Had a great first visit with Austin Wintory...

[Arnie]

Austin came into town yesterday (Saturday) and we spent the entire day rapping about the game and how the underlying theme of the music would resonate with the story. He had some amazing ideas and we seemed to feed off each other really well. We cannot begin to tell you how excited we are to be working with this class act and it's all thanks to the backers at Kickstarter. Your game will be all the better for it. If you're a fan of really, really good music then be prepared to be very, very happy.
Skal!

[JokerAR]

Very excited to hear what the Stoic team have chosen for the musical stylings- are we looking at ambient and atmospheric or more deliberately orchestral with themes, core riffs etc?

[LoliSauce]

I tend to get involved more in music that takes a step away from the standard ambient background stuff. I like it when music takes a more active role. From some of the interviews, it sounds like that's already where it's headed.

[stelly]

we cant wait for the finished product, from what we have heard in the updates the music sounds amazing

Stelly

[Kimberly]

Err, Stelly, has part of the game music been in the updates? Please point me to that, because I simply must listen.

[JokerAR]

I'd wondered about the violins in the last update video on the kickstarter page- a rough theme preview for the backers or just something appropriate sounding to accompany the video? I figured the latter but who knows?

[stelly]

Coming to think about it your probably right, its far too soon to have anything in the game from the updates

Stelly

[Arnie]

Austin has already done a first pass on the main theme that we're really excited about, but it's unfortunately too early to share.
The music from the main trailer and first Kickstarter video was by me and all the rest of the kickstarter video music was from other stuff Austin has done...but none of it is/was from The Banner Saga.
Can't wait to share it though!

[Troll]

Can't wait to share it though!

Then pleaso do !
Music is good, games are good...but great music in a great game is greater.

[ninnisinni]

Great news! I can't wait to hear the music he will make for this... oh, and it's Skål! (sorry, I'm a Swede, so I'm nit-picking a bit on stuff like that...)

[Product Placement]

oh, and it's Skål! (sorry, I'm a Swede, so I'm nit-picking a bit on stuff like that...)

And if you come to Iceland, it's "Skál". Not quite sure how you guys pronounce it but in Icelandic the "á" part is pronounced like "ow" in English.

[Khar]

I'm looking forward to The Banner Saga's music so much after hearing Austin's wonderful work on Journey (an insta iTunes purchase).

Perhaps a middle ground between some more ambient atmospheric tracks and recognisable themes could be found.

While I really enjoyed Jeremy Soule's Skyrim soundtrack I can't recall the melodies without hearing the songs. If that makes sense! Even though I've played that game with the soundtrack on for over 150 hours I can't summon up how any of them go other than the main theme while I'm typing this.

Whereas 'hummable' themes (I recall Peter Jackson banging on about how he demanded that the LOTR soundtrack was hummable) can really add something to a game. Even after so many years since I first played the Ultima games I can recall every note of Stones like it was yesterday.

[Awintory]

Hey everyone! Austin Wintory here; just got my account fired up and Arnie told me about this post he made. So beyond happy to see you guys already enthusiastic, despite the incredible fear that automatically strikes into one's heart! But I can definitely echo the sentiments of Stoic in feeling that this is a great team. These guys are making the sort of game that I, as a gamer, would love on its own terms, regardless of my involvement. That was the case with Journey as well and so all over again I'm feeling a bit too lucky to describe.

And yes, the music used in the last couple Kickstarter videos were drawing excerpts from my album "Spirit of the Cosmos," which is on iTunes, etc. It's a fun album of big cinematic stuff, all performed by the Utah Symphony. I often get rather positive feedback on it, but I must admit that I actually am pretty embarrassed by it. It's all music I wrote when I was about 16 and I think the immaturity inherent in that shows itself off in droves. So, if you like the album, my many thanks! If you don,t, I don't blame you

Sorry for this being such a huge post ... but I wanted to also address the questions of musical style, etc. It's too early for us to open up on a lot of that, but for those who played Journey (or even flOw) will know, my attitude is "Do whatever is right." Sometimes the music needs to be very subtle (dare I say atmospheric?). Sometimes it needs to be very directly part of the experience, or indeed the core of the experience. How TBS will shake out between those two we shall see. The exciting thing, is that based on this weekend's visit with Stoic, the content the music is attached will be amazing regardless

[belamoor]

Sorry for this being such a huge post ... but I wanted to also address the questions of musical style, etc ...

Do addresses them as much as you feel like doing so. I can't speak for everybody, but i think it's incredibly cool for you guys to come and share stuff with us here on forums. I haven't come across your music as much (mostly from Stoic trailers cause i feel bad now,for listening to your other albums on youtube ), but from little i heard, i am actually pretty certain it will be great. Can't wait to hear what will you come up with for TBS.
Hope you'll have as much enjoyment composing as we listening to it. Cheers.
Edit By the way i do agree on the atmospheric vs active role of music. It believe it's a matter of good taste and creativeness in game experience composition.

[lamaz]

What belamoor said

[Awintory]

Do addresses them as much as you feel like doing so. I can't speak for everybody, but i think it's incredibly cool for you guys to come and share stuff with us here on forums. I haven't come across your music as much (mostly from Stoic trailers cause i feel bad now,for listening to your other albums on youtube ), but from little i heard, i am actually pretty certain it will be great. Can't wait to hear what will you come up with for TBS.
Hope you'll have as much enjoyment composing as we listening to it. Cheers.
Edit By the way i do agree on the atmospheric vs active role of music. It believe it's a matter of good taste and creativeness in game experience composition.

Interacting with the community is a huge part of the joy of this job for me, so believe me that it's my pleasure to chat with you all and get to know you. Please always feel free to ask anything and I'll try to keep everyone updated on progress to the extent that I can!!

[lamaz]

Interacting with the community is a huge part of the joy of this job for me, so believe me that it's my pleasure to chat with you all and get to know you. Please always feel free to ask anything and I'll try to keep everyone updated on progress to the extent that I can!!

I know this a quite a lot to ask, but could we get like a short video documentary about the work you do? Maybe showing the process with a commentary from you and the people involved? I have almost no idea how the music and sounds are incorporated in to the game, but I would love to find out.

Also, the Journey's soundtrack is great!

[Awintory]

I know this a quite a lot to ask, but could we get like a short video documentary about the work you do? Maybe showing the process with a commentary from you and the people involved? I have almost no idea how the music and sounds are incorporated in to the game, but I would love to find out.

Specifically for Journey I don't have a doc like that prepared, though I imagine we'll be recording enough of the process on TBS in order to make one. In the past they've been made though. Check out this behind the scenes to my film Grace, which premiered at Sundance 3 years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KWUhK5zhZo

[jezzarisky]

Yeah Utah Symphony!

[Kaffo]

I am ridculously excited to hear some more of Wintory's work. I wonder if he'll employ any scandinavia ethnic instruments or sami instruments. Or perhaps wider Northern European things or some chanting maybe? Whatever he comes up with I can't wait!