Alexander Brandon
Encyclopedia
Alexander Brandon is a US musician, former member of Straylight Productions
, who composed music mostly for games produced by Epic Games
, or games based on Epic technology, including Unreal
, Unreal Tournament
, Deus Ex
, Tyrian
, Jazz Jackrabbit 2
and the cancelled game Jazz Jackrabbit 3D. Alexander is also a voice actor, having been cast most recently for the parts of Ancano and Amaund Motierre in the Role Playing Game Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks
.
He worked in several MOD
music groups over his composing years in the late 90's, including the Kosmic Free Music Foundation
. During that time he also composed for several musicdisks such as Return to Stage 9.
Brandon has built several audio departments, starting with Ion Storm Austin in mid 2000. This was followed with an audio director position at Midway Home Entertainment in San Diego until 2007 when he started the audio department at Obsidian Entertainment
. In February 2009 he built the audio department at Heatwave Interactive
, also providing business development and overall media management. In April 2010 Alex launched Funky Rustic, an independent audio production studio, working out of Georgetown, Texas.
Note that there were several (two or three) tracker musicians around the world, who have used the nickname "Sandman" independently of Alex.
The AtmosphereS albums generally contain ambient music, one of Brandon's major composing styles. Era's End showcases several other styles including pop and rock.
Straylight Productions
Straylight Productions was a team of video game music composers and producers, founded in 1994, which has since disbanded with lead musician Alexander Brandon taking on a new post as sound director at Midway Games.-Overview:...
, who composed music mostly for games produced by Epic Games
Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., also known as Epic and formerly Epic MegaGames, is an American video game development company based in Cary, North Carolina. Its most recent success has been the Gears of War series of games, although it is also known for its Unreal Engine technology. It is the parent company of...
, or games based on Epic technology, including Unreal
Unreal
Unreal is a first-person shooter video game developed by Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes and published by GT Interactive in May 1998...
, Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament
Unreal Tournament is a futuristic first-person shooter video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. It was published in 1999 by GT Interactive. Retrospectively, the game has also been referred to as UT99 or UT Classic to differentiate it from its numbered sequels...
, Deus Ex
Deus Ex
Deus Ex is an action role-playing game developed by Ion Storm Inc. and published by Eidos Interactive in 2000, which combines gameplay elements of first-person shooters with those of role-playing video games...
, Tyrian
Tyrian (computer game)
Tyrian is a scrolling shooter computer game developed by World Tree Games Productions and published in 1995 by Epic MegaGames.The game was officially released as freeware in 2004, and the graphics have been made available under an open license in April 2007.Tyrian was programmed by Jason Emery,...
, Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Jazz Jackrabbit 2
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a platform game produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games. It was released in 1998 for PCs running Windows, and later for Macintosh computers. It is the sequel to Jazz Jackrabbit....
and the cancelled game Jazz Jackrabbit 3D. Alexander is also a voice actor, having been cast most recently for the parts of Ancano and Amaund Motierre in the Role Playing Game Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
.
He worked in several MOD
MOD (file format)
MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
music groups over his composing years in the late 90's, including the Kosmic Free Music Foundation
Kosmic Free Music Foundation
The Kosmic Free Music Foundation was a worldwide group of computer musicians, artists, and coders focused on the PC demoscene. Most members were from the United States, Canada, and Australia. They created music - mostly techno, trance, and ambient - on trackers. They also created some artwork...
. During that time he also composed for several musicdisks such as Return to Stage 9.
Brandon has built several audio departments, starting with Ion Storm Austin in mid 2000. This was followed with an audio director position at Midway Home Entertainment in San Diego until 2007 when he started the audio department at Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is an American video game developer founded in 2003 after the disestablishment of Interplay Productions' Black Isle Studios, for PC and console systems...
. In February 2009 he built the audio department at Heatwave Interactive
Heatwave Interactive
Heatwave Interactive is an Austin, Texas based video game developer founded in 2007 by Anthony Castoro and Donn Clendenon.-Titles:Heatwave has developed games and apps for several platforms:* iSamJackson, an application featuring voice clips of Samuel L...
, also providing business development and overall media management. In April 2010 Alex launched Funky Rustic, an independent audio production studio, working out of Georgetown, Texas.
Past nicknames
During his tracker career, Alex has used several nicknames:- 1995: first tracks released under the name "Chromatic Dragon"
- end of 1995: name changed to "Siren"
- middle of 1996, during KFMFKosmic Free Music FoundationThe Kosmic Free Music Foundation was a worldwide group of computer musicians, artists, and coders focused on the PC demoscene. Most members were from the United States, Canada, and Australia. They created music - mostly techno, trance, and ambient - on trackers. They also created some artwork...
membership: name temporary changed to "Sandman" - end of 1996: name changed back to "Siren"
Note that there were several (two or three) tracker musicians around the world, who have used the nickname "Sandman" independently of Alex.
