I'm in shock.
I'm so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. For years, I'd only known "the Game Doc" through his involvement with Electronic Games magazine. I'd look forward to each issue, not just because the magazine covered this new videogame industry, but HOW it covered the industry. Bill's writing, along with that of Arnie Katz and Joyce Worley-Katz, was infectious in its enthusiasm for the industry. Bill was passionate about his work and it showed. It's commonly stated that Bill, Arnie, and Joyce are the pioneers in videogaming journalism. Pick up any old issue of EG, read one of Bill's reviews, and you'll understand.
Years later, my wife and I met Bill and Laurie in person - and by total accident, at an early CGExpo when we both lived in Las Vegas. We've been playing an annual game of "catch-up" at gaming conventions ever since. Even after Bill moved to Michigan and stopped traveling out west, we've managed to swap the every-so-often e-mail. Bill and I have traded some crazy stories on everything from old CES convention antics, pro-wrestling, Vegas oxygen bars, videogame-related underwear (yeah, don't ask), and damn near everything in between that had anything to do with videogames.
It's been an honor to have known Bill and a man that I consider as one of my heroes. I'll miss him dearly.
Pete Cahill