The BIG Reference Index of Video Game Composers
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:02 amPlease only reply if you plan to suggest, discuss, or correct mistakes on the list. No spam please.
I love listening to soundtracks. I'm sure many of you in the Audio section do as well! So, to commemorate the start of this wonderful and new section of interlopers, I have compiled a large index of composers for other composers to reference to when either looking for inspiration or trying to figure out what types of music can make games successful in portraying a message. Without further ado...
For sake of thread size, some less important games have been ommited from discographies, please reply with any concerns if an important game is missing from a musician's discography. Thanks.
Nobuo Uematsu
Birth: March 21st 1959 (He was born on the same day as me! March 21st ftw!)
Biography: Nobuo started music at the age of 12, when he taught himself how to play the piano. Nobuo remained a self-taught musician, and eventually landed a job with Squaresoft (now: Square Enix) in 1986. Nobuo is a very well renown video game composer, and is one of the most respected composers in the field. His style is an interesting mix between musical genres, which often times mix between rock, jazz, and orchestrated. His biggest influence was Elton John and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The Russian orchestra influence is found presently in his character themes, in which each character is assigned specific melodies that represent the character's personality. Best known for his work in the Final Fantasy series. He left Square-Enix in 2004 to form his independent company, Smile-Please.
Discography
- Final Fantasy (1987). Listen .
- Final Fantasy II (1988). Listen .
- Final Fantasy III (1990). Listen .
- Final Fantasy IV (1991). :Listen .
- Final Fantasy V (1992). Listen .
- Final Fantasy VI (1994). Listen .
- Chrono Trigger (1995). Listen .
- Final Fantasy VII (1997). Listen .
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999). Listen .
- Final Fantasy IX (2000). Listen .
- Final Fantasy X (2001). Listen .
- Final Fantasy XI (2002). Listen .
- Blue Dragon (2006). Listen .
- Lost Odyssey (2007). Listen .
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) (Composed "Main Theme"). Listen .
- Final Fantasy XIII : http://www.square-enix.co.jp/fabula/ff13/
- Blue Dragon 2 (TBA)
Koji Kondo
Birth: August 13th, 1960.
Biography: Koji was hired by Nintendo in the 1980s, and was assigned to make many soundtracks for their upcoming game system the "Famicon" (Or NES). Kondo-san is another highly regarded composer for his work on both the Mario and Zelda series, and many more Nintendo produced games. Some heavy Jazz influences can be found in his work, but also works on the more contemporary level of classical music.
- Discography
- Duck Hunt (1984) . Listen .
- Kung Fu (1985) . Listen .
- Super Mario Bros. (1985) . Listen .
- The Legend of Zelda (1986) . Listen .
- Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) . Listen .
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988, 1990) . Listen .
- Super Mario World (1991) . Listen .
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991) . Listen .
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) . Listen .
- Super Mario 64 (1996) . Listen .
- Star Fox 64 (1997) . Listen .
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998) . Listen .
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000). Listen .
- Super Mario Sunshine (2002). Listen .
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker . Listen .(2003)
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006). Listen .
- Super Mario Galaxy (with Mahito Yokota) (2007). Listen .
Jason Hayes / Matt Uelman
Biography : Works as a composer for Blizzard entertainment. Frequently works with Derek Duke and Glenn Stafford.
Discography
- Starcraft (1998) . Listen .
- Diablo 2 (2000) . Listen .
- Warcraft 3 (2002) . Listen .
- World of Warcraft . Listen .
Shogo Sakai
Biography: Born in 1960, started working for Data East in the 1980s to late 1990s. Recently employed by Hal Laboratories. Classical style with a bit of beatles influence present in his music, and also seems to be a fan of Mariachi!
Discography
- Mother 3 / Earthbound 2. Listen .
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl . Listen .
Yoshihiro Sakaguchi
Bio: Briefly worked as a sound designer at Capcom from the 1980s to mid 1990s, but he has also contributed a few popular compositions.
Discography
- Megaman 1 . Listen .
- Megaman 2 . Listen .
Hirokazu "Hip" Tanaka
Biography: HIrokazu studied Piano from the age of 9 to 11, when his musical training ended. He often listened to his mother's music, which was often either clasical songs or movie soundtracks. Hirokazu studied Electric Engineering in college when he came across an advertisement from nintendo looking to hire a Sound Engineer. Needless to say, he got the job, and is responsible for designing a lot of the sound chips for cartridges. He also composed a few songs, with a lot of Jamaican influence. Often times his music will be made melodic while also maintaining a sound of ambient or sound scape-ish.
Discography
- Donkey Kong . Listen .
- Metroid . Listen .
- Super Mario Land . Listen .
- Mother 1 / Earthbound 0 . Listen .
- Dr. Mario . Listen .
- Mother 2 / Earthbound (I recommend this game soundtrack highly btw). Listen .
Harry Gregson Williams
Biography: A very well renown British movie composer who has also had his feet wet in the video game soundtrack production.
Discography
- Metal Gear Solid 2 : Sons of Liberty . Listen .
- Metal Gear Solid 3 : Snake Eater . Listen .
- Metal Gear Solid 4 : Guns of the Patriots . Listen .
Kelly Bailey
Biography: American composer and senior audio producer for Valve Software.
Discography
- Half-Life . Listen .
- Half-Life 2 . Listen .
- Half-Life 2: Episode One . Listen .
