Mark SIBLY Obituary

I was truly saddened when I heard of Marks passing yesterday.

Like many commenting here, I never met Mark in person, but did converse with him a number of times in online forums related to his wonderful programming products, and he came across as friendly and easy going.

I remember him complementing me on a work around I had come up with for an issue with the PC version of Blitz3D and, as a wanna be programmer, it made me so proud.

To a great degree I think my sadness comes from the high regard with which I held his products: His Monkey programming language allowed me to make my first two iPhone apps in the early days of the app store craze, something that would have be much more difficult otherwise. And I still, even after all the years since I first used it, often think, "Why can´t someone make something as simple as Blitz3D for this?"

I still program to this day, and Marks products definitely stoked the flames of my passion and love of programming. I truly hope in his life, to some small degree at least, he knew the very positive effects he and his products his had on the lives and careers of so many, many people around the world.

My goodness Mark, I was wondering where you went and got a shock this morning when I finally found out. I still have the herbs and vege seedlings for you to pop in your garden. I enjoyed our chats when you came in store and had no idea you created this amazing program that so many people used, you were the such humble nice guy. I'll miss our chats and may you rest in peace.

Dear Mark,
thank you first of all for being such a kind person.
I want to thank you also for bringing me back the joy of programming. Such tools like Blitz3D will be never forgotten and remain - in my humble opinion - a masterpiece in the wild world of the programming languages.
Rest in pace dear Mark. Thank you for being such a wonderful and creative person.
Sincerely,
Sergio Marcello

Mark gave me the tools to make games, something I still do 25 years later. Thank you! His work touched many people. Rest in peace Mark

Mark is the reason a lot of would-be coders became coders. He empowered people all over the world to take their game or app idea, and make it reality. I loved Blitz3D and still have the box it came in somewhere in the garage. Rest in peace Mark.

Rest in Peace.
Blitz3D Allowed me to complete one of my dreams - create a game.

Sorry to hear that
I was waiting for his new Engine
I dont even know how he look like

Thank you for Blitz.

Rest in peace mate.

Mark and his tools changed my life.

I first started using Mark's products on the Amiga in the late 90's, and later found Blitz3D and Monkey on the PC. I had a lot of pleasure to say the very least using his software products.


I'd like to send my heartfelt condolences, RIP Mark Sibly,

With deepest sympathy,

Blitzplotter.

It's almost 30 years since I discovered Mark through his products on the Amiga, and had the honour of assisting with Blitz (as support guy) on the PC from about 1999. (And I finally got to meet my mysterious Amiga programming hero around 2000!)

I learned so much from Mark over all those years and he really made computer game programming accessible to thousands of people all over the world, many leading on to run businesses in the field, develop careers and so much more... including kicking-off the mass market Worms and Skidmarks franchises.

His work was amazing, and he even made the normally-hidden source code available to all who were interested, and easy to modify and re-distribute.

Amazing accomplishments and so sorry to have lost him so suddenly.

RIP Mark, can't possibly forget you. (My only pic attached: Mark, George from Blitz's publisher and me in Doncaster, ~2000, taken by Mark's then-partner... Claire?)

Dear Mark Sibly's family, friends.
I was deeply saddened to hear about your loss. Please accept my heartfelt condolences during this incredibly difficult time. Mark's work with Blitz3d has had a profound impact on so many, and the creativity and dedication He had put into his craft have inspired countless people.

While words can't fully ease the pain, please know that my thoughts are with you. I hope that you all find comfort in the love and support of those around you, and that the memories of Mark's time together bring him peace.
With deepest utmost sympathy,

- MrmediamanX

You are one of very few people that i wanted to see/meet in person. Thank you for everything that your work has done for many of us, including me, which allowed us walk in to world of 3D programming. Rest well my good friend that i never met, and eventually, see you on some other, better place one day.

your language 'blitzbasic', and the associated engines, has allowed many dreamers around the world to start programming and to make their ideas become a reality.
you have managed to build a friendly and helpful community around that.
and when you decided to stop the development, you have given these tools for free, open source.
we are grateful to you for all that.
and we hope that you will find peace, wherever you are...

Wow, I was shocked and saddened to hear that Mark had passed far too early. I never knew him personally but all of us that visited his Blitz website always referred to him as just Mark. Not Mr Sibly or Mark Sibly, he just seemed like a cool friend producing development tools for us. His development tools and talk of new things he was working on gave a buzz and excitement to the website.

His computer languages made it far simpler to create when there simply weren't the large corporate engines of today - which still require you to learn the engine as well as the language. Mark's languages had everything built-in.

Condolences to his relatives and friends at this difficult time. But always remember that Mark was very well respected, and he left behind some very impressive work.

We never actually met, Mark, but we had a few twitter and forum discussions over the many years I followed your work. I was mortified to hear you had passed. I owe so many of my coding years to your influence in the tools and development systems you created to make it easier for people like me to learn and create. I've been following your work since the mid 90's and you always struck me as a genius.

With condolences to your friends and family. I know you'll be missed. But your work will live on in history forever.

Thank you Mark for the happy memories you brought to my life through the tools you crafted, they were indeed, second to none. For that reason, you were the centre of many peoples worlds across the globe, not many can manage that feat, but you did.

Sleep tight marra

Mark was my hero when we were kids. He was so clever and funny and turned me on to many cool things. I have so many fun memories of staying at Gowing Drive during school holidays. It's wonderful to hear the stories from people he inspired with his programming tools. I'm so grateful we reconnected a few years ago; I just wish we stayed in touch. Farewell Mark.

Dear Mark my troubled nephew. How I looked forward to a visit that rarely happened. It is comforting to know he had good and loyal friends like Simon and Richard. Contact with cousins Russell and Angus Ward must have provided consolation. My dear sister Gracie, always had an open heart to provide care. May Mark rest in peace. His presence remains clear in my life and I will never forget him.

Thank you for developing tools that enabled many people from all over the world the opportunity to create.

We reconnected much too late in the piece post school and flatmates. I enjoyed our chats (FB) and the music you shared, especially that Boris album... Rest easy, I feel you lived life on your own terms, much respect.

Mark was and still is an inspiration to me. Thank you Mark, and I hope your new adventure takes you places far beyond Zork!

The few times I interacted with him he was a friendly helpful guy.
His genius opened up a world of creativity for me and a lot of people. He will be missed by more people than you can imagine

Mark's work on BlitzBASIC, and the later BlitzMax, which I still use, helped shape the career I have today. Condolences to all his loved ones.

This is sad news. I never met him personally but Mark and Simon's Blitz language and compilers opened up the Amiga, the PC and the Mac for me and for thousands of creative minds around the world. He was a very talented man.

Mark Sibly was excellent at everything he did

SIBLY, Mark Alexander. Born December 27, 1967. Passed away earlier this month. Dearly loved son of the late Janet and David. Much loved brother of Keirsten, nephew and cousin of the McKinnon clan. Mark was a free spirit who touched and inspired many people. He is gone too soon and we will miss him deeply.