David Doak

Originally from Belfast,{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/david-doak-talks-haze-interview?page=2 |title=David Doak talks Haze - Page 2, 11 June 2007. |website=Eurogamer |access-date=11 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008062620/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/david-doak-talks-haze-interview?page=2 |archive-date=8 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/david-doak/3040-58450/|title=David Doak (Person)|website=Giant Bomb|access-date=31 October 2021}} he later moved to England, where he studied at Oxford University on biochemistry specialty{{Cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-doak/3/928/906|title=David Doak's profile |website=Linkedin.com|access-date=31 October 2021}} and worked as a research scientist.{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/374/374211p1.html|title=Free Radical Splits GameCube|date=11 October 2002|access-date=2011-03-11|publisher=IGN}}

Doak began his video game career working with Rare where he provided network support for Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble! and helped develop the critically acclaimed GoldenEye 007{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/doak-to-deliver-goldeneye-director-s-commentary-at-gamecity|title=Doak to deliver GoldenEye Director's Commentary at GameCity|date=2 October 2008|access-date=2010-10-28|author=Matt Martin|publisher=GamesIndustry.biz}} and Perfect Dark for the Nintendo 64. His facial likeness and name were used for a non-player character in GoldenEye 007, a scientist named Dr. Doak. Several of the guards also bear his likeness.{{cite web |url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/goldeneyes-xbox-remaster-axes-dr-doak-but-fans-are-modding-him-back-in/ |title=GoldenEye's Xbox remaster axes Dr. Doak – but fans are modding him back in |first=Andy |last=Robinson |date=4 February 2021 |website=Video Games Chronicle}}

Doak and video game composer Graeme Norgate left Rare in 1998{{Cite web|url=http://platform-online.net/2009/11/interview-martin-hollis-david-doak/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905211107/http://platform-online.net/2009/11/interview-martin-hollis-david-doak/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=5 September 2014|title=Welcome platform-online.net - Justhost.com|website=Platform-online.net|access-date=31 October 2021}} to start Free Radical Design. From there he worked on the video game series TimeSplitters{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Game-publishers-sweat-console-change/2100-1043_3-5377871.html|title=Game publishers sweat console change|date=23 September 2004|access-date=2010-10-28|author=David Becker|publisher=CNET.com}} and two other video games called Haze{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/david-doak-talks-haze-interview?page=1|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120908064001/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/david-doak-talks-haze-interview?page=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 September 2012|title=David Doak talks Haze|publisher=Eurogamer|date=11 June 2007|access-date=2010-10-28}} and Second Sight.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-05-04-free-radical-vs-the-monsters|title=Free Radical vs. The Monsters|website=Eurogamer.net|date=4 May 2012}}

Doak left Free Radical - now known as Deep Silver Dambuster Studios - in 2009 and set up his own Nottingham-based studio, Zinkyzonk, which would develop games for Facebook.{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/videogames/a170903/free-radical-founder-opens-facebook-studio/|title=Free Radical founder opens Facebook studio|first=Matthew|last=Reynolds|website=Digitalspy.com|date=12 August 2009|access-date=31 October 2021}} The company evolved from his defunct studio Pumpkin Beach.[http://www.develop-online.net/news/34362/David-Doak-gets-50k-for-Facebook-project#after_ad David Doak gets 50,000 £ for Facebook project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723091213/http://www.develop-online.net/news/34362/David-Doak-gets-50k-for-Facebook-project#after_ad |date=23 July 2011 }}. Develop-online.net, 1 April 2010. Zinkyzonk released its first game, Gangsta Zombies, on 11 July 2010 in partnership with Jolt Online Gaming. The company was dissolved in April 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dellam.com/06776775-ZINKYZONK+LIMITED|title=Dellam Corporate Information Limited, England|website=Dellam.com|access-date=31 October 2021}}

Since 2016, Doak lectures at Norwich University of the Arts.

On 19 May 2021, Deep Silver announced the reformation of Free Radical Design with David Doak and Steve Ellis as studio heads to make a new TimeSplitters game.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Deep Silver announces reformation of Free Radical Design to develop next TimeSplitters game |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/05/deep-silver-announces-reformation-of-free-radical-design-to-develop-next-timesplitters-game |website=Gematsu.com |date=20 May 2021 |access-date=21 May 2021}} On 11 December 2023, the reformed Free Radical Design was closed down, and the new TimeSplitters game has been cancelled as a result.

Doak listed Defender{{'s}} arcade version, Laser Squad on the ZX Spectrum, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Missile Command{{'s}} arcade version, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge, Peter Pack Rat{{'s}} arcade version, The Secret of Monkey Island, Space Duel, Super Bomberman, Super Mario Kart, and XPilot as his favorite games in 2000.{{sfn|Edge|2000|p=56}}

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• {{cite magazine |date=2000 |title=The 100 best games of all time |volume= |issue=80 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |url=https://archive.org/details/Edge_Gaming/Edge%20Gaming%20Magazine%20080 |ref={{harvid|Edge|2000}}}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Oxford

Category:Businesspeople from Belfast

Category:Rare (company) people

Category:British video game designers

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Biochemists from Northern Ireland

Category:Irish video game designers