Richard Joseph dies News
PC
PlayStation 2
GameCube
Xbox
GameBoy Advance
PSP
DS
Xbox 360
PlayStation 3
Wii
News
by
Kristan Reed
Gaming audio legend Richard Joseph died yesterday at the age of 53, following a short battle against lung cancer.
Joseph was responsible for an incredible list of British-developed videogaming classics over the past twenty years, including Sensible Soccer, The Chaos Engine and Cannon Fodder.
Close friend Jon Hare revealed the tragic news to Eurogamer this morning, and described Joseph as "one of my closest friends."
"He was one the pioneering British computer gaming musicians - and one of the best," added Hare.
After a stint as an EMI-signed recording artist, Joseph broke into videogaming in the mid-80s with Palace, penning memorable soundtracks for several hit C64 games such as Barbarian and Cauldron 2.
But some of his best-loved work came about when he hooked up with Hare at Sensible Software and began a long-standing stint with the developer.
"He worked on everything from 3D Tennis onwards," said Hare, "including Mega-Lo-Mania, Wizkid, Sensible Soccer, Cannon Fodder, Sensible Golf, and even last year's Sensible Soccer 2006.
"But he didn't just do the music - he'd arrange songs I'd written, do the sound effects, the lot."
Indeed, the BAFTA-winning Joseph was one of the pioneers of sampling in games, with many Bitmap Brothers tunes featuring well-known artists of the era such as Betty Boo. But his own creations for Sensible were perhaps his best known work, such as the controversial "War Has Never Been So Much Fun" tune in Cannon Fodder and, of course, "Goal Scoring Superstar Hero" used in Sensible Soccer.
During his time at The Bitmap Brothers, he pushed game soundtracks to the forefront of the experience, in titles such as Gods, Speedball 2 and The Chaos Engine. The latter, in particular, featured a pulsating interactive soundtrack that ebbed and flowed with the action, creating a tense audio backdrop to the proceedings.
Later in Joseph's distinguished career, he also gained recognition at Electronic Arts, gaining a BAFTA award for his work on Theme Park World. More recently, he contributed soundtracks to Elixir's Republic and Evil Genius.
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
|
PlugMonkey
05/03/07 @ 12:27
0
I can still recall the music from Speedball 2 (intro) 10 years after last playing it.
I can still sing all of "War has never been so much fun" too. |
|
chupachups
05/03/07 @ 12:28
0
"I can still recall the music from Speedball 2 (intro) 10 years after last playing it. He was pretty talented to do something catchy like that."
It's even more amazing because the music hardware was a bit more primitive in those days. Now the music on a game is a sound sample so there's no real hardware limitations, but back then you had to be very creative with how you used a computer or console. |
|
0
Very sad news, especially coming on the same day as a Speedball 2 remake is announced. Really enjoyed the music of all the games he worked on - brings back some good memories of my childhood playing an Amiga A500+ round my mates house!
Check Youtube for some videos of the games Richard Joseph worked on to remind yourselves of some brilliant game music! RIP. |
|
MoGamer2006
05/03/07 @ 14:00
0
I was fortunate to meet Richard a few times via work back in the 90s - thoroughly nice bloke and massively talented. An absolute tragedy that he's left us so early. God bless, Richard - thanks for the memories.
|
|
insincere_dave
05/03/07 @ 14:09
0
Sad news.
Due to the relatively infancy of the games industry we've not had too many legends go yet but we're going to start seeing a lot more of this in the coming years. |
|
Rev. Stuart Campbell
05/03/07 @ 14:29
0
One more here for the line of former colleagues paying tribute. I knew RJ while I worked at Sensible and he was a lovely guy as well as being a top musician. This sucks.
|
|
BremXJones
05/03/07 @ 14:57
0
Wizkid was a true original. It's a Breakout/Monkey Island combo, but - and I'd never normally write this, but in this case it's true - on a whole shedful of drugs.
KG |
|
crazyhorse174
05/03/07 @ 16:03
0
Been said a few times here but bugger it I'm saying it again...
The Chaos Engine music was brilliant. The bit at the beginning just as it kicks in...fantastic! |
|
rosemeyer1939
05/03/07 @ 17:58
0
didn't Chaos Engine end with "you will be remembered"?
enough said. |
|
0
Had the privilege of meeting Richard a few times whilst working for Millennium; the guy was a true star who loved - no, adored - his work, and was an absolute hoot to talk to, with many a tale to tell that would reduce me to tears of laughter.
(Especially the one about a new sleeping bag, certain plants from his garden and the subsequent disappearance of both following a party.) Rest in peace, Richard, you will truly be missed. |
|
kangarootoo
05/03/07 @ 22:52
0
Music that defines my childhood memories of gaming, as it does for many on here I am pleased to see.
Regardless, 53 is just not long enough. R.I.P. |
Want to comment on this article? Log in, or register!
