[GDN] What were some of the processes you went through when you wrote the score for this game?
In contrast to how the last couple of Age of Empires games were written, the music for Halo Wars was largely inspired by interesting sounds or grooves rather than particular melody lines. I’d usually start by putting together a rhythm track or fiddling around with a synth sound; from there, I could start layering the more organic parts.
[GDN] Was there anything you wanted to specifically accomplish with Halo Wars?
Yes - I was very interested in making sure the electronic and orchestral instruments complemented each other, with neither element being superfluous to the overall sound.
[GDN] What was the largest recording you’ve ever done in a game? What was it like managing so many people?
In terms of the number of musicians, probably either this or Age of Empires III; in terms of scope and logistics, definitely this one. The hardest part about having all those people on the clock is knowing when something is good enough to move on from – I’d probably still be getting takes if not for all the pesky deadlines and release dates!
