David Ward, co-founder of influential British developer and publisher Ocean Software, and a pioneer of game development in the UK, has died at the age of 75.
Born in 1947, Ward co-founded Ocean Software with Jon Woods in 1983 (as ‘Spectrum Games’) and would go on to become one of Europe’s biggest game publishers, creating titles such as Platoon, Top Gun and Daley Thompson’s Decathalon.
The Manchester-based company is credited for establishing much of the commercial, legal and technical framework that helped turn game creation from a hobby to a global business.
The news of Ward’s death was confirmed by his son Ben on Monday.
Sad to report that my father David Ward has died. Born in 1947, he was a computer games pioneer & father of six. We had a complicated relationship & we loved each other. Will miss you Pop.pic.twitter.com/8GYf9k3xWM
In2004,Ward and Woods were inducted into the ELSPA Hall of Fame for their contributions to the game industry.
“Many people consider Ocean Software to be pioneers who helped to transform the UK computer and video games into a real multinational business,” said ELSPA director general Roger Bennett at the time.
“Together Ward and Woods coined much of the terminology of the games industry and instigated many of its milestones, including the use of brands and franchises from traditional media and the formal processes of protecting intellectual property.”
In 1996, Ocean Software merged with Infogrames for £100 million. Ocean remained a separate division of Infogrames until 1998 when it was rebranded as Infogrames United Kindom Limited.
British games trade body UKIE said in a statement on Monday: “We’re saddened to hear of the passing of David Ward, who was the co-founder of the pioneering Manchester based games development and publishing company Ocean Software. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”
This is hugely tragic news, thoughts with David’s family.I had loads of meetings in Manchester with him.He was such a great guy, loved his work, really knew his stuff and as Andy says, is a true UK games industry legend.🎮https://t.co/n2Z3g9LEzl
This is sad news. If you were around in the 8/16 bit eras of computing and gaming then it was impossible to ignore Ocean’s distinctive logo, the high-profile releases and huge influence on the UK games industry in particular.https://t.co/TMNYxd4Y7j
David Ward Credits
A-Jax – ProducerA.L.C.O.N. – ProducerAndroidTwo – ProducerArkanoid – ProducerArkanoid: Revenge of DOH – ProducerArmageddon – ProducerArmy Moves – ProducerAthena – ProducerBad Dudes – ProducerBatman: The Caped Crusader – ProducerBattle Command – ProducerBoot Camp – ProducerCabal – ProducerCavelon – ProducerChase H.Q. – ProducerChase H.Q. II: Special Criminal Investigation – ProducerCobra –AmstradProducerComic Bakery – ProducerContra – ProducerCosmic Wartoad – ProducerCosmo Police Galivan – ProducerDaley Thompson’s Decathlon – ProducerDaley Thompson’s Olympic Challenge – ProducerDarkman – ProducerDouble Take – ProducerEco – ProducerEskimo Eddie – ProducerFirefly – ProducerFrankie Goes to Hollywood -ProducerFreddy Hardest – ProducerGame Over – ProducerGift from the Gods – ProducerGilligan’s Gold – ProducerHead Over Heels – ProducerHigh Noon – ProducerHighlander – ProducerHunchback – ProducerHunchback II: Quasimodo’s Revenge – ProducerHunchback: the Adventure – ProducerHyper Sports – ProducerIt’s a Knockout – ProducerJonny and the Jimpys – ProducerKonami‘s Golf – ProducerKong Strikes Back! – ProducerLife Force – ProducerLost Patrol – ProducerMadballs – ProducerMagMax – ProducerMailstrom – ProducerMatch Day II – ProducerMiami Vice – ProducerMidnight Resistance – ProducerMikie – ProducerMoon Alert -ProducerMovie – ProducerN.O.M.A.D. – ProducerNARC – ProducerNavy Seals – ProducerNightmare Rally – ProducerNinja Gaiden – ProducerOperation Wolf – ProducerPang – ProducerParallax -ProducerParasol Stars: The Story of Bubble Bobble III – ProducerPhantom Club – ProducerPing Pong – ProducerPlotting – ProducerPsycho Soldier – ProducerPud Pud in Weird World – ProducerPuzznic – ProducerRainbow Islands – ProducerRambo III – ProducerRastan – ProducerRed Heat – ProducerRenegade – ProducerRenegade III: The Final Chapter – ProducerRoboCop – ProducerRoboCop 2 – ProducerRoland’s Ratrace – ProducerRollerball – ProducerRun the Gauntlet – ProducerRush’n Attack – ProducerShort Circuit – ProducerSly Spy: Secret Agent – ProducerSpace Gun – ProducerStreet Hawk – ProducerSuper Soccer – ProducerTLL: Tornado Low Level – ProducerTank – ProducerTarget: Renegade – ProducerTerra Cresta – ProducerThe Great Escape – ProducerThe Legend of Kage – ProducerThe Neverending Story – ProducerThe New Zealand Story -ProducerThe Slugger – ProducerThe Vindicator! – ProducerToki: Going Ape Spit – ProducerTotal Recall – ProducerTransformers – ProducerTransversion – ProducerVoyager – ProducerWEC Le Mans – ProducerWhere Time Stood Still – ProducerWild Wheels – ProducerWizadore – ProducerWizball – ProducerYie Ar Kung-Fu 2: The Emperor Yie-Gah – Producer
