Full Q&A: Chance Thomas of “Avatar” game
Composer Chance Thomas provided a lot more information about working on the music for the “Avatar” game than what I was able to work into the recent Oklahoman article. Of local interest, Thomas grew up here in Oklahoma City, and formerly played in a band with Edgar Cruz. But his composing skills, especially in the video game industry, are nationally renowned.
Chance Thomas conducts an orchestral recording session.
Here at Nerdage, I’m providing the entire Q&A, which is an interesting look into working on a game of truly massive scale. For more information about the award winning composer Chance Thomas, see www.hugesound.com.
Matt Price: What are some of the technical innovations of this game?
Chance Thomas: James Cameron’s Avatar is the world’s first stereoscopic 3D videogame. That means it has the potential to deliver the same degree of depth of field immersion as the best 3D theatrical films. Being able to pull this off was a crucial factor in Cameron’s decision to hire Ubisoft’s Montreal studio to create his game. Apparently the guys in Montreal were the first engineers in the world to figure out how to do this for a game in a commercially manageable way. Pretty big deal.
Chance Thomas scores ‘Avatar’ game
Chance Thomas took a step into director James Cameron’s world with the game based on the “Avatar” film. Thomas, who grew up in Oklahoma City, composed the music for the game, available now for multiple game systems.
Thomas has had a long, thriving career in music, composing for the Oscar-winning short “The ChubbChubbs” and many successful video game scores.
With “Avatar,” Thomas wanted to make sure his music shared a resonance with the score of the film.
“I met the film’s producer John Landau in Montreal at the very beginning of my contract,” Thomas said in an interview. “I expressed to him my strong feelings about the importance of aligning the aesthetic of the game score with that of the film. … So I asked John if he would arrange a meeting between myself and the film’s composer James Horner (‘Titanic,’ ‘Braveheart,’ ‘Star Trek’).”
While it took some time for the two composers to align their schedules, the pair did eventually meet.
“It was an important meeting for me because, while in some cases we were on the same frequency, in other cases, he had a different take,” Thomas said. “So it was useful for me to understand those differences in order to bring those colors and flavors into the game score as well.”
To create the music, Thomas created themes for the two races that are at the heart of the “Avatar” conflict.
“The Na’vi are the alien planet’s indigenous humanoid species. They are a native people, spiritually connected with the natural world around them,” Thomas said. “The music for the Na’vi is a blend of tribal elements (rough-hewn drums, organic percussive instruments, flutes, chanting, etc.) and orchestra.”
Meanwhile, the Resources Development Administration (RDA) represents a military industrial complex.
“These are scientists and soldiers, with all their assorted tech, machinery and weaponry,” Thomas said. “The music for the RDA is represented with Western film orchestra and massive percussion mixed with tech and synth elements.”
Thomas said creating the score for the “Avatar” game required a massive amount of music.
“If you took all the music files I delivered and played them back to back from start to finish, it would take you more than 4½ hours to hear them all,” Thomas said.
- By Matthew Price
From the Dec. 18 The Oklahoman
Assassin’s Creed 2 tops GameFly Top 10 list
The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choice from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1 Assassin’s Creed 2 PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Ubisoft
2 Left 4 Dead 2 Xbox 360 Shooter Electronic Arts
3 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Activision
4 Dragon Age: Origins PS3, Xbox 360 RPG Electronic Arts
5 Borderlands PS3, Xbox 360 Shooter Take Two
6 New Super Mario Bros. Wii Wii Action Adventure Nintendo
7 Saboteur PS3, Xbox 360 Action Adventure Electronic Arts
8 God of War Collection PS3 Action Adventure Sony Computer Entertainment
9 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves PS3 Action Adventure Sony Computer Entertainment
10 James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games Action Adventure Ubisoft
More top 10 lists after the break.
Rock Band, Guitar Hero to highlight Norman library event
The Norman Public Library will host an adult gaming night from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13 in the Lowry Room. Those 18 and over can join in the games, which will include Rock Band, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, Halo 3, Left for Dead, and more. Systems available will include Xbox 360, Playstation 2, and the Nintendo Wii.
No registration is required for the event. For more information, contact Norman librarian Jamie Hale at 701-2620 or stop by the Norman Information Services Desk.
Nintendo Wii price to drop
The gaming system Nintendo Wii will drop to a $199.99 suggested retail price as of Sept. 27. This is $50 less than the current SRP of $249. This includes the motion-sensing Wii Remote controller, Nunchuk controller and Wii Sports software, along with the Wii hardware.
Nintendo’s not slowing down in new game releases for the Wii, either. On Oct. 4, Nintendo will release Wii Fit Plus, and on Nov. 15 the multiplayer title New Super Mario Bros. Wii will be released. This game will allow four players at once.
“Wii has reached more video game players than any game system before because it attracts everyone—both men and women, and people of all ages,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing, in a release. “Our research shows there are 50 million Americans thinking about becoming gamers, and this more affordable price point and our vast array of new software mean many of them can now make the leap and find experiences that appeal to them, whatever their tastes or level of gaming experience.”
- Matt Price
No joke: Batman marks four weeks atop GameFly Top 10
Batman: Arkham Asylum remains at the top of the GameFly top 10 list for the fourth week. Halo 3: ODST moves from No. 4 to No. 2. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 jumps from No. 5 to No. 3. The Beatles: Rock Band, released 09-09-09, makes its first appearance on the list — at No. 9.
