Jesper Kyd
Encyclopedia
Jesper Jakobson Kyd is a Danish video game and film score
composer
.
Kyd combines sounds of dark ambient
, electronic
and symphonic music and has won many awards. He is also notable for his early work in the Amiga
demoscene
, where he composed a large amount of music in his teenage years, in particular a ten year long set of gatherings known as "The Party
". Today, he is best known for composing music for the Hitman
series, the Assassin's Creed
series, and, together with Rom Di Prisco
, the soundtrack for Unreal Tournament 3.
at an early age. Later, he took several years of training in classical guitar, note reading, choir singing and classical composition for piano. However, he is mostly self-taught
.
Kyd was always more interested in the compositional aspects of music and received a Commodore 64
when he was 14, enabling him to compose music for the demoscene. Several years later he obtained an Amiga
, allowing him to compose music with samples in it. He, along with his good friend and collaborator, Mikael Balle, became a member of the demo group Silents DK, and after some time started collaborating with a group of coders known as Crionics, which would arguably later prove vital for his professional career. They eventually made the legendary Amiga demoscene production Hardwired.
He also created and scored the first wild demo, Global Trash 2, together with Mikael Balle.
and started working on a game called Sub-Terrania
for the Sega Genesis
. The game was successful and the music of the game received particular acclaim, many stating it was "Some of the best ever" for this particular system.
With the commercial success of the game, Jesper Kyd and the rest of the team relocated to Boston
. Kyd composed music for two additional Zyrinx titles, Red Zone
and Scorcher
as well as the music for two externally developed games, Amok and The Adventures of Batman and Robin before their game publisher Scavenger went bankrupt, forcing the Zyrinx team to dissolve as well.
. Jesper Kyd decided to move to New York City
and set up his own sound studio in Manhattan
called "Nano studios". Because of his extensive connections in the industry, Kyd found success as a freelance computer game musician. He also had been planning to score upcoming games from IO Interactive from the beginning.
's MDK2: Armageddon, Shiny
's Messiah
and IO's Hitman: Codename 47
being released around the same time, all being fairly well known games, with Hitman ending up as one of the most popular of the time. The soundtrack to Codename 47 was based on urban soundscapes and ethnic instrumentation. It immediately took the focus of many magazines around the world. Mp3.com declared that "The theme song to the original Hitman is arguably one of the best pieces of video game theme music so far this decade".
His next huge step was recording the soundtrack of Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
. The soundtrack was recorded with 110 musicians of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and Choir
. “The music of most big budget action movies won’t move you like the music of Hitman 2,” said IGN.
His next soundtrack contained heroic and densely atmospheric music for the epic action/adventure Freedom Fighters
. He recorded the score with the Hungarian Radio choir. It further established him as one of the leading, innovative A-list composers in interactive entertainment. It was described by Film Score Monthly
Magazine as "Vangelis
on steroids". Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards nominated him for Best Use of Soundtrack, meanwhile, Game Audio Network Guild Awards nominated him for "Best Original Vocal Song – Choral" (for Main Title and March of the Empire). Leading video game web site GameSpot
awarded Freedom Fighters "Best Music of the Year".
His unique fusion of modern electronica
and brooding symphonic and choral grooves featured in Hitman: Contracts
garnered international critical acclaim as one of the truly groundbreaking original soundtracks. It was awarded Best Original Music by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
at the 2005 BAFTA Games Awards and won Best Cinematic / Cut-Scene Audio at the 2005 G.A.N.G. Awards. "Many have tried to turn a video game soundtrack into a musical experience. But few have succeeded in creating a coherent, satisfying listening experience as well as Jesper Kyd," noted EQ Magazine.
Kyd's other works include the modern anime video game soundtrack for Robotech: Invasion
, the cinematics for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
directed by Andy Davis
(The in-game music was composed by electronica artist Amon Tobin
), and the soundtrack of Hitman: Blood Money
, which features a bombastic live orchestral and choral score recorded with 150 musicians of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and Hungarian Radio Choir, with additional electronic music
. His latest works include the fantasy MMORPG The Chronicles Of Spellborn
, and the sci-fi epic Unreal Tournament 3. He is also scoring next generation titles for Ubisoft
and Eidos Interactive
.
Kyd currently lives in Los Angeles
, where he is working on his own debut album, Deftronic, which is described as a cinematic electronic music album. The album is being produced by Jesper himself and co-produced by Jeff Blenkinsopp, who worked with Pink Floyd
, The Who
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
, and Vangelis
, among others. According to Game-ost.com, the album will be released on December 12, 2012.
