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{{short description|British composer (born 1955)}} {{short description|British composer (born 1955)}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Confuse|text=the science-fiction author ]}}
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{{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
| name = Rob Hubbard | name = Rob Hubbard
| image = Rob Hubbard.jpg
⚫ | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| caption = Hubbard in 2023
⚫ | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1955}}
⚫ | background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
⚫ | birth_place = ], England
⚫ | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1955}}
| genre = ]
⚫ | birth_place = ], England
⚫ | occupation = Composer, programmer
| genre = ], ]
⚫ | years_active = 1985–1996, 2014–present
⚫ | occupation = Composer, programmer
⚫ | years_active = 1985–1996, 2004–present
}} }}


'''Rob Hubbard''' (born 1955<ref>''ZZAP!'' 64, October 1985</ref><ref>''Happy Computer'', July 1986</ref> in ],<ref name="c64.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard_part_2.html |title=For the best in C64 nostalgia |website=C64.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> ]) is a British ] best known for his musical and programming work for microcomputers of the 1980s, such as the ]. '''Rob Hubbard''' (born 1955) is a British ] best known for his musical and programming work for microcomputers of the 1980s, such as the ].


==Early life== ==Early life and career==
Hubbard first started playing music at age seven. Whilst at school he played in bands. After leaving school he went to music college.<ref name="ReferenceS">{{cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard.html |title=For the best in C64 nostalgia |website=C64.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> Hubbard was born in 1955<ref>''ZZAP!'' 64, October 1985</ref><ref>''Happy Computer'', July 1986</ref> in ], ].<ref name="c64.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard_part_2.html |title=For the best in C64 nostalgia |website=C64.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> Hubbard first started playing music at age seven. Whilst at school he played in bands. After leaving school, he went to music college.<ref name="ReferenceS">{{cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard.html |title=For the best in C64 nostalgia |website=C64.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref>


==Early career==
In the late seventies, before scoring games, he was a professional studio musician. He decided to teach himself ] and ] for the Commodore 64.<ref name="sidmusic.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Sidmusic.org |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> In the late seventies, before scoring games, he was a professional studio musician. He decided to teach himself ] and ] for the Commodore 64.<ref name="sidmusic.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Sidmusic.org |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref>


==Music on the Commodore 64== ==Music on the Commodore 64==
⚫ Hubbard subsequently wrote or converted music for a variety of publishers on over 75 games between 1985 and 1989 such as '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Some of his most popular tunes include also '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. The game ''Knucklebusters'' includes Hubbard's longest tune: a 17-minute opus. Hubbard has mentioned his personal favourites are '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref name = "karsmakers.nl">{{cite web|url=http://www.karsmakers.nl/metal-e-zine/robb.htm |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Karsmakers.nl |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> His least favourite was '']'', which he admitted to having done purely for money; he was listed in the game credits with the alias ''John York''.<ref name="c64.com"/> He has stated that he had many musical influences including ], ] and other synth bands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trondal.com/c64sid/rhubbard.html |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Trondal.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref>
He approached ] in 1985 to promote a few demos and a music-education program he had written, but Gremlin was more interested in his music than his software. He was asked to create the soundtrack for '']'', a platform game.

⚫ Hubbard subsequently wrote or converted music for a variety of publishers on over 75 games between 1985 and 1989 such as '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. Some of his most popular tunes include also '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']''. The game ''Knucklebusters'' includes Hubbard's longest tune: a 17-minute opus. Hubbard has mentioned his personal favourites are '']'', '']'' and '']''. His least favourite was Samantha Fox Strip Poker, which he admitted to have done purely for money; he was listed in the game credits with the alias ''John York''.<ref name="c64.com"/> He has stated that he had many musical influences including ], ] and other synth bands.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trondal.com/c64sid/rhubbard.html |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Trondal.com |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref>


Hubbard mainly composed for the Commodore 64's '']'' sound chip. He worked freelance and turned down offers from companies to work in-house.<ref name="ReferenceS" /> Hubbard mainly composed for the Commodore 64's '']'' sound chip. He worked freelance and turned down offers from companies to work in-house.<ref name="ReferenceS" />


