Straight from the Early Morning Bummer Department, we're sad to report that Alan Kotok — the MIT visionary who helped create both the first video game, the first joystick and the first implementation of multiplayer — is dead.

Kotok was one of the guys who put together Spacewar in 1961. Kotok was the guy who put together the initial sine and cosine routines on which the rest of the game was based. He also single-handedly created the prototype joystick.

It's sad to lose a real gaming visionary. We here at Kotaku — unofficially re-christening ourselves as Kotoku in remembrance of his spunk and love of fun — tip our glasses in fond remembrance. Better late than never. Thanks, Alan! Florian Eckhardt

Alan Kotok's Obituary [MIT]