Peter McConnell
Encyclopedia
Peter N. McConnell also known as Peter Mc, is an American
video game music composer
who worked for LucasArts
for nearly ten years. He studied music as an undergraduate at Harvard University
in 80s under Timothy Vincent Clarke, Curt Cacioppo
and Ivan Tcherepnin
. In Harvard McConnell befriended with the future LucasArts composer Michael Land
, who composed very many company's titles, and worked with him in audio company Lexicon
. While beginning his career in Sound Department of Lucasarts, Land needed someone who would both compose and implement music into his second project Monkey Island 2, and old friend Peter McConnell stepped in.
During his time at LucasArts, McConnell composed many soundtracks for games such as those in the Monkey Island, Indiana Jones
and Star Wars
series. Notable titles from this time include Grim Fandango
, scored with unique Mexican style, and Full Throttle, featuring rock soundtrack which McConnell scored with rock group The Gone Jackals
. While composing the mentioned titles, McConnell worked closely with Tim Schafer
, who later call him in to compose titles Psychonauts
and Brütal Legend
. He also co-invented iMUSE, LucasArts' patented interactive music system. McConnell left LucasArts in 2000, but contributed to Escape from Monkey Island
and special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island.
Since leaving LucasArts, McConnell has composed scores for Sly Cooper
titles II and III (Sony) (about which McConnell says that he was influenced by Henry Mancini
works), Psychonauts
(Double Fine Productions) and Kinectimals
(Microsoft).
McConnell is one of the founding members of G.A.N.G., the Game Audio Network Guild http://www.audiogang.org/. He is also known live-action music performer, playing the electric violin
.
McConnell is currently working on Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
.
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...
who worked for LucasArts
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
for nearly ten years. He studied music as an undergraduate at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 80s under Timothy Vincent Clarke, Curt Cacioppo
Curt Cacioppo
Curtis Cacioppo is an American composer of contemporary classical music and pianist. He is of Sicilian ancestry on his father's side, and Anglo-Saxon ancestry on his mother's side....
and Ivan Tcherepnin
Ivan Tcherepnin
Ivan Tcherepnin was an experimental, then later modernist/postmodernist, composer. He was born into a highly musical family, his father and grandfather, Alexander and Nikolai, being distinguished Russian composers, and his mother Ming a well-known pianist...
. In Harvard McConnell befriended with the future LucasArts composer Michael Land
Michael Land
Michael Z. Land is an American video game composer and musician best known for his scores for various games produced by LucasArts.-Early life and career:Michael Land was born in the North Shore area north of Boston, Massachusetts...
, who composed very many company's titles, and worked with him in audio company Lexicon
Lexicon (company)
Lexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
. While beginning his career in Sound Department of Lucasarts, Land needed someone who would both compose and implement music into his second project Monkey Island 2, and old friend Peter McConnell stepped in.
During his time at LucasArts, McConnell composed many soundtracks for games such as those in the Monkey Island, Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones
Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials...
and Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
series. Notable titles from this time include Grim Fandango
Grim Fandango
Grim Fandango is a personal computer game in the graphic adventure genre released by LucasArts in 1998 and primarily written by Tim Schafer. It is the first adventure game by LucasArts to use 3D computer graphics overlaid on pre-rendered, static backgrounds...
, scored with unique Mexican style, and Full Throttle, featuring rock soundtrack which McConnell scored with rock group The Gone Jackals
The Gone Jackals
The Gone Jackals was an American rock band formed by frontman Keith Karloff in 1984 and based in San Francisco, California. Originally named "Keith Gale's Parallel Universe", the original lineup consisted of Charlie Hunter, Rudy Maynard and Mark Berdon and played in the local San Francisco club scene...
. While composing the mentioned titles, McConnell worked closely with Tim Schafer
Tim Schafer
Timothy Schafer is an American computer game designer. He founded Double Fine Productions in January 2000, after having spent over a decade at LucasArts...
, who later call him in to compose titles Psychonauts
Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a platform video game created by Tim Schafer, developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Majesco. The game was released on April 19, 2005, for the Xbox, April 26 for Microsoft Windows and June 21 for PlayStation 2. It was released on Steam on Oct 11, 2006, as an "Xbox...
and Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend
Brütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
. He also co-invented iMUSE, LucasArts' patented interactive music system. McConnell left LucasArts in 2000, but contributed to Escape from Monkey Island
Escape from Monkey Island
Escape from Monkey Island is a computer adventure game developed and released by LucasArts in 2000. It is the fourth game in the Monkey Island series....
and special edition of The Secret of Monkey Island.
Since leaving LucasArts, McConnell has composed scores for Sly Cooper
Sly Cooper
Sly Cooper is a series of platform stealth video games for the Sony PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. The series was developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the first three games, and then it was passed on to Sanzaru Games while Sucker Punch continued work on the Infamous series...
titles II and III (Sony) (about which McConnell says that he was influenced by Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
works), Psychonauts
Psychonauts
Psychonauts is a platform video game created by Tim Schafer, developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Majesco. The game was released on April 19, 2005, for the Xbox, April 26 for Microsoft Windows and June 21 for PlayStation 2. It was released on Steam on Oct 11, 2006, as an "Xbox...
