Redmond Simonsen Obituary

[Col_Pladoh]

Good Fellows:

I don't know if this is the proper place for this notice, but as Redmond Simonsen was a major figure in the gaming hobby, I thought it needed to be broadcast.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/o...tml?ex=1111640400&en=7a9690288b9b64c0&ei=5070

Sincerely,
Gary

 

[CarlZog]

Redmond Simonsen died last week.

I've been fairly busy this week, and only just discovered that Redmond Simonsen died last Thursday of a heart attack at the age of 62. As I've seen no note of it here, I felt compelled to pass on the news.

For those of you shrugging your shoulders and asking "who?", take a glance at any campaign map or any table of information in your game collection, and you'll see some elements of style and form created by Redmond Simonsen -- but taken for granted today.

A graphic designer and game afficianado, Simonsen founded SPI with James Dunnigan in 1970 and did the maps and graphics for nearly every game that SPI ever produced -- including the monthly wargames that made up Strategy and Tactics magazine for nearly 15 years.

His style was clear, simple and elegant, and set the standard for wargame mapping that was passed on to the rpg industry in the 1970s. His tables and charts were sometimes the only thing that helped make sense out of SPI's often ridiculously complex games!

I never met him, but the look of his maps and the clarity of his work were a big part of what drew me into gaming. Thank you, Mr. Simonsen.

Carl

 

[MulhorandSage]

Thanks Gary. I didn't know Mr. Simonsen, but I'd been a big fan of SPI from way back and was sad to hear of his passing.

 

[CarlZog]

You must have posted just as I was writing a similar note:

http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=124867

Very sad.

When other kids had pinups of Farrah Fawcett or Fonzie on their walls, my room was covered in Redmond Simonsen's mapboards!

Carl

 

[the Jester]

...

 

[Methos]

Thank you Gary

Good Fellows:

I don't know if this is the proper place for this notice, but as Redmond Simonsen was a major figure in the gaming hobby, I thought it needed to be broadcast.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/16/o...tml?ex=1111640400&en=7a9690288b9b64c0&ei=5070

Sincerely,
Gary

As someone who is still playing "hex and counter" wargames in addition to D&D (for 25 years now), block wargames, Eurogames, chess, just about everything (with the exception of computer games), I have a profound respect for the contributions of Mr. Simonsen to the gaming hobby.

Thank you Gary for sharing this with us.

Methos

P.S. I do take a bit of offense (only marginally) to the NY Time references to the "pocket protector" references. I myself have never worn a "pocket protector" (sniff, nose in the air).

 

[Darkness]

...

 

[Mark]

I cut my Hobby Gaming teeth on SPI (and Avalon Hill) games prior to the advent of D&D. I sometimes miss what were simpler times and will cherish the memory of the joy Redmond Simonsen's games brought to my childhood. My condolences to his family and friends.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Sad news...

 

[KaosDevice]

Steve Jackson has some commentary about this in the illuminator section over on SJGames website as well. It is a little harsh in my opinion, but there you go.