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RPGamer Editor-in-Chief, #TeamHandheld Founder Michael A. Cunningham Passes Away

jackal27

jackal27

Member
Oct 25, 2017
940
Joplin, MO


For those who didn't know him, Michael was an awesome guy with a lot of passion for RPGs and handheld gaming. He'd been battling cancer for a long time, but you could almost miss it with how positive his attitude was through all of this.

We interacted on Twitter a lot over the years and that was always what struck me, how positive Michael he was. He was a huge supporter of the PSVita, and had this overflowing love for RPGs of all kinds. I loved to just chat with him about games that we both loved. So much of what we talk about in communities like this can be negative, but to be honest I have no idea what games Michael didn't like, because he always just writing about what he enjoyed.

I'm not sure how many people knew him directly, but RPGamer.com has been around for so long, I'm sure he's touched many people's lives directly or indirectly through both his writing and the #TeamHandheld hashtag. We lost a really good one.

RIP Michael.

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APZonerunner

APZonerunner

Features Editor at VG247.com
Verified
Oct 28, 2017
1,726
England
I only met Michael in person once at a Bethesda event, but we spent four days hanging out and he was really great fun. We knew each other online beforehand: as the co-owner/founder of RPGSite.net, RPGamer were of course friendly rivals of ours, and so we spoke fairly regularly sharing tips and thoughts and trying to help each other out. That's something that I think says a lot about him - between rival websites, especially in a niche, it's so easy to be... cold to each other. Or worse, to be aggressive. RPGSite and RPGamer were never that, and a lot of that was thanks to how kind, lovely and thoughtful Michael was, especially towards the newer, younger site on the block at the time. It's been a real wave of grief through the RPG Site team today - everybody loved him. Which, like I said, says a lot. I can't imagine how his family, friends and team on RPGamer feel and my heart goes out to them.

He was a really wonderful, passionate person, and I wish we'd spoken more recently, as we last spoke months ago. He leaves behind a brilliant legacy on that site and though I don't know as much about his life outside of the site, I'm sure he leaves one equally great in that sense too. I'll miss him. RIP.
 
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jackal27

jackal27

Member
Oct 25, 2017
940
Joplin, MO
APZonerunner said:
I only met Michael in person once at a Bethesda event, but we spent four days hanging out and he was really great fun. We knew each other online beforehand: as the co-owner/founder of RPGSite.net, RPGamer were of course friendly rivals of ours, and so we spoke fairly regularly sharing tips and thoughts and trying to help each other out. That's something that I think says a lot about him - between rival websites, especially in a niche, it's so easy to be... cold to each other. Or worse, to be aggressive. RPGSite and RPGamer were never that, and a lot of that was thanks to how kind, lovely and thoughtful Michael was, especially towards the newer, younger site on the block at the time. It's been a real wave of grief through the RPG Site team today - everybody loved him. Which, like I said, says a lot. I can't imagine how his family, friends and team on RPGamer feel and my heart goes out to them.

He was a really wonderful, passionate person, and I wish we'd spoken more recently, as we last spoke months ago. He leaves behind a brilliant legacy on that site and though I don't know as much about his life outside of the site, I'm sure he leaves one equally great in that sense too. I'll miss him. RIP.
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I always figured this had to be the case based on what I knew about him. Great to hear it straight from the source, thank you for sharing.
 
RPGam3r

RPGam3r

Member
Oct 27, 2017
13,519
RIP. I remember finding out about RPGamer bc people in GS ' system wars forum thought I may be related to the site. Frequent visitor ever since.
 
zashga

zashga

Losing is fun
Member
Oct 28, 2017
4,202
That's a shame. I never knew the guy, but RPGamer was one of my favorite sites, a long time ago. It had a large, welcoming community, which is something that's only gotten rarer since then. Rest In Peace.
 
Seda

Seda

Community Resettler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,070
I've known Michael for years online, and I got the chance to meet him once at a Distant Worlds a while back. He was so genuinely kind and optimistic, even throughout his tough battle with cancer. His positive attitude was contagious and my life is better for having known him.
 
Shaymin

Shaymin

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,490
Halifax, Nova Scotia
I had occasion to help Mac out for a bit at PocketGamer in early 2015, and he was incredibly supportive of me when I moved to a different site and didn't have time to keep it up. He loved games in general, and fought the cancer with everything he had.

This sucks.
 

Deleted member 41931

User requested account closure
Member
Apr 10, 2018
3,744
Seems there's been an unusually high amount of death in th industry as of late. Regardless, I enjoyed what of his writing I'd read. RIP
 
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jackal27

jackal27

Member
Oct 25, 2017
940
Joplin, MO
Shaymin said:
I had occasion to help Mac out for a bit at PocketGamer in early 2015, and he was incredibly supportive of me when I moved to a different site and didn't have time to keep it up. He loved games in general, and fought the cancer with everything he had.