- On the difference between working with European and American developers.
part of an action track from Assassin's Creed where Kyd mixes orchestral, electronic and other techniques to create a unique atmosphere.
on this track Kyd uses a Saltarello
arrangement with a dark ambient overtone.
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
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...
.
Kyd combines sounds of dark ambient
Dark ambient
Dark ambient is a subgenre of ambient music that features foreboding, ominous, or discordant overtones. Although it had its roots in the 1970s, Dark ambient emerged in the 1980s and 1990s with the introduction of newer, smaller, and more affordable Effects units, synthesizer and sampling technology...
, electronic
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and symphonic music and has won many awards. He is also notable for his early work in the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
demoscene
Demoscene
The demoscene is a computer art subculture that specializes in producing demos, which are non-interactive audio-visual presentations that run in real-time on a computer...
, where he composed a large amount of music in his teenage years, in particular a ten year long set of gatherings known as "The Party
The Party (demo party)
The Party was an annual demoscene event held from 1991 to 2002 in Denmark. It was one of the first events of its kind and set the trend for many other demoscene parties in Europe.-The early years:...
". Today, he is best known for composing music for the Hitman
Hitman (series)
Hitman is a stealth game series developed by the Danish company IO Interactive. The series is available on PC as well as several video game consoles, including the Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The game series has since expanded into a novel, Hitman: Enemy Within written by...
series, the Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
series, and, together with Rom Di Prisco
Rom Di Prisco
Rom Di Prisco is a classically trained composer and producer. He has provided music for over 30 video games, including Unreal Tournament 3, SSX Tricky, Spy Hunter 2, and more notably, the Need for Speed series...
, the soundtrack for Unreal Tournament 3.
Early years
Kyd started playing pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at an early age. Later, he took several years of training in classical guitar, note reading, choir singing and classical composition for piano. However, he is mostly self-taught
Autodidacticism
Autodidacticism is self-education or self-directed learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words αὐτός and διδακτικός...
.
Kyd was always more interested in the compositional aspects of music and received a Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
when he was 14, enabling him to compose music for the demoscene. Several years later he obtained an Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
, allowing him to compose music with samples in it. He, along with his good friend and collaborator, Mikael Balle, became a member of the demo group Silents DK, and after some time started collaborating with a group of coders known as Crionics, which would arguably later prove vital for his professional career. They eventually made the legendary Amiga demoscene production Hardwired.
He also created and scored the first wild demo, Global Trash 2, together with Mikael Balle.
Establishing his career
At this point Jesper Kyd decided to quit the demo scene and focus on a professional career as a game musician. He and his demoscene friends who had collaborated on the Hardwired demo created the computer game developer ZyrinxZyrinx
Zyrinx was a video game developer founded in 1992 in Copenhagen, Denmark.The first game developed by Zyrinx was Subterrania for the Sega Mega Drive. During the development the team relocated to Boston. Later, the team developed the games Red Zone and Scorcher. Zyrinx's 3D rendering technology was...
and started working on a game called Sub-Terrania
Sub-Terrania
Sub-Terrania is a multidirectional shooter developed by Zyrinx and published by Scavenger, Inc.. The game was originally released in Europe for the Sega Mega Drive and in North America for the Sega Genesis.-Story:...
for the Sega Genesis
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
. The game was successful and the music of the game received particular acclaim, many stating it was "Some of the best ever" for this particular system.
With the commercial success of the game, Jesper Kyd and the rest of the team relocated to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Kyd composed music for two additional Zyrinx titles, Red Zone
Red Zone (video game)
Red Zone is a video game developed by Zyrinx and published by Time Warner Interactive in 1994 for the Sega Genesis console.A pre-release version of this game - Hardwired - has been deemed by the developer as publicly distributable....
and Scorcher
Scorcher (video game)
Scorcher is a futuristic racing video game by now-defunct developer Zyrinx for the PC and the Sega Saturn console.-Setting:Special motorcycles that reach up to 450 km/h race through dangerous tracks in a dystopian year 2021.-Trivia:...
as well as the music for two externally developed games, Amok and The Adventures of Batman and Robin before their game publisher Scavenger went bankrupt, forcing the Zyrinx team to dissolve as well.
