Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack

When we got the report that Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax had passed away, we first shared our own reminiscences on The Pen-and-Paper Game That Started It All . Then we reached out to some of the top computer and videogame developers--those who either work in the role-playing game genre or whose titles are clearly inspired by RPGs--to find out how D&D influenced them both personally and professionally. Our next respondent is Silicon Knights president and Level Up guest contributor Denis Dyack, best known for his work on such titles as Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Eternal Darkness, and the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive Too Human. Here's what he told us.

What do you remember about your first experience with Dungeons & Dragons?

I remember breaking open the Monster Compendium and spending time looking at the different types of dragons and marveling at the different complexities of their attacks and variations--everything from acid to poison. I really liked the systematic breakdown of the different creatures from mythologies to other folklore.

How did your parents feel about you playing D&D?

My parents were completely fine with it. In fact, they were fine with everything I did when delving into hobbies like D&D. If anything, they encouraged and taught me when I was young not to believe in many of the stereotypes and fear mongering that occurs in society. They also made sure, of course, that I not only played these types of games, but also participated in sports and kept up in school.

Were you primarily a dungeon master or a player?

 Bethesda Softworks executive producer Todd Howard 

When we got the report that Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax had passed away, we first shared our own reminiscences on The Pen-and-Paper Game That Started It All . Then we reached out to some of the top computer and videogame developers--those who either work in the role-playing game genre or whose titles are clearly inspired by RPGs--to find out how D&D influenced them both personally and professionally. Our next respondent is Bethesda Softworks executive producer Todd Howard, whose projects have included the 2006 hit Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and the forthcoming Fallout 3. Here's what he had to say. 

What do you remember about your first experience with Dungeons & Dragons?

My earliest memory was going with my brother to a game store called Conflicts and my parents dropping us off on a Tuesday night to play this “D&D” game. The next three hours were a revelation. It was like a new gateway into awesomeness was opened for me. This was the summer of 1978, if I remember right, and I was eight. I can recall counting the days until each Tuesday. It’s one of my favorite memories, of real bonding time with my brother and others.

How did your parents feel about you playing D&D?

They encouraged it, maybe to get us out of the house. They didn’t seem scared of the whole “demons and hell” thing, despite that horrible Tom Hanks movie "Mazes and Monsters". They spent more time trying to stop me from listening to Kiss and asking for a “Kiss Army” shirt.

Were you primarily a dungeon master or a player?

1. EGO...trip: Mom Mom would be so proud proud of this writeup
2. HMM...A very long post that you should nevertheless all read
3. ALL...hail the Kings:Rockstar revisits the past; teases with glorious future
4. WOW...Rock Band tracks, accompanied by a real drum kit? Very cool.
5. PRO...fanity: emphasis, or the effort of a feeble brain to express itself forcibly
6. POR...tal wars: when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares into you
7. RND...Sorry, Henry, but "The Wire" is just plain better than "Lost"
8. RND...Thus Spoke Thanatos: Arthur C. Clarke has passed away