Difference between revisions of "Mark Cooksey"

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−
{{Template: Infobox Composer
+
{{Infobox Composer
−
| Name        = Mark Thomas William Cooksey
+
| Name        = Mark Thomas William Cooksey
−
| Picture    = Mcooksey1.jpg
+
| Picture    = Mcooksey1.jpg
−
| Born        = January 18, 1966 (Age 44)
+
| Born        = 1966-01-18
−
| BirthPlace  = Unknown
+
| BirthPlace  = Unknown
−
| Nationality = British
+
| Nationality = British
−
| Flag        = UK
+
| Flag        = UK
−
| Alias01     = Tony Deaf
+
| Aliases     = Tony Deaf, M.T.W. Cooksey, M Cooksey, Mark, Dr K
−
| Alias02    = M.T.W. Cooksey
+
| Website    = sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/
−
| Alias03    = M Cooksey
 
−
| Alias04    = Mark
 
−
| Website    = sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
'''''Mark Cooksey''''' is a British composer who has been working on video game music ever since the 1980's and is one of the better known game musicians. Mark graduated college with a degree in science and was looking for a job. He saw an ad for [[Elite]] looking for a programmer and it interested him so he went to apply for the job in 1985. The boss of Elite, Brian Wilcox, asked Mark to write him a 6502 assembly player on Mark's Oric Atmos computer. After he did that, Wilcox asked Cooksey to write a tune to their game Airwolf using the assembly player Mark wrote for him. After he did, he was given the job as an audio engineer which Mark did not expect. From that point on he composed music for almost all of Elite's games. In 1986, Mark left Elite but then later joined again 1989 and then he left again in 1990. While working at Elite, he moved on to their division [[MotiveTime]], which paid their employees bonuses for based on MotiveTime's profits. However, the bonuses gradually got lower and eventually disappeared. He later worked for [[NMS Software]], which was a bunch of former Elite staff members. Mark also worked for [[Arc Developments]] and created the sound engines there. Mark's best known soundtracks are for Commodore 64 ports of Bomb Jack, Paperboy, and Ghosts and Goblins, which have had tons of remixes by C64 music fans alike. Mark continues to compose game soundtracks to this day and he even plays in a band. Mark says that writing music for video games inspired him to compose and play music.
+
'''''Mark Cooksey''''' is a British composer who has been working on video game music ever since the 1980s and is one of the better known game musicians.
  
−
==Music Composition==
+
Cooksey played the piano as a small child and used computers at school around 1982. In 1984, he bought himself an [[Oric Atmos]] with 32k and left school with A-Levels in Chemistry, Physics (his favorite subject) and General Studies. He then unsuccessfully looked for a job in electronics.
−
===C64===
 
−
As stated above, Mark used an assembly player from his Oric Atmos computer.
 
  
−
===GEN===
+
In February 1985, [[Elite]] were looking for programmers at the local job centre. Finding it close enough, Cooksey applied as a trainee games programmer and landed an interview with the boss, Brian Wilcox, the next day. At the end, Cooksey was tasked with programming a music driver in assembly for his Oric and arranging [[Airwolf Main Theme]] on it. Over the weekend, he did it using a very simple assembler he had programmed in BASIC. On this basis, he got employed "more or less on the spot", tasked with arranging the same song on someone else's [[Commodore 64]] music driver, and next, and unexpectedly, with composing music for almost all of Elite's games.
−
Mark composed MIDI files which were converted to his 68000 sound driver. Mark said he had a very difficult time programming instruments on it and had Sega send him some example instruments.
 
  
−
===GG/SMS===
+
Elite made Cooksey a freelancer from 1986 to 1989 and laid him off in 1990 for financial reasons. While working at Elite, he moved on to their division [[MotiveTime]], which paid their employees bonuses for based on Elite's profits. However, the bonuses gradually got lower and eventually disappeared. He later worked for [[NMS Software]], which was a bunch of former Elite staff members. Cooksey also worked for [[Arc Developments]] and created the sound engines there.
−
Mark wrote the music in [[Logic]] and [[Notator]] for the [[Atari ST]]. He would then convert his MIDI files to the GameGear and Master System using his own conversion tool and sound engine.
+
 
 +
Cooksey's best known soundtracks are [[Bomb Jack (C64)]], [[Paperboy (C64)]], and [[Ghosts 'n Goblins (C64)]], which have had tons of remixes by C64 music fans alike. Cooksey continues to compose game soundtracks to this day and he even plays in a band. Cooksey says that writing music for video games inspired him to compose and play music.
 +
 
