Codies responds to McRae tragedy

By Tom Bramwell Published 17 September, 2007

"Will never be forgotten."

Codemasters has issued a statement responding to the tragic death this weekend of Colin McRae, expert adviser to and inspiration for the famous rally game series that bore his name. We are reprinting that statement here in full.

"Everyone at Codemasters, especially those who worked directly with Colin McRae, is deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events of this weekend.

"The loss of Colin McRae is deeply distressing. That it involved his son and another so young makes it even more tragic. Our thoughts are with his family and those closest to him and we share in their pain.

"For over ten years, Colin was part of the Codemasters family and it was a privilege to have a man recognised as a true legend on the team. He always took a keen interest in the game experience, wanting to make sure it was without equal in its portrayal of the sport.

"His contribution was inspirational and brought his technical expertise and passion for rally driving to each and every McRae game. Through the popularity of those games, he brought a whole new audience to the sport itself.

"Codemasters' relationship with Colin began through Jim, David and Richard Darling and their condolences, along with ours, are passed to Colin's family. We are heavy of heart at his passing but we are also brimming with pride at knowing him and to have played a small role in his life.

"He will never be forgotten by all at Codemasters."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (38) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Metalfish #1 4 years ago

    Will still be featured in our games, now we don't have to pay him?

  • Bertie Verified Senior Staff Writer, Eurogamer.net #2 4 years ago

    It's a sad old tale. RIP McRae :(

  • LHH #3 4 years ago

    Such a nice comment lol. ;)

    Such a shame though.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #4 4 years ago

    Will still be featured in our games, now we don't have to pay him?

    If the license is still theirs it's probably worth more now than before his death.

    RIP.

  • omerga #5 4 years ago

    What a tragedy...

    Rest in peace

  • Fernando #6 4 years ago

    "He will never be forgotten by all at Codemasters."

    ofcourse not, look at all the money he made you :)

  • souljacker2000 #7 4 years ago

    Colin, you made rally driving all the more interesting... annoying accent, but one hell of a driver... sadly missed

  • DaM #8 4 years ago

    Will still be featured in our games, now we don't have to pay him?

    I'm sure they would pay his estate. Probably not the first thing on their minds at the moment though.

  • miiiguel #9 4 years ago

    Shit!, even worse of a tragedy because of his son, who also went down. Sad, sad shit.

  • InfiniteFury #10 4 years ago

    I hope the Codie guy posting in the previous comments comes along shortly to show some of you up.

    Edited for tone.
    Edited by 1 at 17/09/07 @ 12:18

  • woodnotes #11 4 years ago

    Such a shame, of course.

    However, worse is that he didn't die while doing his sport. He has had so many crashes, driven off cliffs etc. But then dies in a helicopter accident. Noel Edmonds must've been nearby. That sucks :(

  • Steroyd #12 4 years ago

    I wouldn't call it a McRae tragedy, there was two other people in that crash who weren't McRae's.

    Yeah but usually the most famous person gets it titled that way like Princess Diana's death for example.

  • Triggerhappytel #13 4 years ago

    Such a terrible shame, especially that two young children were involved.

    Nice of Codies to pay their condolences. I hope they are genuine.

  • sharpfish #14 4 years ago

    I've worked at Codemasters, I think they are genuine in their condolences. Colin used to visit the 'farm' from time to time (i've spotted him about in the past) and he was obviously friends to a lot of people who actually worked with him.

    Also if it's anything like when I worked there you can't move far around codies without seeing a CMR poster or gamebox and that is going to drive it home each time so yeah, I imagine it's quite a glum atmosphere there right now.

    RIP CM

  • That_Happy_Cat #15 4 years ago

    I'm sure they are very genuine... thanks for a classy statement Codies. Have a lunchtime beer for Colin.

  • kiroquai #16 4 years ago

    I have no doubt whatsoever that they're genuine. Colin's been quite an integral part of the team at various points over the last decade - they must be devastated.

    As someone who met Colin myself on a number of occasions, I am completely gutted. To lose Richard Burns in the circumstances we did was bad enough, but this is just as unbearable. Respect to Colin, Johnny and the two other people who sadly lost their lives. As Colin himseld said after Burnsie died, "He was a true character in the world of rallying and will be sadly missed."

  • Pirotic #17 4 years ago

    to commemorate his life, you can now download the classic '96 car on the marketplace for only £10!

