Hello Frank! It’s nice you’re here for us today on Command & Conquers Birthday to answer some questions. First off, tell us something about you!
I was Westwood Studios composer for 12 years, most known for my work in the Dune series, and Command & Conquer series. For the last 6 years I’ve been the audio director and composer for Petroglyph having worked on the Star Wars Empire At War series, and now working the first high quality MMORTS – End Of Nations.
You are the composer of the Hell March tracks from the “Red Alert” games: What gave you the ideas for these tracks?
The original Hell March song was written in half a day. I was on the way to work, and thought to myself that the sounds of marching soldiers would make a cool beat to a song. When I arrived in the office, I picked up my guitar and played the signature riff right away. I knew I was on to something. It was originally intended to be a NOD track, until I found out that Red Alert was a different setting. But when the president of the company heard it and said that was to be the main theme for the game.
What’s interesting in creating such music tracks for you? Was it allways easy or were there any troubling tracks?
Most of the time it was easy – at the time of doing the first C&C games, I was free to experiemt as much as I wanted, and most of the tracks I wrote made it in to the game. The most difficult time I had was working on Tiberian Sun. I was spread across mulitple projects and deadlines, and had a hard time with that one.
Do you think that the music from the Command & Conquer games is something unique that you cannot find somewhere else?
Yes I do. I can’t say I’ve played anything else where the score had the same kind of personailty, except for Universe At War which I scored for Petroglyph.
You have created music for many other games: Where is the difference between Command & Conquer and your other work? What do you like more or less?
I like a bit of everything and all the games I worked on have special memories for me.
Was it hard work to make your comeback in the community with Hell March 3? The fans were expecting much and you had to raise the bar you had set yourself.
No it wasn’t hard – it was quite natural. The only major difference was, they wanted to stick close to the feel of HM2 rather than go in a different new feel, which is what I would’ve done otherwise. So I had to provide what the client wanted rather than have the creative freedoms I was used to. Which is fine. I think the best version of HM3 is the one I performed at Games In Concert 3. It sounds punchier when its live!
In the past 15 years, did the community and the brand Command & Conquer change since back then? What are your thoughts about this?
The community hasn’t changed as much as it’s remained a solid force of passionate people who love the games and love making their own takes on it. I think that really cool that they are going strong after so many years. As far as the brand goes, thats subjective. I thought C&C3 and RA3 still retained some of the gameplay and visual presentation that echoed what came before it, but C&C4 seems to be the most far removed of the whole series.
With what people you have been working together and how did you motivate your team to help you with your work? How would you describe your team?
On C&C games, I mainly worked with the audio deptartment and the producers and desginers. Occasionally the president. The most motivating thing was that we had fun playing it and making it. We were very supportive of each others work and took pride in it.
What were your highlights with Command & Conquer in the last 15 years and what are the things you were happy about or what makes you a happy even today?
Highlights were making the first game and having a blast with no limitations. After Red Alert shipped, the outpouring of fans who loved the music was a big surprise to me, seeing Hell March become a hit. Winning the PC Gamer award for best soundtrack over Quake which was done by Trent Reznor was crazy, since that guy is one of my biggest influences of the time. Scoring msuic to James Earl Jones scenes in Tiberian Sun was awesome, since he’s the voice of Darth Vader, and I’m a huge Star Wars fan. Recording my tracks for Red Alert 3 at Skywalker Ranch with the symphony was a great and exciting expereince. And of course the opportunity to perform these themes live with symphonies such as Video Games Live and Games In Concert is the icing on the cake!
Beside from your passion for music, what other hobbies do you have?
It seems most things I do for work and fun is audio related. When I’m not working, I’m recording and producing bands, putting out my own solo albums, touring as The Family Stone’s drummer. When I’m on vacation I often take my field recorder with me to record any types of sound effects I can use in our games. I’m really into Ultimate Fighting Championship, and my music is used in almost all their events. I’m a big Star Wars and Transformers (G1) fan, and I also have a side project called The Bitters I perform and write with, which is a power trio of heavy progressive music.
Is there anything you want to say to the community?
Just a big thanks for their continued appreciation for my work in C&C. Keep up the great work!
Do you exclude the possibility of ever making music for Command & Conquer again?
No. I’m always open to the possibilty.
What are you working on right now?
End Of Nations! I’m pretty confident this is a game C&C fans will be able to enjoy. Many ex-Westwood people are at Petroglyph who worked on the old C&C games, and this I feel is going to be the next big thing for RTS.
What games do you play in your free time, providing you’re a gamer?
I enjoy a lot of console games – I recently finished Red Dead Redemption which I loved, Batman Arkham Asylum, Unreal Tournament 3, Infamous, currently playing Transformers War For Cybertron. And I really enjoy playing Petroglyphs games to be honest. I’m always thrilled to see the games take shape and become more fun.
Note: The interview was done when CnCSaga.de and CnCHQ.de/HQBoard.net were separate pages, each with their own forums. The interview was conducted by CnCSaga.de at the time.