Going freelance
After the demise of Zyrinx, many of its former members returned to Denmark to start IO InteractiveIO Interactive
IO Interactive is a Danish video game development company currently owned by Square Enix. The company was founded in September 1998 by the Reto-Moto development group. To date their most popular franchise is the critically acclaimed Hitman series...
. Jesper Kyd decided to move to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and set up his own sound studio in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
called "Nano studios". Because of his extensive connections in the industry, Kyd found success as a freelance computer game musician. He also had been planning to score upcoming games from IO Interactive from the beginning.
Breakthrough to present
Jesper Kyd's real fame came, according to him, with the release of BiowareBioWare
BioWare is a Canadian video game developer founded in February 1995 by newly graduated medical doctors Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuk, and Augustine Yip. BioWare is currently owned by American company Electronic Arts...
's MDK2: Armageddon, Shiny
Shiny Entertainment
Shiny Entertainment was an American video game developer based in Laguna Beach, Southern California, and the creator of several popular titles such as Earthworm Jim, MDK, Sacrifice and The Matrix: Path of Neo. Shiny was founded by David Perry in October 1993...
's Messiah
Messiah (video game)
Messiah is a third person shooter video game developed by Shiny and published by Interplay.-Plot:The player controls Bob, a cherub sent by God to clean up the corruption and sin on Earth...
and IO's Hitman: Codename 47
Hitman: Codename 47
Hitman: Codename 47 is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. It is the first entry in the Hitman series, followed by Hitman 2: Silent Assassin....
being released around the same time, all being fairly well known games, with Hitman ending up as one of the most popular of the time. The soundtrack to Codename 47 was based on urban soundscapes and ethnic instrumentation. It immediately took the focus of many magazines around the world. Mp3.com declared that "The theme song to the original Hitman is arguably one of the best pieces of video game theme music so far this decade".
His next huge step was recording the soundtrack of Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin
Hitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. Released for the Xbox game console on September 30, 2002, it is the second entry in the Hitman series and the sequel to Hitman: Codename 47...
. The soundtrack was recorded with 110 musicians of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and Choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
. “The music of most big budget action movies won’t move you like the music of Hitman 2,” said IGN.
His next soundtrack contained heroic and densely atmospheric music for the epic action/adventure Freedom Fighters
Freedom Fighters (video game)
Freedom Fighters, originally titled Freedom: The Battle For Liberty Island, is a 2003 third-person shooter video game available for the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Xbox and Microsoft Windows that is set in an alternate history...
. He recorded the score with the Hungarian Radio choir. It further established him as one of the leading, innovative A-list composers in interactive entertainment. It was described by Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly
Film Score Monthly is an online magazine founded by editor-in-chief and executive producer Lukas Kendall in June 1990 as The Soundtrack Correspondence List...
Magazine as "Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
on steroids". Billboard Digital Entertainment Awards nominated him for Best Use of Soundtrack, meanwhile, Game Audio Network Guild Awards nominated him for "Best Original Vocal Song – Choral" (for Main Title and March of the Empire). Leading video game web site GameSpot
GameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
awarded Freedom Fighters "Best Music of the Year".
His unique fusion of modern electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and brooding symphonic and choral grooves featured in Hitman: Contracts
Hitman: Contracts
Hitman: Contracts is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. It is the third entry in the Hitman series, followed by Hitman: Blood Money....
garnered international critical acclaim as one of the truly groundbreaking original soundtracks. It was awarded Best Original Music by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts
British Academy of Film and Television Arts
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts is a charity in the United Kingdom that hosts annual awards shows for excellence in film, television, television craft, video games and forms of animation.-Introduction:...
at the 2005 BAFTA Games Awards and won Best Cinematic / Cut-Scene Audio at the 2005 G.A.N.G. Awards. "Many have tried to turn a video game soundtrack into a musical experience. But few have succeeded in creating a coherent, satisfying listening experience as well as Jesper Kyd," noted EQ Magazine.
Kyd's other works include the modern anime video game soundtrack for Robotech: Invasion
Robotech: Invasion
Robotech: Invasion is a first-person shooter video game set in the Invid Invasion era of the Robotech saga. Developed by Vicious Cycle Software and published by Global Star , Invasion was the last Robotech game to be released on home video...
, the cinematics for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is a critically acclaimed action-adventure stealth game, developed and published by Ubisoft. Chaos Theory is the third game in the Splinter Cell series endorsed by writer Tom Clancy....
directed by Andy Davis
Andrew Davis (film director)
Andrew Davis is an American film director, producer and cinematographer, noted for the action films Code of Silence, The Fugitive, Chain Reaction, Collateral Damage, Above the Law, The Guardian and Under Siege.-Biography:Born on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, Davis has directed several films...
