Kotaku: deaths

Michael Jackson Has Died

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:40:40 MDT

Musician and occasional video game contributor Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. The "King of Pop" was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center this afternoon by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Jackson, in addition to being a bestselling pop artist with The Jackson 5 and as a solo act, was also featured in a number of video games, including one based on his short film Moonwalker. Developed by Sega for the arcade and Sega Genesis, the excellent Michael Jackson's Moonwalker was the start of a relationship that would see the musician later appear in Space Channel 5 and Space Channel 5: Part 2.

The pop musician was also rumored to have been recruited by Sega to contribute to music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3, but his involvement was never credited nor confirmed by producer Yuji Naka. Jackson also made a cameo in Midway's Ready To Rumble: Round 2.

This year, the King of Pop was planned to have auctioned off a large number of items from his Neverland Ranch estate, including a wide variety of arcade games and consoles.

Michael Jackson is survived by three children.

Michael Jackson Is Dead [LA Times]

n-Space Co-founder, President Erick S. Dyke Dies

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:30:50 MST

Erick S. Dyke, co-founder and president of the Orlando, Florida-based developer n-Space passed away earlier this week, succumbing to cancer. Dyke founded the company with partner Dan O’Leary, serving as president for 14 years. Developer n-Space was responsible for titles like the upcoming Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion, Geist for the GameCube, and Tiger Shark for the PC, as well as Call of Duty and Star Wars titles for the Nintendo DS.

A scholarship fund has been created in Dyke's name at his alma mater. For more information, please visit the Michigan Technological University web site.

Erick S. Dyke is survived by his wife Michelle, parents Michael and Greta Dyke, and his brother Matthew. Erick S. Dyke was 41.

Star Wars Galaxies Designer Jeff Freeman Dies

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:30:27 MDT

Jeff Freeman, whose work includes stints at Spacetime Studios and Sony Online Entertainment on Star Wars Galaxies as lead gameplay designer, has died at the age of 39, an apparent suicide, reports The Escapist. Freeman was the target of the Star Wars Galaxies community's ire following the launch of the "new game experience" that took players by surprise with its timing and sweeping changes. The Escapist detailed the targeting of the game designer by SWG devotees in this 2007 write up. Freeman left SOE in 2006 to join Spacetime.

Freeman's brother tells the Escapist that "personal issues," not the fury of SWG players were at the root cause of his decision to take his own life.

Jeff Freeman, Former SWG Lead Gameplay Designer, Dies [The Escapist]

Retro Studios Loses One Of Its Own To Cancer

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:20:00 MST

The gaming industry lost another long-time contributor yesterday, IGN reports, as Retro Studios senior software engineer Mark Haigh-Hutchinson succumbed to pancreatic cancer. Haigh-Hutchinson's 23-year career spanned stints at both LucasArts and Retro, where he specialized in camera systems and controls. He helped to create beloved games such as Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, Sam 'n' Max Hit the Road, Zombies Ate My Neighbors and the Metroid Prime series. He was also the author of the book Real-Time Cameras, published in 2008.

He leaves behind a wife and two daughters. Mark Haigh-Hutchinson was 43.

Famed Industry Veteran, Retro Studios Programmer Dies [IGN]

Co-Founder Of Black Box Games Martin Sikes Passes Away

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 17:40:00 MST

Over the holidays, the gaming community lost one an influential member in Martin Sikes, one of the founding members of Black Box Games. Black Box was probably best known for creating titles like NHL 2K and Sega Soccer Slam before being acquired by Electronic Arts in 2002 and helming the Need For Speed franchise. Sikes and other former Black Box staffers later went on to co-found United Front Games, a start-up studio that formed in the summer of 2007. Sikes, who died suddenly on Christmas Eve, is survived by his daughter, parents Rita and John, and sister Belinda.

Details on memorial services are available at the Vancouver Sun.

Martin Sikes co-founded Black Box Games [Vancouver Sun - thanks, Victor]