What "big names" in the gaming industry have you met?

[Wombat]

Lou Zocchi

Oh, and Dave Arneson (interviewed him at DunDraCon back in about 1980)
And Greg Stafford (actually most of the Chaosium folks) (wrote a couple articles for 'em, met 'em at cons, etc.)

...somewhat less famous...

Steffan O'Sullivan (he GM'd GURPS for me when I lived in NH)

I think that's about it.

 

[Dave Turner]

I have the dubious pleasure of seeing Mike Mearls with alarming frequency.

And I currently have a key to Jared Sorensen's house.

 

[talinthas]

Unsurprisingly, i've met virtually everyone ever associated with Dragonlance, with the exception of Zeb Cook, whom i'd love to meet someday. I also have a sketch book that i've had artists draw their vision of Raistlin in. Starting with Elmore, and going through folks like Lockwood, Easley, Scott Kurtz (of PVP), aaron williams, john kovalic, and Stan!, and like a bunch more i can't think of off hand.

Going to Gencon means that you unintentionally run into a lot of famous folk. Monte and Sue Cook, for instance, though i knew Sue from Dragonlance already. Chris Pramas. Steve Kenson. etc etc.

Although, i can say that i knew Wil Upchurch before he was famous =)

 

[mythusmage]

Gary Gygax
Dave Arneson
John Wick
Greg Costikyan
Jonathan Tweet
Robin Laws
Spike Y. Jones
Doc Cross
Sean K. Reynolds
Chris Pramas
Phil Reed
WotC Folks
Privateer Press Folks (one lady was real enthused about Comic Con this year and expects they'll be back in 2005 )
Steve Jackson (the American version)
and a bunch of others

I'm no doubt forgetting a ton of folks, in terms of bio mass alone.

Non-gaming famous folks? Dr. Jonas Salk. (I was 10, he was grumpy. We had bugger all to talk about. )

 

[Darrin Drader]

Oh what the heck, here's my list, in no particular order:

Chris Perkins
Chris Pramas
James Wyatt
Bruce Cordell
Gwendolyn Kestrel
Andy Collins
Ed Stark
Rich Baker
Rich Redman
JD Wiker
Stan!
Jim Butler & the rest of Bastion Press
Eric Cagle
Jesse Decker
Chris Thomasson
Anthony Valterra
Charles Ryan
RPG Objects Chris
Hellhound
Steve Creech
Wil Upchurch
Steve Miller
Hal Greenberg
R.A. Salvatore

I'm sure I'm forgetting several somebodies.

 

[the Jester]

Closest thing to a famous gaming personality that I've met would be Kevin Kulp, our own Piratecat. Hey- he's got a published module, that counts in my book!

Other than that, I've met a number of semi-famous non-gamers... David Gerrold and Timothy Leary come instantly to mind.

 

[Jonny Nexus]

Well I've met myself, and I'd like to think that I scrape in as a name, albeit a very, very, very minor one.

But seeing as how this thread gives me an opportunity to boast about one of the few things in my otherwise sad life that's worth boasting about...

(Apologies to anyone I forget)

Published Game People I've Had Stay In My House

(A special category I'm sad enough to keep track of).

Gar Hanrahan (aka Mytholder), Mongoose (twice!)
Malcolm Craig, A|State
Gregor Hutton

Published Game People I'm Friends With

Paul Tucker, formerly of Mongoose
Brian Nisbit (wrote part of an Exalted book)

Published Game People I Claim To Know

James Wallis, formerly of Hogshead (well we actually got invited to a party he threw... although admittedly he never invited us back)

Published Game People I've "Met"

John Kovalic (needs no explanation)
Ian Sturrock (formerly of Mongoose, Conan and so on)
Steve Dempsey (editor of the fanzine Places To Go, People To Be)
Steve Darlington, briefly (former editor of the above)
Lee Williams (contributor to a famous horror zine whose name currently escapes me)
Matt Sprange (Mongoose)
Alex Fennel (Mongoose)
Phil Masters (Freelancer for various people, including SJ Games)
Steve Long, briefly (Hero system)
Jay Forster (former editor of Valkyrie)

There's probably some others, but I'm afraid I've got a memory like a sieve.

 

[dpmcalister]

Lee Williams is part of Demonground

As for people I've met, in no particular order:

Peter Adkison
Gary Gygax
Ed Greenwood
Patrick Kapera
Jonny Nexus (I ran a Top Secret/S.I. game that he played in at Conception one year )
Phil Masters
R.A. Salvatore
Colin MacNeil

I think that's about it. Not bad, IMHO, considering I've never been to American conventions

 

[Hanuman]

I met Steve Jackson years ago and as a teen noob walked up to the man and said "Hey I really really liked your fighting fantasy books, Deathtrap Dungeon was fantastic!" To which he replyed through gritted teeth "I'm not that Steve Jackson!" So then I say "Oh...........what a shame". I swear the mans knuckles went white holding the edge of the table he was sitting at.

Of course now I own about half of all the GURPS ever published (cruel irony).

 

[Brain]

Interviewed:
Gary Gygax
Mark Rosewater

Played in a game run by:
Greg Stafford