Ocean Software's iconic artwork creator Bob Wakelin - RIP

Hades · 23 Jan 2018 at 16:03

RIP. I grew up with the 8bit era and it's alarming to see that generation of creators die off.

Nasher · 23 Jan 2018 at 16:07

Yep, your next

Then it's the 16bit era

Hades · 23 Jan 2018 at 16:09

Nasher said:
Yep, your next

Then it's the 16bit era

FNG · 23 Jan 2018 at 16:13

The best bit about the artwork was the massive cardboard boxes you bought the games in. A list view in steam just isn't the same as a stack of boxes in the corner of the desk

Narj · 23 Jan 2018 at 16:20

x-st said:
Good interview here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Q6QW59wjU&t=2759s

Nice gallery with quotes
https://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Bob_Wakelin

That interview is great - thanks for sharing.

The impression I got from that was, what a thoroughly nice bloke.

The loader music at the end as well, I've had that tune in my head since I was a kid and still play it (or versions of it) occasionaly when I'm messing around on the piano or synth.

LoadsaMoney · 23 Jan 2018 at 17:48

Ocean, man that takes me back, RIP Bob Wakelin.

Narj · 24 Jan 2018 at 09:19

I've just spent my commute listening to ocean loader music and remixes thanks to this thread

Eg:

NMBlack · 24 Jan 2018 at 13:30

The hours I lost as a child playing New Zealand Story......and then my brother got the infinite lives cheat code from a friend and did in about an hour what took me weeks of attempts to do....

naefeart · 24 Jan 2018 at 14:43

So many memories seeing those game covers... though I also remember the disappointment when the actual game looked nothing like it. If you were lucky, you got a digitized image as a loading screen. Remember thinking how awesome if would be if in-game graphics resembled the artwork in the loading screen.

RIP Bob.

Neil79 · 24 Jan 2018 at 15:52

Evangelion said:
Ocean was an icon of my childhood! Loved their games, and the cover art was always fantastic.

Same as!

Fishbait · 24 Jan 2018 at 16:31

Sooooo many flashbacks from games I had as a kid.
https://www.digitiser2000.com/main-page/a-tribute-to-the-art-of-bob-wakelin

https://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Bob_Wakelin

Narj · 24 Jan 2018 at 20:32

Fishbait said:
Sooooo many flashbacks from games I had as a kid.
https://www.digitiser2000.com/main-page/a-tribute-to-the-art-of-bob-wakelin

https://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Bob_Wakelin

Digitiser is still going? HOW DID I MISS THIS???!

BOOKMARKED!

Grandmaster Fap! · 25 Jan 2018 at 17:41

Wow so many covers by him are part of my early gaming, 48k Spectrum is the best Spectrum

merlin · 25 Jan 2018 at 18:32

Thread makes me feel old.

Still - as long as Rob Hubbard is ok I'm good.

agw_01 · 25 Jan 2018 at 18:36

Evangelion said:
Ocean was an icon of my childhood! Loved their games, and the cover art was always fantastic.

+1

Big fan of Ocean games back in my youth.

RIP Bob

One Vision · 23 May 2018 at 22:48

Great boxart, definitely made you feel really immersed. RIP
Bob Wakelin
and thankyou for your great work and memories.

Head over Heels , how original is that, was actually playing it the other day lol