Bear McCreary, The Walking Dead Composer, Signed on for AoC Soundtrack - Ashes of Creation News

SBFord · October 2017

Bear McCreary, The Walking Dead Composer, Signed on for AoC Soundtrack - Ashes of Creation News

The Ashes of Creation site has been updated with the interesting news that Bear McCreary has been signed on to compose the soundtrack for the game. McCreary is best known for his work on The Walking Dead, Defiance, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and other well-known television series and films.

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Heretique · October 2017

Have to agree, awesome composer. But I usually turn the music off so.

Dauzqul · October 2017

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Xingbairong · October 2017

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Totally agree.
Btw when I hear Game of Thrones I hear music in my head right away, however when TWD is mentioned I'm like "there's music in The Walking Dead?".

ConstantineMerus · October 2017

Fucking love him.

winghaven1 · October 2017

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

You underestimate just how important music is in video games. (At least to a lot of people) Nothing more iconic to a video game when it is spot on. Just look at any Elder Scrolls video game. You cannot tell me that the music isn't something that comes to mind. It helps set the atmosphere - to me it is pivotal to any epic world creating that you want people to remember.

Scellow · October 2017

That's how they spend their millions ? try to get some press coverage by doing that kind of move, they better hire more known devs to upgrade their boring combat system instead of a composed

lancerxx · October 2017

Xingbairong said:

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Totally agree.
Btw when I hear Game of Thrones I hear music in my head right away, however when TWD is mentioned I'm like "there's music in The Walking Dead?".

Who could forget this awsome hit

Slapshot1188 · October 2017

1. Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign.

2. I really like the guy’s work.

3. Wasn’t this announced weeks ago already? Or is he doing another Crowdfunded game as well?

Edit:

Yeah I thought I read this before...
https://forums.ashesofcreation.com/discussion/35745/announcing-the-composer-for-ashes-bear-mccreary

6 week old “News”?

Did something change?

Noshei · October 2017

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

So one very important thing that a lot of people seem to not know is that the money raised from Kickstarter is a small part of the money being used to finance this game. The man who founder the studio that is creating Ashes is also acting as an investor and using his own capital to pay for the majority of the development.

And to everyone saying, waste of money, the sound track is one of the most important parts of a game.

Zuljan · October 2017

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Sovrath · October 2017

Torval said:

Xingbairong said:

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Totally agree.
Btw when I hear Game of Thrones I hear music in my head right away, however when TWD is mentioned I'm like "there's music in The Walking Dead?".

I disagree. Some LotRO gamers said the same thing to Turbine about hiring Chance Thomas (of course many also were for him). In case you don't know how that worked out for the game it's pretty easy to tell the second rate compositions compared to his. In the long run if you're going to make a product you expect to last 10 years or more then it makes sense to invest in quality at every step.

Yeah, some of the music in Lord of the Rings Online is really good and some "not so much".

Xingbairong · October 2017

lancerxx said:

Xingbairong said:

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Totally agree.

Btw when I hear Game of Thrones I hear music in my head right away, however when TWD is mentioned I'm like "there's music in The Walking Dead?".

Who could forget this awsome hit

Haha true that one was hard to forget

Btw what I meant is what @Zuljan mentioned. No one is arguing if good music matters in a game(movie or anything else for that matter) or not, rather that at this point in the development that chunk of money(I assume it's a chunk) can be spent on something else.

A while back another development company had hired if I"m not mistaken a guy to edit videos for youtube for $80k a year and the quality was such that on upwork you can find someone to do the same for $500/month, of course back then I got hit with the how that's taking job overseas and whatnot as if we are talking about the government instead of game development and people missing the fact that those that are supporting the kickstarter probably don't care about.

Panther2103 · October 2017

I think music can completely make a games atmosphere. If they spend a lot on a really good composer than usually the company ends up getting their moneys worth. I can tell you I remember the feeling of entering certain areas more because of the music than anything else. If I hear a song from a game I played in the past that I like it will instantly bring back nostalgia and I will feel the urge to play it. It's a smart move. I hope it works out for them because his music is great.

Sovrath · October 2017

Xingbairong said:

Haha true that one was hard to forget

Btw what I meant is what @Zuljan mentioned. No one is arguing if good music matters in a game(movie or anything else for that matter) or not, rather that at this point in the development that chunk of money(I assume it's a chunk) can be spent on something else.

A while back another development company had hired if I"m not mistaken a guy to edit videos for youtube for $80k a year and the quality was such that on upwork you can find someone to do the same for $500/month, of course back then I got hit with the how that's taking job overseas and whatnot as if we are talking about the government instead of game development and people missing the fact that those that are supporting the kickstarter probably don't care about.

But remember, development doesn't exactly work that way. They look at what's needed and say "ok, x amount will go toward this, x amount will go toward that, x amount will go towards "the other thing".

