People News Darklands creator Arnold Hendrick has passed away

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Tags: Arnold Hendrick

According to a post by veteran MicroProse artist Matt Scibilia in a Facebook group for former employees, Darklands creator Arnold Hendrick passed away this Monday on May 25th. Apparently he'd been struggling with terminal cancer for some time. He was 69 years old and is survived by his wife and family.

Arnold Hendrick, 1950-2020
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Crooked Bee interviewed Arnold Hendrick back in 2012, with a little help from Obsidian's Josh Sawyer, who is a huge fan of Darklands. He was also a guest on Matt Barton's show back in 2010. More recently, we'd enjoyed following Arnold's various musings in Darklands' Steam discussion forum and had been wondering where he'd disappeared to recently. While it's unlikely that his passing will be noted by many outside hardcore RPG communities such as ours, the legacy of Darklands may yet live on.

 

[Ninjerk]

I was just reading the interview he gave here.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

May he rest in peace.

 

[Scarlet Lilith]

F

 

[sser]

That is quite sad. He was and is a huge influence.

 

[Bruma Hobo]

 

[Dr Schultz]

This is sad. For real.

 

[Dr Schultz]

This is sad.

 

[Shaewaroz]

RIP

 

[MRY]

Crushing news.

Years ago I discovered his email address (not that it was hard to find), which I intended to use to tell him about what an inspiration Barbarian Prince and Darklands were for Fallen Gods, and to share the project with him. (And to offer to let him use its engine to the extent it would further his goal of making a future game.) But I kept waiting, thinking, "I should get the game further along; I don't want to show it to him until I think it's really worthy of his time." And now, there's no time left.

I know nothing about his life, and have no direct knowledge of his character. I read his articles and his Steam forum posts, and I played his games. To me, all of them bespoke an abiding curiosity, a creative vision, and an overflowing generosity toward his players. The man put many saints in Darklands. May they speed him to his creator.

 

[The Great ThunThun*]

I hope he's in Brightlands now.

 

[Daedalos]

Sad

 

[I'm Big Into Anal]

clearly a torchbearer from the early days with huge influence even today

didnt know him; havent played darklands but acknowledge his contribution and may he rest in peace

 

[Latro]

Rest in peace.

 

[taxalot]

Who ?

 

[Falksi]

RIP

 

[Aegidius]

I played Darklands when it first game out and found its gameplay refreshing and interesting. Unfortunately, IIRC, it didn't always hit the mark on fun, which after reading the various articles, I suspect was due to the bugs. I did find the setting and atmosphere of the game great and would have bought a sequel in a hardbeat.

So sad to hear this news today and found myself nodding in agreement and respect to most/all of his thoughts he articulated in the article. I think it would be a fitting tribute to his memory if Josh Sawyer was able to ever develop and publish his long rumoured 'historical focused' RPG if it showed some influences from Arnold Hendrick.

 

[tindrli]

Neka mu Allah podari ljep Dzenet

 

[Nijar]

“No levels, no experience points. You raise most of your skills just by using them. Your characters can die of old age.”

 

[DJOGamer PT]

F

Who ?

Not a frog, that's for sure.

 

[Nutmeg]

He was quite active in the steam community too IIRC. Great game dev.

 

[CyberWhale]

RIP, was he the one that was asking for millions to make a sequel?

 

[Galdred]

RIP, was he the one that was asking for millions to make a sequel?

Yes.
He is also the one who produced and designed the original game, designed Barbarian Prince and who contributed to other awesome games like M1 Tank Platoon, F19 Stealth Fighter.
May he rest in peace.

 

[Tweed]

That's rough, Darklands is probably my absolute favorite CRPG and reading the Steam comments was great too.

RIP

 

[mindx2]

Truly sad to hear. He created such a unique RPG that stands the test of time. What impresses me is how many developers (whom I respect) reference Darklands as an influence. I fear as my years grow I will see this type of news more often....

 

[vonAchdorf]

Rest in peace. Darklands and its manual had a huge influence on me.