==Move to Electronic Arts and the United States== ==Move to Electronic Arts and the United States==
After working for several different companies, he left ] in 1988 and had the choice to work for Electronic Arts, or Microsoft. Hubbard chose EA due to their prominence in the gaming industry as Microsoft had (as yet) no gaming platform. His work with EA ] in America was as a composer.<ref name="ReferenceS" /> He was the first person devoted to sound and music at EA, and did everything from low-level programming to composing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karsmakers.nl/metal-e-zine/robb.htm |title=Interview with Rob Hubbard |website=Karsmakers.nl |access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> One of his most famous compositions during his period at EA, is the music featured in the loading sequence of the '']'' version of '']'', which features multiple sampled chords of electric guitar and organ. Playback of samples was facilitated by exploiting a feature in the ] sound-synthesizer chip: altering the volume register produces an audible click, and altering the register thousands of times per second enables a relatively crude (but surprisingly clear and sophisticated for eight-bit computers) form of sample playback.<ref name=sidpage> After working for several different companies, he left ] in 1988 and had the choice to work for Electronic Arts or Microsoft. Hubbard chose EA due to their prominence in the gaming industry as Microsoft had (as yet) no gaming platform. His work with EA ] in America was as a composer.<ref name="ReferenceS" /> He was the first person devoted to sound and music at EA and did everything from low-level programming to composing.<ref name = "karsmakers.nl"/> One of his most famous compositions during his period at EA, is the music featured in the loading sequence of the '']'' version of '']'', which features multiple sampled chords of electric guitar and organ. Playback of samples was facilitated by exploiting a feature in the ] sound-synthesizer chip: altering the volume register produces an audible click, and altering the register thousands of times per second enables a relatively crude (but surprisingly clear and sophisticated for eight-bit computers) form of sample playback.<ref name=sidpage>
{{cite web {{cite web
| url = http://www.pauliehughes.com/page22/page22.html | url = http://www.pauliehughes.com/page22/page22.html
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He eventually became Audio Technical Director,<ref name="Reference">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html|title=Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Sidmusic.org|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> a more administrative job, deciding which technologies to use in games, and which to develop further. He eventually became Audio Technical Director,<ref name="Reference">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html|title=Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Sidmusic.org|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> a more administrative job, deciding which technologies to use in games, and which to develop further.


After the Commodore 64 period, he wrote some soundtracks for games which appeared on the ], ], ] and ]. After the Commodore 64 period, he wrote some soundtracks for games which appeared on the ], ], ] and ].


==Recent activities== ==Recent activities==
Hubbard recently{{when|date=August 2018}} contributed a few re-arrangements of his themes to Chris Abbott's C64 tribute ''Back in Time Live''. Hubbard has performed several times with the Danish C64 cover-band ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/rob-hubbard-chris-abbott/|title=Rob Hubbard & Chris Abbott (Gremlin/EA) - Interview|date=26 October 2017|website=Arcadeattack.co.uk|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> who have covered many of his early tunes using a full rock-band arrangement. Hubbard has also performed his old music on piano with the support of violinist and fellow chiptune composer ]. Hubbard recently{{when|date=August 2018}} contributed a few re-arrangements of his themes to Chris Abbott's C64 tribute ''Back in Time Live''. Hubbard has performed several times with the Danish C64 cover band ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arcadeattack.co.uk/rob-hubbard-chris-abbott/|title=Rob Hubbard & Chris Abbott (Gremlin/EA) - Interview|date=26 October 2017|website=Arcadeattack.co.uk|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> who have covered many of his early tunes using a full rock-band arrangement. Hubbard has also performed his old music on piano with the support of violinist and fellow chiptune composer ].


