Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, passed away today at the age of 69.
It's difficult to quantify just how big an effect Gygax had on gaming and the industry, not to mention the social lives and imaginations of millions of kids and adults. D&D was the major influence on the first generation of CRPGs like Ultima, Wizardry and even Dragon Warrior and Final Fantasy. Without D&D, would there ever have been such a thing as a MUD? And without the MUD, where would the inspiration for things like Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online or World of Warcfaft have arisen?
In a very real sense, he was the Godfather of the Age of Gaming, and he will be missed.
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