(The in-game music was composed by electronica artist Amon Tobin
Amon Tobin
Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin , known as Amon Tobin, is a Brazilian musician, composer and producer of electronic music. He is described as a virtuoso sound designer and is considered to be one of the most influential electronic music artists in the world...
), and the soundtrack of Hitman: Blood Money
Hitman: Blood Money
Hitman: Blood Money is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. It is the fourth entry in the Hitman game series....
, which features a bombastic live orchestral and choral score recorded with 150 musicians of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and Hungarian Radio Choir, with additional electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
. His latest works include the fantasy MMORPG The Chronicles Of Spellborn
The Chronicles of Spellborn
The Chronicles of Spellborn was an MMORPG, developed by Spellborn International and distributed by Frogster Interactive, Mindscape and Acclaim Games; set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world...
, and the sci-fi epic Unreal Tournament 3. He is also scoring next generation titles for Ubisoft
Ubisoft
Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a major French video game publisher and developer, with headquarters in Montreuil, France. The company has a worldwide presence with 25 studios in 17 countries and subsidiaries in 26 countries....
and Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive Ltd. is a British video game publisher and is a label of Square Enix Europe. As an independent company Eidos plc was headquartered in the Wimbledon Bridge House in Wimbledon, London Borough of Merton....
.
Kyd currently lives in 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 he is working on his own debut album, Deftronic, which is described as a cinematic electronic music album. The album is being produced by Jesper himself and co-produced by Jeff Blenkinsopp, who worked with Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
, and Vangelis
Vangelis
Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou is a Greek composer of electronic, progressive, ambient, jazz, pop rock and orchestral music, under the artist name Vangelis...
, among others. According to Game-ost.com, the album will be released on December 12, 2012.
Works
As noted above Kyd has composed music for many different forms of visual and non-visual media, below is a run-down of his works. See the Navbox at the bottom of the page also. He feels that the gap between grand movie score and incidental game score is now closing and he is trying to show that game music can be as epic as any good movie score.Games
- 2012 - Heroes and Generals
- 2011 - Forza Motorsport 4Forza Motorsport 4Forza Motorsport 4 is a racing video game released by Turn 10 Studios for the Xbox 360. It is the fourth installment in the Forza Motorsport series, and was released in North America on October 11, 2011 and in Europe on October 14, 2011...
- 2011 - Assassin's Creed: RevelationsAssassin's Creed: RevelationsAssassin's Creed: Revelations is a video game in the Assassin's Creed franchise developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal. The game was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows, the game is delayed until December 2, 2011...
(with Lorne BalfeLorne BalfeLorne Balfe is a film score composer. Born in Inverness, Scotland, he works at the Remote Control Productions Studio.-Discography:2011* Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure...
) - 2010 - Assassin's Creed: BrotherhoodAssassin's Creed: BrotherhoodAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2010, Microsoft Windows in March 2011 and Mac OS X in May 2011...
- 2009 - Assassin's Creed IIAssassin's Creed IIAssassin's Creed II is a historical third-person action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It is the second video game installment of the Assassin's Creed series, and is a sequel to the 2007 video...
- 2009 - BorderlandsBorderlands (video game)Borderlands is a science fiction based first-person shooter with RPG elements that was developed by Gearbox Software for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. It was first revealed in the September 2007 issue of Game Informer magazine...
- 2008 - The Chronicles of SpellbornThe Chronicles of SpellbornThe Chronicles of Spellborn was an MMORPG, developed by Spellborn International and distributed by Frogster Interactive, Mindscape and Acclaim Games; set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world...
- 2008 - The ClubThe Club (video game)The Club is a third-person shooter video game developed by Bizarre Creations and published by Sega.The story of the game centres around The Club, an underground blood sport controlled by a wealthy elite who place their bets on who will survive the gladiatorial-style combat.-Plot:The player chooses...
(main theme) - 2007 - Assassin's Creed
- 2007 - Unreal Tournament 3 (with Rom Di PriscoRom Di PriscoRom Di Prisco is a classically trained composer and producer. He has provided music for over 30 video games, including Unreal Tournament 3, SSX Tricky, Spy Hunter 2, and more notably, the Need for Speed series...
