Jump to content

The Saddest Day


Reg

Recommended Posts

So sorry to hear of Chris passing away. Have to say he brought me so much joy through the MFME releases that allowed me to enjoy old fruit machines again and also create a few layouts. I found the emulators very theraputic and MFME has often helped when I feel depressed. I always think wouldnt it be nice to leave the world with something useful. I may never do that, but one thing is for sure Chris has left the world with an Emulator that allows virtually any fruit machine ever made to be relived and enjoyed at home.  Rest in peace Chris and thank you for everything you have created and for the pleasure it has brought to me and thousands others.

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just like to say thanks to Alex and everyone who has posted here, you've all said it better than I could

I'm normally open forthright with my opinions, but this really has me totally lost.  I can't find the right words, I cry but don't know what to do.  Last night in the early hours I said to my monitor, "but what do we do, how do we get over this, come together as a group and grieve"?

Sorry, Chris you must think this is really crap.

If "we" decide on some sort of tribute, flowers, money, words, count me in, I'll do anything to help.

Thank you fort the last 20 years of FME.

 

 

 

 

Edited by niallquinn
  • Like 6
  • Awesome 1
  • Sad 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This might sound really odd... But are there any pictures of Chris in the public domain, from meets or similar?

Seems such a shame not being able to put the name to the face. I do get the impression he was a private individual and certainly don't want to upset anyone, but it would just be nice, that's all. 

 

 

 

  • Like 5

Currently owned digitals : T7 Encore, T7 Original, Astra iPub and Storm Street Casino.

MFME cabinets : Genesis cab DIY by No1Stoney, Interplay conversion and Vegas Strip conversion (both are works in progress!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, niallquinn said:

If "we" decide on some sort of tribute, flowers, money, words, count me in, I'll do anything to help.

There is a tribute that is accessable to anyone that I have posted about already here.

 

1 minute ago, slotsmagic said:

This might sound really odd... But are there any pictures of Chris in the public domain, from meets or similar?

I will be looking to see if I have any, all the pictures we shared were really of objects and I have a lot of his hands and fingers.

If I can find one, I will share one of him.

  • Like 6
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I learned of this sad news yesterday, when i went on Youtube to watch the latest Degsey Degworth video.

I could'nt believe what i was hearing, i didn't want to believe it.

Reg is right, it's definately the saddest day.

Wizard's brilliant emulator was the reason i bought my first PC, back in 2004, and I agree with Degsey in that MFME is the most magical thing i've seen a computer do. Have had so much enjoyment from playing it over all these years.

There is so much i never knew about this programming god, i'd loved to of seen what his MFME cabinet would of looked like, i bet it would of been out of this world.

Still can't believe Wizard is gone.

God bless Wizard, take care.

:wizard:

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, MPU_FIVE said:

There is so much i never knew about this programming god, i'd loved to of seen what his MFME cabinet would of looked like, i bet it would of been out of this world.

:wizard:

It was beyond that, it was unique.

One time we were having  a disscuion about using real LED Segments in cabinets, I wanted it so it would display the Coin In and the Coin Out.

The off the shelf systemboards could not drive them, they basically just did not work for me.  Not enough power - could not get the data from MFME in a reliable format - using stock hardware just didn't work.

For Chris, that was not a problem, Chris built his own systemboard to run them - literally.  The man was a genius beyond the software skills - he literally built a PC hardware component from the ground upwards.

  • Like 11
  • Awesome 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

View from the couch this evening, decided to have an evening playing on my PS4 Pro, it seemed important to have a bit of direction and focus compared to yesterday evening, give my mind something to concentrate on other than feeling sad.

And the thing is, this is how my PC always looks when I'm playing something on one of my consoles, because I've always just found something comforting about having MFME running. It's not that unusual for me to load a layout in and have it running all evening from when I finish work to when I go to bed, and not even put a single emulated pound into it, just to know that fruit machine emulation is still there.

