Joystiq

D creator Kenji Eno dead at age 42

JC Fletcher — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST

One of the most fascinatingly creative voices in the Japanese game industry has died. Kenji Eno, designer of the D series, the 3DO's most interesting games, and most recently, WiiWare's You, Me, and the Cubes, died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 42.

Along with the creepy D games, Eno developed unusual games like Real Sound, an audio-based adventure game designed to be playable by the blind. His career also included non-game tasks like development of mobile payments for soda machines, and DJ sets.

D creator Kenji Eno dead at age 42 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Commodore founder and former Atari owner Jack Tramiel passes away

JC Fletcher — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST

Computer and video game industry pioneer Jack Tramiel died today at the age of 83, his family reported. Tramiel, a Holocaust survivor, is best known for two achievements in the industry: the founding of Commodore International and the 1984 purchase of Atari Inc.'s post-crash consumer division from Warner.

Tramiel helped (re)revive Atari by starting a computer business there, launching the Atari ST and other desktop computers alongside new video game hardware like the Atari 7800 and Lynx.

Commodore founder and former Atari owner Jack Tramiel passes away originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pinball wizard Steve Kordek passes away at age 100

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST

Known for crafting the pinball machine into what we know it as today, Steve Kordek revolutionized the industry with his two-flipper concept way back in 1948. Sadly, his daughter Catherine Petrash confirmed Kordek's death to the NY Times last week. He was 100 years old.

Kordek designed his final arcade machine in 2003, based on the National Lampoon's Family Vacation films, after having spent a life crafting machines for Genco, Bally, and Williams. He started his auspicious career in 1948 with a two-flipper redesign of the pinball machine, an improvement over the previous year's six-flipper design (pioneered by Chicago's D. Gottlieb & Company). From there, Kordek went on to craft tables at Bally and Williams, such as Contact, Pokerino, and Grand-Prix.

"Pinball!" author Roger Sharpe described Kordek's impact on the world of pinball as, "comparable to D. W. Griffith moving from silent films through talkies and color and CinemaScope and 3-D with computer-generated graphics."

Kordek is survived by his daughter Catherine; by another daughter, Donna Kordek-Logazino; two sons, Frank and Richard; a sister, Florence Wozny; two brothers, Joseph and Frank; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren, according to the NYT report.

[Pinball image via Shutterstock]

Pinball wizard Steve Kordek passes away at age 100 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game writing pioneer Bill Kunkel passes away

Justin McElroy — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST

Bill Kunkel, who started writing the first-ever dedicated video game review column in 1978 and co-founded Electronic Games Magazine, passed away on Sept. 4.

Most familiar with Kunkel's work likely know him as "The Game Doctor," after a column that appeared in Computer Gaming World and other publications, but Kunkel also wrote comics for DC, Marvel and Harvey, covered pro-wrestling and helped design nearly two dozen games. Honestly, you just have to read all the things the guy worked on to believe it.

Kunkel has been the subject of dozens of remembrances throughout the web from the journalists and developers he inspired. Activision's Dan Amrich wrote "I read him religiously growing up. He paved my way." Former Gamespot EIC and Bastion writer Greg Kasavin said, "I never met him but his work was an inspiration."

Kunkel, who leaves behind wife Laurie, was 61 years old.

Game writing pioneer Bill Kunkel passes away originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game Arts founder Takeshi Miyaji passes away at 45

Jordan Mallory — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST

G-Mode announced today that its CEO and founder Takeshi Miyaji died on July 29 at the age of 45. Cause of death was not released as part of the statement.

Miyaji co-founded Game Arts at the age of 19, and is best known for creating the Grandia series, as well as his involvement in other classics like Silpheed, GunGriffon, and Lunar: The Silver Star. In 2000, Miyaji founded G-Mode, a development studio focused on the then-emerging mobile-phone gaming market. He will be succeeded as CEO by Ryu Okoriyama, CEO of Gaia Holdings.

Game Arts founder Takeshi Miyaji passes away at 45 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Game console pioneer Jerry Lawson dies at 70

James Ransom-Wiley — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:58:00 EST

Gerald A. "Jerry" Lawson is one of the great unknown pioneers of the video game industry. He passed away this past Saturday morning of unspecified causes, according to an announcement on Digital Press.

Lawson will be remembered as the engineer of the first cartridge-based game console (with a pause option!), the Fairchild Channel F, which launched in August 1976 as the Video Entertainment System (VES). He was also the only black member of the legendary Homebrew Computer Club, formed in Silicon Valley in the mid-70s.

In the early 1980s he founded and ran Videosoft, which developed a handful of games for the Atari 2600. Additionally, Lawson's Demolition Derby was one of the first coin-op arcade machines, produced in his garage in the early '70s and installed in a southern California pizzeria shortly after Pong debuted. One of its key design features prevented players from stealing "free" games by jiggling the coin switch.

Just last month, Lawson was honored during the 7th Annual IGDA Minority Special Interest Group Social Gathering at GDC. Shortly before the event, he was profiled by the San Jose Mercury News. More about his life is revealed in a 2009 interview with Vintage Computing and Gaming.

