If you were lurking on the internet in the late 2000s, you probably heard it. That booming, jovial "Hey everybody, it's Tuesday!" ringing out from your headphones. It was the sound of the Giant Bombcast starting, and more importantly, it was the sound of Ryan Davis.
He wasn't just some guy talking about video games. To thousands of people who never met him, he felt like a best friend. When Ryan Davis passed away in July 2013 at the age of 34, it didn't just feel like a "celebrity death." It felt like a hole had been punched into the community. Honestly, even years later, the gaming world still hasn't quite filled that gap.
🔗 Read more: The Red String Walkthrough: How to Actually Solve This Indie Horror Puzzle
The Man Who Helped Build the Bomb
To understand why Ryan Davis Giant Bomb is such a pivotal part of gaming history, you have to look at where it started. Before the site existed, Ryan and Jeff Gerstmann were at GameSpot. They were the "old guard" of the site. But then, the infamous "Gerstmann-gate" happened—Jeff was fired for a review that didn't please advertisers, and Ryan didn't hesitate. He left. He walked away from a stable job because his friend was wronged.
That loyalty is basically the DNA of Giant Bomb.
They started with a blog and a dream. No, really. It was just a WordPress site and some podcasts recorded in a living room. Ryan was the engine. While Jeff provided the encyclopedic knowledge and cynicism, Ryan provided the warmth. He was the host. He was the guy who could wrangle a four-hour conversation about energy drinks and 90s wrestling into something that felt like the most important thing in the world.
He was the "Host of Hosts."
Why He Was Different
Most "game journalists" back then were trying to be professional. They wore suits at E3. They read from teleprompters. Ryan Davis? He'd drink breast milk on a livestream for a laugh. He’d wear a "Summer Boy" shirt and talk about how much he hated pennies.
💡 You might also like: The Real Reason You Keep Seeing Input Passcode Once Human and How to Fix It
He pioneered "personality-driven" content before Twitch was a thing. He understood that we don't just care about the games; we care about the people playing them. That’s why the Quick Looks worked. It wasn’t a polished review; it was just two guys on a couch, one of whom was probably making fun of the other's platforming skills.
The Impact of Ryan Davis at Giant Bomb
The site's success wasn't just luck. Ryan was an incredible editor and a sharp critic, even if he hid it behind a layer of "goofing off." He had this way of cutting through the marketing fluff of the industry. He was "anti-bullshit."
When he moderated the Game of the Year deliberations, it was legendary. Those podcasts were 15+ hours long, spread over a week. Ryan had to navigate the egos, the exhaustion, and the absolute insanity of four men arguing about whether Skyrim was better than Saints Row: The Third. He did it with a laugh that could be heard from three offices away.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
The news of his death came just days after his wedding. It was a gut punch. I remember the site going dark. I remember the "Thanks Ryan" tribute page.
But here is the thing: Ryan's influence is everywhere now. Every "Let's Play," every "personality" streamer, every podcast that prioritizes vibes over corporate talking points—they all owe a debt to what Ryan, Jeff, Vinny, and Brad built. They proved you could be professional about your work without being "corporate."
What We Can Learn From the Ryan Davis Era
If you're a content creator or just a fan of the medium, the Ryan Davis Giant Bomb era offers some pretty deep lessons.
- Authenticity isn't a strategy; it’s a trait. People can tell when you're faking it. Ryan never did.
- Community is built on trust. He treated the audience like equals, not just "users" to be monetized.
- Humor is a tool for truth. He used jokes to highlight the absurdity of the industry, which made his rare serious moments carry more weight.
It's been a long time since we heard that Tuesday greeting. The site has changed hands several times. Jeff is doing his own thing now. The "Original Four" are scattered. But whenever a new gaming podcast starts up, or a streamer makes a joke that feels a little too smart for its own good, Ryan's spirit is in there somewhere.
He was the Summer Boy. He was the host. He was the reason a lot of us started caring about the people behind the controllers.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Best Pokemon Legendary Pokemon Pictures Without Getting Scammed
If you want to truly appreciate his work, go back and watch the "This Ain't No Game" segments or any of the early "Big Live Live Show" segments. You'll see a man who was outrageously, uproariously happy to be doing exactly what he was doing.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the Ryan Davis Tribute on Giant Bomb’s video archives. It’s a tear-jerker but essential viewing.
- Look for the old Game of the Year podcasts from 2008-2012 to see his hosting mastery in action.
- Support the current creators who keep that independent spirit alive, whether it's the new Giant Bomb crew, Nextlander, or the Jeff Gerstmann Show.