There's a bit of me I think that's still in denial, still wants to do the proverbial wake up in the morning and it's all been a horrible nightmare, and Wizard will be back and it'll be OK again, and the person who made the magic is still with us, but I know that's not true, and that's what we all have to come to terms with, in our own ways.

If nothing else I would like to say that this thread is a wonderful tribute to Chris, not many of us get to leave much if any of a legacy behind us, but Chris will live on with us for many years to come.

image.thumb.png.0d1c27794d9a4cf6be4d7148cf0acb56.png

 

  • Like 12
  • Awesome 1

Fruit machine emulation content from the artist previously known as Degsy Degworth and the odd new thing here and there too - https://www.youtube.com/c/DegsyDegworth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

RIP Chris/ Wizard. Thought go out to your family and friends at this sad time.

Gutted, shocked and saddened to hear of your passing, 55 is no age at all.

After learning of your passing I have struggled to comprehend that you have gone, I was just hoping to see you logged in and it was a mistaken identity. 

You have given much joy to all those you helped and supported to get layouts up and running or how to improve them.

I just hope you didn't suffer and you wasn't in pain, and that you had family or friends with you.

I will never forget all the support you have me and the scene to get games from our youth emulated, and personally games that have been lost to time such as Crazy Crocs, nd Cops n Robbers.

Only you and God know what you had planned for future MFME updates.

I would like to say thank you for your amazing gift to the scene, and hope that you may rest in peace.

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't know what to say....

Came home from an evening out on call, winding down before bed (2.30am), put the TV on and opened YouTUBE and saw then played Degsy's video. It doesn't compute. It doesn't seem real. What on earth is going on when someone so talented, a star shining so brightly, just unexpectantly goes out? And at 55? Thats so cruel....

 Like many others here, I've never met Chris, I never knew anything about him except for what he has made for this scene. The emulators that dragged me from the brink of my self destructing fruit machine addiction. I didn't know where he lived, what music he listened to, what his favourite films are or even his none MFME hobbies were. Infact, my mental image of Chris was of someone maybe slightly eccentric, a bit like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, but also a down to earth chap who cares about what people think. Regardless of my mental image of Chris, and the fact that our only conversing was in threads where he'd answer my niggles or I'd get a nice comment for a release I made, I feel like I've lost a very close and dear friend. And i feel a great emptiness growing inside...

 I will always be indebted to Chris for all he has brought us, or brought me if I was to show a bit of selfishness... Absolutely devastated he has passed on. And still trying to work out why this is happening?

I think Chris knew what his software did for helping people like me. A true fruit machine addict. I hope he left this world sooo happy knowing what he had achieved and how many people he had helped.  Or should I say SAVED...

 I was saved...

 I was saved by Chris Wren.

 I owe you more than you'll ever know....

 Rest in peace pal.

 Tony...

  • Like 20
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Words cannot explain how I've been feeling since the news broke on Sunday about 'The Master of MFME' Chris.

I never knew the fella but for the past 16 years, he has brought me to my senses of gambling with his fantastic emulator.

Mostly everyday I have a play on the emu even in my darkest of times when I nearly lost my partner in a push bike accident last year and when I lost my mother to cancer in April this year - the emu was there as a release mechanism to help me thro.

I'm still in shock and in tears as writing this message.

All there is to say is Thank You Chris for your emulator and all the goodness it has done for me and helped me thro these dark times in my life - may you rest in peace. 😭

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've been working a lot including the fateful Sunday, but it never leaves my head for more than a few minutes. 

I shall be on the site at 1500 and doing a 2 minutes silence, for when Chris's service is starting. Would be nice to see many of you also in the online user list at this time. 

I do think after today though we do need to get on with things, it's what he would definitely have wanted, as he didn't do the sloppy stuff. 

I'm sure many of us will decicate layouts to Chris and also get involved in any donations and maybe even a get together.

But we need to move forward,he didn't work hard on the emulator for us to sit here mauldlng for weeks.

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, wearecity said:

I shall be on the site at 1500 and doing a 2 minutes silence, for when Chris's service is starting. Would be nice to see many of you also in the online user list at this time. 

