David Whittaker (video game composer)

David Whittaker (born 24 April 1957 in Bury, England^[1]) is an English video game composer. He is known for writing video game music in most of the 1980s and early 1990s for different formats.

David Whittaker
Also known as	DialogueGuru
Born	(1957-04-24) April 24, 1957 (age 68) Bury, England
Occupation(s)	Video game composer, sound artist

Career

Whittaker cited David Bowie, Kraftwerk and Yazoo among his influences.^[2] Before his video game career, he was in a new romantic band called "Beu Leisure".^[2] While composing music, Whittaker directly programmed music; instead of using music composition tools, he used a machine code monitor—then an assembler system or program—while including tools from Supersoft and Commodore. He frequently composed for the format on the Commodore 64 and was impressed with the Amiga's sound capabilities, later using sound effects in his compositions for Amiga.

On the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, his most popular compositions are in Lazy Jones, Glider Rider, Armageddon Man, Amaurote, BraveStarr, and Elektra Glide. His subtune 21 of Lazy Jones, commonly known as "Star Dust", was the basis for the electronic song "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation. His compositions appeared in Amiga games such as Shadow of the Beast, Obliterator, Beyond the Ice Palace, and Speedball. Other formats he has composed for include Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Atari 8-bit computers, and MSX.

After working for eight years in the US for Electronic Arts at Redwood Shores, he joined British video game developer Traveller's Tales in Knutsford, Cheshire, working as Head of Audio in September 2004.

