Joystiq

Black Ops 2 soundtrack hitting iTunes alongside game launch

David Hinkle — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:30:00 EST

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 soundtrack, a joint effort of Trent Reznor and Jack Wall, will be available for download on iTunes this upcoming Tuesday, right alongside the launch of Treyarch's game. If you want a sample, you can listen to the main menu theme song right now on YouTube.

If you're picking up the Hardened Edition or Care Package Collector's Edition, the soundtrack is included, so don't sweat the iTunes soundtrack.

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Black Ops 2 soundtrack hitting iTunes alongside game launch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Ops 2 soundtrack bolstered by Trent Reznor, Mass Effect composer Jack Wall

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:20:00 EST

Call of Duty's next big entry is getting some extra long nails to assist in its theme song - Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor composed Black Ops 2's theme song, USA Today revealed this morning. He's not crafting the whole soundtrack, though, as Mass Effect 1 and 2 soundtrack composer Jack Wall is taking that responsibility.

Reznor said he was led to the project after having composed soundtracks for both The Social Network and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. "I started dipping my toe into film scoring. That led me to film scoring agents and whatnot and a variety of projects start to get thrown at you to check your level of interest. And quite a while ago I had heard, 'Would you be interested in a big franchise video game?' Being an avid gamer my whole life, I said, 'Yeah, I would be interested in that.'" Reznor previously composed the soundtrack to Quake.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 launches on November 13 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Black Ops 2 soundtrack bolstered by Trent Reznor, Mass Effect composer Jack Wall originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mass Effect 2 composer Jack Wall explains his departure from the franchise

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Though the Mass Effect series has made good on its promise to preserve and carry over important elements between games, prolific composer Jack Wall has elected to depart and pursue several other projects before BioWare launches Mass Effect 3 later this year.

"Well, I've had a great relationship with BioWare for five years, and I think, you know, as with any important relationship it's complicated," Wall said. "Now I'm working with other clients and it feels fresh to me and I think they feel the same way, so I think it's just time to move on. I have nothing but love for those people. I'm sure I'll see them again. It's just time for a break, maybe."

During a Thursday morning GDC session, Wall discussed the interactive scoring methods he and a team of composers (including Sam Hulick, David Kates and Jimmy Hinson) used to craft and integrate three hours of music into the game. The reactive score, blended with numerous transitions between battle scenes, moments of exploration and dialogue, was built on a considerable basis of technical procedure and experience -- which Wall and his team take with them before Black Swan composer Clint Mansell begins work on Mass Effect 3. According to Wall, film composers can transition smoothly into games, provided they're effectively directed by the game development team.

"As long as you have someone doing what we did on the game development side, you can get away with that, and have just somebody write great music and direct them how to do it," Wall said. "I think it's totally fine. It depends what you're looking for as a game developer, really. Do you need somebody with that knowledge, or no? Sometimes, you know, I'm just interested in all that stuff, so I bring that with me, and that's an asset I have, right? But it doesn't necessarily make me more suited to a particular project, unless the developer feels it is. So, I'm having a really good time with that knowledge now, because it really makes me think differently about how I compose for games."

Thinking "differently" and being agile is essential in successful interactive scoring, especially when game development doesn't proceed perfectly according to plan (and when does it ever?). "I do things relevant, so I do think there's a learning curve," Wall said, who began working on music for Mass Effect 2's final sequence before BioWare could even share a working level. "I hope Clint Mansell can get up to speed on that quick and doesn't feel too overwhelmed. He's a very talented guy, so I'm sure it'll be great."

Mass Effect 2 composer Jack Wall explains his departure from the franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Games Live trying New Orleans concert for PBS again

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:25:00 EST

Video Games Live plans to record a show on April 1 (no joke) in New Orleans to be aired on PBS stations in July. As this is going on the tee-vees, special guests and spectacle are planned. Ralph Baer will play Pong against an audience member on stage, with the symphony providing the sound. Guests for the post-show "meet and greet" include Tommy Tallarico (Earthworm Jim/Advent Rising), Jack Wall (Myst/Mass Effect), Marty O'Donnell (Halo), Russell Brower (Blizzard), Gerard Marino (God of War), Christopher Tin (Civilization IV) and more.

VGL Executive Producer Tommy Tallarico tells Joystiq that the previous attempt to record the show in February fell through due to licensing and approval issues. Tickets for the show are available from Ticketmaster. Hopefully, the second attempt goes smoother.

Video Games Live trying New Orleans concert for PBS again originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jack Wall scoring Mass Effect 2, score the soundtrack yourself on Jan. 19

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:45:00 EST

The prolific composer Jack Wall will be droppin' mad orchestral beats on the soon-to-be-released Mass Effect 2, according to a recent EA press release. Though you may not be familiar with the name, you're probably familiar with his work -- Wall produced the scores for Jade Empire, Splinter Cell, Myst III and co-composed the accompaniment for the original Mass Effect. So, you know he's already got experience with theremins and other sci-fi synthesizers, which is important for this kind of work.

If you need something ambient to listen to during your daily chamomile bath, the soundtrack will also be available to download from the usual online retailers on January 19. Or you could just, you know, leave the game running in the other room with the volume turned way up. Your choice!

Jack Wall scoring Mass Effect 2, score the soundtrack yourself on Jan. 19 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video Games Live announces 50 shows for world tour

Ludwig Kietzmann — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

You wouldn't castigate us for saying that many classic video games are loved and remembered not just for their gameplay and characters, but their memorable music. Why, just think of The Legend of Zelda's dum dum, da da da dadum, da da da da daaa da da da da da dadum! Or Sonic the Hedgehog's dada da da dee dum dum, da dada da dum dee dum dum. And who could forget Mega Man's dada dada dadee dum, dadum dadum dum daaa?

If you're a video gamer who appreciates everything from 8-bit beeps and boops to rousing orchestral scores, we encourage you to drag those big ears of yours to a Video Games Live concert. Created in 2002 by composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall, Video Games Live honors a wide range of games in -- thanks to its 50-show strong world tour -- a wide range of American and international venues. See a complete list of planned concert locales (including France, China, Taiwan, Scotland and Portugal) and dates after the break.

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Video Games Live announces 50 shows for world tour originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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