  • That_Happy_Cat #18 4 years ago

    THis made me smile...

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQ3A8FGonI&mode=r elated&search=
    ]http://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v=xBQ3A8FGo...[/link]

  • AbyssUK #19 4 years ago

    I got sent an advertisment email from codies on the 15th.

    Colin McRae - Dirt "The ride of your life..."

    Hmmm great timing, am sure the big guy would have loved it!!

  • ResidentKnievel #20 4 years ago

    @That_Happy_Cat

    It made me smile as well, just goes to show what a fearless driver he was

  • woodnotes #21 4 years ago

    Actually I was sad when I first heard the news, but then when the continued to say that his son (and another young child) had died the crash, it almost made me feel sick. Like a sad ending that then has an additional even more sad ending. An absolute terrible tradegy for all involved, McRae or not.

  • Bursk #22 4 years ago

    Will I now be able to sell my copy of the game on ebay for pounds pounds pounds?

  • AbyssUK #23 4 years ago

    I apologise if my statement was taken as tasteless, I just liked the irony.

    I am indeed saddened by the accident and didn't mean to cause offence.

  • sanctusmortis #24 4 years ago

    I expect that, like any other celebrity, they will continue to use his name for the game, but there will be a commemorative opening and a slice of profit to his estate.

    He was a fantastic ambassador for British motorsport, and having actually met him when I used to follow the Rally of Britain I can say he was a nice bloke.

  • dsmx #25 4 years ago

    I just wish codemasters would of used his voice rather than that annoying person that was used in DIRT.

  • RFT #26 4 years ago

    "I got sent an advertisment email from codies on the 15th. "

    Yes, those emails started sending on friday afternoon and the system was still sending them out until very late on saturday night (while no-one was around to stop them, sadly).

    As to the fate of the series and the licence, now is not the time to discuss such things, really.
    Edited by 2 at 17/09/07 @ 13:52

  • chronom4n #27 4 years ago

    The very tragic thing in this incident is that the mcrae name i.e the son has gone. For one thing how is Colin Mcrae's name going to continue? usually, when accidents happen and the father passes away, at least there is the son who will continue on with the family name. I can't begin to imagine how his wife and daughter will be coping, let alone the other child and father who passed away.

    The mothers and/or sisters of both the boys who perished, how they will cope i do not know but i know it is hard to say the least.
    Edited by 2 at 17/09/07 @ 14:33

  • 3TPete #28 4 years ago

    @Fernando

    A pretty tasteless comment, seeing as how Codemasters have been working with CM for over a decade & are clearly feeling the loss at the moment.

    Please chaps, people have died including a father & son - might be worth bearing in mind before posting...

  • mkreku #29 4 years ago

    He really knew how to put on a good show. They even named one of the crests in the Swedish Rally after him because Colin was always the one with the longest, most death-defying jumps on that crest.

    Colin's Crest.

    :(

  • kangarootoo #30 4 years ago

    Very sad news.

    I wish I was surprised at some of the more immature comments on here, but of course I'm not.

  • Azazel #31 4 years ago

    RIP Colin McRae, a legendary name to both Rally fans and gamers alike.

  • cawley1 #32 4 years ago

    Some right scumbag posting up above, maybe when you muppets have grown up and had a family, you will understand the loss McRae's Wife and Daughter will be feeling.

  • KD #33 4 years ago

    Legend. Seen him at margam park a few times in the welsh round of the WRC and will never forget it now.

  • Martin #34 4 years ago

    I too was heartbroke when I read the news. It's such a shame - even more so because of the kids.

    I've had some of my best gaming moments in the McRae games and he was always entertaining to watch in the rallies.

    RIP Colin.

  • Cryguy #35 4 years ago

    A terrible loss to both the motorsport world and the videgames world as far as I'm concerned. So sad that his little boy went with him. At least they'll be together forever. My condolences to his bereaved wife and daughter - what a loss for them.

  • gamerbunny #36 4 years ago

    Godly rally driver, great video games.

    RIP.

  • SEVQA #37 4 years ago

    May Colin be immortalised in the virtual world like he truly deserves and sincerely hope the franchise to carry on! The rally world has lost one of its most inspirational role models and will be missed.

    Thoughts to the families involved!

  • Lov3 #38 4 years ago

    I'm sensing some kind of 'Colin McRae: Legend' cash in title in the next 3-6 months. When it happens I will link this post and praise my own foresight for all the world to see.