I'm in disbelief that it has been almost 10 years now.
Ryan Davis
Ryan Davis was a GameSpot editor and co-founder of Giant Bomb. He was solely responsible for founding batmanbatmanbatman.com and cocainemountain.com, and went by the online nickname of "Taswell." Ryan passed away on July 3, 2013. He is gone but never forgotten. We love you, Ryan.
Ryan Davis, 1979 - 2013
@cooldrmoney: that was golden
Did what Cook, Serve, Delicious (all 3) taught me and ordered me a Ryan Davis burger.
Still so strange that it was so long ago, yet still so recently.
The phrase, "Oh Ryan, what're you up to now?" never felt more bitter in my mouth.
I remember when this happened and it was devastating. I was surprised at how strongly this affected me, but it showed me how much this site (and its members) meant to me.
In remembrance lots of us changed their profile pictures to ones of Ryan and I haven't changed mine since.
I remember this announcement nearly 10 years ago and I was gutted. It was clear the parasocial connection was strong because it affected me for days. I still miss Ryan, often thinking about him when I see references to MODOK or whenever I listen to a Tuesday podcast. He was a real one, and taken far too soon. Love ya, big guy.
I’m pulling the custom China Don’t Care 574s out of retirement for a few days. pic.twitter.com/H8weVPCtiv
— Brad Lynch (@MarinoV1) July 2, 2023
10 years gone. It doesn't feel that long but it is. I wonder what he would have made of the last decade of gaming. What games he would have loved. What games he would have championed like he did Cook Serve Delicious, or Pacman Championship Edition (which wasn't obscure but I remember him tuning me on to.)
It seems unlikely he would still be with Giant Bomb but maybe he and Jeff would be doing something the way Nextlander is, or maybe he would be doing his own thing. Who knows.
All that's clear is that he was gone too soon.
I've been relistening to every Bombcast on it's 10th anniversary since 2022 and now up to next week which is Ryan Davis memorial episode. Feels dumb putting myself through this bummer again knowing it's coming up but I did grow to appreciate Ryan a lot more than I did at the time. He was so incredibly funny, an amazing host (better than Jeff even though he improved in Ryan's absence), full of great stories, had a wide range of interests and could speak on them very well. Even though GB will always be "Jeff's site" in my mind, I can see now it never would have worked without Ryan. Ryckert was a nice change of pace and Ben Pack had a good chemistry that recalled Ryan's with Jeff at times, but there was just no replacing him.
But I laughed so much in recent months revisiting all the old content and made me realize how much Ryan lives on in all of us who loved him through the site. As long as these shows and videos live on, we can always revisit him and relive the joy he brought us. I can't feel sad about it because it's so obvious to me now that he brought laughter and joy in such quantity in his limited time that more than made up for the short number of years he was given.
I do feel bad for the guys though. It's unbelievable they carried on at all. He wasn't just a staff member but the real heart and soul of the site. Jeff made the content but Ryan always set the tone and kept the pace. It's nice to think "what would have been" if he didn't pass away but also important to be grateful for what we were given. RIP Ryan Davis.
@lonelyspacepanda: Well said. RIP Ryan.
@lonelyspacepanda: This is going to sound sardonic, but I mean it truly: No one could have delivered lines like "Fuck you, Brad Garret, I HOPE YOU BURN IN SHIT!!" like Ryan did.
10 years, and yet it still feels like yesterday. I will always wonder what kind of life you would've had if you were still here. Miss you so much, but also so thankful for everything you did and the impact you left on our lives.
I'll forever be grateful for you. Thank you so much, Ryan. <3
10 Years and he still has an impact on me every year since his passing... Never bested, never forgotten. Glass of Eagle Rare, one ice cube - Every year on this day, in his honor.
Rest in Peace, duder.
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