Dave Arneson, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, passes at 61

Another sad day has befallen the world of fantasy gaming today. Dave Arneson has passed away at the age of 61. A young age for a mind that helped create worlds millions have ventured to and enjoyed for decades.

Dave Arneson was the co-creator of the Dungeon & Dragons games. This one game has spawned several industries, and given geeks and jocks alike the chance to become uber-heroes. There is perhaps no other game I can think of that has been so directly responsible for creating and expanding the realm of entertainment ever.

Were it not for this simple game (ok, so the rules were never exactly simple – but they were fun and fluid if you had a good dungeon master) part of the initial growth of the internet would never have occurred (many colleges created M.U.D.’s based on similar ideas to D&D and other such games which then grew into the MMO’s of today). Movies delving into this type of realm would never have been created, countless books would never have been written, and more than a few television shows and cartoons could not have existed.

Truly the scope of this simple game is astounding. And it long ago passed from just a geek enterprise into the imagination, to something everyone can enjoy.

It is also sad to note that now both creative minds involved in the D & D phenom (Gary Gygax and Arneson) have passed from this world. It is a great loss. But their legacy continues to be a great inspiration.

My condolences to the Arneson family.