2012 featured a host of emerging game composers. Some have come from television and film, and others from the ground up. The most important takeaway from all of this: these guys are good and we’re thrilled to have their music.
Read on for our list of nominees for Composer of the Year!
Yuzo Koshiro
The cool electronic stylings of Wangan Midnight 4 that featured an international group of artists and a breakout in arrangement and instrumental music with Etrian Odyssey IV made it a good year for Yuzo Koshiro.
Daniel Licht
Entering the videogame scene strong with his fitting score for Silent Hill: Downpour, moving on to a more gamey sound with Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and closing with the blockbuster hit, Dishonored, it was a fine showing for Licht’s first year in the industry.
Read our interview with Daniel Licht here.
Jeremy Soule
While Guild Wars 2 stands out as a huge title for 2012, Soule ventured into the unknown this year with tracks on Otomedius Excellent and World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandria, both wonderful surprises.
Austin Wintory
Wintory had amazed us before, but never like this. Journey will prove to be a historic game, and Wintory’s score is a big part of it. Bringing videogames to the Grammys for the first time is a huge accomplishment, and we also can’t forget his score for the iOS title, Horn.
Read our full review of Journey here.
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Watch for our winners to be announced next week.
See all of our nominees here:
Soundtrack of the Year
Best In-Game Soundtrack
Best Sound Design
Best Arrange Album
Best Re-Issue Soundtrack
Best Other Album
Licht? Hmm… I didn’t like Downpour, at all if I’m being honest (seemed like it had the bearings to be a great score but after years of hearing Licht’s other works in film and television it seemed like he was holding himself back in deference to Yamaoka). Book of Memories was definitely better than Downpour (though the game itself is another story entirely). And Dishonored is a nice to start to what is hopefully a continuing IP for him to work on (though even if he doesn’t stay on board, it’s good groundwork for the next composer(s).
I would have to give it to Wintory though. The Jerry Goldsmith of game scores.