 +
As of 2001, he still has an Oric Atmos and a Commodore 64 and donated his [[Amstrad CPC]] and his Sanyo 286 PC to a cancer charity.
 +
 
 +
==Music Development==
 +
===Commodore 64===
 +
For 1985, Cooksey was given someone else's driver. Elite also had a license to ''Novaload'', a tape loading system which had its own music format but forced Cooksey to enter notes in BASIC.
 +
 
 +
By April 1986 and autumn 1988, he created two drivers of his own. On two games, he used a bass drum sample and a snare drum sample by [[Christoph Bergmann]] and a hihat sample from a 1987 demo song, either from ''Music by Cavi 2'' by Geert Vandevenne or more likely from ''Nemesis'' by [[Marco Swagerman]].
 +
 
 +
===Game Boy===
 +
Cooksey composed his music on [[Notator]] for the Atari ST and wrote a tool that converted the MIDI files to his [[Mark Cooksey (GB Driver)|sound driver]].
 +
 
 +
===Game Gear/Sega Master System===
 +
Cooksey wrote the music in [[Logic]] and [[Notator]] for the [[Atari ST]]. He would then convert his MIDI files to the GameGear and Master System using his own conversion tool and sound engine.
 +
 
 +
===Genesis===
 +
Cooksey composed MIDI files which were converted to his 68000 sound driver. Cooksey said he had a very difficult time programming instruments on it. During the development of Paperboy, Cooksey had Sega send him instruments.
  
 
===NES===
 
===NES===
−
All of Mark's NES music was composed in [[Notator]] for the Atari ST. He then converted the MIDI files in Notator to the NES. Mark also programmed his own sound driver for the NES. According to Mark, he was primarily trying to get "flutey" sounds out of the NES. His music was played back from a [[:File:Spidersoft Box 1.JPG|memory box from Spidersoft]].
+
All of Cooksey's NES music was composed in [[Notator]] for the Atari ST. He then converted the MIDI files in Notator to the NES. Cooksey also programmed [[Mark Cooksey (NES Driver)|his own sound driver]] for the NES. According to Cooksey, he was primarily trying to get "flutey" sounds out of the NES. His music was played back from a [[:File:Spidersoft Box 1.JPG|memory box from Spidersoft]].
  
−
The game Joe & Mac uses digitized drum samples, which Mark says may have been supplied by [[Richard Frankish]].
+
The game Joe & Mac uses digitized drum samples, which Cooksey says may have been supplied by [[Richard Frankish]].
  
 
==Gameography==
 
==Gameography==
−
{{Template: Table Header
+
Official Gameography: https://sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/7-games-i-ve-worked-on
−
| Color    = FFF0FF
+
{| class="wikitable"
−
| Caption01 = Released
+
! Released
−
| Caption02 = Title
+
! Title
−
| Caption03 = Sample
+
! Sample
−
}}
 
−
| Unknown
 
−
| Solitaire on Vacation (IOS)
 
−
|
 
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased
+
| 1985-0?-??
−
| [[The Adventures of Dr. Franken (NES)]]
+
| [[911 Tiger Shark (C64)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01_-_Adventures_of_Dr._Franken_-_NES_-_Title.ogg}}
 
−
|-
 
−
| Unreleased?
 
−
| Blackjack-Poker (GB)
 
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased
+
| 1985-0?-??
−
| E.T.: Venron's Assault (GBA)
+
| [[Airwolf (C64)]]
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| Unreleased?
 
−
| Gex 2 (GB)
 
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| Unreleased
 
−
| Home Alone 2 (GB)
 
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased
+
| 1985-0?-??
−
| [[Hoppin' Mad (NES)]]
+
| [[Frank Bruno's Boxing (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased?
+
| 1986-04-??
−
| Kirouko 2 (GBC)
+
| [[Bomb Jack (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased?
+
| 1986-06-??
−
| Matchbox: Cops & Robbers (GBA)
+
| [[Ghosts 'n Goblins (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased?
+
| 1986-12-??
−
| Mattel Pack 1 (GBA)
+
| [[Space Harrier (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased
+
| 1986-1?-??
−
| Pinocchio (GB)
+
| [[Paperboy (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| Unreleased?
+
| 1986-1?-??
−
| TXR Racing (GBA)
+
| [[Scooby Doo (C64)]]
−
|  
+
| Sound Effects?/Sound Effect Driver.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1985-??-??
+
| 1986-??-??
−
| [[911 Tiger Shark (C64)]]
+
| [[1942 (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1985-??-??
+
| 1986-??-??
−
| [[Airwolf (C64)]]
+
| [[Airwolf II (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1986-??-??
 
