Memoirs of a Videogame Music Composer 56
kukyfrope writes "GameDaily has conducted an in-depth interview with videogame composer Jesper Kyd (Hitman, Freedom Fighters). They discuss what it takes to be a composer, what inspires him, how he comes up with new ideas for his projects, and about the current 'generic' state of music in most games. 'I am not interested in writing music that is disposable or that doesn't touch people in some way. I try to write music I would want in the game as a gamer, so if I am happy with my music I know I am doing something right.'"
Brilliant (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Brilliant (Score:2)
Re:Brilliant (Score:2)
For consoles, FF* with music from the now-independent Nobuo Uematsu (with his company Smile Please) is the definintive composer of game music in my mind.
Re:Brilliant (Score:2)
Music makes a lot of difference (Score:5, Insightful)
ACDC... (Score:2)
Re:ACDC... (Score:1)
Re:ACDC... (Score:2)
Re:Music makes a lot of difference (Score:2)
Re:Music makes a lot of difference (Score:1, Flamebait)
Shutting off music is right up there with tweaking your video preferences and keyboard shortcuts on the list of things to do shortly after trying out a new game.
Music makes no difference (Score:2)
Re:Music makes no difference (Score:1)
With sports
Re:Music makes a lot of difference (Score:2)
Ultima III for Commodore 64
Ultima IV for Commodore 64
Unreal - the first one for Windows
American McGees Alice for Windows
And for some reason, Bubble Bobble and Dr. Mario are highly infectious and addictive.
Re:Music makes a lot of difference (Score:2)
Definitly. Two words : Doom II (Pitfall! II and SimCity 2000 are good examples as well)
Re:Music makes a lot of difference (Score:1)
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
Realise that most pop songs are based around age old patterns - verse/chorus/
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:1)
You write it, copyright it, play it to a few music-geek friends
How do I find a "music-geek friend" who doesn't charge an exorbitant sum?
otherwise you publish and be damned.
So what if I am damned? How can a startup video game developer afford to hire legal representation in case a music publisher sends a letter alleging copyright infringement and demanding $30,000?
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
What is more likely, however, is that you'll use some aspect of the music you liked in the original and fit it into the rest of the new piece. Then your piece is influenced by another, but it is not a copy - which, IMO, is fine.
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
That's a risk when you write any music.
So how do composers and publishers manage this risk?
What is more likely, however, is that you'll use some aspect of the music you liked in the original and fit it into the rest of the new piece. Then your piece is influenced by another, but it is not a copy - which, IMO, is fine.
Unless their company is bigger than your company and can afford more experienced legal representation.
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
What I mean is using something like a particular arpeggiation or even a single chord that you may have heard before in a strategic section of a piece. For example, I liked the progression from a diminished seventh chord to a dominant major triad used in Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique and later found myself using a similar resolution in one of my own pieces. Trying to argue against using such a small elemen
Combinatorics (Score:2, Informative)
I'm not talking about using entire measures from other pieces.
It can happen inadvertently. Every piece is going to have at least a few entire measures identical to some measure in some existing copyrighted piece; the combinatorics can't be avoided within the Western musical system [slashdot.org]. So how do I know whether I'm inadvertently using a measure from a well-known copyrighted piece? And even if I'm clearly in the right, how do I economically convince a judge of this?
Re:Combinatorics (Score:2)
Case in point, the entire Torian music from the original Metroid (and Zero Mission), is found, note for note, in the middle section of "Gnomus", the second movement of Muzzorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition", a Russian piece written in the 1860s. 12 notes, in exactly the same configuration, in exactly the same rhythm (haven't checked the key, but I'd argue that that is much less important). Do I think it's plaigarism? No, not really, I'm guessing it was probably entirely an accident. If you're ANY student
Re:Combinatorics (Score:1)
So if I am accused of infringement through subconscious plagiarism, what are the appropriate steps to take?
Re:One thing that was left out (Score:2)
Danny Elfman is sooooo much better. (Score:2)
-Rick
Re:Danny Elfman is sooooo much better. (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Danny Elfman is sooooo much better. (Score:2)
Re:Danny Elfman is sooooo much better. (Score:1)
That's just a myth.
Jeremy Soule (Score:2)
Re:Danny Elfman is sooooo much better. (Score:2)
After watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, and learning Danny Elfman was involved, I ran out and bought all the Oingo Boingo albums (like 12 years ago, I think). I wasn't disappointed.
First game that comes to my mind: (Score:2)
Re:First game that comes to my mind: (Score:2)
Fucking loved Evil Genius. (Score:1)
Another interview (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Another interview (Score:1)
Thoughts (Score:2)
Re:Thoughts (Score:1)
No laughing here. The overworld theme to Legend of Zelda is a brilliant piece of music that manages to sum up the entire feel of the game. I actually get shivers down my spine when I hear it, and I'm not ashamed to admit that the acapella version of it from that omnipresent video of a
Re:Thoughts (Score:2)
And I do love that video.
Sierra & Lucasarts (Score:2)
Of course, music has always been important to the succcess of games. Hubbard sold a lot of games for the C64 simply because he was credited as the games musician (anyone remember the theme to M.U.L.E.? :).
Re:Sierra & Lucasarts (Score:2)
Along these lines Sierra was really pushing the limits of disk based distribution, and as such probably were a major factor in creating demand for CD-ROM.
Also don't forget Origin.. The Wing Commander was another rather cinema-meets-games breakthrough and WC2 bro
Re:Sierra & Lucasarts (Score:2)
Origin was also huge - there's no denying that. Ultima, Wing Commander, the Tex Murphy series, Ultima Underworld -- how could you go wrong? Great stuff indeed.
M.U.L.E. (Score:1)
Old school needs more credit. (Score:5, Insightful)
Of all the tools available to early game developers, music I really think was the most developed because the essence of a good tune comes through with virtually any technology that can at least play a tone.
Just start remembering your old favorite games, at least with me what I always remember first is the music.
Re:Old school needs more credit. (Score:2)
Super Mario Bros!
Re:Old school needs more credit. (Score:1)
I even occasionally find myself playing on the piano fragments from the music for Hydrocity Zone (Act 2) in Sonic 3.
To whoever wrote that fabulous music, many thanks indeed!
Re:Old school needs more credit. (Score:2)
What inspires me (Score:1)
Game music? (Score:1)
If you don't know him, go on, google it, hear it, and form an opinion. Changes are that you'll love it to bits.
Silents (Score:1, Insightful)