Discography

Game[3][4][5][6][7]	Year	System(s)	Publisher	Notes
1st Person Pinball	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Tynesoft
007: Licence to Kill	1989	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Domark
11-a-Side Soccer	1989	Amstrad CPC
180	1986	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	Mastertronic	Arranged music for Atari 8-bit Jason C. Brooke
Alfred Chicken	1993	Amiga, Amiga CD³²	Mindscape	Sound effects on CD32
Alien Syndrome	1988	Amiga	Sega
Amaurote	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, Atari 8-bit, ZX Spectrum	Mastertronic,
American Turbo-King	1989	Amstrad CPC
APB	1989	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Tengen	Also known as All Points Bulletin
Arcade Flight Simulator	1989	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Archipelagos	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Logotron
Army Moves	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Ocean
ATV Simulator	1987	Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum 48k		Also known as All Terrain Vehicle Simulator
Aussie Games	1990	Amstrad CPC
Back to the Future Part II	1990	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Image Works
Bad Company	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Logotron
Ball Crazy	1987	Commodore 64	Mastertronic
Barbarian II: The Dungeon of Drax	1989	Amstrad GX4000, Amstrad CPC
Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior	1987	Amstrad CPC		Also known as Death Sword
Battle For The Ashes	1995	Amiga	Audiogenic
Beverly Hills Cop	1990	Atari ST, Commodore 64	Tynesoft
Beyond the Ice Palace	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Elite
Blazer	1987	Commodore 64	Nexus
Blood Money	1989	Amiga	Psygnosis	Made sound effects, not music
BMX Freestyle	1989	Amstrad CPC
BMX Simulator	1986	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
BraveStarr	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	GO!
Brian Lara Cricket	1995	Amiga	Audiogenic
Brian Lara Cricket '96	1996	Amiga	Audiogenic
Bronx Street Cop	1989	Amstrad CPC
Bubble Bobble	1989	Amiga	Firebird	Arranged from the arcade game, original by Zuntata
Bubble Dizzy	1991	Amstrad CPC
Buffalo Bill's Rodeo Games	1989	Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, ZX Spectrum	Tynesoft	Also known as Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show
Captain Fizz Meets the Blaster-Trons	1989	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Psyclapse
Carrier Command	1988	Amiga	Rainbird	Menu music
Challenge Golf	1991	Atari ST	On-Line Entertainment
Cheap Skate	1988	Commodore 64	Silverbird
The Chicken Farm	1986	Commodore 64
Chip's Challenge	1990	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	U.S. Gold
Chrono Quest	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Psygnosis
Circus Games	1989	Amstrad CPC
Cloud Kingdoms	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Millennium
Colony	1987	Atari 8-bit	Mastertronic,
Cosmic Pirate	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Palace
Cosmonut	1987	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Custodian	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Hewson	Working title: Kalashnikov
Dan Dare III: The Escape	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Virgin Mastertronic
Dark Castle	1988	Commodore 64	Three-Sixty Pacific
Days of Thunder	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Mindscape
Death Stalker	1989	Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Codemasters
Defcom	1986	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Quicksilva
Defender of the Crown	1987	Atari ST	Cinemaware	Arrangement from Amiga version, original music by Jim Cuomo and Bill Williams
Dizzy – The Ultimate Cartoon Adventure	1988	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Dizzy: Prince of the Yolkfolk	1991	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Dogs of War	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Elite
Double Dragon II: The Revenge	1989	Amstrad CPC
Dynamic Duo	1989	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Firebird
E.T.'s Rugby League	1992	Amiga	Sega
Elektra Glide	1986	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	English Software
Elevator Action	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Quicksilva
Emlyn Hughes Arcade Quiz	1990	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	Audiogenic
Emlyn Hughes International Soccer	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Audiogenic
Enduro Racer	1987	Atari ST, Commodore 64
Epic	1992	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	Ocean
Exterminator	1990	Commodore 64
Eye of Horus	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Logotron
Fantasy World Dizzy	1989	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Fast Food	1989	Amstrad CPC
Feud	1987	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC	Bulldog	Arranged music for Atari 8-bit Jason C. Brooke
Fire and Brimstone	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Firebird
Fright Night	1988	Amiga	Microdeal
Fruit Machine Simulator 2	1990	Amstrad CPC
Future Sport	1989	Atari ST	Actual Screenshots
Garfield: Big Fat Hairy Deal	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Softek
Gazza II	1991	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	Empire Interactive
Ghostbusters II	1989	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Activision
Ghosts 'n Goblins	1986	Amstrad CPC
Gilbert: Escape From Drill	1989	Amstrad CPC
Glider Rider	1986	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Quicksilva
Global Commander	1987	Commodore 64	Martech	Also known as The Armageddon Man
The Gold of the Aztecs	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	U.S. Gold
Golden Axe	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Virgin Mastertronic	Arranged from the arcade game
Goldrunner II	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Microdeal
Graham Gooch World Class Cricket	1993	Atari ST, Amiga	Audiogenic	Also known as Allan Border Cricket
Graham Gooch World Class Cricket - Test Match Special Edition	1994	Amiga	Audiogenic
Graham Gooch's Second Innings	1993	Atari ST, Amiga	Audiogenic
Grand Prix Simulator	1987	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	Codemasters
Grand Prix Simulator II	1989	Amstrad CPC
Grange Hill	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Argus Press Software
Grimblood	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Virgin
Gunship 2000	1993	Amiga	MicroProse
Helter Skelter	1990	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Audiogenic
Hocus Focus	1986	Commodore 64	Quicksilva
Humphrey	1983	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
The Hunt for Red October	1987	Amiga	Grand Slam Software
Hunter Killer	1989	Atari ST	Virgin Mastertronic
Hyperbowl	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Mastertronic
Indoor Soccer	1989	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Infection	1989	Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Virgin Mastertronic
International Rugby Simulator	1988	Amstrad CPC, Atari ST	Codemasters	Also known as Advanced Rugby Simulator
International Soccer Challenge	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	MicroProse
International Speedway	1988	Amstrad CPC
IO	1988	Commodore 64	Firebird
Iron Horse	1988	Commodore 64	Konami
Iron Lord	1989	Atari ST	Ubi Soft
The Island of Dr. Destructo	1987	Commodore 64	Bulldog
Jail Break	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Konami
Jaws	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Martech
Jupiter's Masterdrive	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Ubi Soft
Kid Gloves	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Millennium
Kikstart 2	1987	Amiga	Mastertronic
Killing Cloud	1991	Atari ST, Amiga	Image Works
Knight Games	1986	Commodore 64	English Software
Knight Tyme	1988	Commodore 64	Mastertronic
Knightmare	1988	Atari ST	Activision
