-=> Quoting Jonathan Fingas to Lee Jackson <=-
 JF> I imagine you get a bit tired of answering these messages (a few
 JF> less minutes that could be spent making music), but given that you're
 JF> one of my precious few contacts with the game-making community, you're
 JF> stuck with me.  
Here's wishing you the best in broadening your horizons. 
 JF> Anyhow, I was wondering what you thought of other games' sound
 JF> and music as of late.
I'll be brutally honest - I don't listen too much to other games' music.
There are a couple of good reasons for this.  First, I don't want to be
accused of ripping someone else's stuff (i.e., the John Williams syndrome),
and believe me, that is an easy thing to slip into at the rate that game
composers write.  Second, when I do listen, I tend to listen to a lot of
things all at once - sort of a saturation trick that helps me overcome
problem #1.  Finally, a lot of complex emotional things happen to me, which
I won't go into here:  suffice it to say that it always takes me a day or
three to get back into the groove afterwards.
 JF> Jedi Knight, on the other hand, is a "tour-de-Force" (yes,
 JF> it's a pun!).  Of course, LucasArts has the unique advantage of being
 JF> able to use authentic Star Wars sounds (love the lightsaber!) as well
 JF> as authentic Star Wars music.
That's an EXTREMELY huge advantage.  I'd love to have a 100+ piece
orchestra at my disposal, but they wouldn't fit into my studio.  IMHO, the
sounds that they took from the movie were, of course, movie-quality.
However, the ones that were new were so-so.
 JF> But at least it's well sampled!
So were Joe Siegler's burps in ROTT.
 JF> Once again, it would be great if Duke Nukem Forever's soundtrack
 JF> was a highlight, not just an accessory after the fact.
I intend to make it as good as I can.  However, you have to keep in mind
the first rule of game music composition - the music should add to the
game, not detract from it or overshadow it.  It's like trying to blend the
subliminal with the spectacular.  A neat trick, if you can pull it off.
 JF> I don't doubt your own musical prowess; the Shadow Warrior theme is
 JF> still lodged firmly in my head.
Thanks.
 JF> It's just that it doesn't draw quite as much attention or give you
 JF> enough reason to listen to the CD beyond the game itself.
Not the theme, maybe, but that wasn't the goal there.  Besides, I'll admit
that the theme isn't one of my favorites.  George liked it, though, and
that cinched its place within the game.
Anyway, I think there is at least one piece that works to the extent that
you imply - Lo Wang's Rap. IMHO, it's worth listening to regardless of
whether or not you have the CD.
 JF> PS  I heard you were "in negotiations" with some big names when it
 JF> comes to the music.  Are they still ongoing, or do you think you could
 JF> let me know who you think will do the music?  Even if talks are still
 JF> underway, it would be nice to be given a hint  say no more>
You're right - say no more.  Further inquiries will be routed to /dev/null.
I'm not saying a word about any deals involving DNF, regardless of whether
or not they exist (which at this time, they don't).  You'll just have to be
patient and learn when everyone else does whether or not there was anything
at all to learn about in the first place.
    -Lee
... The truth shall make you free -- but first it will tick you off.
--- Blue Wave/Max v2.30
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