Gary Gygax

Date of Birth: July 27, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: March 4, 2008

Biography

Ernest Gary Gygax, born on July 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American game designer and author best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with Dave Arneson. Gygax’s interest in games began early in life, and he was especially fond of strategy and wargames. In 1971, he co-founded the International Federation of Wargamers and later co-founded Tactical Studies Rules (TSR) in 1973, which published D&D in 1974. Gygax’s work on D&D had a profound impact on the gaming industry and popular culture, leading to the creation of numerous other role-playing games, novels, and even a Saturday morning cartoon. Despite various business struggles, including his eventual departure from TSR, Gygax continued to contribute to the gaming community through writing, game design, and public speaking until his death. He passed away on March 4, 2008, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

5 Interesting Facts about Gary Gygax

1. Gary Gygax was a founding member of the Castle & Crusade Society, a group dedicated to medieval wargaming, which played a crucial role in the development of Dungeons & Dragons.

2. Dungeons & Dragons was heavily inspired by Gygax’s love for J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” and the works of H.P. Lovecraft.

3. Gygax made a cameo appearance in the animated television series “Futurama” as himself, cementing his status as a pop culture icon.

4. He authored several novels, including the “Gord the Rogue” series set in the D&D world of Greyhawk.

5. Gygax’s influence extended beyond traditional gaming; he was an early advocate for computer and online gaming communities.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gary Gygax

1. “The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don’t need any rules.”

2. “Games give you a chance to excel, and if you’re playing in good company, you don’t even mind if you lose because you had the enjoyment of the company during the course of the game.”

3. “Role-playing games are contests in which the players usually cooperate as a group to achieve a common goal rather than compete to eliminate one another from play.”

4. “When you master a game, you master life.”

5. “The essence of a role-playing game is that it is a group, cooperative experience.”