I made this video tribute to Ryan Davis yesterday and posted it in the "In Memorium: Your Favorite Ryan Davis Moments" discussion forum. I've decided to blog about it to get the nitty-gritty of my feelings out on the table.

I feel like I have lost one of my closest friends.

Ever since I started using GiantBomb in later 2008, Ryan Davis was at the forefront of delighting me with insight to video games, funny stories, his infectious laughter, and good times in general. He emanated an aura of enthusiasm and silliness in whatever form of content he starred in. Be it Quicklooks, T.A.N.G.s, Bombcasts, and anything else he would joyfully host.

There was a tangible enthusiasm in his voice that resonated with me every time I listened to the bombcast and heard him say "It's Tuesday! Time for another edition of the Giant Bombcast. I'm your host Ryan Davis." I would grin as I ran to my computer on Tuesdays after school or work to hear him say those words.

Hearing him say "Uh Uh Uh Uh Uh" would send me into fits of laughter, or hearing his story of how he accidentally got pot-smokers in trouble were always what I needed to get through a tough day. Nothing could beat coming home from a stressful day and listening to the man pour out these hilarious stories. Whatever content he put on the site always managed to at least get a smirk on my face. It was as if Ryan had so much joy in his life, he could not help but share it with the world through Giant Bomb.

Ryan Davis, I may have not known you personally, but the time I have spent listening to you, watching you, and just laughing with or at your antics have been some of the best times Iv'e had to share with so many through this website and beyond.

Thank you for bringing so much joy in so many lives, may you rest in peace friend.

As for the video...

I made it because I didn't know what to do knowing he was gone. It was as if my mind could not fathom the possibility that the man could leave us at the young age of 34. Surreal was the best way to describe how the world felt as I read Rorie's post of Ryan Davis' passing.

Part of me wanted to think it was some kind of tasteless joke, or a bad dream. Another part of me wanted to just sleep so my throbbing heat-induced headache would go away. Instead I pushed through the splitting pain and searched through the Giant Bomb Ryan Davis page for pictures of him.

Each picture was like a little window into his life captured for us to share and reminisce. Most made me laugh or smile. Others put a wry-smirk on my face as I thought to myself, "man Ryan, you are a one-of-a-kind-character."

My iTunes playlist consisted of Jack Johnson's "If I Could" on repeat, as I dragged and dropped each picture into Window's Movie Maker. After the 70th time, I decided to comb through my MP3 library and find something more suitable. Bayside's song "Winter" just felt right as I played it to the various pictures. Pictures of Ryan just loving life, being silly, and hanging out with friends.

As Window's Movie Maker finishes rendering the video, I figured this was all part of me coping with such a tragic loss. I didn't want to think about Giant Bomb... no... a world, without Ryan Davis, so I gathered up as many pictures as I could and tried to fill the hole that was slowly growing at the bottom of my heart. As I watch the final cut of my video tribute, I smiled knowing a friend is in a better place.