From Deseret News archives:
Composer Chance Thomas sets the tone for virtual adventures
His last project was creating the score for "Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' " game.
"When I was called on to do that game," Thomas said by phone from his Northern California studio, "it was before James Newton Howard was assigned to do the movie soundtrack. I thought the game creators would shoot me off sections from (the movie score) and have me rework them. But that wasn't the case. I was informed that the score for the video game was to be an all-original work."
Thomas, a former Utah resident and Brigham Young University graduate, said he had to get into the feel of the project before he started. "I went to France and met with the game-design team. I came home with a load of drawings and designs from the game. So I put up the drawings of the Skull Island in my studio. Skull Island is a pretty scary place and having those pictures up made the studio a different world."
In fact, the descending notes of "Kong's Theme: a Tragic Hero" on the soundtrack didn't emerge until halfway through the project. "I related to the story. While some may say it's a love story between Ann Darrow and King Kong, I see it a little different.
"It's like a relationship you have with your rottweiler. You look out for it and protect it from getting hit by cars and things like that. At the same time, the rottweiler looks out for you. That, to me, is the relationship between Ann and Kong. Kong took on a protective role over Ann. And she did, as well."
Still, a game soundtrack needs to enhance the overall game play, said Thomas. "Game music is so easy to shut off. I've done it. I know a lot of people who do it. They play the game with other music on. So, when I make music for a game, I want to make sure that it's the best music for the game.
"I like to say that my music will play you like you play the game. The music needs to make you sweat. It needs to make you cry. It needs to tap into your emotions to be effective."
Comments
- NASCAR: Kurt Busch wins at Texas 6:10 p.m.
- Westbrook out against Cowboys 6:09 p.m.
- Chargers stun Giants, 21-20 6:05 p.m.
- Transactions 6:02 p.m.
- Suns slow to shine in daytime 5:55 p.m.
- Ching's goal lifts Dynamo 5:53 p.m.
- Talk of shorter hoops season 5:48 p.m.
- Falcons beat Redskins, 31-17 5:46 p.m.
- Jaguars rebound again 5:38 p.m.
- Bengals sweep Ravens 5:32 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
214 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
188 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
148 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
118 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
f you don't have an Xbox 360 and always wanted one, Saturday is your day.
Want to give some credit to SUVA club for making both teams great. I think...
@ Gutless starters You're right it starts at the top.. the very top! ...
I don't know who you're talking about, the most blatant abuser of the word...
Sloan coaches another OPPOSING PLAYER (usually a guard) to another career...
I hate to burst your bubble, but Game Day is going to Fort Worth for the same...
get blown out in Texas. Like Iowa, the balloon is about to burst!
Well said, Mary Ann.
@ TCU#1 - Lucky win? Your kicker just can't make a field goal. And you...
Lone Peak fan here wanting to give props to the vikings. They were dominant...
I agree with Aggie Watcher. There are reasons we're not quite there yet. ...




You can be the first to comment on this story.