In Memoriam 2022

Rieko Kodama, also known as Phoenix Rie, was one of Sega's top designers, working on hits such as Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Quartet, Spellcaster and Altered Beast, with her main work being the first Phantasy Star, where she was responsible for the overall design of the game.

From 1993 onwards, she began working in directing and production positions, being the director of Phantasy Star IV for Mega Drive and Magic Knight Rayearth for Sega Saturn.

Her last work at Sega was as a Producer, working on Sega Ages titles for Nintendo Switch such as Virtua Racing, Alex Kidd in Miracle World and Wonder Boy in Monster Land, as well as working on Mega Drive Mini 1 and 2.

She unfortunately passed away on May 9, 2022.

Bernard Stolar was an executive working for Atari, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment America from 1993 to 1996, and later President of Sega of America.

While at Sega of America, he no longer believed in the Sega Saturn and did everything he could to kill the console more quickly in the West, failing to localize several good titles here.

He passed away at the age of 75 on June 22, 2022.

Scott Bennie was a game designer and writer, working on several games such as Champions of Norrath, Conquest of the New World, Descent, Star Trek: Judgment Rites and Star Trek: 25th Anniversary.

He passed away on March 29, 2022 due to complications from pneumonia.

Kenichi Okuma was a composer, sound designer, and musician, working on games such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mystic Ark, Langrisser V, Lunar: Eternal Blue, Urusei Yatsura, and Wing Commander.

He sadly passed away at the age of 56 on July 22, 2022 from esophageal cancer.

David Ward was a programmer and co-founder of Ocean Software.

He passed away at the age of 75 in May 2022.

Stewart Gilray was a producer and game designer, founder of the developer Just Add Water.

He passed away in January 2022 due to Covid-19.

Russell Lees was a writer and narrative designer, working on the Assassin's Creed series and the game Far Cry New Dawn.

He sadly passed away in January 2022.

Archer Maclean was a British programmer and game designer, creator of games such as Dropzone for the Atari 8-bit, International Karate and the Jimmy White's Whirlwind Snooker series of snooker games.

He sadly passed away on December 24, 2022.