FHM Meets Frank Klepacki

[Plok 327]

http://www.fhm.com/gaming/news/interview--...ic-legend-82060

To celebrate his 20 year anniversary of working in the business, FHM Gaming decided to chat to Frank Klepacki, legendary composer and audio director, formerly of Westwood and the current maestro at Petroglyph. We asked him about what the games industry is like on the inside, his up and coming projects and pizza toppings.

[...]

What's the games business like on the inside? What's the best part of it all?

Working for a developer is fun and creative, though like any gig can sometimes be stressful too. You just have to manage you time and tasks as best you can based on the outline of whats expected in each milestone, and scope of the project. The best part for me is seeing the game completed, even when it's step by step, as I enjoy admiring every else's work that comes together during the development.

 

And the worst part?

I really couldn't say. I'm used to the bumps in the road along the way so I try not to dwell on it negatively and just push forward. Rise to the challenge of solving issues and relying on teamwork. As far as the industry in general, the only thing that is always disheartening to hear about, are layoffs in different companies that seem to happen annually. Sometimes theres circumstances that force it, but if it happens every year, you have to wonder what could change in management to prevent it in the future.

 

What are you cooking up in the studio now ? Any Petroglyph teasers for us? Think we'll be seeing any more Command and Conquer?

Right now I'm celebrating 20 years in the biz, so I'm working on my seventh solo album that will encapsulate the many styles and sound palettes I've worked with over the span of my career, but with all new material.

 

At Petroglyph, I'm working on an epic project called End Of Nations, the first major MMO-RTS game which just had a tremendous showing at E3 this year winning several awards, and we are going all out on the soundtrack for this utilising a live symphony combined with my signature rocktronic styles that will take this to the next level. I consider it to be some of my absolute best work to date.

 

I'm also wrapping up Rise Of Immortals which just went open beta, and is a MOBA style game which is a lot of fun playing against friends and wreaking havoc. Don't know much about what the future of C&C is since I'm out of that loop. But it will always be a legacy I'm proud of and passionate about.

Not much interest in C&C

[PurpleGaga27 40]

EA will never make great C&C music anymore after Frank Klepacki did a decent job on RA3 and Uprising and left. But of course since the beginning, FK never liked working for EA to compose and play new C&C music. Now I believe he's too happy working in Petroglyph.

 

After his recent studio album and his great "Universe of War" soundtrack, I am looking forward for another epic soundtrack coming from FK, which of course will be End of Nations. Divine Intervention 2 anybody?

[Plok 327]

Frank Klepacki did a decent job on RA3 and Uprising and left.

He only did 3 tracks each.

[Saracen 16]

Not much interest in C&C

 

Why should there be? C&C may have been a fair chunk of his career, but it's now only part of his overall resume. Not only does he work for Petroglyph, but he's also a big composer for his own music. If anything he spends more time on his own work rather than any given game Petroglyph are working on at the time. If anything , I find it unfortunate that he's not recognised more for his own separate solo material. Because, (and Sonic will back me up on this) some of his non-games associated work blows most of his own games related material out the water. It's pure excellence. For example:

 

 

Beast of a tune!

 

Oh and I have to add this one as well... "Awakening of Aggression" is one of my favourite albums by Frank... It's heavy, it's powerful, and it's awesome!

 

Edited August 9, 2011 by Saracen

[Plok 327]

I already tried to listen to his solo work. He's better off composing for something, IMO.

[Saracen 16]

Hmm... I'd disagree with that. But each to their own tastes.

 

Sure the likes of Act on Instinct, Hell March and the original Grinder (Cos the 2nd one is just awful) are some of his best works. But there's a lot of average stuff in the games soundtracks in comparison to his solo work.

 

The thing I find. When he's composing for games, he has to stick to the overall theme. While he still has a fair bit of freedom, he has to keep in mind how the game plays out and how to generate the right atmosphere a game is going for. Freedom is even tighter when working with dynamic soundtracks which change according to what's going on, on the screen.

 

With his solo work, he doesn't have this problem. He can choose a theme loosely and run with it, and the creative flair is ever more evident in his work. The quality of his work therefore in my opinion is so much higher.

[Plok 327]

The thing I find. When he's composing for games, he has to stick to the overall theme. While he still has a fair bit of freedom, he has to keep in mind how the game plays out and how to generate the right atmosphere a game is going for. Freedom is even tighter when working with dynamic soundtracks which change according to what's going on, on the screen.

As if he has trouble doing it.

 

and the original Grinder (Cos the 2nd one is just awful)

I actually find both Grinders to be awesome.

[Sonic 296]

Just a note on Frank's contributions to Red Alert 3 and Uprising. He did exactly what EA asked of him, and that was to update the classic songs like HM2 and Grinder for RA3. He had a little more creative freedom when he did his stuff Uprising though.