Robert Caskin 'Bobby' Prince III, the influential composer whose work defined the sound of 90s PC gaming, has died at the age of 81. His family confirmed that he passed away on Tuesday, June 16.
In an obituary shared following his death, his family expressed their gratitude to the “Earth Angels” at Dollywood and Beyond for the care and support they provided throughout his illness. While the specific nature of his illness was not disclosed, the announcement has triggered an outpouring of tributes from across the industry.
A Legacy in MIDI
Prince’s impact on the medium is difficult to overstate. He helped establish the atmospheric identity of early 90s shooters, most notably through his work on id Software’s Doom and Doom 2. His metal-infused MIDI compositions were lauded for their ability to drive the game’s action, and his technical expertise allowed him to balance intense music with clear, distinct sound effects by assigning them to specific MIDI frequencies.
His influence reached a milestone just two months ago when the Doom soundtrack was officially inducted into the National Recording Registry. The registry noted that Prince composed the “perfect riff-shredding accompaniment” for the game despite the hardware limitations of 1993-era sound card drivers.
Industry Tributes
Before his career in game audio, Prince served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and worked in law and counseling. His transition to gaming—which he initially viewed as a hobby—led to a prolific body of work that included Wolfenstein 3D, Duke Nukem 2, Duke Nukem 3D, Realms of Chaos, and Rise of the Triad.
Longtime collaborators have been quick to honor his memory. John Romero, co-designer of Doom, stated, “Everyone at Romero Games is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Bobby Prince. He left an incredible mark on games and on my life.”
George Broussard, co-founder of 3D Realms and Apogee Software, likened Prince’s importance in the early shareware era to that of modern film composer Hans Zimmer. “Looking back and considering his body of work, he was essentially the Hans Zimmer of early shareware games,” Broussard wrote. “All of that came from him being so passionate about music, and video games which were just emerging.”
Fellow composer Andrew Hulshult, who has contributed to the series, also paid his respects: “Bobby was all about spreading love and positivity. He wanted everyone to get along. He was incredibly supportive of my work. I am truly honored to have been given the privilege of covering his work. Rest easy Bobby Prince.”