| 1986-??-??
−
| [[1942 (C64)]]
+
| [[Bomb Jack II (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1986-??-??
 
| 1986-??-??
−
| [[Airwolf II (C64)]]
+
| [[Commando 86 (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1986-??-??
+
| 1987-07-??
−
| [[Bomb Jack (C64)]]
+
| [[Cataball (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1986-??-??
+
| 1987-07-??
−
| [[Bomb Jack II (C64)]]
+
| [[Great Gurianos (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1986-??-??
+
| 1987-0?-??
−
| [[Commando 86 (C64)]]
+
| [[Pirates in Hyperspace (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1986-??-??
+
| 1987-0?-??
−
| [[Ghosts 'N' Goblins (C64)]]
+
| [[Scare Bear (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1986-??-??
+
| 1987-0?-??
−
| [[Paperboy (C64)]]
+
| [[Starforce Nova (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1987-??-??
+
| 1987-1?-??
−
| [[Battle Ships (C64)]]
+
| [[Jackal (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1987-??-??
+
| 1987-1?-??
−
| [[Buggy Boy (C64)]]
+
| [[Ramparts (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1987-??-??
 
| 1987-??-??
−
| [[Cataball (C64)]]
+
| [[Battle Ships (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 137: Line 133:
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1987-??-??
+
| 1988-09-??
−
| [[Jackal (C64)]]
+
| [[Battle Island (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1987-??-??
+
| 1988-0?-??
−
| [[Ramparts (C64)]]
+
| [[Hoppin' Mad (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1987-??-??
+
| 1988-0?-??
−
| [[Space Harrier (C64)]]
+
| [[Ikari Warriors (C64)]]
−
|  
+
| Loading Music.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1988-??-??
+
| 1988-0?-??
−
| [[A Question of Sport (AMI)]]
+
| [[Salamander (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1988-??-??
+
| 1988-1?-??
 
| [[A Question of Sport (C64)]]
 
| [[A Question of Sport (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1988-??-??
 
| 1988-??-??
−
| [[Battle Island (C64)]]
+
| [[A Question of Sport (AMI)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 171: Line 167:
 
| 1988-??-??
 
| 1988-??-??
 
| [[Ghosts 'N Goblins (AMI)]]
 
| [[Ghosts 'N Goblins (AMI)]]
−
|
 
−
|-
 
−
| 1988-??-??
 
−
| [[Hoppin' Mad (C64)]]
 
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 193: Line 185:
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1988-??-??
+
| 1989-0?-??
−
| [[Salamander (C64)]]
+
| [[First Strike (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1989-0?-??
 +
| [[Forgotten Worlds (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1989-0?-??
 +
| [[Mike Read's Computer Pop Quiz (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1989-0?-??
 +
| [[Storm Warrior (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1989-0?-??
 +
| [[Wanderer (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 220: Line 228:
 
| [[Paperboy (AMI)]]
 
| [[Paperboy (AMI)]]
 
|
 
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1989-??-??
 +
| [[Space Academy (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 198?-??-??
 +
| [[Spitfire (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1990-06-??
 +
| [[Felix (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1990-0?-??
 +
| [[Crack Down (C64)]]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1990-??-??
 
| 1990-??-??
Line 227: Line 251:
 
| 1990-12-??
 
| 1990-12-??
 
| [[Dragon's Lair (NES)]] (ドラゴンズレア)
 
| [[Dragon's Lair (NES)]] (ドラゴンズレア)
−
| {{Song-List|01 - Dragon's Lair - NES - Title.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Dragon's Lair - NES - Title.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1990-??-??
 
| 1990-??-??
Line 242: Line 266:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1990-??-??
 
| 1990-??-??
−
| [[Mighty Bomb Jack (C64)]]
+
| [[Tournament Golf (AMI)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1990-??-??
 
| 1990-??-??
−
| [[Tournament Golf (AMI)]]
+
| [[World Championship Soccer (AMI)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
−
| 1990-??-??
+
| 1991-03-??
−
| [[World Championship Soccer (AMI)]]
+
| [[Gremlins 2: The New Batch (C64)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 264: Line 288:
 
| [[Dragon's Lair: The Legend (GB)]] (ドラゴンズレア)
 
| [[Dragon's Lair: The Legend (GB)]] (ドラゴンズレア)
 
|  
 
|  
 +
|-
 +
| 1992-12-??
 +
| [[Lethal Weapon (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1992-12-??
 +
| [[WWF European Rampage Tour (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1992-1?-??
 +
| Nick Faldo's Championship Golf (C64)<!--No music-->
 +
| Sound Effects.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1992-??-??
 