Discography
- AtmosphereS: Cultures (with Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
) - AtmosphereS: Dreams (with George "The Fat Man" Sanger)
- AtmosphereS: Moods (with Dan Gardopée)
- AtmosphereS: Pulses (with Dan Gardopée)
- AtmosphereS: Rhythms (with George Sanger)
- Era's End (with Bryan Rudge)
- Earthscape
- Violet Eclectic
The AtmosphereS albums generally contain ambient music, one of Brandon's major composing styles. Era's End showcases several other styles including pop and rock.
Video game credits
- Tyrian: Composer, level designer, writer
- Tyrian 2000: Composer
- Jazz Jackrabbit 2Jazz Jackrabbit 2Jazz Jackrabbit 2 is a platform game produced by Epic MegaGames, now known as Epic Games. It was released in 1998 for PCs running Windows, and later for Macintosh computers. It is the sequel to Jazz Jackrabbit....
: Music - Jazz Jackrabbit 2 : The Secret Files Music
- Jazz Jackrabbit 2 : Holiday Hare 98 Music
- Jazz Jackrabbit 2 : The Christmas Chronicles Music
- Extreme Pinball: Sound effects
- UnrealUnrealUnreal is a first-person shooter video game developed by Epic MegaGames and Digital Extremes and published by GT Interactive in May 1998...
: Music (with Michiel van den BosMichiel van den BosMichiel "M.C.A." van den Bos is a Dutch musician who composes primarily for Epic Games, or for games based on Epic technology. He began composing on the Commodore 64 and Amiga before making the transition to composing professional soundtracks for critically acclaimed video games such as Unreal,...
and minor contributions by Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
and Andrew SegaAndrew SegaAndrew Gregory Sega , also known by the moniker Necros, is an American musician best known for tracking modules in the 1990s demoscene as well as for composing music for several well-known video games...
) - Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali: Music (with Michiel van den Bos)
- Unreal TournamentUnreal TournamentUnreal Tournament is a futuristic first-person shooter video game co-developed by Epic Games and Digital Extremes. It was published in 1999 by GT Interactive. Retrospectively, the game has also been referred to as UT99 or UT Classic to differentiate it from its numbered sequels...
: Music (with Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
, Michiel van den BosMichiel van den BosMichiel "M.C.A." van den Bos is a Dutch musician who composes primarily for Epic Games, or for games based on Epic technology. He began composing on the Commodore 64 and Amiga before making the transition to composing professional soundtracks for critically acclaimed video games such as Unreal,...
, and Andrew SegaAndrew SegaAndrew Gregory Sega , also known by the moniker Necros, is an American musician best known for tracking modules in the 1990s demoscene as well as for composing music for several well-known video games...
) - Vigilante 8Vigilante 8Vigilante 8 is a vehicular combat video game released on June 4, 1998 for the PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Game Boy Color. It is a spinoff of the PC game Interstate '76, and features several concepts carried over from that title.Vigilante 8 was developed with a team of only five people Vigilante...
: Nintendo 64 Music (with Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
) - Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense: Nintendo 64 Music (with Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
) - Dark Vengeance: Music
- Pretzel Pete: Music (with Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
) - NARCNARC (video game)NARC is originally a 1988 arcade game designed by Eugene Jarvis for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. It was one of the first ultra-violent video games and a frequent target of parental criticism of the arcade game industry. The object is to arrest and kill drug offenders,...
: Audio manager - Deus ExDeus ExDeus Ex is an action role-playing game developed by Ion Storm Inc. and published by Eidos Interactive in 2000, which combines gameplay elements of first-person shooters with those of role-playing video games...
: Music (with Michiel van den BosMichiel van den BosMichiel "M.C.A." van den Bos is a Dutch musician who composes primarily for Epic Games, or for games based on Epic technology. He began composing on the Commodore 64 and Amiga before making the transition to composing professional soundtracks for critically acclaimed video games such as Unreal,...
and minor contributions by Dan GardopéeDan GardopéeDaniel Gardopée aka Dan Grandpre is an electronic musician and former member of game music production company Straylight Productions...
) - Deus Ex: Invisible WarDeus Ex: Invisible WarDeus Ex: Invisible War is an action role-playing game developed by Ion Storm Inc. and published by Eidos Interactive. Released simultaneously for Microsoft Windows and the Xbox video game console on December 2, 2003, the game is a sequel to the critically acclaimed Deus Ex...
: Audio Director, sound effects, music, VO - Thief: Deadly ShadowsThief: Deadly ShadowsThief: Deadly Shadows is a stealth video game in which the player takes the role of Garrett, a master thief. It is set in a fantasy/steampunk world resembling a cross between the Late Middle Ages and the Victorian era, with more advanced technologies interspersed...