That's the budget. They then use the amount of money they have budgeted toward their respective areas.

Additionally, sometimes composers will put in their own money to "make things right". Here is an article where Bear and others put their own money in, in order to make great music.

http://deadline.com/2013/08/jeff-beal-blake-neely-house-of-cards-scoring-composers-emmys-565460/

So not only don't we know what he's paid for his work, but we don't know if he even waived a part of his salary in order to beef up his orchestra or to put in extra time or even just to get the gig. If he can even get an orchestra.

When I hire musicians I budget extra money toward overtime because I know it's going to be needed. Especially since it's only a few rehearsals and "concert!"

Also, TV composers don't make "that much"

In any case, He's not being paid a million dollars, I can tell you that.

Dauzqul · October 2017

winghaven1 said:

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

You underestimate just how important music is in video games. (At least to a lot of people) Nothing more iconic to a video game when it is spot on. Just look at any Elder Scrolls video game. You cannot tell me that the music isn't something that comes to mind. It helps set the atmosphere - to me it is pivotal to any epic world creating that you want people to remember.

I agree that it's important, but there is just so much tremendous talent out there that will do it for free - just to get their name out there.

I started farting around with VSTs and recording, so I'm a total noob. However, only after a few weeks of learning, I was able to make this:

- it's not bad considering.

The community I was learning from... wow. There were like 10,000 Hanz Zimmerman-level composers. However, getting a paid gig as a composer for anything is like being a paid firefighter. So hard to get lucky.

jmcdermottuk · October 2017

Good move, the guy did a stand up job with BSG and the theme for Black Sails is amazing with the hurdy gurdy at the start. The man's a genius.

Music is such an important part of setting tone or mood in any medium. They could do a lot worse.

Possum6381 · October 2017

Dauzqul said:

Waste of Kickstarter money, IMO. He's a fantastic composer, but for a PC game, there are countless other options just as good for pennies on the dollar.

Several comments on what a waste of money this decision is... and none of you know how much money it is. I'm always amazed at how quickly people make judgments based on assumptions and not facts.

Zuljan said:

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Clearly this comment is based entirely on your perspective. Intrepid has made much faster progress on Ashes of Creation than several other crowd-funded games out there. Some are so slow, it's become a running joke in the gaming world as to whether they'll ever go live **coughStarCitizencough**.

Bestinna · October 2017

game is still a horrendous pile of sh*t

Slapshot1188 · October 2017

Possum6381 said:

Zuljan said:

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Clearly this comment is based entirely on your perspective. Intrepid has made much faster progress on Ashes of Creation than several other crowd-funded games out there. Some are so slow, it's become a running joke in the gaming world as to whether they'll ever go live **coughStarCitizencough**.

Well sure if you set the bar low/broad enough you can make any analogy look good. They SHOULD be proceeding fast as they are simply buying many pieces and putting them together. They key point will be how they put those pieces together and if it results in fun. To this point the jury is out.

Galadourn · October 2017

Just to clarify: they didn't spend KS money to sign with BM, the choice had been made right from the start. All the initial teaser videos have BM music.

Ponzini · November 2017

Slapshot1188 said:

Possum6381 said:

Zuljan said:

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Clearly this comment is based entirely on your perspective. Intrepid has made much faster progress on Ashes of Creation than several other crowd-funded games out there. Some are so slow, it's become a running joke in the gaming world as to whether they'll ever go live **coughStarCitizencough**.

Well sure if you set the bar low/broad enough you can make any analogy look good. They SHOULD be proceeding fast as they are simply buying many pieces and putting them together. They key point will be how they put those pieces together and if it results in fun. To this point the jury is out.

Where is your proof they are buying their assets? I still have yet to see anyone post something in the asset store that is comparable to one of their assets. I guess this is the age we live in where you can say something without proof and people believe and perpetuate the lie.

Slapshot1188 said:

1. Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign.

What a ridiculous comment. Games don't go over who they are hiring in their Kickstarter project page for developing/composing. You don't know how much it cost them to hire him. The game isn't only crowdfunded, which you know.

You are trying very hard to discredit their team even when they hire a good composer that you like.

Slapshot1188 · November 2017

Ponzini said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Possum6381 said:

Zuljan said:

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Clearly this comment is based entirely on your perspective. Intrepid has made much faster progress on Ashes of Creation than several other crowd-funded games out there. Some are so slow, it's become a running joke in the gaming world as to whether they'll ever go live **coughStarCitizencough**.

Well sure if you set the bar low/broad enough you can make any analogy look good. They SHOULD be proceeding fast as they are simply buying many pieces and putting them together. They key point will be how they put those pieces together and if it results in fun. To this point the jury is out.