| 1992-??-??
−
| [[Arch Rivals (GEN)]]
+
| [[The Addams Family (SMS)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1992-??-??
 
| 1992-??-??
−
| [[Arch Rivals (GG)]]
+
| [[Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (GEN)]]
−
|  
+
| {{Song-Box|02 - Arch Rivals - GEN - Game Theme.ogg}}
 +
|-
 +
| 1992-??-??
 +
| [[Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (GG)]]
 +
| {{Song-Box|01 - Arch Rivals - GG - Title Screen.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1992-??-??
 
| 1992-??-??
 
| [[Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (GB)]] (フェラーリ)
 
| [[Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (GB)]] (フェラーリ)
−
| Composer?
+
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1992-??-??
 
| 1992-??-??
Line 291: Line 331:
 
| 1992-11-??
 
| 1992-11-??
 
| [[Prince of Persia (NES)]]
 
| [[Prince of Persia (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01 - Prince of Persia - NES - Title.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Prince of Persia - NES - Title.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1992-11-??
 
| 1992-11-??
Line 318: Line 358:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-??-??
 
| 1993-??-??
−
| [[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (GG)]]
+
| [[Sensible Soccer: European Champions (GB)]]
−
| Sound Driver
+
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-??-??
 
| 1993-??-??
−
| [[The Simpsons: Bart vs. the World (SMS)]]
+
| [[Speedy Gonzales (GB)]] (それゆ！けスピーディー・ゴンザレス)
−
| Sound Driver
+
|  
−
|-
 
−
| 1993-??-??
 
−
| [[Terminator 2 (GG)]]
 
−
| Sound Driver
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-02-??
 
| 1993-02-??
Line 343: Line 379:
 
| 1993-06-??
 
| 1993-06-??
 
| [[Joe & Mac (NES)]]
 
| [[Joe & Mac (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01 - Joe & Mac - NES - Title Screen.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Joe & Mac - NES - Title Screen.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-06-??
 
| 1993-06-??
Line 350: Line 386:
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-07-23
 
| 1993-07-23
−
| [[Jimmy Connors Tennis (GB)]]
+
| [[Jimmy Connors Tennis (GB)]] (ジミー コナーズ の プロテニスツアー)
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-11-??
 
| 1993-11-??
 
| [[Cliffhanger (NES)]]
 
| [[Cliffhanger (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|02 - Cliffhanger - NES - Cutscene.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|02 - Cliffhanger - NES - Cutscene.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-11-??
 
| 1993-11-??
 
| [[Jimmy Connors Tennis (NES)]]
 
| [[Jimmy Connors Tennis (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01_-_Jimmy_Connors_Tennis_-_NES_-_Title.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Jimmy Connors Tennis - NES - Title.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1993-12-??
 
| 1993-12-??
 
| [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Ubisoft (NES)]]
 
| [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Ubisoft (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Ubisoft - NES - In-Game.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Ubisoft - NES - In-Game.ogg}}
 +
|-
 +
| 1993-??-??
 +
| [[Poker Face Paul's Blackjack (GG)]]
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1994-??-??
 
| 1994-??-??
 
| [[Aladdin (NES)]]
 
| [[Aladdin (NES)]]
−
| {{Song-List|01_-_Aladdin_-_NES_-_Title_Screen.ogg}}
+
| {{Song-Box|01 - Aladdin - NES - Title Screen.ogg}}
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1994-??-??
 
| 1994-??-??
−
| [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (GB)]]
+
| [[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (GB)]] (インディアナジョーンズ 最後の聖戦)
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1994-??-??
 
| 1994-??-??
 
| [[Math Blaster: Episode 1 (SNES)]]
 
| [[Math Blaster: Episode 1 (SNES)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1994-02-??
 +
| [[Dennis the Menace (GB)]] (Dennis)
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1994-04-22
 
| 1994-04-22
 
| [[The Fidgetts (GB)]]
 
| [[The Fidgetts (GB)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1994-06-17
 +
| [[Elite Soccer (GB)]] (ワールドカップストライカー)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1994-06-24
 +
| [[The Addams Family (GG)]] (アダムス・ファミリー)
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 387: Line 439:
 
| 1994-12-??
 
| 1994-12-??
 