) - 2007 - Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
- 2006 - Hitman: Blood Money
- 2006 - Gears of WarGears of WarGears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
(concept music) - 2005 - Splinter Cell: Chaos TheoryChaos Theory - Splinter Cell 3 SoundtrackChaos Theory – Splinter Cell 3 Soundtrack is the fifth album by Brazilian trip hop artist Amon Tobin. It was released on 25 January 2005 by Ninja Tune.- Album information :...
(cinematics) - 2004 - Dance Dance Revolution ULTRAMIX 2Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2, or simply Ultramix 2, is a music video game released on November 18, 2004 by Konami in North America for the Microsoft Xbox.-Music:...
(songs .59 -remix-, Istanbul café, and Red Room) - 2004 - Robotech: Invasion
- 2004 - Hitman: ContractsHitman: Contracts (game score)-External links:**...
- 2004 - McFarlane's Evil ProphecyMcFarlane's Evil ProphecyMcFarlane's Evil Prophecy is a PlayStation 2 action video game released in North America and Europe in 2004.-Story:In the 19th century, the dead are rising from their graves and other chaos is happening all over the world. People fear that the end of the world is coming. A book predicts that an...
- 2003 - Freedom Fighters
- 2003 - Brute ForceBrute Force (video game)Brute Force is a video game released for the Xbox by Microsoft in 2003. The game is a squad-based third-person shooter that uses four members of a team which fight in numerous battles. These members in the squad include Flint, a sniper, Brutus, a shock trooper, Tex, a heavy assault trooper, and...
- 2002 - Hitman 2: Silent AssassinHitman 2: Silent AssassinHitman 2: Silent Assassin is a stealth game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive. Released for the Xbox game console on September 30, 2002, it is the second entry in the Hitman series and the sequel to Hitman: Codename 47...
- 2002 - Minority Report: The Video GameMinority Report: Everybody RunsMinority Report: Everybody Runs is a video game published by Activision in 2002, playable on the Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation 2 platforms. It is loosely based on the film Minority Report.-Plot:...
- 2001 - Shattered GalaxyShattered GalaxyShattered Galaxy is a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy that was released in 2001 by Nexon Inc., now known as KRU Interactive, after an extensive open beta period. In Usa itt was published by TriSynergy. It combines the attributes of a massive multiplayer online role-playing game...
- 2001 - The Nations: Alien Nations 2The NationsThe Nations is a computer game created by JoWooD Productions for Windows-based computers. The Nations was published in 2001.-Theme:The Nations is a Real-time strategy game for windows based on building your nation and conquering others, you may choose from 3 races, the Pimmons, the Amazons and the...
- 2000 - Hitman: Codename 47
- 2000 - MessiahMessiah (video game)Messiah is a third person shooter video game developed by Shiny and published by Interplay.-Plot:The player controls Bob, a cherub sent by God to clean up the corruption and sin on Earth...
- 2000 - MDK2MDK2MDK2 is a video game and sequel to the third-person shooter, MDK. The original MDK was developed by Shiny Entertainment and released in 1997 by Interplay. The sequel was developed by BioWare....
- 2000 - Soldier (unreleased)
- 1999 - Time Tremors
- 1996 - ScorcherScorcher (video game)Scorcher is a futuristic racing video game by now-defunct developer Zyrinx for the PC and the Sega Saturn console.-Setting:Special motorcycles that reach up to 450 km/h race through dangerous tracks in a dystopian year 2021.-Trivia:...
- 1996 - Amok
- 1995 - Adventures of Batman and Robin
- 1994 - Red ZoneRed Zone (video game)Red Zone is a video game developed by Zyrinx and published by Time Warner Interactive in 1994 for the Sega Genesis console.A pre-release version of this game - Hardwired - has been deemed by the developer as publicly distributable....
- 1993 - Sub-TerraniaSub-TerraniaSub-Terrania is a multidirectional shooter developed by Zyrinx and published by Scavenger, Inc.. The game was originally released in Europe for the Sega Mega Drive and in North America for the Sega Genesis.-Story:...
- 1993 - AWS Pro Moves Soccer
- 1989 - USS John Young
Movies
- 2008 - Staunton HillStaunton HillStaunton Hill is an American horror film starring Kathy Lamkin, Cristen Coppen, David Rountree, Kiko Ellsworth, Christine Carlo, Paula Rhodes, B.J. Hendricks, Charlie Bodin and directed by G. Cameron Romero.-Plot:...