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two . Listen .
- Portal . Listen .
- Team Fortress 2 . Listen .
Michael Z Land.
This is the man who composed the music for almost all of the old LucasArts adventure titles and other games by them. Born in 1961, he has composed music in MIDI format and in standard audio format for:
This is the man who composed the music for almost all of the old LucasArts adventure titles and other games by them. Born in 1961, he has composed music in MIDI format and in standard audio format for:
- The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) . Listen .
- Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991) . Listen .
- The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) . Listen .)
Yoko Kanno
Yoko is more well known for her works on Anime soundtracks such as Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain, but she has also put her feet into the world of video game composing several times. She is a very big composer in japan and renown for her works in commercials, films, anime, and the few video games she as contributed to.
Yoko is more well known for her works on Anime soundtracks such as Cowboy Bebop and Wolf's Rain, but she has also put her feet into the world of video game composing several times. She is a very big composer in japan and renown for her works in commercials, films, anime, and the few video games she as contributed to.
- Nobunaga's Ambition Zenkokuban (1986) . Gameplay .
- Uncharted Waters 1 + 2 (1994 / 1996) . Listen .
- Napple Tale (2000) . Listen .
- Ragnarök Online 2 . Making Of Film .
Inon Zur
An award wining music composer for his works in movies, video games, and television. His style is predominately orchestral.
An award wining music composer for his works in movies, video games, and television. His style is predominately orchestral.
- Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (2001) . Listen .
- Lineage 2 (2003) . Listen .
- Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005) . Listen .
- Crysis (2007) . Listen .
- Fallout 3 (2008) . Listen .
- Prince of Persia 4 (2008) . Listen .
Hideyuki Fukusawa
A independent composer who is known for his work with orchestral + techno remix esque composing.
- Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny . Listen .
- Chaos Legion . Listen .
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight --- No Link Found.
- Street Fighter IV . Listen .
Yoko Shimomura
- Street Fighter II (1992) . Listen .
- Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996) . Listen .
- Legend of Mana (1999) . Listen .
- Kingdom Hearts (2002) . Listen .
- Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003) . Listen .
- Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time (2005) . Listen .
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005) . Listen .
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005) . Listen .
- Heroes of Mana (2007) . Listen .
- Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (2009) . Listen .
- Final Fantasy Versus XIII (TBA)
Trent Reznor
Birth: May 17th, 1965
Biography: Michael Trent Reznor was born in Mercer, Pennsylvania (halfway between Pittsburgh and Erie) to Michael Joseph Reznor and Nancy Lou Clark on May 17, 1965. Reznor was referred to by his middle name to avoid confusion with his father. After his parents divorced, he lived with his grandparents, while his sister Tera lived with their mother. At the Mercer Area Junior and Senior High Schools, Reznor learned to play the saxophone and tuba. He was a member of both the jazz and marching band. While still in high school in Mercer, Reznor was the keyboardist and one of the vocalists in a local band called The Klikz. Later became a member of the Nine Inch Nails.
- Quake 3 Soundtrack: Listen
Magnus Bigersson a.k.a. Solar Fields
Bio: Solar Fields is the stage name of Swedish electronic music artist Magnus Birgersson. He has released six albums, and has also scored all interactive in-game music for the Electronic Arts game Mirror's Edge
- Mirror's Edge ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1TJP1cxmo )
Stephen Rippy
Born in Texas, wrote the soundtracks to all three games in the Age of Empire series, the Age of Mythology game and more recently Halo Wars.
Tom Salta
Tom Salta also known as Atlas Plug, composer of the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter soundtracks, Red Steel, Cold Fear and H.A.W.X. Has also done TV work with various trailers like Astro Boy and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix as well as for the 2006 Winter Olympics. He's also worked with people like Peter Gabriel, Mary J. Blige and Sinead O’Connor
David Wise & Robin Beanland (Rareware):
Snake Rattle 'n Roll - listen
Donkey Kong Country 1 - listen
Donkey Kong Country 2 - listen
Battletoads - listen
Killer instinct - listen
Goldeneye - listen
Banjo-Kazooie - listen
Banjo-Tooie - listen
Diddy Kong Racing - listen
Perfect Dark - listen
Conker's Bad Fur Day - listen
Snake Rattle 'n Roll - listen
Donkey Kong Country 1 - listen
Donkey Kong Country 2 - listen
Battletoads - listen
Killer instinct - listen
Goldeneye - listen
Banjo-Kazooie - listen
Banjo-Tooie - listen
Diddy Kong Racing - listen
Perfect Dark - listen
Conker's Bad Fur Day - listen
Kenji Yamamoto
Super Metroid (1994). Listen
Metroid Prime (2002). Listen
Metroid Fusion (2002). Listen
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2005). Listen
Advanced Wars: Dual Strike (2005). Listen
Super Metroid (1994). Listen
Metroid Prime (2002). Listen
Metroid Fusion (2002). Listen
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2005). Listen
Advanced Wars: Dual Strike (2005). Listen
[center]Jeremy Soule
A composer with many songs and contributions. His full list of works and biography can be found here: http://www.jeremysoule.com/index2.html
Replies I would like to see.
Feel free to reply to this thread with suggestions as to what other composers should be added to the index. Please follow the general format I used when forming your own suggestion for the index (Meaning Name, Date of Birth, Biography, Discography.) Please correct any mistakes I may have made as well!
Yokai
