Duke Nukem 3D level designer Richard 'Levelord' Gray dies aged 68
Richard 'Levelord' Gray, the level designer behind Duke Nukem 3D and a co-founder of Ritual Entertainment, has died aged 68. Apogee Entertainment announced his death, and developers across the industry have paid tribute.
Digital Developer Desk, 13h ago, 2 min read
Richard 'Levelord' Gray, the level designer best known for his work on Duke Nukem 3D, has died at 68. Apogee Entertainment announced his death on social media and praised his 'legendary work on Duke Nukem 3D'. GamesIndustry.biz reported the news on 14 October, citing PC Gamer. The sources provided do not give a cause or date of death.
Gray started out as a level designer on Duke Nukem 3D, which launched in 1996. Apogee founder Scott Miller told PC Gamer that he recruited Gray in 1994 after seeing his Doom levels. Gray later left 3D Realms to co-found Hipnotic Interactive, which was renamed Ritual Entertainment.
At Ritual, his credits included Quake: Scourge of Armagon, Sin, Star Trek: Elite Force 2, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and 25 to Life. He was also remembered for the 'You're not supposed to be here' Easter egg in Duke Nukem 3D, which players could only find by cheating.
Gears of War creator Cliff Bleszinski wrote that Gray 'paved the way for so many level/environment designers.' Slipgate Ironworkers CEO Frederik Schreiber described him as 'one of the kindest people I've ever met in the games industry.'
Sources
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