: VO, cinematic post sound effects and music - Activision AnthologyActivision AnthologyActivision Anthology is a compilation of most of the Atari 2600 games by Activision for various systems. It also includes some games originally released by Absolute Entertainment and Imagic, as well as some homebrewed games. The Windows and Mac OS X versions are titled Activision Anthology Remix...
GBA: Title music - Unreal 2: Additional music (with Clint Bajakian, Jack Wall and Crispin Hands)
- Battlestar GalacticaBattlestar Galactica (video game)A number of video games have been released based on the various incarnations of the Battlestar Galactica franchise.-"Space Battle" & "Space Attack":...
Xbox: In-game music - Gauntlet: Seven SorrowsGauntlet: Seven SorrowsGauntlet: Seven Sorrows is the follow-up to Gauntlet Legends and Gauntlet Dark Legacy. Industry veterans John Romero and Josh Sawyer initially spearheaded Midway's San Diego studio, intent on reviving the Gauntlet action role-playing game franchise...
: Audio Director, VO, music, sound effects - Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run: Audio Director, VO, additional music
- Hour of VictoryHour of VictoryThe game received substantially negative reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Game Rankings, the game had an average score of 37% based on 37 reviews...
: Audio director, VO - TouchMasterTouchMasterTouchMaster is a video game created by Midway Games for the Nintendo DS. It supports Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and was released on June 25, 2007 in North America. A sequel, More TouchMaster, was released on November 3, 2008. Another sequel called TouchMaster 3 was released on October 27, 2009...
DS: Audio Director - RampageRampage: Total DestructionRampage: Total Destruction is the latest sequel to the Rampage arcade game produced by Midway Games. The game was released on April 24, 2006 in North America for the GameCube and PlayStation 2 . It has also been released on the Wii .-Gameplay:Rampage: Total Destruction is rendered in 3D but has 2D...
Gamecube, Wii: Audio Director - Happy FeetHappy FeetHappy Feet is a 2006 American-Australian computer-animated family film with music, directed and co-written by George Miller. It was produced at Sydney-based visual effects and animation studio Animal Logic for Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures and Kingdom Feature Productions and was released...
: Audio Director - The Ant BullyThe Ant BullyThe Ant Bully is a 1999 children's book drawn and written by John Nickle. It is about a young boy named Lucas Nickle , who is the titular character in the book and who likes to torment ants. It was later adapted into a computer-animated film of the same name by John A...
: Audio Director - Marvel Ultimate Alliance GBA: Music conversion
- Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the BetrayerNeverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the BetrayerNeverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer is a computer role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It is an expansion pack for Neverwinter Nights 2. It was released in Autumn 2007 for the PC in North America, Europe, and Australia...
: Audio Director, VO, music, sound effects - Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of ZehirNeverwinter Nights 2: Storm of ZehirNeverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is an expansion pack for the computer role-playing game Neverwinter Nights 2, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Atari. It was released in late 2008 in North America, Europe, and Australia...
: Audio Director - Alpha ProtocolAlpha ProtocolAlpha Protocol is a third-person espionage role-playing video game, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, their first title for an original IP, and published by Sega. The game revolves around the adventures of field agent Michael Thorton...
: Audio Direction (with Scott Lawlor), contributed music, VO, sfx - iSamJackson: Audio Director
- Bejeweled 3Bejeweled 3Bejeweled 3 is a puzzle video game developed and published by PopCap Games. It is the fifth game of the multi-selling Bejeweled franchise yet the officially third title...
: Co-composer (with Peter HajbaPeter HajbaPeter Hajba also known by his demoscene nickname Skaven, is a Finnish musician and graphic artist.Despite having no formal training, he has won numerous awards for his music, including winning the Assembly music competition in 1993, 1995 and 2002. His most recent project is with Remedy...
)
External links
- Developer Bio at GamasutraGamasutraGamasutra is a website founded in 1997 for video game developers. It is owned and operated by UBM TechWeb , a division of United Business Media, and acts as the online sister publication to the print magazine Game Developer...
- Developer Bio at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Musicography and tracks collection for 1995-1999 (Chromatic Dragon / Siren period)
- Musicography for 1995-2002 (incomplete)
- Artist profile at OverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMix, also known as OC ReMix and OCR, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and paying tribute to video game music through arranging and re-interpreting the songs with new technology and software, as well as by various traditional means...
Interviews
- "Interview with Alexander Brandon" VGM Rush (Nov. 2007)
- "Interview with Alexander Brandon" MotherShip Server: Kemmerer, Peter (Jun. 31, 1999)
- "Interview with Alex Brandon" DeusEx-Machina.com: (Jan. 2001)