Rick Loomis, the founder of Flying Buffalo, is ill with lymphatic cancer. His has been one of the quiet voices of influence behind the culture of gaming, both on the tabletop and on the computer, since the early 1970s. His company pioneered one of if not the first play-by-mail game run on a mainframe computer, the great ancestor to the ubiquitous multi-player online games of today. And, perhaps even more relevantly for readers of this blog in particular, it served as an incubator of writing and design talent — names like Michael Stackpole, Elizabeth Danforth, and Ken St. Andre — that would later leave a mark on such fondly remembered computer games as Wasteland, Neuromancer, and Star Trek: 25th Anniversary among others. Although I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him personally, I know that he’s been considered one of the genuine Nice Guys in his industry for many years.
Unfortunately, the American medical system being what it is, Rick is forced to worry over medical bills and mounting debt during this critical time in his life. Anything you could pitch in to help with that would be greatly appreciated. You can do so at the Go Fund Me campaign set up by his friend Steve Crompton. Thanks!
Seji
August 23, 2019 at 5:31 pm
Thank you very much for this post. Rick deserves and needs all the support we – gamers – can give.
Bruce Brenneise
August 25, 2019 at 5:32 am
Truly sorry for your loss.
jsn
August 26, 2019 at 2:21 am
Mr. Loomis didn’t make it; he died a couple days ago.
Jimmy Maher
August 26, 2019 at 5:56 am
Alas, I don’t think this came as a huge surprise to anyone, but the money that’s been raised will make a huge difference for the ones he has left behind…
Johannes Paulsen
September 6, 2019 at 12:56 pm
I will be glad to chip in, but how many people do you think you turned off from helping by making a snide comment about American politics?