Jake Kaufman
Encyclopedia
Jacob "Jake" Kaufman (born April 3, 1981) is an American
video game music composer
. After starting out creating arrangement
s and remix
es of video game soundtracks, he began his commercial composing career in 2000 with the score to a port of Q*Bert. He continued to compose music for games for the next couple of years, working primarily with handheld video games. In 2002, he set up the website VGMix, which hosts video game music remixes, and continues to administer it. His career began to take off over the next few years, resulting in him transitioning jobs into a full-time freelance composer by 2005. Since then he has worked on several big-name projects such as Contra 4
and Red Faction: Guerrilla
, his latest score.
port of Q*Bert. Over the next few years, he composed the music to several Game Boy Color
and Game Boy Advance
games. In 2002, Kaufman was one of the co-founders of the website VGMix, which hosts video game music remixes. VGMix has been described as being just as influential as OverClocked ReMix
, the other major video game music arrangement hosting site.
During 2002-2005, his career as a video game music composer began to take off. By 2005, he was a full-time freelance video game composer. He continues to compose music to increasingly big-name projects, such as Contra 4
and TMNT
in 2007 and Red Faction: Guerrilla
in 2009; he describes composing the soundtrack to a Contra game and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
game as his "lifelong dream". Kaufman contributed a track to the official arranged album of music from Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
. He was a full-time employee of Volition, Inc. while working on Red Faction, but in January 2010 he left the company to become the "lead audio guy" for WayForward Technologies
, for which he has already composed several soundtracks such as those of Shantae
and Contra 4. For WayForward he has composed the soundtrack to Shantae: Risky's Revenge
, the sequel to the game he worked on ten years prior. Kaufman is married to Kristi Kaufman, and lives with her and their puggle
Nugget in northern Los Angeles
where WayForward Technologies is located.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game music composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. After starting out creating arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
s and remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es of video game soundtracks, he began his commercial composing career in 2000 with the score to a port of Q*Bert. He continued to compose music for games for the next couple of years, working primarily with handheld video games. In 2002, he set up the website VGMix, which hosts video game music remixes, and continues to administer it. His career began to take off over the next few years, resulting in him transitioning jobs into a full-time freelance composer by 2005. Since then he has worked on several big-name projects such as Contra 4
Contra 4
Contra 4 is a 2D action game for the Nintendo DS and the eleventh original installment in the Contra series. The game was released in North America on November 13, 2007...
and Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla is an open-world third-person action video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in June 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in September 2009...
, his latest score.
Biography
Jake Kaufman was born in America on April 3, 1981. Kaufman dropped out of high school, with what he describes as "a total lack of work ethic and no concept of timeliness or organization". He spent the next few years composing arrangements and remixes of video game music under the alias "virt". In 2000, Kaufman broke into the video game industry as a composer; his first work was the Game Boy ColorGame Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
port of Q*Bert. Over the next few years, he composed the music to several Game Boy Color
Game Boy Color
The is Nintendo's successor to the 8-bit Game Boy handheld game console, and was released on October 21, 1998 in Japan, November 19, 1998 in North America, November 23, 1998 in Europe and November 27, 1998 in the United Kingdom. It features a color screen and is slightly thicker and taller than...
and Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
games. In 2002, Kaufman was one of the co-founders of the website VGMix, which hosts video game music remixes. VGMix has been described as being just as influential as OverClocked ReMix
OverClocked ReMix
OverClocked 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...
, the other major video game music arrangement hosting site.
During 2002-2005, his career as a video game music composer began to take off. By 2005, he was a full-time freelance video game composer. He continues to compose music to increasingly big-name projects, such as Contra 4
Contra 4
Contra 4 is a 2D action game for the Nintendo DS and the eleventh original installment in the Contra series. The game was released in North America on November 13, 2007...
and TMNT
TMNT (video game)
Critical reception of the games has been average at best, with IGN giving a score of 6.0 out of 10 for the GameCube, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PC versions...
in 2007 and Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla
Red Faction: Guerrilla is an open-world third-person action video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in June 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in September 2009...
in 2009; he describes composing the soundtrack to a Contra game and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
game as his "lifelong dream". Kaufman contributed a track to the official arranged album of music from Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi
On 2007-3-26, Arika's vice president Ichiro Mihara mentioned the release of Nintendo DS version of Ketsui in his personal page . The game, subtitled Death label, was available for download in test events in 2007-3-31. Video footage of the game was also released by Mihara...
. He was a full-time employee of Volition, Inc. while working on Red Faction, but in January 2010 he left the company to become the "lead audio guy" for WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies
WayForward Technologies is a game development company based in Valencia, California. Founded in 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational...
, for which he has already composed several soundtracks such as those of Shantae
Shantae
Shantae is a platform video game developed by WayForward Technologies and published by Capcom for the Game Boy Color.-Plot:From the official website:...
and Contra 4. For WayForward he has composed the soundtrack to Shantae: Risky's Revenge
Shantae: Risky's Revenge
Shantae: Risky's Revenge is a platform video game developed by WayForward Technologies for DSiWare digital distribution service. It was released in North America on October 4, 2010 and later in all PAL regions barring Australia and New Zealand on February 11, 2011...
, the sequel to the game he worked on ten years prior. Kaufman is married to Kristi Kaufman, and lives with her and their puggle
Puggle
Puggle can refer to:*Puggle , a crossbreed between a Pug and a Beagle*A baby echidna*A member of the Awana organization in the two-to-three-year old age group-See also:*The Puggle Tales, a series of books by A. A. Barber of The Lost Forests...
Nugget in northern Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where WayForward Technologies is located.