This sucks.
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Wow I actually either forgot or had no idea that he was attached to Pocket Gamer at one point as well. He contributed so much over the years.
 
Trojita

Trojita

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,721
Please tell me he wasn't in need for funds for treatment. I would have chipped in. I had that site as one of my main bookmarks on the internet when web rings were still a thing.
 
RyougaSaotome

RyougaSaotome

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,677
I've known Michael for pretty much the last 8 years or so, back when I started writing freelance for sites way back in the day. He was always just the most compassionate, positive guy in the world.

He'd been maintaining a positive outlook on all of this even up until a few days ago, which makes this extra crushing. He fought, and fought, and fought until the end.

You will be missed, Mac.
 
SAB-CA

SAB-CA

Member
Nov 30, 2017
1,159
I never frequented RPGamer as much as I could, but it always seemed like one of those spots that hadn't be "corrupted" by modern internet. It made me feel like I was seeing and old site like AnimeWebTurnpike or such again, and that was always pleasant.

Thanks a lot for leaving such a solid site behind, though it's a shame you won't be hear to enjoy all the great RPGs and stuff to come with us! :( Sounds like he had to be quite young. At least they said he was peaceful, I'm sure that helps the family some. An overall shame though. Rest In Peace!
 
Clive

Clive

Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,095
Very sad to hear this. I've never met him but I followed him on Twitter and exchanged a few words. He was always positive and seemed genuinely enthusiastic about everything he did. My thoughts go out to everyone close to him.
 
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jackal27

jackal27

Member
Oct 25, 2017
940
Joplin, MO
Trojita said:
Please tell me he wasn't in need for funds for treatment. I would have chipped in. I had that site as one of my main bookmarks on the internet when web rings were still a thing.
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I can't say for sure, but I don't believe so. He hadn't mentioned it publicly if that were the case. As far as we could tell, they decided to stop treatment a few days ago when things suddenly took a turn for the worse. He fought hard and for a long time.
 
Theswweet

Theswweet

RPG Site
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
6,418
California
Rest in peace, Michael. I didn't speak with him as much as some others have, but he was always a voice of positivity. He will be missed.
 
KtotheRoc

KtotheRoc

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 27, 2017
56,667
RIP. I frequented RPGamer a lot back in the day, but not so much recently. Still, losing a voice like this is hard. My condolences to his family and friends.
 
werezompire

werezompire

Zeboyd Games
Verified
Oct 26, 2017
11,378
He was quite possibly the most positive person I knew in the games media. Really sad to hear this is how it ended.
 
JCG

JCG

Member
Oct 25, 2017
2,537
I never met him, but nobody should die from this horrible disease. It's always a tragedy.

I hope that he at least had the opportunity to say goodbye to all his family and close friends one last time, even though I realize he obviously couldn't predict the exact moment of his passing.

I used to visit RPGamer on a regular basis many years ago and found the site to be very charming and informative. From what I am hearing, he was a large part of why that place worked so well. I hope they can keep it going in his memory.
 
Korigama

Korigama

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,515
Though I haven't been there as much lately, I have often looked to RPGamer for impressions. RIP.
 
deepFlaw

deepFlaw

Knights of Favonius World Tour '21
Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,496
Saw this on Twitter earlier and was a little blown away by it. I've followed him for a while there and he was such a nice person; it's upsetting to lose him so suddenly.

I never interacted with him much directly, so this is a minor, insignificant thing, but... a little while back I'd made a quick reply about a game he was playing, and it ended up leading to a very nice conversation where he asked me for the general impressions of some Vita otome VNs, and so on. It was really nice to talk about those games with someone in the press who sincerely wanted to cover them, so that one conversation had meant a lot to me.
 
SatelliteOfLove

SatelliteOfLove

Member
Oct 26, 2017
7,965
South Carolina
A gaming site up for 5 years with such consistancy and quality is very difficult in any age, so one that has done that in every age of internet's time is beyond commendable. He sounds from testimony to be 150% stand up guy, too.

RIP
 
H.Protagonist

H.Protagonist

Verified
Oct 26, 2017
861
Drizzle-Drizzle-Rain-Land, England
Though I knew he'd been struggling with cancer it was such a shock when I heard he'd passed. I've known Michael for years from RPGamer's Run to the Sun events and just speaking with them for various things while at XSEED. I have tons of good memories of him. He was a lovely guy with an infectious passion for games in and out of work, and highly regarded in the industry. He'll be sorely missed.
 
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