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Legendary Sound Designer Jory Prum Passes Away At 41 (designingsound.org)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the moment-of-silence dept.

New submitter loren writes: It is with much sadness that I report that legendary sound designer Jory K. Prum, who worked on more than 120 video game titles, passed away April 22, 2016, at age 41, from injuries suffered in a March traffic accident. (Disclaimer: I am a long time friend of Jory and his family.) Here are some personal recollections from family, friends and colleagues... Also, a list of his game credits are on MobyGames. This post doesn't do him justice, but I found news of his loss conspicuously absent on Slashdot.
Back in 2006 a Slashdot article about the game Bone apparently drew a comment from Jory himself ("Funny, I'm recording the dialog for Bone 2 right as I read this!") and in 2004 the same account weighed in on an article about long hours at Electronic Arts. Wikipedia also reports that in 2001 Jory created a voice for Pixar's Oscar-winning short "For the Birds," and in 2014 recovered the aging audio for the classic point-and-click adventure game Grim Fandango.

62 comments

  1. Not Jory! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh my god! And 41. Not even 42.

  2. LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    That's funny, because absolutely no one else cares!

    1. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Calydor · · Score: 4, Funny

      Said someone so unknown he doesn't even have a name.

      --
      -=This sig has nothing to do with my comment. Move along now=-
    2. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Takes one to know one?

    3. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The irony in your statement makes this even better, given that you also are a nobody.

    4. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      No funeral on Slashdot would be complete without some AC being a jerk :(

    5. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by bobo_1968 · · Score: 1

      Comments like these remind us of the cost of supporting AC's. Regardless, I for one treasure this part of Slashdot. It's a good feeling to know that geeks and their contributions are remembered and celebrated. Much love to you OP, Jory, and his family and friends. Thank you for posting this.

    6. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Comments like these remind us of the cost of supporting AC's.

      Fuck off, Bobo. Some of us ACs have been using Slashdot since the first year, yet never felt the narcissistic desire to register a username.

    7. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a good feeling to know that geeks and their contributions are remembered

      Before today, nobody had heard of this guy, and by this time tomorrow he will be forgotten.

    8. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's exactly what I was thinking. How is this guy legendary when he's an unknown? Even the games he was involved with weren't very popular.

      Jory Brum? Sorry, but never heard of him.

    9. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Shut the fuck up Cowdor, you stupid fucking cow.

    10. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This. Legendary? Yeah, because everyone was losing their shit over the sound design of Sim City 4.

      Overblown plaudits detract just as much as anything.

    11. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by bobo_1968 · · Score: 1

      You don't really get it. AC's are good for people posting who wouldn't be able to otherwise, and affording people the ability to post without having their speech policed. Those are good things I support. But, comments like yours and the OP are the price we have to pay for having nice things. I didn't say it wasn't worth the cost, I just said a cost exists. A point you have now made for me.

    12. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      He is not a nobody.

      He is Calydor.

      Clearly stated as his name in his post. The nobody is you.

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    13. Re:LEGENDARY!!! by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Comments like these remind us of the cost of supporting AC's.

      Just move that slider on the right hand side of the screen to 1 or 2, and most will be blocked. I usually read em all, but whne ACs are being jerks, the reading list goes down.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    14. Re: LEGENDARY!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Amen. Each man's death diminishes me? Maybe by 1 part in 3.5 billion.

  3. Too young. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I feel your loss - too young.

    1. Re:Too young. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people should die young. We need organ donors.

    2. Re: Too young. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I didn't know he was into church music too.

  4. Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's too bad his life was cut short.

  5. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People die every day. This guy mixed sound. Seriously, who the fuck cares?

    1. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People die every day. This guy mixed sound. Seriously, who the fuck cares?

      He didn't just mix sound. Did you read the summary? He also posted on Slashdot! Twice!!!

    2. Re:Who cares? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      I do. Granted, he was not Rob Hubbard or Chris Hülsbeck, but who is?

      Personally, I have not played any of the games he worked on so I can't say anything about the quality of his work, but he worked to make people's life more enjoyable. Much more than can be said about many.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he worked to make people's life more enjoyable.

      So does a prostitute. You aren't building a strong case here.

    4. Re:Who cares? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yes, and few managers do.

      Hence logic tells me the value of the average ho is higher than the value of the average CEO.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. Tragic and young. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Im sorry for your loss bud. It's always painful when someone you know dies in such a way. Don't let these unknown basement dwelling neckbeards spewing their misdirected hate ruin your memorial. May he rest in peace.

    1. Re:Tragic and young. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's nothing tragic about a motorcycle accident. It's a completely normal and boring death of people who (should) know the risks.