| [[Hurricanes (GG)]]
 
| [[Hurricanes (GG)]]
−
| Sound Driver
+
| Sound Driver?
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1994-12-08
 
| 1994-12-08
Line 395: Line 447:
 
| 1994-12-16
 
| 1994-12-16
 
| [[Newman Haas IndyCar Featuring Nigel Mansell (GEN)]] (ナイジェルマンセル・インディカー)
 
| [[Newman Haas IndyCar Featuring Nigel Mansell (GEN)]] (ナイジェルマンセル・インディカー)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1994-??-??
 +
| [[Poker Face Paul's Solitaire (GG)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 419: Line 475:
 
| 1997-09-30
 
| 1997-09-30
 
| [[Mass Destruction (PS1)]]
 
| [[Mass Destruction (PS1)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| 1997-10-??
 +
| [[Dr. Franken II (GB)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
Line 428: Line 488:
 
| [[Mass Destruction (SAT)]]
 
| [[Mass Destruction (SAT)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 +
|-
 +
| 1998-12-??
 +
| [[Las Vegas Cool Hand (GBC)]]
 +
| Sound Driver
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1998-12-??
 
| 1998-12-??
 
| [[Pitfall: Beyond the Jungle (GBC)]]
 
| [[Pitfall: Beyond the Jungle (GBC)]]
 
|  
 
|  
 +
|-
 +
| 1998-??-??
 +
| [[Cool Hand (GB)]]
 +
| Sound Driver
 
|-
 
|-
 
| 1999-10-??
 
| 1999-10-??
Line 617: Line 685:
 
|  
 
|  
 
|-
 
|-
 +
| Unknown
 +
| Solitaire on Vacation (IOS)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| [[The Adventures of Dr. Franken (NES)]]
 +
| {{Song-Box|01 - Adventures of Dr. Franken - NES - Title.ogg}}
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| Blackjack-Poker (GB)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| [[Charlie Chaplin (C64)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| [[Dragon's Lair (GEN)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| E.T.: Venron's Assault (GBA)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| Gex 2 (GB)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| Home Alone 2 (GB)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| [[Hoppin' Mad (NES)]]
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| Kirouko 2 (GBC)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| Matchbox: Cops & Robbers (GBA)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| Mattel Pack 1 (GBA)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased
 +
| Pinocchio (GB)
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| Unreleased?
 +
| TXR Racing (GBA)
 +
|
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
==Picture Gallery==
 
==Picture Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
−
Image:Mcooksey1.jpg|Unknown Source
+
Mcooksey1.jpg|Remix64 interview.
−
Image:Mcooksey2.jpg|Unknown Source
+
Mcooksey2.jpg|Taken by the webmasters of composers.c64.org in 2001.
−
Image:Mcooksey3.jpg|Unknown Source
+
Mcooksey3.jpg|Unknown source.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
−
*'''Official Gameography:''' [https://sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/7-games-i-ve-worked-on]
+
* [https://sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/ sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/] - Official.
−
*'''Facebook:''' [https://www.facebook.com/mark.cooksey.14]
+
* [https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,52182/ mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,52182/] - MobyGames.
−
*'''Linkedin:''' [http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=8168084&locale=en_US&trk=tyah]
+
* [https://www.facebook.com/mark.cooksey.14 facebook.com/mark.cooksey.14] - Facebook.
−
*'''YouTube:''' [http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMaua8gW_DgIJ33LaXrebQ?feature=watch]
+
* [https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=8168084 linkedin.com/profile/view?id=8168084] - LinkedIn.
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKMaua8gW_DgIJ33LaXrebQ youtube.com/channel/UCKMaua8gW_DgIJ33LaXrebQ] - YouTube.
 +
* [https://www.remix64.com/interviews/interview-mark-cooksey.html remix64.com/interviews/interview-mark-cooksey.html] - Interview from May 17, 2001.
 +
* [http://amp.dascene.net/detail.php?view=4597&detail=interview amp.dascene.net/detail.php?view=4597&detail=interview] - Interview from 2001.
 +
 
  
−
[[Category:Composers]]
+
[[Category: Composers]]
−
[[Category:Foley Artists]]
+
[[Category: Foley Artists]]
−
[[Category:Sound Programmers]]
+
[[Category: Sound Programmers]]

Revision as of 00:13, 28 December 2019

Mark Thomas William Cooksey
Mcooksey1.jpg
Born 1966-01-18
Birth Place Unknown
Nationality British   UK.svg
Aliases Tony Deaf, M.T.W. Cooksey, M Cooksey, Mark, Dr K
Website sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/

Mark Cooksey is a British composer who has been working on video game music ever since the 1980s and is one of the better known game musicians.

