JoeUser Forums
Many of you have played Age of Wonders. It’s a fantastic series of games. I was noticing today that our lead composer (both on Galactic Civilizations II and on Elemental) is the same lead composer from Age of Wonders.
May I ask what is the musical budget for a game like Elemental (or AoW)?
Because, how many songs do you need? How many variance in soundtracks do you want? Will you make songs randomly chosen from a list based on the player's alignment, gameplay orientation? Questpath?
And how much does each song costs for a video game?
(You may or may not answer any of these questions. It's just elements (pun intended) that somewhat bugs me when I think about the VG business)
And you.. just noticed that?
Wasn't that in a list of "This is the notable stuff I've worked on" or discussed when you hired him?
Isn't it, like, your job to know this stuff?
What for is the Human Resources department if not for such tiny details? 
Do you mean Michel Van Den Bos? The musician that also composed some tracks besides Age Of Wonders for Unreal, Unreal Tournament and Deus Ex?
COOL!!! 
I never expect to see real budget numbers posted in public; that's business stuff.
But I'd be intersted to know if a percentage of the music budget is aimed at designing a dynamic music scheme. No matter how good a fixed sound track is, familiarity will almost inevitably breed contempt, or at least disinterest...
You can check out rough project capital figures and other interesting info on GC2 here: http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060405/wardell_01.shtml
Straight from the horse's mouth, as it were.
This is not "tiny". This is also likely not a coincidence, although I'm not sure by whom...
Yhea, but some other questions might be answered. Like "how do you choose how many music you have in a game?"
Is it just me or does AOW look just like Master of Magic but updated with CIV III graphics?
Awesome news, looking forward to the final game even more now (and this should get my friends, all AoW fanatics, more interested).
That's what it looks like, but if you're a tbs/fantasy fan you should have tried it at least once (found the demo on gamershell).
For those who've never heard the AoW soundtrack: Cloud and Feuds, on youtube, pretty much my favorite age of wonders song.
I'm going to assume that this guy (Michiel van den Bos) is the guy (it even says so in the article, but I never fully trust wikipedia). If that is so, just let me go WOW.
Whilst Unreal/Unreal Tournament soundtracks never really stuck in my head, and I haven't played Overlord enough (and never player Overlord II), Age of Wonders stands out as an amazing soundtrack. In particular, however; Deus Ex (not to be confused with it's deranged abortion of an offspring).
Deus Ex had, and have, one of the absolutely best soundtracks in the entire industry - all categories. I can still go to youtube sometimes and fire the soundtracks up because they're so great in their own right. There is rarely a discussion amongst friends about Deus Ex, where the soundtrack doesn't get mentioned. It was doubtlessly one of the essential' things that made the game so absolutely amazing - even though that game in particular probably could've had no sound at all and still be above average.
The main theme alone blew me away from the first time I started that game up (original / orchestral). I know that Deus Ex is very "futuristic" in it's themes (all themes, including music). But I really hope that we get something as great as that.
My heart just soared.
No pressure.
The A51 entry theme is where it's at for me, but the entire soundtrack for that game is absolute perfection.
I'm not in a position to be sure, but I believe some of the wrong names are being thrown around in this thread. If Brad want's to talk about the composer, he ought to give a name so that people don't misunderstand.
Same here! Good news! 
The music credits in TA list Mason Fischer (sic) and Eric Heberling. Fisher's site has a February (last year?) news blurb: "Signed on to create SFX and music for Stardock's Elemental - War of Magic."
The Age of Wonders music sure is good. Marsch of the Halflings is really good. Highmen theme was a bit epic as well.
But Shadow Magic had a few really good ones like "In the company of Treehuggers Elves" and "Death Song".
Otherwise, Lords of Magic had the best individual song, the Death Song <--- Best fantasy song I've heard.
I agree with luckmann. How did this not come up during the hiring process?
Deus Ex music... my god its good stuff 
... This will add alot to Elemental... Good choice SD!
What?! No Jeremy Soule? Outrageous!
j/k of course. I'm glad to hear such a talented composer works on the project
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