Hubbard left EA in 2002 and returned to England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/8/Rob-Hubbard/Page8.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> He has recently resumed playing in a band, and he has revisited his past game-music work in concert. His recent compositions have included music for mobile-phone games. Hubbard left EA in 2002 and returned to England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/8/Rob-Hubbard/Page8.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> He has recently resumed playing in a band, and he has revisited his past game-music work in concert. His recent compositions have included music for mobile-phone games.
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| '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-31|title=Commodore User Magazine Issue 31|date=25 April 1986|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Archive.org}}</ref> || features traditional Russian songs | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-31|title=Commodore User Magazine Issue 31|date=25 April 1986|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Archive.org}}</ref> || features traditional Russian songs
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="the-commodore-zone.com"/> || partially based on ]<ref name="auto3"/> by ] | '']''<ref name="the-commodore-zone.com"/> || partially based on "]"<ref name="auto3"/> by ]
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="zzap64.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=006&page=017&magazine=zzap|title=View a Scan|website=Zzap64.co.uk|access-date=18 January 2018}}</ref> || | '']''<ref name="zzap64.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=006&page=017&magazine=zzap|title=View a Scan|website=Zzap64.co.uk|access-date=18 January 2018}}</ref> ||
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| '']''<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html|title=Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Sidmusic.org|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || | '']''<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sidmusic.org/sid/rhubbard.html|title=Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Sidmusic.org|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/20/1/Profile---The-Master-Of-Micro-Music/Page1.html|title=Profile - The Master of Micro Music|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || partially based on "Shibolet" and "An End to History" from the ] album ''Audion'' | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/20/1/Profile---The-Master-Of-Micro-Music/Page1.html|title=Profile - The Master of Micro Music|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || partially based on "Shibolet" from the ] album ''Audion''
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/3/Rob-Hubbard/Page3.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || | '']''<ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/3/Rob-Hubbard/Page3.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> ||
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| '']''<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/> || | '']''<ref name="zzap64.co.uk"/> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=017&page=113&magazine=zzap</ref> || | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=017&page=113&magazine=zzap|title = Redirecting}}</ref> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=7&page=52|title=Redirecting|website=Zzap64.co.uk|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zzap64.co.uk/cgi-bin/displaypage.pl?issue=7&page=52|title=Redirecting|website=Zzap64.co.uk|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> ||
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| '']''<ref name="ReferenceB"/> || | '']''<ref name="ReferenceB"/> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>http://amr.abime.net/issue_2365_reviews</ref> || the same song as "Proteus", just an intro added | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://amr.abime.net/issue_2365_reviews|title=Commodore User (November 1986) Reviews - Amiga Magazine Rack}}</ref> || the same song as "Proteus", just an intro added
|- |-
| '']'' <ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/5/Rob-Hubbard/Page5.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || He was paid £750 for the tune according to the developers (equivalent to £2324 in 2020) which they claim was an absolute bargain. | '']'' <ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/19/5/Rob-Hubbard/Page5.html|title=Rob Hubbard|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || He was paid £750 for the tune according to the developers (equivalent to £2324 in 2020) which they claim was an absolute bargain.
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| '']'' || | '']'' ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="gamegrin.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamegrin.com/news/legendary-game-composer-rob-hubbard-to-be-immortalised-in-book-game-and-album-form/|title=Legendary Game Composer Rob Hubbard to be Immortalised in Book, Game, and Album Form|first=Gary "Dominoid"|last=Sheppard|date=21 October 2017|website=GameGrin.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || credited as ''John York'' because as he said " was such a cheesy title and they wanted that cheesy lame music along with it - I didn't want to admit that I did it just for the money".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard_part_2.html|title=C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia|website=C64.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> Contains "The Entertainer" by ] and "The Stripper" by ] | '']''<ref name="gamegrin.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamegrin.com/news/legendary-game-composer-rob-hubbard-to-be-immortalised-in-book-game-and-album-form/|title=Legendary Game Composer Rob Hubbard to be Immortalised in Book, Game, and Album Form|first=Gary "Dominoid"|last=Sheppard|date=21 October 2017|website=GameGrin.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || credited as ''John York'' because as he said " was such a cheesy title and they wanted that cheesy lame music along with it - I didn't want to admit that I did it just for the money".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/hubbard_part_2.html|title=C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia|website=C64.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> Contains "The Entertainer" by ] and "]" by ]
|- |-
| '']'' || Based on the theme from 1960s TV show "Tarzan" | '']'' || Based on the theme from 1960s TV show "Tarzan"
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| '']''<ref name="ReferenceD"/> || | '']''<ref name="ReferenceD"/> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/20/3/Profile---The-Master-Of-Micro-Music/Page3.html|title=Profile - The Master of Micro Music|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=18 January 2018}}</ref> || based on the track "Ancestors" from the ] album ''Audion'' | '']''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-commodore-zone.com/articlelive/articles/20/3/Profile---The-Master-Of-Micro-Music/Page3.html|title=Profile - The Master of Micro Music|website=The-commodore-zone.com|access-date=18 January 2018}}</ref> || based on the track "Ancestors" from the ] album ''Audion''
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-45677787|title=Computer game music's orchestral revamp|date=28 September 2018|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> || | '']''<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leeds-45677787|title=Computer game music's orchestral revamp|date=28 September 2018|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Bbc.co.uk}}</ref> ||
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| '']''<ref name="ReferenceB"/> || | '']''<ref name="ReferenceB"/> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/zzap64-magazine-012/page/n25/mode/1up?view=theater|title=ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 012|date=April 1986}}</ref> ||
| '']'' ||
|- |-
| '']'' || From the TV show Spitting Image | '']'' || From the TV show Spitting Image
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|- |-
| rowspan="23" | 1987 | rowspan="23" | 1987
| '']'' ||] version | '']'' ||] version
|- |-
| '']'' || | '']'' ||
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| '']'' || | '']'' ||
|- |-
| '']'' || with ]<ref>http://www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk/ben-daglish/</ref> | '']'' || with ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.retrogamesmaster.co.uk/ben-daglish/|title = Ben Daglish &#124; RETRO GAMESMASTER|date = 12 August 2017}}</ref>
|- |-
| '']'' || | '']'' ||
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| '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.remix64.com/interviews/interview-rob-hubbard.html|title=An Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Remix64.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || | '']''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.remix64.com/interviews/interview-rob-hubbard.html|title=An Interview with Rob Hubbard|website=Remix64.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> ||
|- |-
| '']'' || | '']'' || Based on the main theme from ]
|- |-
| '']'' || | '']'' ||
|- |-
| rowspan="7" | 1989 | rowspan="7" | 1989
| '']''<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://c64audio.com/blogs/news/project-hubbard-1989-bye-bye-sid-rob-hits-the-amiga|title=The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 2, 1989–1990|website=C64audio.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> || | '']''<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://c64audio.com/blogs/news/project-hubbard-1989-bye-bye-sid-rob-hits-the-amiga|title=The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 2, 1989–1990|website=C64audio.com|date=16 October 2017 |access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> ||
|- |-
| '']''<ref name="auto1"/> || | '']''<ref name="auto1"/> ||
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| '']'' || | '']'' ||
|- |-
| '']'' || with ]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://c64audio.com/blogs/news/the-eavolution-of-rob-hubbard-part-4|title=The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 4|website=C64audi0.com|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref> | '']'' || with ]<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://c64audio.com/blogs/news/the-eavolution-of-rob-hubbard-part-4|title=The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 4|website=C64audi0.com|date=21 October 2017 |access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>
|- |-
| '']'' || with ] | '']'' || with ]
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|- |-
| '']'' || | '']'' ||
|-
| 1993
|'']''||
|- |-
| 1994 | 1994
|'']''|| |'']''|| with Russell Lieblich
|- |-
| 1996 | 1996
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] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 16:07, 19 January 2025