[Photo credit: Maria J Avila Lopez/Mercury News]

Game console pioneer Jerry Lawson dies at 70 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daryl Gates, ex-police chief and Police Quest: SWAT designer, dies at 83

Justin McElroy — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:15:00 EST

According to Reuters, former Los Angeles chief of police Daryl Gates passed away at his home on Friday. Though Gates is probably best known for being forced out of his job as chief due to his handling of the Rodney King beating and ensuing riots in 1992, we at Joystiq remember him as the designer of Police Quest: SWAT, the fifth game in the Sierra series. (Gates also contributed to the previous game, Police Quest: Open Season).

Okay, okay, so the FMV relic isn't particularly beloved, but Gates was also responsible for establishing the very first SWAT team -- a concept the video game industry has gotten so much mileage out of, we figured Gates was at least owed a moment of recognition. He was 83 years old.

Daryl Gates, ex-police chief and Police Quest: SWAT designer, dies at 83 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tradewest co-founder passes away at 75

Ben Gilbert — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST

After fighting a long battle with illness, Tradewest co-founder and businessman Leland Cook passed away this week at the age of 75. He was known in the game industry for spearheading the American distribution and licensing of Ikari Warriors coin-op machines in 1986, bringing such Tradewest classics as Battletoads and Double Dragon to the US, and for appearing as the military colonel you save at the end of the first Ikari Warriors game ("Colonel Cook").

The Tradewest name was purchased by the now defunct Midway in 1996, though following the publisher's collapse, ex-Midway Europe boss Martin Spiess repurchased the name for use with his own startup. Mr. Cook hadn't been involved in the gaming industry for over 10 years, and instead served as the chairman of the board of Community National Bank of Texas Holding Company. He is survived by his wife of 56 years and his loving family.

[Via GoNintendo]

Tradewest co-founder passes away at 75 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Activision remembers DJ AM's work on DJ Hero

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Late last week, Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein tragically and suddenly passed away. He was known in the world of gaming for his work on DJ Hero, contributing both music and ideas to the upcoming music/rhythm project. We watched as he and Travis Barker warmed up the crowd for Eminem and Jay-Z just a few short months ago at E3 2009.

Having worked with Goldstein so closely as of late, we asked Activision for comment. VP of music affairs Tim Riley told us over the weekend:

We are deeply saddened by the loss of DJ AM, who was a tremendous talent, a trusted partner and friend to DJ Hero. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family. AM was instrumental in the making of DJ Hero and we hope that his work on the game will be a fitting tribute to his creative spirit and musical talent.

Joystiq would like to offer our condolences to DJ AM's family, friends, and anyone else effected by his passing.

Activision remembers DJ AM's work on DJ Hero originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D&D co-creator Dave Arneson dead at 61

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:32:00 EST

After a long battle with cancer, Dungeons and Dragons co-creator Dave Arneson passed away in his sleep late Tuesday night. The sad news came from an e-mail from Arneson's family, which includes details on where to send condolences, as well as the time and location for his visitation. We extend our deepest sympathies to Arneson's family and loved ones as they cope with the loss of this truly remarkable man.

Even if you've never hurled icosahedrons with a group of fantasy-obsessed friends, Arneson, along with D&D co-creator Gary Gygax (who sadly passed away last year), is responsible for the evolution of the RPG format as we know it today. Though the influential hobby's creators have passed away, their legacy will live on through the skittering of dice across tables worldwide. Rest in peace, Mr. Arneson.

D&D co-creator Dave Arneson dead at 61 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rock Band 2 to feature the late Bo Diddley's guitar

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rhythm

Rock and Roll legend Bo Diddley passed away from heart failure Monday at the age of 79. Widely acknowledged as the forefather of the mid-century rock revolution, Diddley was a musical genius, responsible for inspiring numerous other rock gods of his era. In one obituary for Diddley, it was announced that his recognizable "cigar-box shaped" guitar would be featured in the "impending" Rock Band 2. Unfortunately, we imagine they're talking about an unlockable guitar actually inside the game, and not about any kind of bundled peripheral.

Whether Harmonix planned for this to be a tribute to the blues luminary is unclear -- regardless, we'll be chomping at the bit to get Diddley's rectangular axe into the hands of our imaginary six-string virtuosos whenever the sequel to our third-best game of 2007 hits store shelves.

Rock Band 2 to feature the late Bo Diddley's guitar originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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D&D creator Gary Gygax dead at 69

Kyle Orland — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:25:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, PC, RPGs

The Associated Press is reporting that Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons, is dead today at age 69. He had been suffering ill health for several years, according to his wife.

Dungeons and Dragons birthed the idea of the modern RPG as we know it -- conventions such as hit points, character classes, leveling and countless others were shaped by the pen and paper game, if not outright stolen from it. The seminal game was an explicit influence for countless video game developers, from Ultima's Richard Garriott to Deus Ex's Harvey Smith.

We'll be sure to keep you updated with funeral details and other ways to pay your respects as soon as we hear about them.

D&D creator Gary Gygax dead at 69 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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