Ryan Davis (video game journalist)
Ryan Davis | |
|---|---|
Davis in 2010 | |
| Born | Ryan Thomas Davis June 4, 1979 Los Alamitos, California, United States |
| Died | July 3, 2013 (aged 34) |
| Occupations | Video game journalist, Internet personality |
| Notable credit(s) | GameSpot journalist (1996–2008) Giant Bomb co-founder, editor (2008–2013) |
| Spouse |
Anna Davis (m. 2013) |
Ryan Thomas "Taswell" Davis (June 4, 1979 – July 3, 2013) was an American video game journalist and Internet personality. Davis began working as a technical supporter before being recruited for the gaming website GameSpot by Jeff Gerstmann. After Gerstmann was fired, he and Davis founded the gaming website Giant Bomb, with Davis serving as the Senior Editor and host of the Giant Bombcast podcast.
Davis died on July 3, 2013, of natural causes. Multiple gaming websites and personalities wrote tributes to Davis, with the illustrator Olly Moss and musician C418 creating art in his memory.
Early life
Davis was born June 4, 1979, in Los Alamitos, California, and moved to Petaluma as a child. According to his father Richard Davis, his son showed admiration for computers and video games from an early age. After graduating from the Nonesuch School in Sebastopol, Ryan Davis worked in San Francisco as a technical supporter.[1]
Career
In 2000, Davis was recruited by Jeff Gerstmann of the gaming website GameSpot and soon began writing news articles and reviews.[1][2] He also co-hosted video shows, including Time Trotters and On the Spot.[2]
In 2007, Gerstmann was fired from GameSpot, leading to numerous writers leaving the website in protest. Davis announced his departure from GameSpot in February 2008, citing Gerstmann's firing as one of his reasons for leaving.[3][4] Davis said, "Jeff's firing just destroyed me, and I think it shed a light on the other stuff that I had been kind of rolling along with".[5] Following this, Davis joined Gerstmann in founding the gaming website Giant Bomb in 2008.[2][6] Along with being a Senior Editor,[7] Davis was the host of their live shows[8] and the Giant Bombcast podcast. He also led Giant Bomb's panels at PAX Prime and PAX East.[2][8] Due to his fame, Davis would occasionally be recognized on the streets.[1]
Death
Davis died on July 3, 2013, less than a week after marrying his longtime girlfriend Anna Davis. According to his father, Davis's death was "sudden but peaceful" and from natural causes.[1] His death was revealed five days later on the Giant Bomb website, in a tribute article by Matthew Rorie.[9]
Fans of Davis paid their condolences in the Giant Bomb forums.[10] Tribute articles were written by Justin McElroy of Polygon,[11] Stephen Totilo of Kotaku,[7] Ryan Aston of Slant Magazine,[8] and Greg Miller of IGN,[12] with condolences paid by James Brightman of GamesIndustry.biz,[13] Kris Ligman of Game Developer,[14] and Hanuman Welch of Complex.[15] Dave Snider, a colleague and friend of Davis, created the website thanksryan.com as a memorial,[7][10] and the illustrator Olly Moss created art of Davis.[7][10] Personalities such as Gary Whitta, Sean Vanaman, and Tim Schafer paid their condolences on Twitter.[12][16] During the recording of that week's episode of Bonus Round for GameTrailers, Geoff Keighley hosted a memorial episode dedicated to Davis's death along with guests Michael Pachter, Jessica Chobot, and Kyle Bosman.[17] In a tribute to Davis, C418 created the track "Taswell" as part of the Minecraft soundtrack.[18]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Ryan Davis of video game website Giant Bomb dies at 34". The Press Democrat. July 11, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Giant Bomb co-founder Ryan Davis dies at 34". Polygon. July 8, 2013. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ^ Orland, Kyle (February 4, 2008). "GameSpot exodus continues: Ryan Davis to leave". Joystiq. Archived from the original on February 5, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ Webster, Andrew (February 5, 2008). "Another editor down: Ryan Davis leaves GameSpot". Ars Technica. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Orland, Kyle (February 5, 2008). "Ryan Davis talks Gerstmann, GameSpot departure". Joystiq. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- ^ Grant, Christopher (June 6, 2008). "Former GameSpot eds reunite at Gerstmann's Giant Bomb". Joystiq. Archived from the original on June 9, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Totilo, Stephen (July 8, 2013). "Ryan Davis, RIP". Kotaku. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ a b c Aston, Ryan (July 10, 2013). "Remembering Ryan Davis". Slant Magazine. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Ryan Davis, 1979 - 2013". GiantBomb. July 8, 2013. Archived from the original on July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ a b c Vincent, James (July 9, 2013). "Giant Bomb co-founder and games journalist Ryan Davis dies aged 34". The Independent. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Remembering Ryan Davis". Polygon. July 8, 2013. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ a b "Fare Thee Well: Giant Bomb's Ryan Davis". IGN. July 8, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Brightman, James (July 8, 2013). "Games journalist Ryan Davis passes away". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Ligman, Kris (July 7, 2013). "Obituary: Giant Bomb co-founder Ryan Davis". Game Developer. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ Welch, Hanuman (July 8, 2013). "Giant Bomb Co-Founder, Ryan Davis, Dead at 34". Complex. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
- ^ Reynolds, Matthew (July 8, 2013). "Giant Bomb's Ryan Davis dies, aged 34". Digital Spy. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
- ^ "Remembering Ryan Davis". GameTrailers. July 10, 2013. Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved August 10, 2014.. The video can be watched on YouTube in an official 2016 reupload.
- ^ Pippin, Cameron (September 18, 2023). "10 Best Minecraft Themes". Game Rant. Retrieved June 30, 2024.