Excellent idea and i will be here

 

  • Like 4

For Fruit Machine Preview Video's    https://www.youtube.com/@akfortyfive4574/playlists

These video's created by me are solely to showcase the talent of the creators and all who helped in bringing these machines to life,they are in no way a guide on how to play the machine or show how to exploit it

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, wearecity said:

I do think after today though we do need to get on with things, it's what he would definitely have wanted, as he didn't do the sloppy stuff. 

The lights will go back on tomorrow evening in terms of I remove the locks and I hope people carry on.

Without that, it means his lifes work just ground to a halt which is too unacceptable to even consider knowing the time and effort for 20 years he put into MFME.

  • Like 10
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, wearecity said:

I shall be on the site at 1500 and doing a 2 minutes silence, for when Chris's service is starting. Would be nice to see many of you also in the online user list at this time.

I also hope that people do this...

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Morning all, hope others are feeling a bit brighter today although today is in essence the worse part as we have to say final goodbyes, mine I will be out at exactly 1545 at Westminster Cathedral (if they don't dilly dally with my MOT today as booked that on Friday for today but didn't know what devastation layed ahead) to light a candle for him and say good travels dear friend, hope others are benefiting from those great talents you have, see you in the future😊😪

Had a much better sleep myself but did have things floating around the old noddle before I dropped off which took me about an hour but better than the previous nights. I find that leaving a messages of thoughts amongst other things for Chris via PM really does help in moving forward and trying to accept, it will still take some time but he and I knows this, I kind of imagine what he would say back with that whip of a mind. I agree with you @wearecity he would just tell us "What you getting upset for, get back to work, I haven't done all this for you to mope and pussyfoot around". It will take more time for some and we all grieve in different ways and timeframes as it is a majorly important part of life being able to process, mourn then eventually accept. Chris would want us to be strong, together, helping and respecting each other, having a few laughs and most of all continuing his legacy. Ironic as it sounds like fate had its plan as soon as v20 hit with the modifications like the all important blacklisting (must of been important to him to incorporate that) he left our world to be with the ones he has lost in his past. I only knew him for a couple of years, not only will I cherish that he will always be with us.

You all including myself need to and most importantly remember the time we all had (whether personally or within FME Land) not the times we didn't (fuck this is hard), he had a powerful presence and that is what I know. His profile picture of Yoda and hearing certain quotes reminds me of him and wouldn't surprise me if he liked or even studied the greatness of that character, what was his character @Reg or anyone else that spoke to him vocally as find it of interest? I would like to know more about such a private and reserved individual who gave us his all, although on the other hand should his life with us be kept the way he lived it here? Would that be his wish? Either way I am not really bothered as long as his wishes are met that is the most important thing.

@Chopaholic how are you feeling today, got you and your lovely words on your video still ringing in my head?

 

 

Edited by Big J
  • Like 7

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

46 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

@Chopaholic how are you feeling today, got you and your lovely words on your video still ringing in my head?

 

Hey there Jason thanks for checking in. I woke up early again and couldn't get back to sleep, but I do feel a little bit better today, this thread has helped, seeing how many lives he touched and made such a positive difference to, what an amazing legacy.

I'm going to finish work at 2:45pm today and walk out to a nearby beach, find a quiet place and pay my respects to Chris whilst the funeral service is in progress, and I'll upload a picture for the virtual wake a bit later on.

I haven't been able to play MFME since I heard the news, I've loaded layouts in but have just left them running in attract mode, it seems disrespectful somehow to play them before the funeral.

That said though, the feeling I'm getting more and more is that the scene must carry on, even though we have lost the great man who made it all possible, his legacy must live on, and through the FME community Chris will live on in our hearts and minds.

Hopefully his family will read the letter that Harvey wrote, and understand how many people he meant so much to.

Edited by Chopaholic
  • Like 13

Fruit machine emulation content from the artist previously known as Degsy Degworth and the odd new thing here and there too - https://www.youtube.com/c/DegsyDegworth

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Reg unpinned, pinned and unpinned this topic
×
×
  • Create New...