British composer (born 1955)
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Rob Hubbard
Hubbard in 2023Hubbard in 2023
Background information
Born1955 (age 69–70)
Kingston upon Hull, England
GenresVideo game music, Chiptune
Occupation(s)Composer, programmer
Years active1985–1996, 2004–present
Musical artist

Rob Hubbard (born 1955) is a British composer best known for his musical and programming work for microcomputers of the 1980s, such as the Commodore 64.

Early life and career

Hubbard was born in 1955 in Kingston upon Hull, England. Hubbard first started playing music at age seven. Whilst at school he played in bands. After leaving school, he went to music college.

In the late seventies, before scoring games, he was a professional studio musician. He decided to teach himself BASIC and machine code for the Commodore 64.

Music on the Commodore 64

Hubbard subsequently wrote or converted music for a variety of publishers on over 75 games between 1985 and 1989 such as Monty on the Run, Crazy Comets, Master of Magic and Commando. Some of his most popular tunes include also Warhawk, Delta, Thrust, Lightforce, Spellbound, Sanxion, Auf Wiedersehen Monty and International Karate. The game Knucklebusters includes Hubbard's longest tune: a 17-minute opus. Hubbard has mentioned his personal favourites are Sanxion, Kentilla, W.A.R., International Karate, and Crazy Comets. His least favourite was Samantha Fox Strip Poker, which he admitted to having done purely for money; he was listed in the game credits with the alias John York. He has stated that he had many musical influences including Jean Michel Jarre, Larry Fast and other synth bands.

