefully

doing what he loved to do almost all of his life was a big enough reward for him.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I hope so too.

[Giant Robot]

4. Not sure who said this

I read this on some board about his passing and your post again reminded me of it:

"He had six kids? I thought he had millions."

[DarkTirade]

5. I found a fairly large number of homages to him among the geek webcomic crowd.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2008/03/04

http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0536.html

http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp03042008.shtml


http://goblinscomic.com/


http://www.xkcd.com/


http://www.weregeek.com/2008/03/05/

http://nodwick.humor.gamespy.com/ffn/index.php?date=2008-03-04

[NewJeffCT]

7. thanks

wish I could recommend a reply.

[lost-in-nj]

6. ....

lost

[Book Lover]

8. Jeff, you have been carrying the torch here on this, and I thank you

These links are very appreciated, thanks.

Have you seen any comment from Dave Arneson anywhere? I have been wondering what he has to say.

[NewJeffCT]

9. I'll see if I can find anything

but, i'm not really good at googling.