Steve Jablonski - the Next Hans Zimmer?

Steve Jablonski will be the topic of my next Spotlight.
I really believe he's going to be the next great composer.

Stay tuned.

More from Jeremy Soule - Composer of the Week

As promised, here are some more music from Jeremy Soule.

Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind



"Call of Magic"


"Main Theme"


"Unity"


The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Original Soundtrack is very unlike most traditional RPG soundtracks, much like the game is so unlike most traditional RPGs. True to Soule's signature style, the music in this album is very ambient and symphonic. Using mostly orchestral instruments, Soule crafts a mythical land into the mist. The flavor of the music on this CD is very reminiscent of movie scores such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The melodies transport the player or listener into an old English world setting with green rolling hills, taverns, smithes, and of course conflict. The music is very non-intrusive and mostly serves as a filler for background noise. A very nice, well-scored filler.

Guild Wars: Nightfall



"Land of the Golden Sun"


"Invasion of Vabbi"


"The Five True Gods"


Guild Wars: Factions



"Guild Wars Factions Theme"


"Age of the Dragon"


"The Eternal Grove"

Is it a Game? Is it a Movie? No, it's Mass Effect!

I discussed earlier the phenomenon that is happening right now: more and more video games are being develop like a movie. The plot, the visual effects, the music, the acting (or voice acting in the case of many games) are becoming the corner stone of the development process. It is not just about the action and entertainment anymore, but how the game can emotionally engage you in the plot and characters.

Last year, a game has achieved that task more then any other (so far!). It has become a new milestone in how to create the fusion between game and movie.

That game is Mass Effect.

The story:
The galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy. With ruthless efficiency, the machines wipe out all advanced organic civilization. They leave behind only the scattered ruins of technology, destroying all evidence of their own existence.
Few believe this ancient legend. You, however, know it to be true. The fight to stop this extinction event has become the most important mission in the galaxy.
It is your mission. As Commander Shepard of the SS Normandy, you will take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil, in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. To stop this enemy, you must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you should fail.

Following is the launch trailer for Mass Effect. It will give you an idea of the cinematic aspect of this game.



Finally, here are some music from this extraordinary game:

"Mass Effect Theme"


"Battle at Eden Prime"


"The Citadel"


"Spectre Induction"


"Virmire Ride"


"Love Theme"


"Victory"


"From the Wreckage"


Original soundtrack composed by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick.
Additional music by Richard Jacques and David Kates.
Featuring "m4 part II" by Faunts.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

If you want more, you need to get this game and embark in one of the best adventure you'll ever have!

Visit: http://masseffect.bioware.com/

Spotlight of the Week: Jeremy Soule

My first spotlight will be focused on a great video game composer:
Jeremy Soule



Jeremy Soule has composed numerous scores for many media including:

MOTION PICTURES
· Florence Nightingale
· The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

INTERACTIVE
· IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey
· Guild Wars:Eye of the
· Warhammer: Battle
· Company of Heroes
· Prey
· Guild Wars
· The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
· Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
· Dungeon Siege II
· Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
· Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
· Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
· Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
· Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
· The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
· Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
· Neverwinter Nights
· SOCOM
· Dungeon Siege
· Unreal II
· Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
· Balder's Gate: Dark Alliance
· Icewind Dale
· Total Annihilation: Kingdoms
· Total Annihilation: The Core Contingency
· Total Annihilation

TELEVISION

· 2003 MTV Movie Awards

TRAILERS

· The Three Musketeers
· The Golden Compass

But I think his most memorable music has been recorded for the video games sensation "Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" and its predecessor "Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind".

Following is the music for the Main Title of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, titled "Reign of the Septims"




If you want to know more about Jeremy Soule, please visit the Official site at:
http://www.jeremysoule.com/

That's it for today...and stay tune for more music and info on Jeremy Soule through out the week.

Next week's featured composer

Jeremy Soule

Stay tuned for the "Spotlight of the Week".

Spotlight of the Week

In the coming weeks, this post will focus on a video game composer and his work.
I am hopeful I will get the ok from the composers to include as many information and music as I can.

Check it out often!

Video Game Industry...the monster has awaken!

WOW! Finally I decided to enter the world of blogging.... but don't expect too much. I never was the blogging type.

I decided to create this blog after visiting my brother-in-law's site here.

Regis Florida is a talented musician.I am a long time fan of soundtrack music (music created for movies...just in case that was not clear!), and I can say that what he does his far better then 2/3 of the so called composer.
His music his reminiscent of the likes of James Newton-Howard, Hans Zimmer, Danny Elfman, James Horner, Steve Jablonsky, and Howard Shore..just to name a few.
As you can see it's a pretty good company! And I really mean it! Go check out his site for yourself.

But enough about him, and let me tell you about this blog.

I have created this blog to share my passion for the world of gaming, video games to be precise. There has been a shift in the entertainment industry: the video gaming world has taken over the movies.Their was a time were video games were made after movies, but now it's turned around. More and more movies are adapted from popular video games! Take some of those examples:

• Tomb Raider
• Resident Evil
• Final Fantasy VII
• Silent Hill
• Max Payne
• Hitman
• Doom
• Alone in the Dark
• Mortal Kombat
• House of the Dead
• BloodRayne
• In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
• Far Cry
  

This is just a sample of what has already been out and somewhat successful.Here is a list of what may be in store for the near future:

• BioShock
• Castlevania
• Deus Ex
• Devil May Cry
• Doom 2
• Gears of War
• God of War
• Halo
• Lost Planet
• MechWarrior
• Metal Gear Solid
• Silent Hill 2
• Splinter Cell
• Warcraft
  

Again, just a sample, but my point is that the shift has been surprising, and some of those movies were pretty good (even though some really sucked!)Another important part of the entertainment industry which has also shifted to video games is the music composers.
Artist from all walks of life have been writing and composing songs and music for video games for quite a while now.
Today's video games have become so psychological , the story so compelling and rich, that developers describe some of them has a cinematic experience. The music has everything to do with it.

If you don't know what I mean...check those video games:

• Mass Effect
  

• BioShock
  

• Assassin's Creed
  

• Call of Duty: World at War
  

• Gears of War 2
  

• Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
  
  

This sample will give you an idea of the work that goes into making a video game feel like a movie.

Well, that's it for today...

12 days to go....FALLOUT 3!