Film composers record new highs in game scores
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Dec 29th 2008 at 2:28PM }
We may take offense to mainstream media's characterization of early game music as "annoying loops of ear candy," but there's no denying that today's game soundtracks are truly professional endeavors. The Seattle Times today published a profile of some of the industry's most established composers and their processes -- not to mention their paychecks. By the article's estimate, composer Garry Schyman (he scored BioShock, ya know) could earn something like $126,000 for his work on the Resistance: Retribution soundtrack.
Currently, Schyman is working with a nine-piece brass ensemble in the London Bridge Studio in Shoreline, Washington -- the grunge era haunt of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, to name a few. While those bands grew out their hair and donned pop's, uh, grungy flannels, Schyman was breaking into the game scene, being among the first to record orchestral music for a game (Voyeur, if you must know). Today, Schyman works almost exclusively on game soundtracks. "Film music can be very soft and ambient," says Schyman. "But game developers want strong musical statements. So from a creative standpoint, games are a great place to be right now."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mindshed @ Dec 29th 2008 2:38PM
$126k for the musical soundtrack to a blockbuster game almost sounds like he's underpaid. A lot of creative energy has to go into something like that. I wonder if these guys get royalties, particularly if a music soundtrack is released? Or do they sign their souls away when they agree to work on it?
Noshino @ Dec 29th 2008 3:26PM
126k for a 63 minutes work for a PSP game...well, that seems rather good.
Also, take in mind that there might also be bonuses.. at least to me it seems somewhat reasonable.
But yah, like he says, the big plus is that video game music is more interesting
mindshed @ Dec 29th 2008 3:35PM
60 minutes of product, but how many hours of work? Plus, it's creative work. Something that someone else would not have come up with. Someone could certainly have made something suitable (perhaps even better), but they hired this guy because they wanted this guy's sound. When a doctor performs surgery, the whole thing lasts a couple hours, but he spent years perfecting his craft.
aristokrat @ Dec 29th 2008 3:40PM
Yeah, with a paycheck that low, this guy will really be starving.
mindshed @ Dec 29th 2008 3:47PM
He is obviously not starving, but if he is in the top of his field he deserves to be well paid. If he is making 126k for a big name title, how much are the pawns making for the scrap side projects they get tossed their way?
Noshino @ Dec 29th 2008 3:56PM
yah, but its unlikely for any video game composer to take a year for 60 minutes of music.
Huh, now that you mention it, that could explain the delays! maybe the guys from Guns N' Roses are composing the music for Duke Nukem Forever...
Vidikron @ Dec 29th 2008 4:09PM
$126K seems very fair to me for the soundtrack on a PSP game. I'd be curious to see what he made for scoring BioShock.
Cheezeman3000 @ Dec 29th 2008 7:57PM
The average "media" composer rakes in about $300k/year. That means if this guy does a few more projects, he'll make an average salary. The composition process takes different amounts of time for everyone, but a working estimate is 3 minutes of music written every 8-10 hours... IF the composer is working full-throttle during those hours (which is hardly the case, considering it's a creative art). That's a range of 168-210 hours for a 63 minute soundtrack, but let's err on the side of 210 hours. That comes out to $600/hr., an average Hollywood music salary. So, I'd say, for a blockbuster game, yeah, he didn't make as much as he should've, especially since royalties don't exist in game music. If this was NOT considered a blockbuster game in Sony's catalogue, then he'd be doing quite well.
aristokrat @ Dec 29th 2008 11:38PM
He made as much as he should have because he agreed to do it for that amount. Nothing is any more valuable than what someone is willing to do it for.
BB @ Dec 29th 2008 2:42PM
Music.
Bryan @ Dec 29th 2008 2:42PM
The Bioshock score is outstanding. I even have it on my iPod.
Marty @ Dec 29th 2008 3:05PM
On a related note, it's too bad Grant Kirkhope is leaving Rare - I've really enjoyed his work in Viva Piñata and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. There's some really excellent music in those games!
Dr. Stabbingworth @ Dec 29th 2008 3:09PM
I've been flipping between Banjo (XBLA) and Gears 2 and the difference is enormous. With people having nice stereos, adding a quality orchestra really helps with the immersion factor.
Now, if Square would do a proper remake of Chrono Trigger or FF6 with all new orchestra recordings, that would be amazing.
Marty @ Dec 29th 2008 3:24PM
The music in the old game was good, but you've not heard the Banjo-Kazooie theme as it should be heard if you haven't listened to any of the updated versions in Nuts & Bolts. The music in that game is beautiful.
I can agree about Chrono Trigger though - that music is calling out badly for an orchestral remake.
Saria the Cat @ Dec 29th 2008 3:06PM
Well, I think the more people working in the games industry who are appreciated as artists by the greater community, the more respect games will gain as media vehicles of art. Which is a good thing. I don't think the general public realizes the work and detail put into some of today's games.
Dirty @ Dec 29th 2008 3:31PM
I agree.... on a side note, how cool are breast physics.
Draco @ Dec 29th 2008 3:22PM
I still like the music in Pong.
Doot,,,,Doot,,,,,Doot,Doot,,,,,Doot
The double doot has no equal in modern music these days
=Curve= @ Dec 29th 2008 4:42PM
A great soundtrack can make a game great or make it 'Ok'.
Uncharted has a great soundtrack, which helped it be the game that it was.
Hell, a great soundtrack in general will help out a lot. Watching the Dark Knight last night made me notice the small details, the sounds, etc. Part of the reason why it works is because the tense scenes made you feel apprehensive, the slow build up of sound almost makes you worry what's happening next, and makes you feel immersed in the story.
We've come a long way from the early "Beep" sounds/
j.lee @ Dec 29th 2008 7:25PM
What...they didn't bother to interview Tommy Tallarico? Tommy Tallarico don't like it when he's not being mentioned in articles about vidjo game music. I mean, this isn't just some Joe Shmup! This is Tommy Tallarico! Founder of Video Games Live! Where you can hear all the songs of your favorite video games! Live!
Tommy Tallarico will have some choice words for Alex Pham of the LA Times, if you get my drift.