Posted on July 8, 2013, Ross Lincoln Giant Bomb Founder Ryan Davis, Known For His Kindness, Dies At 34
Video game journalism has lost one of its most passionate and beloved voices, as it was announced today that Giant Bomb co-founder Ryan Davis died, according to a posting on Giant Bomb, July 3 from undisclosed causes. He was 34.
Davis, who co-founded gaming website Giant Bomb along with Jeff Gertsmann, was among the most famous personalities in games journalism. He started his career writing for GameSpot, spending eight years with the site where, among many other roles, he co-hosted the popular Time Trotters web series. In February 2008, he and several other members of the GameSpot staff quit in protest after Gerstmann was fired for giving a negative review to a game whose publisher was a GameSpot sponsor. Davis and Gerstman started Giant Bomb one month later.
Focused primarily on the consumer experience and what Gerstmann and Davis repeatedly referred to as the “fun” of gaming, Giant Bomb quickly established itself as a powerhouse in video gaming criticism, news and commentary, and was named one of Time Magazine’s top 50 websites in 2011. During his time with Giant Bomb, Davis hosted or co-hosted the site’s two most-popular shows, the Giant Bombcast (podcast) and This Ain’t No Game, in addition to his extremely prolific output as a writer and journalist.
Tributes to Davis from industry figures, colleagues and friends have poured in on Twitter and across the web since Giant Bomb announced his death. One touching tribute comes courtesy of a friend of Ryan’s named Dave, who created Thanksryan.com shortly after his death was announced.
“In the end though it was always the laugh that grabbed us,” the site reads. “A great guffaw of wind which knocked down any walls or awkwardness between strangers. You of course were always the funniest one in the room, everyone knew it and no one debated it, but your real gift was making those around you feel like partners in the joke.”
Davis won the respect and friendship of many others, both on the journalism and development sides of games development. An outpouring of remembrances broke out on Twitter after Giant Bomb announced his death. Among those paying their respects were Double Fine’s Tim Schafer, Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb, and gaming site IGN, which said on Twitter that “The games industry lost a great voice, and we have lost a dear friend. Our condolences to Ryan Davis’s family.”
Davis is survived by his wife, Anna, whom he married earlier this year. Readers interested in knowing more about his work can start with his author page on Giant Bomb.