  7. Links to sounds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Come on, if he was a legendary sound designer at least somebody should link to some of his creations.

  8. Why die at 41? Too early. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not good at all!

  9. David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Died on February 20, 2016. Yet not one submission about him on Slashdot. But, yeah, let's mourn some video game sound designer no one has ever heard of.

    1. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you submit that news?

    2. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is not news when some random nobody dies. 150,000 people die every day. That is about 2 per second.

    3. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      The Amiga truly was ahead of its time.

      And now in 2016 we can emulate the Amiga on a $5 Raspberry Pi zero which is smaller than a credit card!

      Isn't progress amazing?

    4. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      The Amiga truly was ahead of its time.

      And now in 2016 we can emulate the Amiga on a $5 Raspberry Pi zero which is smaller than a credit card!

      Isn't progress amazing?

      Oh yeah, I had several, from the 500 on up.. It took years and non-linear editing for the rest of PC's to catch up. My favorite was the 3000, although my 4000 was great as well, I preferred the form factor of the 3K.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    5. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Amiga truly was ahead of its time.

      And now in 2016 we can emulate the Amiga on a $5 Raspberry Pi zero which is smaller than a credit card!

      Isn't progress amazing?

      Sure, if you limit yourself to the Amiga 500 and don't mind the occasional emulator bug. Amiga emulators aren't as reliable as C64 emulators yet.

    6. Re:David Needle, Amiga Hardware Designer by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 1

      The Amiga is much more complex than a C64, too.

      Amiga, Atari ST, Mac, PC.

      It's weird that the two best ones are gone and the two crappy ones are the only ones left.

  10. Passed Away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You mean he's died?

    Passed away is such a stranged Americanism.
    Why can't you just say someone has died or died rather than passed/passed/away?

    1. Re:Passed Away by Pennidren · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, such a strange Americanism - despite the phrase originating around the 13th century!

    2. Re:Passed Away by ooloorie · · Score: 1

      Yeah, those weird Americans and their euphemisms for death.

    3. Re: Passed Away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The American continent has been there for millions of years, it's not like it sprung into existence when euroweenie nazi pedophile shitpeople stumbled into it.

    4. Re: Passed Away by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ever hear of continental drift?

  11. Legendary? After just 15-16 years in the business? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I never even heard of the guy.

  12. Legendary ?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If he's so legendary why haven't I or others heard of him ?

    Seriously though, let this be a sign to stop over-dramatising and over-faming average people.

    1. Re:Legendary ?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If he's so legendary why haven't I or others heard of him ?

      Because his employer usually takes all the credit and profit for the employee's (serf) work. Microsoft did this, and EA did that when actually some clever but ordinary employee did the magic for his piddly monthly salary.

      The feudal system is still well and alive unless steps are taken to ensure the employee compensation matches his contributions.

  13. Traffic accident? by 110010001000 · · Score: 1

    You mean motorcycle accident. Every Spring there are tons of deaths as guys pull their motorcycles out for their first Spring ride.

    1. Re:Traffic accident? by PseudoThink · · Score: 1

      Confirmed, motorcycle accident (says Eurogamer.net, says Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      Leaving aside the potential quagmires of "traffic accident" vs. "motorcycle accident" and the "legendary" characterization, I'm happy take a few seconds to express my condolences and gratitude for his creative contributions, which I've enjoyed without ever prior knowing who to credit.

    2. Re:Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Especially middle-aged guys in denial of their failing bodies and brains. At 41 you're better off on one of those three-wheel contraptions for retirees.

    3. Re:Traffic accident? by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      Especially middle-aged guys in denial of their failing bodies and brains. At 41 you're better off on one of those three-wheel contraptions for retirees.

      You are at least two decades off the mark. "Failing bodies and brains at 41?" Hardly.

      Lifestyle choices can come into play, but 41 was wa-a-ay better than 21 as far as both physical and intellectual prowess. I've had 25 years to practice and refine skills in my various, regular activities. For example, 25 years of dancing experience makes one a highly sought-after dance partner. You can't get 25 years of practice by age 21.

      You must be 21.

    4. Re:Traffic accident? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      You mean motorcycle accident. Every Spring there are tons of deaths as guys pull their motorcycles out for their first Spring ride.

      fortunately, in recent years, the first spring ride is only the day after my last winter ride.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    5. Re:Traffic accident? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      Especially middle-aged guys in denial of their failing bodies and brains. At 41 you're better off on one of those three-wheel contraptions for retirees.

      You are at least two decades off the mark. "Failing bodies and brains at 41?" Hardly.