- 2008 - Year Zero
- 2007 - La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc (1928, new score)
- 2006 - Sweet Insanity
- 2003 - Night All Day
- 2002 - Pure
- 2002 - Death of a Saleswoman
Short films
- 2006 - Virus
- 2006 - Impulse
- 2003 - Cycle
- 2002 - Pure
- 2002 - Paper Plane Man
- 2002 - Day Pass
- 2001 - Going with Neill
- 2001 - The Lion Tamer
- 2000 - Organizm
Trailers
- Assassin's Creed TV launch trailerAssassin's CreedAssassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
- Assassin's Creed cello TV trailerAssassin's CreedAssassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
- Assassin's Creed E3 trailerAssassin's CreedAssassin's Creed is an award-winning historical third person, stealth action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The bulk of the game takes place during the Third Crusade, with the plot revolving around a sect known as the Secret Order of...
- Gears of War E3 trailerGears of WarGears of War is a military science fiction third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios...
- V For Vendetta (Warner Bros. Pictures)V for VendettaV for Vendetta is a ten-issue comic book series written by Alan Moore and illustrated mostly by David Lloyd, set in a dystopian future United Kingdom imagined from the 1980s to about the 1990s. A mysterious masked revolutionary who calls himself "V" works to destroy the totalitarian government,...
- Hitman: Blood Money TV trailers
- Hitman: Contracts TV trailers
- Hitman 2: Silent Assassin TV trailers
Awards and nominations
- 2009 Spike Video Game Awards - Best Original Score Nomination
- 2009 Hollywood Music in Media Awards - Best Original Score Winner
- 2008 BAFTA - Best Original Music Nomination (British Academy Award)
- 2008 Hollywood Music Awards - Best Original Score Nomination
- 2008 Golden Joystick Awards - Soundtrack of the Year Nomination
- 2008 ELAN Awards - Best Video Game Score Winner
- 2007 GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Best Video Game Score Nomination - 2007 3 G.A.N.G. Nominations, including Music of the Year
- 2006 MTV Video Music Awards2006 MTV Video Music AwardsThe 2006 MTV Video Music Awards aired live on August 31, 2006, honoring the best music videos from the previous year. The show was hosted by Jack Black at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
- Best Video Game Score Nomination - 2006 IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
Best Original Score Winner - 2006 Golden Joystick Awards - Best Game Soundtrack Nomination
- 2006 4 G.A.N.G. Nominations Including Music of the Year
- 2005 BAFTA - Winner Best Original Music Award (British Academy Award)
- 2005 G.A.N.G. Winner Best Music for Cinamatic/Cut Scene
- 2005 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Freedom Fighters Soundtrack CD
- 2004 Billboard Awards Best Music Nomination 2004
- 2004 IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- Best Soundtrack Nomination - 2004 3 G.A.N.G. Nominations
- 2004 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Hitman Contracts Soundtrack CD
- 2003 GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Best Soundtrack of the Year Winner - 2003 Game Reactor - Best Original Soundtrack Winner
- 2003 PSE2 Editor's Choice GOLD - Hitman 2 Soundtrack CD
- 2002 Games Agent - Best Original Soundtrack Winner
- 2002 GameSpotGameSpotGameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
- Best Original Soundtrack of the Year Nomination - 2002 X-Sages - Soundtrack of the Year Nomination
- 2002 IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- Best Sound Nomination - 2002 Action VaultVault NetworkThe Vault Network, or VN, is a game network dedicated to role-playing video games , providing gamers with information such as news, editorials, guides, hints and tips, as well as discussion...
- Outstanding Achievement In Music - 2002 Bolt Games - Bolt Games Music Award
Quotes
- On the difference between scoring for movies and games.- On the difference between working with European and American developers.
Audio
Below are some examples of Kyd's musical versatility.part of an action track from Assassin's Creed where Kyd mixes orchestral, electronic and other techniques to create a unique atmosphere.
on this track Kyd uses a Saltarello
Saltarello
The saltarello was a lively, merry dance first mentioned in Naples during the 13th century. The music survives, but no early instructions for the actual dance are known. It was played in a fast triple meter and is named for its peculiar leaping step, after the Italian verb saltare .-History:The...
arrangement with a dark ambient overtone.
External links
- Official MySpace
- MobyGames rap sheet
- 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 insight into Kyd's demoscene days with a video from 1991 he did the music for
- A more in depth look at his career including his demoscene days