R.I.P Richard Joseph

*ThumbBot* · 03-05-2007, 05:43 AM

Richard Joseph has died of lung cancer at the age of 53. Richard was responsible for some of the most memorable and famous theme tunes in gaming history, including Cannon Fodder, The Chaos Engine and Sensible Soccer, and had more recently been working on titles such as Evil Genius.

You can read more about Richard Jospeh in this article, an interview which we conducted a few years ago with one of our gaming heroes. Rest in peace Richard, we will miss you.

Posted by James Spafford

brkl · 03-05-2007, 05:49 AM

Lung cancer?

I remember really enjoying music in Cannon Fodder.

*Spaff* · 03-05-2007, 05:53 AM

wow wtf? Thanks Word, thanks so much. - fixed.

Wrestlevania · 03-05-2007, 06:00 AM

Very sad. The Chaos Engine was a brilliant game all round--and certainly not least because of the thumping soundtrack.

It may be a trifle bad taste, but, whenever I hear of someone in the games industry dying, I like to imagine they see a black screen with the words "Level 2" blinking on it...

Kolzig · 03-05-2007, 06:40 AM

R.I.P. Mr. Joseph.

Cannon Fodder soundtrack was unforgettable thanks to you.

R.Joseph was one of the biggest reasons why Amiga was so fucking awesome.

ThunderPeel2001 · 03-05-2007, 01:15 PM

G.A.M.E. O.V.E.R.

Richard Joseph - RIP

How sad!

Richard did a lot more than just Cannon Fodder and The Chaos Engine! He did Cannon Fodder 2 and The Chaos Engine 2 as well! J/k. Richard Joseph did more pieces of music than you're all probably more aware of. He was also finally recognised for his talents when the BAFTAs started including computer games, earning himself a BAFTA for Sim Theme Park (as well as many other BAFTA nominations along the way).

Along with David Whittaker, Allister Brimble and Chris Huelsbeck, Richard Joseph is remembered as being one of the pioneers that a lot of us grew up listening to.

Here's a partial list of some of the games he created music, or worked on the sound for:

Cannon Fodder (BAFTA nomination)
Speedball 2
The Chaos Engine
Mega-lo-Mania
Gods
Moonstone
Cadaver
Wizkid
Defender of the Crown
Myth
Sim Theme Park (BAFTA winner)
Evil Genius (BAFTA nomination)
Republic: The Revolution (BAFTA nomination)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

*Spaff* · 03-05-2007, 01:19 PM

there is a big list on the interview page I think..

http://www.idlethumbs.net/display.php?id=52

Man, this news is so sad. Games industry people should not be dying yet... it's too young an industry

ThunderPeel2001 · 03-05-2007, 01:24 PM

G.A.M.E. O.V.E.R.

Richard Joseph - RIP

How sad!

Richard did a lot more than just Cannon Fodder and The Chaos Engine! He did Cannon Fodder 2 and The Chaos Engine 2 as well! J/k. Richard Joseph did more pieces of music than you're all probably more aware of. He was also finally recognised for his talents when the BAFTAs started including computer games, earning himself a BAFTA for Sim Theme Park (as well as many other BAFTA nominations along the way).

Along with David Whittaker, Allister Brimble and Chris Huelsbeck, Richard Joseph is remembered as being one of the pioneers that a lot of us grew up listening to.

Here's a partial list of some of the games he created music, or worked on the sound for:

Cannon Fodder (BAFTA nomination)
Speedball 2
The Chaos Engine
Mega-lo-Mania
Gods
Moonstone
Cadaver
Wizkid
Defender of the Crown
Myth
Sim Theme Park (BAFTA winner)
Evil Genius (BAFTA nomination)
Republic: The Revolution (BAFTA nomination)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

Give some of his tunes a whirl.

Wrestlevania · 03-05-2007, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Spaff:

there is a big list on the interview page I think.

That's quite a credit list. Magic Pockets too! Loved that game.

Kolzig · 03-05-2007, 02:21 PM

Oh man, I totally forgot about James Pond, James Pond 2: Codename Robocod, Moonstone, Speedball 2 and especially Defender of the Crown, my alltime favourite C64 game. R.Joseph was a true legend.

I think it's about time to start up the old reliable C64 to play some DotC.

Wrestlevania · 03-05-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Kolzig:

I think it's about time to start up the old reliable C64 to play some DotC.

Cinemaware host a respectable emulation of the Amiga version (I think) - although the music in this particular interpretation isn't by the late Mr Joseph.

Dan Ferson · 03-06-2007, 11:21 AM

How very sad to hear the news about Richard Joseph. A true pioneer of game sound.

Bit confused by that credit list though... cos he didn't write the music for Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivion, Republic, Evil Genius or Theme Park World. Having said that though,he was a master of 80s and 90s games audio and will surely be remembered for his contribution to that era.

*Spaff* · 03-06-2007, 11:36 AM

He worked on Evil genius, and therefore possibly republic, as audio producer

Quote:

Tell us about your input on Evil Genius? What kind of musical elements will be in the game?

My main role is that of audio Producer. I keep an eye on the bigger picture, trust the specialists (composer, designer, programmer) to do brilliant work and encourage them to do so. My creative contribution is incidental music, music editing, environment and spot effects, dialogue production but I share a lot of the sound and dialogue work with our sound Designer Malin Arvidsson (who does most of it :-) . The music has been produced by James Hannigan (more on him later). The style is 60s James Bond orchestral/jazz.

http://www.idlethumbs.net/display.php?id=52