Billy WIlson dead at 33.

JayG · Post by **JayG** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:18 am

Very sad news. I used to love Voodoo Extreme in the good old days. Deepest condolences to his family and friends. RIP Billy.

http://ve3d.ign.com/

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 10:02 am

Wonder what killed him at 33?

Bertran · Post by **Bertran** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:44 am

Back when he left (or was removed from) the original Voodoo Extreme, I thought I read somewhere that it was due to a chemical dependency - prescription painkillers, if I recall. The fact that no details have been released leads me to suspect that may have had something to do with his death, although I sincerely hope that I'm wrong - it's so sad for someone to die young due to something like that.

Goonch · Post by **Goonch** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:46 am

Who is he... a webmaster?

Bertran · Post by **Bertran** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 11:54 am

Goonch wrote:Who is he... a webmaster?

He was the force behind the original Voodoo Extreme - a pc games news site that was at the height of its popularity maybe about five or so years ago (give or take). His writing style was pretty unique (for the time) and influential - I think of him as the originator of the (for lack of a better term) "game pimp" style of gaming writing - sort of hip-hop inspired, but not too much. My favorite thing of his was referring to a high-speed internet connection as "the porn pipe." That's pretty much his style in a nutshell.

wankerjr · Post by **wankerjr** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:12 am

Bertran wrote: My favorite thing of his was referring to a high-speed internet connection as "the porn pipe."

That would be pr0n pipe if I recall correctly. He purposely obscured it since "dammit this is a family site!"

Caine · Post by **Caine** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 4:45 am

that's really sad to hear that. brings back all the old memories of ve before ign f-ed the site over. yeah, it kept it alive, but it also twisted it too.

it's sad that he's dead at so young an age. such an avoidable death too.

"The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long" RIP Wicked

yossar · Post by **yossar** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 5:51 am

From Voodoo Extreme:

Update - Billy's family sends along word that he passed away due to liver failure:

Billy died due to complications from liver failure. He went quickly and was in no pain. Ironically, this had nothing to do with his past problems, other than that perhaps his liver was weakened by years of "hard living". He was surrounded by his family at his passing and received much love and compassion from us in the days leading up to his death. You are welcome to post the reason for his passing. People can speculate all they want but the fact is, this was completely out of left field. He had been doing well and none of us expected this to happen. God bless you all.