Where is your proof they are buying their assets? I still have yet to see anyone post something in the asset store that is comparable to one of their assets. I guess this is the age we live in where you can say something without proof and people believe and perpetuate the lie.

Slapshot1188 said:

1. Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign.

What a ridiculous comment. Games don't go over who they are hiring in their Kickstarter project page for developing/composing. You don't know how much it cost them to hire him. The game isn't only crowdfunded, which you know.

You are trying very hard to discredit their team even when they hire a good composer that you like.

A) Lighten up Francis... they are in fact buying many pieces and putting them together. Even their engine is licensed right? That's fairly common. That's why they are shooting for a more rapid development. The context of the statement was comparing them to games like Camelot Unchained which developed their engine from scratch... or Star Citizen which of course is the poster child for runaway Crowdfunding bloat. Note I did not criticize them for this. I said that key point would be how they put the pieces together. This seems indisputable...

B ) Actually yes many do. Also note I said "Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign." I think that's a very true statement. IMHO Crowdfunded games have become a perversion of the original concept. You also conveniently missed #2 where I said I liked the guys work.

C) Try harder. Those selective quotes were far from critical ones. I am sure you can find ones where I was much more critical...

What's the point of your post? Just to pick a fight with me? If so: Find a current thread next time. Today's good ones involve CoE!

Ponzini · November 2017

Slapshot1188 said:

Ponzini said:

Slapshot1188 said:

Possum6381 said:

Zuljan said:

No one is doubting how important a soundtrack/score is...What we are saying is 6+ months proceeding a monstrously successful 3.3 million dollar Kickstarter, and all there is to show is an unimpressive, seemingly lackadaisical Pax Pre-Alpha trailer (I literally don't remember any positive feedback on the forums, quite the opposite), and, well, now this composer. That's a lot of time and money for such little progress.

Clearly this comment is based entirely on your perspective. Intrepid has made much faster progress on Ashes of Creation than several other crowd-funded games out there. Some are so slow, it's become a running joke in the gaming world as to whether they'll ever go live **coughStarCitizencough**.

Well sure if you set the bar low/broad enough you can make any analogy look good. They SHOULD be proceeding fast as they are simply buying many pieces and putting them together. They key point will be how they put those pieces together and if it results in fun. To this point the jury is out.

Where is your proof they are buying their assets? I still have yet to see anyone post something in the asset store that is comparable to one of their assets. I guess this is the age we live in where you can say something without proof and people believe and perpetuate the lie.

Slapshot1188 said:

1. Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign.

What a ridiculous comment. Games don't go over who they are hiring in their Kickstarter project page for developing/composing. You don't know how much it cost them to hire him. The game isn't only crowdfunded, which you know.

You are trying very hard to discredit their team even when they hire a good composer that you like.

A) Lighten up Francis... they are in fact buying many pieces and putting them together. Even their engine is licensed right? That's fairly common. That's why they are shooting for a more rapid development. The context of the statement was comparing them to games like Camelot Unchained which developed their engine from scratch... or Star Citizen which of course is the poster child for runaway Crowdfunding bloat. Note I did not criticize them for this. I said that key point would be how they put the pieces together. This seems indisputable...

B ) Actually yes many do. Also note I said "Not sure Crowdfunded games should be hiring guys like this unless it’s planned and explained in the Project Campaign." I think that's a very true statement. IMHO Crowdfunded games have become a perversion of the original concept. You also conveniently missed #2 where I said I liked the guys work.

C) Try harder. Those selective quotes were far from critical ones. I am sure you can find ones where I was much more critical...

What's the point of your post? Just to pick a fight with me? If so: Find a current thread next time. Today's good ones involve CoE!

1. I don't really understand how licensing an engine means they are just putting the pieces together. They still have to use the engine to develop the game. It is just a tool to build that game. But okay, sure.

2. I'd love to see an example of someone going over all of their hires before starting development in their Kickstarter. I've never seen such a detailed road map for a Kickstarter game from any of the ones I have followed. The only way I could see this even being a viable criticism is if 100% of their money came from Kickstarter. Which it isn't.

3. I did mention in my post that you even liked the composer yet still found the need to complain about it. Again, you don't know his price compared to other composers. Steven planned on hiring him from the very beginning of conception for the game as he said at PAX.

4. What was the point of your post? You think your criticism of their composer choice will change anything? There is no point to any of this. I just wanted to argue your points.

Iselin · November 2017

Reading this thread it sounds to me like crowdfunding watchers would be just fine with 80's midi music done by someone's uncle.

Looks like a good hire to me.

ConstantineMerus · November 2017

Iselin said:

Reading this thread it sounds to me like crowdfunding watchers would be just fine with 80's midi music done by someone's uncle.

Looks like a good hire to me.

If they had done that then the watchers would've said something else.

As far as we can't really be doing project/budget management we should judge what we can objectively judge, in that regard, this is a good decision.

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