Legendary Pioneer of Video Game Journalism Bill Kunkel Passes Away
Bill Kunkel, co-founder of the worlds first video game magazine, Electronic Games Magazine, has passed away on September 4th. He was 51.
Kunkel started the game review column back in 1978. And has since proved himself as an acclaimed writer, not only as “The Game Doctor”, based on a column he wrote for several magazines, but Kunkel also wrote comics for DC, Marvel and Harvey between 1977 and 1979. He even expanded his horizons as a designer, being involved in well over a dozen video games, including Acclaim’s Bart’s Nightmare and Batman Returns by Konami. Kunkel was also highly praised as a journalist for pro-wrestling.
Kunkel received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Classic Gaming Expo in 1999 along with the other co-founders of the original Electronic Games magazine, Arnie Katz and Joyce Worley-Katz. To this day, Kunkel is still dubbed as “The Grandfather of video game journalism”.
Numerous figures of the video game industry have been on the web, expressing their condolences for the passing of Kunkel, as well as the inspired legacy that he has left behind.
Former Gamespot EIC Gregg Kasavin said:
I never met him but his work was an inspiration.
Activision’s Dan Amrich said:
I read him religiously growing up. He paved my way.
Vince Desi, the founder of American game studio Running with Scissors (a studio that Kunkel was an active member of), said:
If you’ve ever played a video game, read about a video game or took for granted your freedom to do so then please look up and introduce yourself to Bill and give him a nod. Bill was a low key guy who always remembered his friends and considered himself a gamer and fan above all else.
Push-Start would like to express their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Bill Kunkel, including his wife, Laurie. Bill’s prestige status in video game journalism will never be forgotten.