Cooksey played the piano as a small child and used computers at school around 1982. In 1984, he bought himself an Oric Atmos with 32k and left school with A-Levels in Chemistry, Physics (his favorite subject) and General Studies. He then unsuccessfully looked for a job in electronics.

In February 1985, Elite were looking for programmers at the local job centre. Finding it close enough, Cooksey applied as a trainee games programmer and landed an interview with the boss, Brian Wilcox, the next day. At the end, Cooksey was tasked with programming a music driver in assembly for his Oric and arranging Airwolf Main Theme on it. Over the weekend, he did it using a very simple assembler he had programmed in BASIC. On this basis, he got employed "more or less on the spot", tasked with arranging the same song on someone else's Commodore 64 music driver, and next, and unexpectedly, with composing music for almost all of Elite's games.

Elite made Cooksey a freelancer from 1986 to 1989 and laid him off in 1990 for financial reasons. While working at Elite, he moved on to their division MotiveTime, which paid their employees bonuses for based on Elite's profits. However, the bonuses gradually got lower and eventually disappeared. He later worked for NMS Software, which was a bunch of former Elite staff members. Cooksey also worked for Arc Developments and created the sound engines there.

Cooksey's best known soundtracks are Bomb Jack (C64), Paperboy (C64), and Ghosts 'n Goblins (C64), which have had tons of remixes by C64 music fans alike. Cooksey continues to compose game soundtracks to this day and he even plays in a band. Cooksey says that writing music for video games inspired him to compose and play music.

As of 2001, he still has an Oric Atmos and a Commodore 64 and donated his Amstrad CPC and his Sanyo 286 PC to a cancer charity.

Music Development

Commodore 64

For 1985, Cooksey was given someone else's driver. Elite also had a license to Novaload, a tape loading system which had its own music format but forced Cooksey to enter notes in BASIC.

By April 1986 and autumn 1988, he created two drivers of his own. On two games, he used a bass drum sample and a snare drum sample by Christoph Bergmann and a hihat sample from a 1987 demo song, either from Music by Cavi 2 by Geert Vandevenne or more likely from Nemesis by Marco Swagerman.

Game Boy

Cooksey composed his music on Notator for the Atari ST and wrote a tool that converted the MIDI files to his sound driver.

Game Gear/Sega Master System

Cooksey wrote the music in Logic and Notator for the Atari ST. He would then convert his MIDI files to the GameGear and Master System using his own conversion tool and sound engine.

Genesis

Cooksey composed MIDI files which were converted to his 68000 sound driver. Cooksey said he had a very difficult time programming instruments on it. During the development of Paperboy, Cooksey had Sega send him instruments.

NES

All of Cooksey's NES music was composed in Notator for the Atari ST. He then converted the MIDI files in Notator to the NES. Cooksey also programmed his own sound driver for the NES. According to Cooksey, he was primarily trying to get "flutey" sounds out of the NES. His music was played back from a memory box from Spidersoft.

The game Joe & Mac uses digitized drum samples, which Cooksey says may have been supplied by Richard Frankish.

Gameography

Official Gameography: https://sites.google.com/site/mtwmusicsite/7-games-i-ve-worked-on