The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choice from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1 Batman: Arkham AsylumPS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureEidos
2 Halo 3: ODSTXbox 360ShooterMicrosoft
3 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2RPGActivision
4 Section 8Xbox 360ShooterSouth Peak Interactive
5 Guitar Hero 5PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2Arcade/PuzzleActivision
6 Need for Speed: ShiftPS3, Xbox 360, PSP GamesRacingElectronic Arts
7 WetPS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureBethesda
8 WolfensteinPS3, Xbox 360ShooterActivision
9 The Beatles: Rock BandPS3, Xbox 360, WiiArcade/PuzzleElectronic Arts
10 Madden NFL 10PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2SportsElectronic Arts
More lists after the break.
Rock Band, Beatles ‘come together’ in dazzling new game
Relive the Beatles’ career in “The Beatles: Rock Band,” a video-game celebration of the most popular band in rock history.
The gameplay is fairly typical for “Rock Band,” in which gamers can play drums, bass, guitar or sing as they re-create some of the Beatles’ greatest hits. Added for “The Beatles” is the introduction of harmony on the vocal line. Gamers can plug in up to four microphones, allowing multiple performers to get in on the harmonies.
Players begin in 1963, with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison performing at the Cavern Club. From there, the band moves to “The Ed Sullivan Show,” to Shea Stadium, and beyond.
In story mode, the gamer re-enacts the career of the Beatles through 45 songs. Chapter Challenges require the gamer to repeat the songs at a higher level to unlock additional photos. And more songs are on the way: Three Beatles albums — “Abbey Road,” “Rubber Soul” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — will be downloadable in coming months.
“The Beatles: Rock Band” doesn’t allow the gamer to import or export characters to or from other “Rock Band” games, but perhaps that’s appropriate. As much as “The Beatles: Rock Band” appears to be a mini-documentary in game form, it’d be pretty jarring for other characters to jump in and out of the game.
Adding to that documentary feel is the in-studio audio chatter in the “Abbey Road” portion of the game, which captures never-before released audio conversations among the Beatles.
There are multiple ways to buy “The Beatles: Rock Band.” The retail price of the game is $59.99. Want to go for total immersion? The premium bundle offers the game plus controllers modeled on McCartney’s Hofner bass and Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, along with a microphone and a mike stand, for $249.99. And sold separately are controllers based on Lennon’s Rickenbacker and George Harrison’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar, priced at $99.99 each. Additionally, the game will work with previous “Rock Band” controllers and most “Guitar Hero” and third-party controllers.
The game succeeds at both of its probable goals: Expand the “Rock Band” demographic to include baby boomers, and expose younger gamers to Beatles music. With a “no-fail” option on the easy levels, those who haven’t played “Rock Band” will find “Beatles” a comfortable first start. And the quality of the musical presentation on “Beatles” will undoubtedly lure some new fans for the band from the music-gaming set.
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
By Matthew Price
Get Silent Hill: The Escape for 99 cents
Get a trip to Silent Hill for under a dollar.
Konami is making Silent Hill: The Escape, for the iPhone and iPod Touch, available for 99 cents on the Apple App store from September 3 to September 5. The survival horror game puts gamers in a monster-filled labyrinth in the first-person 3D shooter. The gamer’s character is armed with a revolver and a dim flashlight and must find a key to escape from each level.
- Matt Price
Batman makes it a three-peat atop GameFly Top 10
Batman: Arkham Asylum remains at the top of the GameFly top 10 list for the third straight week. Wolfenstein 3D at moves up a spot to No. 2, knocking Madden 10 to No. 3. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 switches places from last week with Halo 3: ODST. Ultimate Alliance is now in the No. 5 slot, with Halo 3: ODST at No. 4.
The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choice from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1. Batman: Arkham AsylumPS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureEidos
2. WolfensteinPS3, Xbox 360ShooterActivision
3. Madden NFL 10PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2SportsElectronic Arts
4. Halo 3: ODSTXbox 360ShooterMicrosoft
5. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2RPGActivision
6. Wii Sports ResortWiiSportsNintendo
7. Guitar Hero 5PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2Arcade/PuzzleActivision
8. Call of Juarez: Bound in BloodPS3, Xbox 360ShooterUbisoft
9. Section 8Xbox 360ShooterSouth Peak Interactive
10. PrototypePS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureActivision
More lists after the break
Batman escapes with second week atop GameFly list
Batman: Arkham Asylum stays above the GameFly top 10 list for the second week in a row. Madden 10 holds on at No. 2, while Wolfenstein 3D moves up a spot to No. 3. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 jumps from No. 8 to No. 4, and Halo 3: ODST falls from No. 3 to No. 5.
The GameFly Top 10 List reflects gamers’ choice from more than 6,000 titles for the Wii, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS and PSP consoles.
Most Popular Games Cross-Platform:
1 Batman: Arkham AsylumPS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureEidos
2 Madden NFL 10PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP Games, PS2SportsElectronic Arts
3 WolfensteinPS3, Xbox 360ShooterActivision
4 Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2RPGActivision
5 Halo 3: ODSTXbox 360ShooterMicrosoft
6 Call of Juarez: Bound in BloodPS3, Xbox 360ShooterUbisoft
7 PrototypePS3, Xbox 360Action AdventureActivision
8 G.I. Joe: The Rise of CobraPS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP Games, PS2Action AdventureElectronic Arts
9 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2PS3, Xbox 360ShooterActivision
10 Red Faction: GuerrillaPS3, Xbox 360ShooterTHQ
More lists after the break.