(Double Fine Productions) and Kinectimals
Kinectimals
Kinectimals is a video game for the Xbox 360 that uses Kinect. In Kinectimals players can interact with virtual animals in a manner akin to pets, gameplay includes activities such as teaching tricks to the animal, guiding the animal around an obstacle course, and free-form play.The video game is...
(Microsoft).
McConnell is one of the founding members of G.A.N.G., the Game Audio Network Guild http://www.audiogang.org/. He is also known live-action music performer, playing the electric violin
Electric violin
An electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body...
.
McConnell is currently working on Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time , is the fourth title of the Sly Cooper series of platform stealth video games. Thieves in Time is a PlayStation 3 exclusive game set to release in mid-2012...
.
Video game soundtracks
- Sly Cooper: Thieves in TimeSly Cooper: Thieves in TimeSly Cooper: Thieves in Time , is the fourth title of the Sly Cooper series of platform stealth video games. Thieves in Time is a PlayStation 3 exclusive game set to release in mid-2012...
(2012) Sanzaru Games/Sony - KinectimalsKinectimalsKinectimals is a video game for the Xbox 360 that uses Kinect. In Kinectimals players can interact with virtual animals in a manner akin to pets, gameplay includes activities such as teaching tricks to the animal, guiding the animal around an obstacle course, and free-form play.The video game is...
(2010), Microsoft - Brütal LegendBrütal LegendBrütal Legend is an action-adventure/real-time strategy game created by Double Fine Productions and published by Electronic Arts for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was released during October 2009 in North America and Europe...
(2009), Double Fine - Calling All Cars!Calling All Cars!Calling All Cars! is a downloadable game on the PlayStation Store created by David Jaffe, creative director of God of War. It was released on May 10, 2007...
(2007), Sony - PsychonautsPsychonautsPsychonauts is a platform video game created by Tim Schafer, developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Majesco. The game was released on April 19, 2005, for the Xbox, April 26 for Microsoft Windows and June 21 for PlayStation 2. It was released on Steam on Oct 11, 2006, as an "Xbox...
(2005), Double Fine - Sly 3: Honor Among ThievesSly 3: Honor Among ThievesSly 3: Honor Among Thieves is a platform stealth video game developed by Sucker Punch Productions for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. It is the third game in the Sly Cooper franchise. Sly 3 has optional 3-D stages, and it comes with a pair of specially designed 3-D glasses inside the manual...
(2005), Sucker Punch/Sony - The Bard's Tale (2004), Vivendi Universal Games, Inc.
- Sly 2: Band of ThievesSly 2: Band of ThievesSly 2 Band of Thieves is a platform stealth video game develpoed by Sucker Punch and published by Sony Computer Entertainment released in 2004 for the PlayStation 2...
(2004), Sucker Punch/Sony - Star Wars: BattlefrontStar Wars: BattlefrontStar Wars: Battlefront is a first and third-person video game based on battles in the Star Wars film series. It was developed by Pandemic Studios and LucasArts and released on September 20, 2004 for PlayStation 2, Xbox, Macintosh and Microsoft Windows, the same day as the release of the Star Wars...
(2004), LucasArts - Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue LeaderStar Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue LeaderStar Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader is an arcade-style action game co-developed by Factor 5 and LucasArts. The second of three games in the Rogue Squadron series, it was published by LucasArts and released as a launch title for the Nintendo GameCube on November 9, 2001.Set in the fictional...
(2001), LucasArts - Escape from Monkey IslandEscape from Monkey IslandEscape from Monkey Island is a computer adventure game developed and released by LucasArts in 2000. It is the fourth game in the Monkey Island series....
(2000), LucasArts - Star Wars: Force CommanderStar Wars: Force CommanderStar Wars: Force Commander is a real-time strategy computer game released in 2000.-Gameplay:The gameplay is much like any other birds eye view strategy game.-Plot:...
(2000), LucasArts - Star Wars Episode I: Racer (1999), LucasArts
- Star Wars: X-Wing AllianceStar Wars: X-Wing AllianceStar Wars: X-Wing Alliance or XWA is the sequel to both Star Wars: TIE Fighter and the multiplayer-focused X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter. XWA presents the story of the Azzameen family, a family of space traders...
(1999), LucasArts - Grim FandangoGrim FandangoGrim Fandango is a personal computer game in the graphic adventure genre released by LucasArts in 1998 and primarily written by Tim Schafer. It is the first adventure game by LucasArts to use 3D computer graphics overlaid on pre-rendered, static backgrounds...
(1998), LucasArts - Star Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the SithStar Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the SithStar Wars Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith is an expansion pack for the first person shooter Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. It was developed and published by LucasArts, and released on January 31, 1998. The expansion includes a single-player mode and fifteen multiplayer maps. The...
