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Sounds From The Future
Hello all! Casey Hudson here, Project Director on BioWare’s “next big thing” – a cinematic depiction of the future called “Mass Effect.”
So what are we up to? Well, you probably know the basics: “Mass Effect” puts you in the role of Commander Shepard, best of the best of the human military around 200 years in the future. As Shepard, you’ll scour the far reaches of space to prevent a race of ancient, super-intelligent machines from harvesting all life in the galaxy. It’s a contrast between a beautiful future and its extremely dark secret.
 -Click here for larger image
Back in the present though, it’s a snowy evening here in Edmonton, Canada, and the team is putting in some long hours, and throughout the building, amazing things are happening…
In one office, a stunningly life-like alien head is animating inside our face generation tool. The programmer that’s operating it clicks through countless randomly generated variations, each one surprisingly different, yet equally realistic. In another room, a visual effects artist is creating cloudy nebula effects that swirl around capital ships in a major space battle. Elsewhere, animators are huddled around a screen, tweaking combat animations as the character sprints, crouches, and fires from behind cover with smooth and seamless motion. Writing, programming, and art are finally coming together as one experience – something with the kind of soul that makes you fall in love with a game. And two doors away, another major part of that soul is coming together as our composers play through the entire game, making notes on musical cues and key story moments as they prepare to put the finishing touches on the score.
 -Click here for larger image
One of the things we wanted to capture with “Mass Effect” is the feeling of a classic science fiction movie – like being immersed inside one of the great films of the late ‘70s / early ‘80s such as Alien, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, or Blade Runner. And it’s not so much the themes and stories of those movies that I’m talking about – it’s the atmosphere. Back then, that thick ambience was often powered by the haunting scores of Jerry Goldsmith or the rich electronica of Vangelis or Tangerine Dream.
And that was the genesis of the concept for the music of “Mass Effect”: to bring those different elements together into a specific fusion of sophisticated electronica and the thunderous power of a live classical orchestra. To somehow navigate this unique direction, we’ve enlisted the award-winning talent of Jack Wall as “Mass Effect’s” lead composer, who brings a wealth of industry experience and was the composer on our last major title, Jade Empire. Working with Jack on the “Mass Effect” score is Sam Hulick, a brilliant composer who not only adds a remarkable ability to create rich and complex electronic pieces, but provides an additional perspective on blending electronic sound with classical instruments.
 -Click here for larger image
But Jack had some other work to do this week as well, as he and Tommy Tallarico brought their Video Games Live concert to Edmonton - a show featuring some of the all-time best music from video games. Thousands of people packed a concert hall to listen to game music, and it was inspirational to see how great game music not only stands the test of time, but can become cemented in people’s memories and enjoyed decades later. Some of the music in the show was already 20 years old, but still held its magic – especially when performed by a live symphony and choir!
What we’re attempting with this score is definitely unique, and I don’t envy Jack and Sam the task of deciphering our crude attempts at describing our vision for a style of music that hasn’t really been done before. But the results have been incredible, and I’m really looking forward to players hearing it set against the futuristic visuals and epic themes of the game.
 -Click here for larger image
Maybe someday we’ll be able to hear the “Mass Effect” themes live as part of an evening of great game music. But for now, I’ve got a freshly-burned CD of “Mass Effect” tracks, and I can’t wait to hop in my car and listen to them!
- Casey
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