Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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,nmm`XXMPX musicians. read about their history in

,#MP'~~XNXYNXTb. the scene and their plans in future.yes,

,d~' dNNP `YNTb. that's meant to be read while listening to

,~ ,NN' `YNb their modules. read 'em over and over and over..

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,NN' `b. · i n t e r v i e w · ___________

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| _| | | _l_ | | \ / _l_ | ___|

l___/=l___|====l____/===\______|==l______|\ /l___/===\______l____/

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Handle:

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Group:

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Date of birth:

2-What machines did you previously have? What did you do with them?

I owned a Tempest games system, Atari VCS compatible by Coleco, several Atari STs
and an Atari Falcon when they were current. I've collected a lot of systems
along the way, after they were past their prime, including a C64, Atari 800 and Dick
Smith Wizard. Lots of old gaming systems too - A Pong machine, Atari 7800, Sega Master System,
Megadrive, 32X, Saturn, PSX, NES, Super Famicom, N64, PC Engine and more. I'm a
hoarder, so I still have everything :)

3-For what specific reason did you end up making music rather than gfx, coding?

I programmed a little, but didn't have an Amiga. Andrew was a little more advanced
than I, so I helped out where I could. I'm sure I contributed to game logic at the time,
but it was mostly moral support and game design. I was into music, and was already
sitting at home (in our small country town) making tunes. I liked the challenge of writing
to a theme.

There were quite a few different versions of the Screech music, some of which never made
it into releases. We had a Daytona parody tune planned, but never got to finish it.

4-Which composing programs have you been using? Which one in particular?

A few years back I did some remixing using Fruity Loops. I mostly used Atari
trackers then fixed things in OctaMed, I seem to recall.

5-With which module did you feel you had reached your goal?

There was a version of the screech music with vocals, which I was really happy
with. There were also 3-channel tunes for our Galaga clone, and 3-channel tunes
for Hairpin or Screech (I forget which) which I thought really worked well, while
freeing up channels for sound effects. These versions appear to have been lost
in a hard-drive catastrophe though, with no compiled version existing, and nothing
on my backups either . Oh well, life's like that. Some moments can never be
recaptured.

6-Is there a tune you would like not to remember? For what reason?

They're all a product of their time, and the best I could do then. No
shame really, and the challenge was as much in making it sound good with
four channels as it was in writing a cool tune.

7-In your opinion, what's the value of a music in a demo, game?

Setting the mood, and burning itself into your brain forever :) It's testament
to the great game tunesmiths of the 80's that so many of the tunes are remembered still.

8-At present, are you still composing? For professional or leisure purposes?

Not of late. I was in an Australian band called Jubestar. A single was released, and
my remix made the single. Perhaps that is a tune I would like not to remember, but
they were interesting times nonetheless.

9-What do you think of today's pieces of music such as mpeg,wave,midi,etc...?

As the technology improves, the music seems to become more forgettable. I'm not
sure why this is. Perhaps the money has moved, or the passion is no longer there
now that game music is the realm of the professional composer.

10-Could you tell us some of your all times favourite tunes?

Wizardry (C64), Head over heels, Defender of the crown, Cybernoid (Atari ST), Xenon,
Mr. Heli, Twin Cobra, Ultima IV, Pitfall 2 were games with great music all-round, often
interestingly used. There are far too many to name all!

11-Are you planning to make an audio cd with some of your music remastered?

I don't think there would be too many takers :)

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

Discovering oldies - Frankie Valli, Gilbert O'Sullivan, Captain Sensible, Jimmy Durante.
Looking for those old pop diamonds, buried in the dust.

13-What does/did the amiga/c64 scene give you?

A warm fuzzy feeling at being a part of a time when many more people could get their game
ideas out and seen by the world.

14-Are you still active in the scene these days?

I have been involved in games development as a tester, for quite a bit. Details of that part
of my life can be found elsewhere. Not much for a while, but I hope to get back into
it eventually. Andrew and I have a few more game ideas that we need to get out.

15-Anyone to greet? Anything left to say? Feel free...

Still in IT (as a software tester), still love the old games, hope to get back into composing again
sometime in the not-too-distant future, before what little I have in the way of looks
disappear :) Hope to get a few unfinished game ideas out there too. Look for more
Insane releases!

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2008 by crown of cryptoburners

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