(1998), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-Wing Collector Series (1998), LucasArts
- Herc's AdventuresHerc's AdventuresHerc's Adventures is the title of a video game released for the Sega Saturn and the PlayStation by LucasArts Entertainment in 1997.The overhead, action-adventure format was similar to Zombies Ate My Neighbors...
(1997), LucasArts - Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces IIStar Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces IIStar Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II is a first person shooter computer game. It was developed and published by LucasArts and released on October 9, 1997. It was made available on Steam on September 16, 2009. It is based on the Star Wars franchise and is a sequel to Star Wars: Dark Forces...
(1997), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter: Balance of PowerStar Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE FighterStar Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter is the third installment of the X-Wing computer game series, although it is not a regular part of the series....
(1997), LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC - Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE FighterStar Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE FighterStar Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter is the third installment of the X-Wing computer game series, although it is not a regular part of the series....
(1997), LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC - Star Wars: Yoda StoriesStar Wars: Yoda StoriesStar Wars: Yoda Stories is a 1997 computer game based on the Star Wars franchise developed by LucasArts. It was preceded by Indiana Jones and His Desktop Adventures, and no further Desktop Adventures titles were released...
(1997), LucasArts - AfterlifeAfterlife (computer game)Afterlife is a god game released by LucasArts in 1996 that places the player in the role of a semi-omnipotent being known as a Demiurge, with the job of creating a functional Heaven and Hell to reward or punish the citizens of the local planet. In order to do so, the player must keep tabs on these...
(1996), LucasArts - Star Wars: Shadows of the EmpireStar Wars: Shadows of the EmpireStar Wars: Shadows of the Empire is a multimedia project created by Lucasfilm Ltd. in 1996. The original idea was to create an interquel, a story set between the movies The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi , and to explore all commercial possibilities of a full motion picture release,...
(1996), Nintendo Co., Ltd. - The DigThe DigThe Dig is a graphical adventure game developed by LucasArts and released in 1995, and a game based on an idea for an Amazing Stories episode by Steven Spielberg...
(1995), LucasArts - Full Throttle (1995),
- Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire (1995), LucasArts
- Star Wars: TIE FighterStar Wars: TIE FighterStar Wars: TIE Fighter, a 1994 space flight simulator/space combat computer game, is the sequel to Star Wars: X-Wing, and the first game of the series that puts the player on the side of the Galactic Empire....
(Collector's CD-ROM) (1995), LucasArts - Star Wars: TIE FighterStar Wars: TIE FighterStar Wars: TIE Fighter, a 1994 space flight simulator/space combat computer game, is the sequel to Star Wars: X-Wing, and the first game of the series that puts the player on the side of the Galactic Empire....
(1994), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-Wing is the first LucasArts DOS computer game set in the Star Wars universe, as well as the lead title in the X-Wing computer game series. It simulates the experience of combat in the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters of the Rebel Alliance...
(Collector's CD-ROM) (1994), LucasArts - Maniac Mansion: Day of the Tentacle (1993), LucasArts
- Sam & Max Hit the RoadSam & Max Hit the RoadSam & Max Hit the Road is a graphic adventure computer game released by LucasArts during the company's adventure games era. The game was originally released for DOS in 1993 and for Mac OS in 1995. A 2002 re-release included compatibility with Windows and Amiga...
(1993), LucasArts - Star Wars: Rebel AssaultStar Wars: Rebel AssaultStar Wars: Rebel Assault was the first CD ROM-only game published by LucasArts, set in the Star Wars universe. It was released for the PC followed by subsequent releases on the Sega CD, Mac and 3DO platforms.-Summary:...
(1993), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-Wing is the first LucasArts DOS computer game set in the Star Wars universe, as well as the lead title in the X-Wing computer game series. It simulates the experience of combat in the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters of the Rebel Alliance...
(1993), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-Wing: B-WingStar Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-Wing is the first LucasArts DOS computer game set in the Star Wars universe, as well as the lead title in the X-Wing computer game series. It simulates the experience of combat in the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters of the Rebel Alliance...
(1993), LucasArts - Star Wars: X-Wing: Imperial PursuitStar Wars: X-WingStar Wars: X-Wing is the first LucasArts DOS computer game set in the Star Wars universe, as well as the lead title in the X-Wing computer game series. It simulates the experience of combat in the A-wing, X-wing, and Y-wing starfighters of the Rebel Alliance...
(1993), LucasArts - Indiana Jones and the Fate of AtlantisIndiana Jones and the Fate of AtlantisIndiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is a point-and-click adventure game by LucasArts originally released in 1992. Almost a year later, it was reissued on CD-ROM as an enhanced "talkie" edition with full voice acting and digitized sound effects...
(1992), LucasArts - Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's RevengeMonkey Island 2: LeChuck's RevengeMonkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts in 1991. It was the second game of the Monkey Island series, following The Secret of Monkey Island, and the sixth LucasArts game to use the SCUMM engine. It was the first game to use the iMUSE sound...
(1991), LucasArts
External links
- Interview at The International House of Mojo
- 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...
- "An interview with Peter McConnell" Goaste.cx: Elliott, Luke
- Interview with Peter Smith at Classical Music Journal Blog