Released Title Sample
1985-0?-?? 911 Tiger Shark (C64)
1985-0?-?? Airwolf (C64)
1985-0?-?? Frank Bruno's Boxing (C64)
1986-04-?? Bomb Jack (C64)
1986-06-?? Ghosts 'n Goblins (C64)
1986-12-?? Space Harrier (C64)
1986-1?-?? Paperboy (C64)
1986-1?-?? Scooby Doo (C64) Sound Effects?/Sound Effect Driver.
1986-??-?? 1942 (C64)
1986-??-?? Airwolf II (C64)
1986-??-?? Bomb Jack II (C64)
1986-??-?? Commando 86 (C64)
1987-07-?? Cataball (C64)
1987-07-?? Great Gurianos (C64)
1987-0?-?? Pirates in Hyperspace (C64)
1987-0?-?? Scare Bear (C64)
1987-0?-?? Starforce Nova (C64)
1987-1?-?? Jackal (C64)
1987-1?-?? Ramparts (C64)
1987-??-?? Battle Ships (C64)
1987-??-?? Dead or Alive (C64)
1988-09-?? Battle Island (C64)
1988-0?-?? Hoppin' Mad (C64)
1988-0?-?? Ikari Warriors (C64) Loading Music.
1988-0?-?? Salamander (C64)
1988-1?-?? A Question of Sport (C64)
1988-??-?? A Question of Sport (AMI)
1988-??-?? Buggy Boy (ZXS)
1988-??-?? Forgotten Worlds (AMI)
1988-??-?? Ghosts 'N Goblins (AMI)
1988-??-?? Live and Let Die: The Computer Game (AMI)
1988-??-?? Live and Let Die: The Computer Game (C64)
1988-??-?? Mike Read's Computer Pop Quiz (AMI)
1988-??-?? Overlander (C64)
1989-0?-?? First Strike (C64)
1989-0?-?? Forgotten Worlds (C64)
1989-0?-?? Mike Read's Computer Pop Quiz (C64)
1989-0?-?? Storm Warrior (C64)
1989-0?-?? Wanderer (C64)
1989-??-?? Aquablast (AMI)
1989-??-?? Commando (AMI)
1989-??-?? Cybernoid: The Fighting Machine (NES) Composer?
1989-??-?? Grand National (AMI)
1989-??-?? Overlander (AMI)
1989-??-?? Paperboy (AMI)
1989-??-?? Space Academy (C64)
198?-??-?? Spitfire (C64)
1990-06-?? Felix (C64)
1990-0?-?? Crack Down (C64)
1990-??-?? Commando (AST)
1990-12-?? Dragon's Lair (NES) (ドラゴンズレア)
1990-??-?? Gremlins 2: The New Batch (AMI)
1990-??-?? Mighty Bomb Jack (AMI)
1990-??-?? Mighty Bomb Jack (AST)
1990-??-?? Tournament Golf (AMI)
1990-??-?? World Championship Soccer (AMI)
1991-03-?? Gremlins 2: The New Batch (C64)
1991-??-?? Paperboy (GEN)
1991-??-?? RoboCop Versus The Terminator (SMS)
1991-01-?? Dragon's Lair: The Legend (GB) (ドラゴンズレア)
1992-12-?? Lethal Weapon (C64)
1992-12-?? WWF European Rampage Tour (C64)
1992-1?-?? Nick Faldo's Championship Golf (C64) Sound Effects.
1992-??-?? The Addams Family (SMS)
1992-??-?? Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (GEN)
1992-??-?? Arch Rivals: The Arcade Game (GG)
1992-??-?? Ferrari Grand Prix Challenge (GB) (フェラーリ)
1992-??-?? Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (GB)
1992-??-?? The Simpsons: Bart vs. The Space Mutants (SMS)
1992-01-?? The Addams Family (GB)
1992-11-?? Prince of Persia (NES)
1992-11-?? Star Wars (GB)
1992-11-?? Super Off Road (GB)
1992-12-?? Dr. Franken (GB) (ドクター フランケン)
1993-??-?? Cool World (GB)
1993-??-?? F-15 Strike Eagle (GG)
1993-??-?? RoboCop Versus The Terminator (GG)
1993-??-?? Sensible Soccer: European Champions (GB)
1993-??-?? Speedy Gonzales (GB) (それゆ！けスピーディー・ゴンザレス)
1993-02-?? Dragon's Lair (SNES) (ドラゴンズ マジック)
1993-06-?? F-15 Strike Eagle (GB)
1993-06-?? Joe & Mac (GB) (Caveman Ninja)
1993-06-?? Joe & Mac (NES)
1993-06-?? StarHawk (GB)
1993-07-23 Jimmy Connors Tennis (GB) (ジミー コナーズ の プロテニスツアー)
1993-11-?? Cliffhanger (NES)
1993-11-?? Jimmy Connors Tennis (NES)
1993-12-?? Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Ubisoft (NES)
1993-??-?? Poker Face Paul's Blackjack (GG)
1994-??-?? Aladdin (NES)
1994-??-?? Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (GB) (インディアナジョーンズ 最後の聖戦)
