D&D Creator Gary Gygax, dead at age 69

The Dungeon Master has DMed his last adventure.

Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax passed away earlier today, apparently from a number of health issues that had plagued him since last year. Here's the AP news report:

He had been suffering from health problems for several years, including an abdominal aneurysm, said his wife, Gail Gygax.

Gygax and Dave Arneson developed Dungeons & Dragons in 1974 using medieval characters and mythical creatures. The game known for its oddly shaped dice became a hit, particularly among teenage boys, and eventually was turned into video games, books and movies.

Gygax always enjoyed hearing from the game's legion of devoted fans, many of whom would stop by the family's home in Lake Geneva, about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, his wife said. Despite his declining health, he hosted weekly games of Dungeons & Dragons as recently as January, she said.

"It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them," Gygax said. "He really enjoyed that."

It's a strange coincidence that just last weekend my friends and I were playing D&D using a module written for the version of D&D pioneered by Gygax. Now I came into role-playing during the heyday of AD&D, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, apparently long after Gygax had parted ways with game developer TSR, Inc., but his name was still spoken of reverently among those who had been playing for far longer than I. Gygax's work that probably affected me the most was his CBS Saturday morning cartoon series (of course) Dungeons & Dragons, which I loved and hope to pick up someday on DVD (though I've heard watching it now is pretty close to the legal definition of 'torture').

I find myself wondering how the gaming world is taking this news, by and large. Is his name even remembered, except by gamers from the generation before mine? I know my friends and I are aware of his work and contributions, but beyond us, when the games became more about cards and decks and little miniatures? I certainly hope so.