Hubbard mainly composed for the Commodore 64's SID sound chip. He worked freelance and turned down offers from companies to work in-house.

Move to Electronic Arts and the United States

After working for several different companies, he left Newcastle in 1988 and had the choice to work for Electronic Arts or Microsoft. Hubbard chose EA due to their prominence in the gaming industry as Microsoft had (as yet) no gaming platform. His work with EA Electronic Arts in America was as a composer. He was the first person devoted to sound and music at EA and did everything from low-level programming to composing. One of his most famous compositions during his period at EA, is the music featured in the loading sequence of the Commodore 64 version of Skate or Die, which features multiple sampled chords of electric guitar and organ. Playback of samples was facilitated by exploiting a feature in the SID sound-synthesizer chip: altering the volume register produces an audible click, and altering the register thousands of times per second enables a relatively crude (but surprisingly clear and sophisticated for eight-bit computers) form of sample playback. He eventually became Audio Technical Director, a more administrative job, deciding which technologies to use in games, and which to develop further.

After the Commodore 64 period, he wrote some soundtracks for games which appeared on the Amiga, Atari ST, IBM PC and Mega Drive.

Recent activities

Hubbard recently contributed a few re-arrangements of his themes to Chris Abbott's C64 tribute Back in Time Live. Hubbard has performed several times with the Danish C64 cover band PRESS PLAY ON TAPE who have covered many of his early tunes using a full rock-band arrangement. Hubbard has also performed his old music on piano with the support of violinist and fellow chiptune composer Mark Knight.

Hubbard left EA in 2002 and returned to England. He has recently resumed playing in a band, and he has revisited his past game-music work in concert. His recent compositions have included music for mobile-phone games.

In 2005, music from International Karate was performed live by a full orchestra at the third Symphonic Game Music Concert. The event took place in Leipzig, Germany. Hubbard arranged and orchestrated the piece.

In 2014, Hubbard appeared in and composed music for the documentary feature film From Bedrooms to Billions, a film that tells the story of the British video games industry.

In November 2016, Hubbard received an honorary degree from Abertay University for his contributions to video-game music in the 1980s.

Works

Year Title Notes
1985 Commando based on theme from Commando arcade game by Tamayo Kawamoto
Rasputin features traditional Russian songs
Monty on the Run partially based on "Devil's Galop" by Charles Williams
Thing on a Spring
Confuzion Cover of the song "Confuzion" by the band Private Property which was also on side B of the game cassette.
Crazy Comets Inspired by New Order and funk music.
Chimera
Master of Magic partially based on "Shibolet" from the Synergy album Audion
The Last V8
Action Biker
Formula 1 Simulator
Hunter Patrol
One Man and His Droid
Battle of Britain
Harvey Smith Showjumping
Up, Up and Away cover of a song by The 5th Dimension
1986 Deep Strike
Bump Set Spike
Ninja
Gerry the Germ
Proteus based on two separate songs from John Keating's album Space Experience ("The Unknown Planet" and "Space Agent")
Thrust
Warhawk the same song as "Proteus", just an intro added
Lightforce He was paid £750 for the tune according to the developers (equivalent to £2324 in 2020) which they claim was an absolute bargain.
Geoff Capes Strongman Challenge
Samantha Fox Strip Poker credited as John York because as he said " was such a cheesy title and they wanted that cheesy lame music along with it - I didn't want to admit that I did it just for the money". Contains "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin and "The Stripper" by David Rose
Tarzan Based on the theme from 1960s TV show "Tarzan"
W.A.R.
Zoids based on the track "Ancestors" from the Synergy album Audion
Flash Gordon
Spellbound
Hollywood or Bust Covers of "12th Street Rag" by Euday L. Bowman and "Dill Pickles Rag" by Charles L. Johnson
Human Race
Kentilla
Phantoms of the Asteroid
Chicken Song From the TV show Spitting Image
Video Poker contains "Easy Winners" by Scott Joplin
Knucklebusters Hubbard's longest composition, lasting 17 minutes
International Karate parts are a pastiche of Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Forbidden Colours" from "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence"
Sanxion in addition to Hubbard's famous loader song, this contains "Dance of the Knights" from Prokofiev's ballet "Romeo and Juliet"
1987 Jet Set Willy Atari 8-bit version
ACE II
BMX Kids the sampled voice saying "Go!" is actually Hubbard himself!
Saboteur II
Sigma 7 Commodore 64 arrangement by Hubbard; Amstrad original by Julian Breeze
Thanatos Commodore 64 arrangement by Hubbard; Amstrad original by Julian Breeze
Thundercats
Arcade Classics
I-Ball inspired by "Whip Blow" and "I Want You" by Cabaret Voltaire
Hydrofool
Shockway Rider
Auf Wiedersehen Monty with Ben Daglish
Chain Reaction
Mega Apocalypse Re-arrangement of "Crazy Comets"
Nemesis the Warlock
Wiz
Bangkok Knights
IK plus (International Karate plus)
Dragons Lair Part II
Star Paws
Delta The title song borrows few bars of melody from the Koyaanisqatsi soundtrack by Philip Glass. Also inspired by Pink Floyd
Trans Atlantic Balloon Challenge
Goldrunner contains the same song as "Human Race"
1988 19 Part One: Boot Camp an interpretation of Paul Hardcastle's "19"
Jordan vs. Bird: One on One
Kings of the Beach
One-on-One 2
Power Play Hockey
Skate or Die!
Pandora Based on the main theme from Dune
Ricochet
1989 688 Attack Sub
Budokan: The Martial Spirit
Indianapolis 500: The Simulation
Keef the Thief
Kings of the Beach
Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs
Populous
1990 Low Blow
Ski or Die
The Immortal
John Madden Football
Skate or Die 2: The Search for Double Trouble
1991 PGA Tour Golf
Road Rash with Michael Bartlow
Desert Strike: Return to the Gulf with Brian L. Schmidt
1992 Road Rash 2 with Don Veca and Tony Berkeley
The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel
John Madden Football '93
1993 NHL '94
1994 NHL '95 with Russell Lieblich
1996 The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Rose Tattoo
2014 From Bedrooms to Billions
2018 Go Go Dash

