Video Games Live interviews Jason Hayes in Austin
This is really interesting -- our friend Tommy Tallarico of Video Games Live recently did a show in Austin, Texas, and during the performance, they actually brought former Blizzard composer Jason Hayes up on the big screen via Skype and chatted with him about the Warcraft music they had just played. Hayes worked on some of the cinematic music for Warcraft III, and though he is no longer with Blizzard, he put together some of the new music you're hearing now in Wrath of the Lich King as well.
Hayes talks about how he works closely with the cinematic team to try and come up with an appropriate mood for what's happening on screen as the music plays. Even with early animatics, he says, you can get a good sense of where the scene is going and what the story is about. He also says that the Latin lyrics in his songs aren't necessarily Latin -- he uses a translator online and picks and chooses what sounds best. So not exactly historically accurate, but it's Warcraft -- as long as it sounds good, they can justify it however they like. It's definitely a fun little chat with one of the people behind some of the sweet sounds of Azeroth.
[via WorldofWar]
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Virtual selves, Odds and ends, Blizzard, News items






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pexxle -=SilverHand (RP)=- Apr 21st 2009 4:08PM
Kudos go to this man!
Pexxle -=SilverHand (RP)=- Apr 21st 2009 4:19PM
Every once in a while i watch the Original, BC and WotLK cinematics and i still get a chill like when i first started playing WoW.
Good stuff.
kindlir Apr 21st 2009 11:38PM
Latin lyrics are way overdone, especially in the fantasy genre. Super Smash Bros, Age of Empires, and World of Warcraft all use Latin lyrics and its always to the same effect.
It sounds good, but everytime a dev uses Latin lyrics in their soundtrack, they always use it for the same "mood."
I would like to see something more unique to the game. Perhaps a choir of elves, chanting orcs, or a drinking song from a Dwarven pub (my favorite) would be a fantastic change of pace.
Evi Apr 22nd 2009 9:57AM
Aww, he's no longer with Blizz? I really enjoyed his work.