Krusty's Fun House	1993	Amiga	Acclaim Virgin	Also known as Krusty's Super Fun House
Last Mission	1987	Commodore 64	U.S. Gold
Lazer Force	1987	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Lazy Jones	1984	Commodore 64	Terminal Software
Leatherneck	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Microdeal
The Legend of William Tell	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Martech	Also known as Crossbow: The Legend of William Tell
Lemmings 2: The Tribes	1993	Atari ST, Amiga	Psygnosis
Leviathan	1987	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	English Software	Also known as Straf
Little Icarus	1983	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
The Living Daylights	1987	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC	Domark
Lone Wolf: The Mirror of Death	1991	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Audiogenic
Loopz	1990	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Audiogenic	Working title: Convolution
Magicland Dizzy	1990	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Max Headroom	1986	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Quicksilva
Mayhem	1983	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
Menace	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	Psyclapse (Psygnosis)	This song is also heard on the Menace themed level of Lemmings. Working titles: Coppercon1, Draconia
Miami Dice	1986	Commodore 64	Bug-Byte
Milk Race	1987	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC	Mastertronic	Arranged music for Atari 8-bit Tiny Williams
Millennium 2.2	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Activision	Arrangement of Mahler's adagio from 5th symphony. Also known as Millenium: Return To Earth
Mission Omega	1986	Amstrad CPC
The Model	1986	Commodore 64
Monte Carlo Casino	1989	Amstrad CPC
Moto Cross Simulator	1989	Amstrad CPC
Mr Wino	1988	Commodore 64	Silverbird
Mr. Heli	1987	Atari ST	Firebird
Ninja	1987	Amiga	Mastertronic	Also known as Ninja Mission
Ninja Massacre	1989	Amstrad CPC
Nitro Boost Challenge	1989	Atari ST	Codemasters
Obliterator	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Psygnosis
Operation Gunship	1989	Amstrad CPC
Outcast	1987	Atari ST	Mastertronic
Paddle Mania	1988	Commodore 64
Pandora	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Firebird
Pandora's Box	1983	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
Panther	1986	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	Mastertronic
Platoon	1988	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Ocean
Poltergeist	1988	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Professional BMX Simulator	1988	Amstrad CPC
Professional Snooker Simulator	1988	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Pub Trivia Simulator	1989	Amstrad CPC
Punchy	1983	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
Quadralien	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Logotron
Quartet	1987	Commodore 64	Activision
The Race Against Time	1988	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Rampage	1987	Atari ST	Activision
The Real Ghostbusters	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64	Activision
Red Max	1987	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	Codemasters
Renaissance	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Impressions	Also known as Classic 4
Renegade	1987	Atari ST	Mastertronic
Return to Genesis	1988	Atari ST, Amiga	Firebird	Working title: Clonworld 50
RoadBlasters	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	U.S. Gold
Rugby League Coach	1994	Atari ST, Amiga	Audiogenic
Rygar	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	U.S. Gold
The Sentinel	1988	Amiga	Firebird	Also known as The Sentry
Shadow of the Beast	1989	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Psygnosis
Shadow Skimmer	1987	Amstrad CPC
SideWinder	1988	Amiga	Mastertronic
SimCity	1990	Atari ST	Maxis
Skateball	1989	Atari ST	Ubi Soft
Sláine	1988	Commodore 64	Martech
Slap Fight	1988	Atari ST	Ocean	Also known as A.L.C.O.N.
Snoopy: The Cool Computer Game	1989	Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore CDTV	Softek	Also known as: Snoopy And Peanuts, Snoopy: The Case of the Missing Blanket
Snow Strike	1990	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	U.S. Gold
Soccer Skills	1989	Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64	Codemasters
Solomon's Key	1987	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	U.S. Gold
Speedball	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	Image Works
Spellbound Dizzy	1991	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Spitting Image	1989	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Domark
Split Personalities	1986	Commodore 64	Domark
Spore	1987	Commodore 64	Bulldog
Sporting Triangles	1989	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	CDS
Star Trek: The Rebel Universe	1987	Atari ST	Firebird
Star Wars	1987	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Domark
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back	1988	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Domark
Starblaze	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Logotron
StarRay	1988	Atari ST	Logotron
Storm	1986	Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit	Mastertronic
Stormbringer	1988	Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum	MAD/Mastertronic
Stormtrooper	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	Creation
Street Gang Soccer	1989	Amstrad CPC
Street Soccer	1989	Amstrad CPC
Street Surfer	1986	Commodore 64	Entertainment USA
Super G-Man	1987	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Super League Manager	1995	Amiga	Audiogenic
Super Robin Hood	1987	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Super Stuntman	1988	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Supremacy: Your Will Be Done	1990	Atari ST	Virgin Mastertronic	Also known as Overlord
Terra Cognita	1986	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Tetris	1987	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Mirrorsoft
ThunderCats	1988	Amiga	Elite	Arranged from Commodore 64 game, original song by Rob Hubbard
Total Recall	1990	Atari ST, Amiga	Ocean
Transmuter	1987	Atari 8-bit, Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Trantor: The Last Stormtrooper	1987	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC	GO!
Treasure Island	1984	Commodore 64	Mr Micro
Treasure Island Dizzy	1989	Amstrad CPC	Codemasters
Triple Tournament	1984	Commodore 64	Terminal Software
The Tube	1987	Commodore 64	Quicksilva
Turbo Chopper Simulator	1989	Amstrad CPC
Vampire	1987	Commodore 64	Codemasters
Verminator	1989	Atari ST	Rainbird
Voodoo Nightmare	1990	Atari ST	Palace Software
Wanderer 3D	1988	Amiga	Elite
War Cars Construction Kit	1988	Commodore 64	Firebird
Warlock: The Avenger	1990	Atari ST	U.S. Gold
Weird Dreams	1989	Atari ST, Amiga	MicroProse
Wembley Rugby League	1994	Amiga	Audiogenic
Whirligig	1988	Amiga	Firebird	Also known as SpaceCutter
Willow Pattern	1985	Commodore 64	Firebird
Wizard's Pet	1987	Commodore 64	Mastertronic
Wonder Boy in Monster Land	1989	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Activision	Arranged from the arcade game, original songs by Shinichi Sakamoto. Also known as Super Wonder Boy In Monsterland
World Class Rugby	1991	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC	Audiogenic
World Class Rugby '95	1995	Amiga	Audiogenic
World Class Rugby: Five Nations Edition	1992	Amiga	Audiogenic
Wrath of the Demon	1991	Atari ST, Commodore 64, Amiga	ReadySoft
Wreckers	1991	Atari ST, Amiga	Audiogenic
Xenon	1988	Atari ST, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Mastertronic
Xenon 2: Megablast	1989	Atari ST, Amiga, Commodore CDTV	Mirrorsoft	Title song is a rearrangement of the song "Megablast" from the album Into the Dragon by Bomb the Bass
Zombi	1987	Atari ST	Ubi Soft
Zub	1986	Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum	Mastertronic