One of my favorite videos (and songs) sang by Bobby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w3yoIOK-9U (Eat Your Vegetables)
RIP. You will be missed Bobby.
RIP (and tear)
Neat that just last month the Library of Congress added the Doom soundtrack to its registry too
https://newsroom.loc.gov/news/national-recording-registry-in...
F.
Such a good composer for all of those games I can remember those songs still.
A Visit to id Software (November 1993)
The sound of Doom was a big part of why it was so immersive, and everyone focuses on the mobs and gunshots (there's some pretty cool positional audio for the time), but the music really played a big part of the whole atmosphere.
When CD-ROM soundtracks because the norm it really ruined a lot of game music for me, because all that chip music perhaps inspired by guitar and orchestral music just ended up being replaced with actual guitar and orchestral music, and then games just ended up sounding like movies and it's like what even is the point?
From my side I remember painstakingly transposing Led Zeppelin into an 8 bit tracker when I was a kid and being thrilled at how much more exciting the 3-channel square wave interpration sounded, and pretty much from that point on my guitar just became something to noodle out a riff prior to inputting to the computer.
I doubt anyone in 1993 thought the OPL2 version of the music sounded better. General MIDI was mind-blowing in comparison.
(it was also a pain when the Sound Blaster compatibility was needed, dma 1 irq 5).
Particularly enjoyed his work for Duke Nukem 3D, you could easily tell the difference between the tracks made by Bobby and the ones made by Lee Jackson, Bobby's tracks were a bit darker and more gloomy, adding a lot of atmosphere.
Beautifully written article by the way, as the legend deserves.
Thanks for being a great part of my childhood.
Farewell.
> What is the sound card the DOOM sound track was composed on? It sounds different on each one. So we wanna know, how was it "meant" to sound like :D
It was a Sound Blaster 1.0, which first came out in 1989. Creative Labs released almost a version of that card each year, but so many people had bought the 1.0 that the bulk of gamers had that model for several years. And the newer Sound Blasters used the same music synthesizer chip (Yamaha OPL 2 -- an FM type synth chip). A big plus of the Sound Blaster was that Sequencer Plus (MIDI sequencing software) supported making my own sound libraries, and I was able to tweak or "invent" sounds within the limitations of the synth chip. Some time later, I "translated" the sequencer files into General MIDI (GM) files, using the sound set of the GM file spec. Generally, they worked ok, but some of the original FM synth sounds could not be emulated.
As sound cards got fancier, they didn't use the OPL2 FM synth chip, but emulated it. What they didn't figure in all this was that you could bastardize the sound of an FM instrument by playing it well out of normal music range, and you'd end up with a usable percussive instrument sound. I had done just that to create my own drum sets for the OPL2. When those sounds were emulated by the fancier sound cards, they actually sounded a musical tone rather than the bastardized sound. So my snare drum would sound like two little tin drums being played (I used two adjacent musical notes as left and right drum sticks.
As for emulation of the OPL2 FM synth chip, I don't think you can get much better than the synth in DOSBOX (http://www.dosbox.com/).
As for the real thing, you will be able to get the sounds as they were "meant" to be on any sound card that has the OPL2 FM synth chip.
I hope this answers your question.
Best regards,
Bobby
Robert Caskin "Bobby" Prince III, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, veteran, attorney, musician, composer, and friend, passed peacefully into Heaven's Musical Gates on June 16, 2026. Born March 12, 1945, in Madison, Indiana, Bobby was the eldest son of the late LTC Robert C. Prince, Jr. and Dorothy Humber Prince. As the son of an Army officer, his childhood included family moves to Birmingham, Alabama, before settling in Athens, Georgia, where he was raised and where the seeds of a remarkable life in music were first planted. Bobby graduated from Athens High School and attended the University of Georgia. During his youth and early adulthood, he performed with many talented musicians and bands throughout the Athens music community, including the area's original "Jesters," along with his gifted beloved brother, David Prince. Music remained a constant thread throughout his life and was shared with family, lifelong friends, and fellow musicians. Bobby served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War as a platoon leader. Following his military service, he pursued careers in counseling and law before ultimately becoming one of the pioneering composers and sound designers in the video game industry.
His innovative work helped define an era of gaming and influenced generations of players around the world. Through his compositions and sound design for landmark titles including Doom, Doom II, Wolfenstein 3D, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem 3D, Bobby helped establish video game music as a respected art form. In 2005, the Video Game Industry honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2026, the soundtrack to the original Doom was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, ensuring that his groundbreaking work would remain part of America's cultural heritage for generations to come.
In 2005, Bobby began a wonderful new chapter when he met and married his soulmate, Connie Freeman Prince. Together they made their home in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where they shared twenty-one years filled with enduring love, music, creativity, faith, laughter, and devotion. One of their most treasured memories began with Bobby's unforgettable marriage proposal at Dollywood. After arranging for a giant message to be displayed on the passing Dollywood Express Train, he surprised Connie by appearing with a song and a proposal on one knee—a moment that perfectly reflected his creativity, romance, and joyful spirit. As creative partners, Bobby and Connie wrote songs and stories, produced musical recordings and videos, performed together, and brought inspiration and joy to many through their shared gifts.
Those closest to Bobby knew him not only for his extraordinary accomplishments but for his kindness, humor, humility, generosity, creativity, and deep love of family. Whether composing music, telling stories, playing guitar, sharing laughter, or offering encouragement, he approached life with gratitude and an open heart.
Bobby is survived by his devoted wife, Connie Freeman Prince; his sons, Robert Caskin Prince IV and Andrew (Cristy) Prince; his cherished granddaughter, Anabel Prince; his sister, Patricia Clark; his sister-in-law, Woodie Prince; nieces Ellen Moore, Lori (Kelvim) Escobar, Molly (John) Seawright, and Tiffany Thomas; nephews Mark (Christine) Moore, Neil Moore, David (Elizabeth) Prince II and Gabriel Prince; great-nieces Kaylin Prince, Caroline Prince, and Julia Moore; great nephews Trenton (Cassie) Epps, Frankie Moore, and Nathaniel Moore; Jackson and Davis Prince, and many more beloved great-nieces, great-nephews, extended family members, and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, LTC Robert C. Prince, Jr. and Dorothy Humber Prince, and by his beloved brother, David Prince, and brother-in-law, Bob Clark. Bobby was also deeply loved and adored by Connie's family, who embraced him as their own, and by a large circle of extended family members and cherished friends whose lives were forever enriched by his friendship, music, humor, and love.
Connie and the family wish to express their deepest gratitude to the countless "Earth Angels" at Dollywood and Beyond, whose prayers, kindness, encouragement, and loving care surrounded Bobby throughout his illness. Special thanks are extended to the physicians, nurses, therapists, caregivers, and staff of the VA, UT Medical Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Covenant Health, Enhabit Home Health, and Amedisys Hospice, whose compassion, skill, and devotion brought comfort, dignity, and support throughout his final journey.
While many throughout the world will remember Bobby for the music and soundscapes that helped define a generation of gaming, those who knew and loved him personally will remember something even greater: a man of talent, integrity, humility, faith, laughter, and love whose greatest joy was sharing his wit and wisdom with family and friends.
Bobby Prince's Legacy lives on through his Music...His Love lives on through our Hearts.❣️
Stay Tuned for Future Announcements of Bobby's 'Celebrations of Life.'
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