Dungeons & Dragons co-inventor Dave Arneson dies

Dave Arneson, who popularized role-playing games and (together with the late Gary Gygax) helped create Dungeons & Dragons, died of cancer Tuesday at the age of 61.

Dungeons & Dragons gained popularity in the '80s, despite moral panic types who crusaded against it. (The youth confinement facility I had dealings with strictly outlawed it, because the facility was run by right-wing dominionist zealots.)

The game gained a renewed interest during the presidential campaign when a McCain aide attacked the "pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd."

But Dungeons & Dragons will always hold a special place in memories of my youth. Ever since I saw that commercial for it in which an animated monster popped out from behind a door and opened its beak like Big Bird, I've been at least somewhat familiar with the game.

(Source: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Dungeons_amp_Dragons_co_creator_die_04102009.html)