References

  1. ZZAP! 64, October 1985
  2. Happy Computer, July 1986
  3. ^ "For the best in C64 nostalgia". C64.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  4. ^ "For the best in C64 nostalgia". C64.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Interview with Rob Hubbard". Sidmusic.org. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Interview with Rob Hubbard". Karsmakers.nl. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  7. "Interview with Rob Hubbard". Trondal.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. "SID Music". Pauliehughes.com. 6 April 2008.
  9. "Interview with Rob Hubbard". Sidmusic.org. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  10. "Rob Hubbard & Chris Abbott (Gremlin/EA) - Interview". Arcadeattack.co.uk. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  11. "Rob Hubbard". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Rob Hubbard". 8-bit-symphony.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  13. "Abertay announces honorary graduates". abertay.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Profile - The Master of Micro Music". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  15. "Commodore User Magazine Issue 31". Archive.org. 25 April 1986. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  16. ^ "View a Scan". Zzap64.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  17. "Profile - The Master of Micro Music". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Interview with Rob Hubbard". Sidmusic.org. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  19. "Profile - The Master of Micro Music". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Rob Hubbard". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  21. "Redirecting".
  22. "Redirecting". Zzap64.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  23. "Commodore User (November 1986) Reviews - Amiga Magazine Rack".
  24. ^ "Rob Hubbard". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  25. ^ Sheppard, Gary "Dominoid" (21 October 2017). "Legendary Game Composer Rob Hubbard to be Immortalised in Book, Game, and Album Form". GameGrin.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  26. "C64.COM - For the best in C64 nostalgia". C64.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  27. "Profile - The Master of Micro Music". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
  28. ^ "Computer game music's orchestral revamp". Bbc.co.uk. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  29. "ZZap!64 Magazine Issue 012". April 1986.
  30. "Rob Hubbard". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  31. "Ben Daglish | RETRO GAMESMASTER". 12 August 2017.
  32. "Rob Hubbard". The-commodore-zone.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  33. "Issue 26". Zzap64.co.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  34. "CVG Magazine Issue 071". Archive.org. 25 September 1987. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  35. "CRASH 56 – 19 Part One: Boot Camp". Crashonline.org.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  36. "An Interview with Rob Hubbard". Remix64.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  37. ^ "The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 2, 1989–1990". C64audio.com. 16 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  38. ^ "The EAvolution of Rob Hubbard - part 4". C64audi0.com. 21 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2020.

External links

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