Video games
- Q*Bert (2000)
- Drymouth (2000)
- Tennis Masters Series (2001)
- M & M's Minis Madness (2001)
- David Beckham Soccer (2001)
- Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a television game show which offers large cash prizes for correctly answering a series of multiple-choice questions of increasing difficulty. The format is owned and licensed by Sony Pictures Television International. The maximum cash prize is one million pounds...
(2001) - Game Boy Color - Atlantis - The Lost Empire (2001)
- X-Blade Inline Skater (2001)
- The Scorpion King - Sword of Osiris (2002)
- Karnaaj RallyKarnaaj RallyKarnaaj Rally is a racing and vehicular combat game for the Game Boy Advance handheld video game console. It was released on November 21, 2002. The game was well received by critics.-Gameplay:Karnaaj Rally is a racing game in top-down perspective....
(2002) - Godzilla: Domination (2002)
- The Scorpion KingThe Scorpion KingThe Scorpion King is a 2002 American action film directed by Chuck Russell, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Kelly Hu, Grant Heslov, and Michael Clarke Duncan...
(2002) - ShantaeShantaeShantae is a platform video game developed by WayForward Technologies and published by Capcom for the Game Boy Color.-Plot:From the official website:...
(2002) - Micro MachinesMicro Machines (video games)Micro Machines is a series of computer and video games featuring toy cars, developed by Codemasters and published on several platforms Micro Machines is a series of computer and video games featuring toy cars, developed by Codemasters and published on several platforms Micro Machines is a series of...
(2002) - Game Boy Color version - Paragon 5 Pinball (2002) - with others
- Rugrats: I Gotta Go Party (2002)
- Spy HunterSpy HunterSpy Hunter is a 1983 arcade game developed and released by Bally Midway. It has also been ported to various home computers and video game systems....
/ Super SprintSuper SprintSuper Sprint is a 1986 arcade game by Atari Games. The player drives a Formula One-like car on a circuit that is viewed from above.-Gameplay:...
(2005) - Juka and the Monophonic MenaceJuka and the Monophonic MenaceJuka and the Monophonic Menace is an adventure video game published and developed by Orbital Media, Inc. in PAL regions, and published by SouthPeak Interactive in NA...
(2005) - Legend of KayLegend of KayLegend of Kay is a video game for the PlayStation 2 about a young warrior who tries to save his once-peaceful island from the Gorillas and Rats who have conquered it....
(2005) - Rebelstar: Tactical CommandRebelstar: Tactical CommandRebelstar: Tactical Command is a Game Boy Advance turn-based tactical video game developed by Codo Technologies in 2005.The game was created by Julian Gollop, who designed the X-COM games...
(2005) - Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (2005)
- Uno 52 (2006)
- Platinum Mahjong (2006)
- Scurge: HiveScurge: HiveScurge: Hive is an action-adventure video game by Orbital Media released for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS in 2006. The game follows the protagonist Jenosa Arma, a female bounty hunter tasked with hunting a parasitic lifeform called the "Scurge" an alien entity capable of rapidly adapting...
(2006) - Contra 4Contra 4Contra 4 is a 2D action game for the Nintendo DS and the eleventh original installment in the Contra series. The game was released in North America on November 13, 2007...
(2007) - TMNTTMNT (video game)Critical reception of the games has been average at best, with IGN giving a score of 6.0 out of 10 for the GameCube, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and PC versions...
(2007) - Cranium Kabookii (2007)
- Winx Club Mission Enchantix (2008)
- My Secret World by Imagine (2008)
- Red Faction: GuerrillaRed Faction: GuerrillaRed Faction: Guerrilla is an open-world third-person action video game developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It was released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in June 2009 and for Microsoft Windows in September 2009...
(2009) - Mighty Flip Champs! (2009)
- Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The VideogameBatman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame is a video game based on the comic book character Batman and the television cartoon series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. It was developed by WayForward Technologies and distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment...
(2010) - Shantae: Risky's RevengeShantae: Risky's RevengeShantae: Risky's Revenge is a platform video game developed by WayForward Technologies for DSiWare digital distribution service. It was released in North America on October 4, 2010 and later in all PAL regions barring Australia and New Zealand on February 11, 2011...
(2010) - Dodonpachi Daifukkatsu Arrange Mode Soundtrack (2011)
- Mighty Milky Way (2011)
- BloodRayne: Betrayal (2011)
- Mighty Switch ForceMighty Switch ForceMighty Switch Force, the spiritual successor to Mighty Milky Way and Mighty Flip Champs was recently announced for the Nintendo 3DS' eShop in the July issue of Nintendo Power. The game is like the other titles in the series, but focuses more on action than puzzle solving...
(TBA) - Retro City RampageRetro City RampageRetro City Rampage is an action-adventure video game currently in development for the WiiWare and Xbox Live Arcade digital download services. It is a parody of retro games and pop culture as well as the popular Grand Theft Auto series.-Gameplay:...
(2011) - Otomedius ExcellentOtomedius Excellentis an Xbox 360 game and the sequel to the 2007 arcade game Otomedius by Konami, which is a spin-off of the Gradius series. Otomedius Excellent features female characters representing different Konami franchises riding on vehicles or equipped with flying armor...
Arrange DLC BGM (2011)
Film
- Press StartPress Start (film)Press Start is a 2007 independent film produced by Dark Maze Studios. It stars Joshua Stafford, Peter Davis, Daniel Pesina, and Carlos Pesina. The film is a video game parody adventure comedy. It was released on DVD on September 25, 2007.-Production:...
(2007) - Rampage (Korkusuz)KorkusuzRampage is a 1986 Turkish cult action film, written and directed by Çetin İnanç, featuring bodybuilder Serdar Kebabcilar as a Turkish commando must infiltrate and capture a group of terrorists living in the mountains...
(2009)