      Lifestyle choices can come into play, but 41 was wa-a-ay better than 21 as far as both physical and intellectual prowess. I've had 25 years to practice and refine skills in my various, regular activities. For example, 25 years of dancing experience makes one a highly sought-after dance partner. You can't get 25 years of practice by age 21.

      You must be 21.

      And he's not too bright either.

      I'll be 62 and collecting SS in a few months. And I ride my bike all the time. A Honda VTC-1100 Shadow Spirit. PS - to the stupid young whipper snapper the standard 3 wheel setup two in back and one in the front is inherently unstable, so two wheels works just fine for most of us. If you want three wheels you want a CanAm setup, or like my 65 year old sister's vehicle, a Polaris Slingshot. http://www.polaris.com/en-us/s...

      As my sig reads, life is too short to try to lengthen it as long as possible. If I die in a morotcycle accident, it only means I don't die of something else, like colon cancer or Alzheimer's dementia. No one gets out of here alive.

      Rest in peace Jory Prum, I understand. Others might not, but I do.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    6. Re:Traffic accident? by drinkypoo · · Score: 0

      At 41 you're better off on one of those three-wheel contraptions for retirees.

      Everyone who buys one of those things is a homophobic dipshit. They're a dipshit because trikes are fucking stupid and they're homophobic because they didn't buy a Miata because they didn't want to look like a fag.

      If you are out there considering buying one of those, or even a KTM Crossbow, man up and buy a fucking Miata

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    7. Re:Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah, well, 25 years of practice won't keep your Dick hard pulling an all knighted in Tijuana. So there's that...

    8. Re:Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I love everything about this comment. It makes me wonder what kind of medieval festival they have going on there in Tijuana.

    9. Re: Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are barely in your 60s and collecting SS? Wow. My grandfather used to collect SS too, but that was in '44 in Europe. He collected some italian blackshirts as well.

    10. Re: Traffic accident? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      You are barely in your 60s and collecting SS? Wow. My grandfather used to collect SS too, but that was in '44 in Europe. He collected some italian blackshirts as well.

      And in a few months, I expect to have the whole SS set! Spiffy uniforms even if some have a few quirks.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    11. Re:Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Failing bodies and brains at 41?" Hardly.

      http://www.middleage.org/profi...

      You're in denial. I can see and feel the changes, and not one is positive.

    12. Re:Traffic accident? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "but 41 was wa-a-ay better than 21 as far as both physical and intellectual prowess"

      LOL typical denialist bullshit.

    13. Re:Traffic accident? by Sir+Holo · · Score: 1

      I love everything about this comment. It makes me wonder what kind of medieval festival they have going on there in Tijuana.

      Don't ask a taxi driver to take you to a "donkey show". They do not (generally) exist. Asking for such will get you taken to a very bad part of town. You will end up with an incredible hangover, in the gutter, and nothing in your pockets.

      So they say. I went to Tijuana with my girl –during a weekday. It's a skeevy town, but then again every border town is sketchy.

      We randomly wandered the streets. One street had a woman standing in every doorway, desperately trying to catch my eye (as my girl is attractive, I guess). Not a single man (pimp) visible, but I'm no dummy. Any pimp who shows his face is a stupid pimp. Pimps are not nice people. Stupid ones are downright dangerous. We hurried along that block to the next.

      The pharmacies there are also sketchy, despite their signs making them look official. There are two different types. The Mexican Govt. clamped down on "prescription tourism", meaning that one must pay for an appointment with a 'physician' before they can get their whatever. I've read that, in the end, that makes it just as expensive as just getting an Rx in the US. That's probably a good thing.

  14. Telltale by westlake · · Score: 0

    For the idiots here who have found the time to post but no time to respect talent outside their own field --- Prum's credits include some of the best work we've seen from Telltale Games. Tales from the Borderlands. The Walking Dead. The Wolf Among Us, Tales of Monkey Island, Sam and Max and so on. Jory K. Prum

  15. Re:Legendary? After just 15-16 years in the busine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nor me. But at dieing at 41.... omg...

  16. Know worldwide for his groudbreaking work ... by Qbertino · · Score: 1

    ... on "Star Wars Yodas Challenge Activity Center" and "Poker Night 2".
    He will be missed.
    SCNR â
    I figure he had some humor too.
    RIP!

    --
    We suffer more in our imagination than in reality. - Seneca
    1. Re:Know worldwide for his groudbreaking work ... by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1

      ... on "Star Wars Yodas Challenge Activity Center" and "Poker Night 2". He will be missed. SCNR â I figure he had some humor too. RIP!

      Reading your sig, and your other posts, you need to know that your English is better than most native speaker's English.

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.