Rest in Peace: Dave Arneson, D&D Co-Creator

Dave Arneson, co-creator of the ultra popular the Dungeons and Dragons pen and paper role-playing, Dungeons & Dragons. has died at the age of 61,  according to an email sent out by his family. His partner Gary Gygax, who helped create D&D, died in March of last year. It is indeed a sad day, but we can take comfort in the fact that just about every role-playing game after D&D is derivative of the system this duo created.

Arneson and Gygax continue to have a profound influence on the interactive entertainment industry, fantasy fiction, and creative endeavors in general. Dungeons & Dragons has had an influence on me as well - most notably when it comes to video games. My love of the Gold Box series of role-playing games from SSI, Baldur’s Gate I and II, Eye of the Beholder, the Dragonlance series, Icewind Dale, Planescape, Neverwinter Nights and hundreds of others games is the reason I am here today writing. These and thousands of other games simply would not exist if not for Arneson and Gygax’s creative vision.

We offer our condolences to Arneson’s loved ones. Thanks, Game | Life.

The Top 21 News Stories of 2008: 14 - 8

(Contributors: Tom Ohle - CD Projekt RED, Rich Carlson - Digital Eel, Eric Holmes - Radical Entertainment, and Game Trust members Evan Narcisse, Gus Mastrapa, David Chapman and James Fudge)

We continue our countdown of the Top 21 News Stories of 2008, with #14 - #7, starting now. If you missed the first part of our countdown featuring David Chapman, James Fudge and ECA President Hal Halpin, you can check it out right here.

Next: #14 –>

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