1994-??-?? Math Blaster: Episode 1 (SNES)
1994-02-?? Dennis the Menace (GB) (Dennis)
1994-04-22 The Fidgetts (GB)
1994-06-17 Elite Soccer (GB) (ワールドカップストライカー)
1994-06-24 The Addams Family (GG) (アダムス・ファミリー)
1994-10-?? Cool Spot (GB)
1994-12-?? Hurricanes (GG) Sound Driver?
1994-12-08 Aladdin (GB)
1994-12-16 Newman Haas IndyCar Featuring Nigel Mansell (GEN) (ナイジェルマンセル・インディカー)
1994-??-?? Poker Face Paul's Solitaire (GG)
1995-02-?? Pinball Fantasies (SNES)
1995-07-?? Jungle Strike (GB)
1995-12-31 Hyper 3-D Pinball (DOS)
1996-10-31 Hyper 3-D Pinball (SAT)
1997-01-?? Hyper 3-D Pinball (PS1)
1997-09-30 Mass Destruction (PS1)
1997-10-?? Dr. Franken II (GB)
1997-10-31 Mass Destruction (DOS)
1997-11-30 Mass Destruction (SAT)
1998-12-?? Las Vegas Cool Hand (GBC) Sound Driver
1998-12-?? Pitfall: Beyond the Jungle (GBC)
1998-??-?? Cool Hand (GB) Sound Driver
1999-10-?? Earthworm Jim: Menace 2 the Galaxy (GBC)
1999-11-26 Les Visiteurs (GBC)
1999-12-?? Gex 3: Deep Pocket Gecko (GBC)
1999-11-10 Earthworm Jim 2: Menace to the Galaxy (GBC)
1999-11-26 Les Visiteurs (GBC)
1999-12-?? Gex 3: Deep Pocket Gecko (GBC)
2000-??-?? Papyrus (GBC)
2000-??-?? Spirou: The Robot Invasion (GBC)
2000-04-30 Gold and Glory: The Road to El Dorado (GBC)
2000-07-09 Men in Black II: The Series (GBC)
2000-09-15 Carl Lewis Athletics 2000 (GBC)
2000-09-15 Hype: The Time Quest (GBC)
2000-11-?? Army Men: Air Combat (GBC)
2000-11-27 Ultimate Fighting Championship (GBC)
2000-??-?? Spirou: The Robot Invasion (GBC)
2000-12-06 Playmobil Interactive: Laura (GBC)
2001-03-16 Flipper & Lopaka (GBC)
2001-03-30 Robin Hood (GBC)
2001-05-30 Commander Keen (GBC)
2001-08-24 VIP (GBC)
2001-09-?? Woody Woodpecker (GBC)
2001-09-23 Gremlins: Unleashed (GBC)
2001-09-28 Men in Black: The Series (GBA)
2001-09-28 Snood (GBA)
2001-10-09 Dracula: Crazy Vampire (GBC)
2001-11-14 Midnight Club: Street Racing (GBA)
2001-11-15 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (GBC)
2001-11-16 Kirikou (GBC)
2001-12-04 Top Gun: Firestorm (GBC)
2002-05-29 Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf (GBA)
2002-09-25 Smuggler's Run (GBA)
2002-11-26 Top Gun: Firestorm Advance (GBA)
2005-08-15 Millipede - Super Breakout - Lunar Lander (GBA)
2005-08-21 Connect Four - Perfection - Trouble (GBA)
2005-08-21 Risk - Battleship - Clue (GBA)
2005-08-21 Sorry! Aggravation - Scrabble Junior (GBA)
2005-10-28 Snood 2: On Vacation (GBA)
2005-10-31 Sky Dancers (GBA)
2005-11-07 Mousetrap - Operation - Simon (GBA)
2005-11-16 Snood 2: On Vacation (NDS)
2006-05-16 Tringo (GBA)
2007-??-?? Battleship - Connect Four - Sorry! - Trouble (NDS)
2007-??-?? Clue - Mouse Trap - Perfection - Aggravation (NDS)
2007-??-?? Garfield Gets Real (NDS)
2007-??-?? Garfield Gets Real (Wii)
2007-07-?? Deal or No Deal (NDS)
Unknown Solitaire on Vacation (IOS)
Unreleased The Adventures of Dr. Franken (NES)
Unreleased? Blackjack-Poker (GB)
Unreleased Charlie Chaplin (C64)
Unreleased Dragon's Lair (GEN)
Unreleased E.T.: Venron's Assault (GBA)
Unreleased? Gex 2 (GB)
Unreleased Home Alone 2 (GB)
Unreleased Hoppin' Mad (NES)
Unreleased? Kirouko 2 (GBC)
Unreleased? Matchbox: Cops & Robbers (GBA)
Unreleased? Mattel Pack 1 (GBA)
Unreleased Pinocchio (GB)
Unreleased? TXR Racing (GBA)

Picture Gallery

  • Remix64 interview.

  • Taken by the webmasters of composers.c64.org in 2001.

  • Unknown source.

Links

Retrieved from "http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Mark_Cooksey&oldid=113730"