Gary Gygax, legendary co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, died this morning at his home in Lake Geneva, Wis. He was 69.
According to The Associated Press, he had suffered from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm.
Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval settings and characters influenced by mythology, pulp fiction and contemporary fantasy authors, such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Michael Moorcock.
As estimated 20 million people worldwide have played D&D.
“I thought we would sell about 50,000 copies,” Gary Gygax told the BBC’s Darren Waters in 2004.
The influence of Dungeons & Dragons, and Gygax, on gaming and popular culture is undeniable.
“Without the creation of D&D, the video game landscape would be very different indeed,” Waters writes today. “Would World of Warcraft be the global hit it is today, for example?”
The Wizards of the Coast D&D website has posted a brief eulogy, calling Gygax a “grand storyteller” who “inspired generations of players, designers and authors.”
Sad news. D&D was a big part of my growing up and his loss is deeply felt.
Comment by Vin — March 4, 2008 @ 3:39 pm
Peace to Mr. Gygax, and condolences to his family and friends.
Thank you for all of the hours of fun because of your wonderfully rich and complex game.
It’s a bit of an understatement of the influence of his and Arneson’s creation on gaming, and fantasy entertainment in all of the forms of media. He will be missed.
Comment by JC Baron — March 4, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
I was never much of a D&D player myself, but the impact the game had on pop culture was substantial. My condolences to his family and many, many fans.
Comment by Ye Olde Iowa — March 4, 2008 @ 4:07 pm
I hate playing D&D and other role playing games but it’s hard not to argue that his creation didn’t change the geek landscape in a dramatic way. I doubt we’d have had half the sword and sorcery movies (LOTR included) had it not been for D&D. Some very good comics have benefited from it’s existence as well. From all reports, he seemed to be a genuinely decent guy as well.
Comment by Court — March 4, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
Roll a 20 for Gary … thanks for all the hours of fun.
Comment by JK Parkin — March 4, 2008 @ 4:37 pm
Honestly, this news has ruined my day.
D&D facilitated my creative behavior for years and helped me decide that I wanted to be a storyteller beyond being a good “dungeon master” for my friends–
–there’s a special place in heaven for Gary–for all the happiness he provided to geeks like me and my friends.
Godspeed, sir.
Comment by Steve Ekstrom — March 4, 2008 @ 5:10 pm
Very sad to hear this news, his creation has given me so much pleasure over the years, its a game of creativity with no limits.
Thank you and rest in peace.
Comment by Eric Arsenault — March 4, 2008 @ 6:02 pm
i loved playing d and d on my pc.
so many great hours with Baldurs Gate and the older SSI games.
Thanks man.
Comment by wampit — March 4, 2008 @ 6:27 pm
That`s really sad.:-(
I spent a lot of time playing all kinds of RG, but my first real love was D&D.
Thank you for that.
RIP
Comment by ToxicReaver — March 4, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
Man, this blows, I always wanted to meet him. I really wanted to thank him for making the game that helped me actually get along with folks and for years of fun.
Comment by Shaun — March 4, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
I’m an Italian master: on my next play, all the creatures on Faerun, Abeir-Toril and the entire Multiverse will observe a minute of silence to commemorate the great loss. May Gygax live forever in his wonderful game.
Comment by cicciograna — March 4, 2008 @ 6:49 pm
“Roll a 20 for Gary … thanks for all the hours of fun.
Comment by JK Parkin — March 4, 2008 @ 4:37 pm”
You mean “Roll a NATURAL 20 for Gary” Hurrumph.
Comment by Lifer — March 4, 2008 @ 7:37 pm
Never got to meet him, never got to play with him.
But D&D has been a part of my life for twenty-seven years.
Goodbye, EGG, and thanks for all the memories.
Comment by Darth Krzysztof — March 5, 2008 @ 1:07 am
It can’t be overstated the impact this man had on the current world of gaming, and to many peoples lives. RPG would just be three letter if it wasn’t for this man. Rest easy Gary, you earned it.
Comment by James — March 5, 2008 @ 7:52 am
I just re-obtained the AD&D books from 1978 a few weeks ago, having foolishly given them away when I went to college. This game got me through junior high and high school. I never met him, but I owe him a whole lot.
Comment by Stephen Bergstrom — March 5, 2008 @ 1:25 pm
Here’s hoping ya got a 00 on your Divine Intervention roll, Gary. Thanks so much.
Comment by Snotling — March 5, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
With many others i grew up playing AD&D, Thanks Gary for all the work you did!
Comment by Geoffrey Shomper — March 10, 2008 @ 10:41 am
i remember poring over the DM guide for days on end. he brought rpg to life!
here’s some of my favorite tributes out there:
http://beta.flowgram.com/p/HTWOKJ3D6YV1W8
wish he had a few more hit points!
Comment by brick — March 25, 2008 @ 6:05 pm