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Sound Byte: Meet the Composer - Killzone 3's Joris de Man

We find out how award-winning composer Joris de Man got his start in the video game industry.

GameSpot Sound ByteA common theme among composers appears to be that they start off learning one instrument, realize that they aren't going to meet girls that way, and decide to join a band or learn an instrument that doesn't brand them as some sort of music nerd. Killzone series composer Joris de Man initially began playing the violin but decided to branch off to dabble in keyboards and drums. Realizing that his talents didn't necessarily lie in performing, his interest in chip music during the Atari and Amiga days ultimately led him to the video game industry. Born in Holland and a fan of Muse and Nine Inch Nails, Joris is now an award-winning orchestral composer living near Brighton. To learn more about Joris, check out our video interview below!

Sound Byte is GameSpot's game music blog, which covers every aspect of music in games, including interviews with top game music composers and discussions of new and classic game soundtracks. Have a question or suggestion? Leave us a comment below. For a list of previous Sound Byte features, click here.

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cometkd 5 pts

@ fkbwii hey i really appreicate you taking the time to help me fix the problem! thank you, it works just like you said! what is your gamer tag on the PSN if that is okay to ask to be friends

fkbwii 5 pts

@cometkd - You click "menu", on the bottom-right side of the video. Then, "advanced options." And choose Progressive download; choose either "150k" (blurry), "400k" (not that blurry), and "700k" (good) under "SD Player."

patriotsnake171 5 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

D-eagle101 5 pts

The soundtrack is like the one from Bioshock, sinister.... nice for a planet like helghan! :)

Gue1 9 pts

the music was what actually motivated me to finish that garbage FFXIII... For me music is a huge part of games.

cometkd 5 pts

does anyone know why my video's are blurry? what can i do to fix it? i can never watch any video's on here without them being blurry

metalhead1966 5 pts

Oh yeah, I buy shooters for the orchestra...give me a break. Yawn! Somebody hit snooze on this topic.

CaliG123 5 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

Hansolo50 5 pts

Killzone 3 = made in Holland ;D

julianozuca 8 pts

We've got some very nice background music in this video feature. Didn't play the game but that guy's work must be great.

Sophia 8 pts

@tapout03 - You've completely missed the point. No where in my paragraph did I even mention anything about a developer or what they should or shouldn't make. But people are free to like whatever they want.

tapout03 5 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

Sophia 8 pts

@tapout03 - why is it sad that they buy a game to enjoy it a different way than you do? People buy games and play them for the story, not so much for the gameplay, or just the gameplay and not for anything else. Does it really matter? There are definitely games out there that aren't very good but have a great soundtrack, what's the problem in appreciating that? If you think this is a stupid topic, you don't have to read it or take part in it. Go read a preview.

tapout03 5 pts

im not saying that people do buy games just for the soundtracks, but if they do that is sad, if you buy a game just to listen to the music on the game then your wasting your time.. im tired of stupid topics building things up other than the actual gameplay, its like saying hey the gameplay maybe s*** but at least they soundtrack will be good yay

bodylotion 5 pts

@tapout03 : No one said people buy games because of the music but music sure is one of the most important parts of a great game. Take away the music from Final Fantasy VII, Tomb Raider, Fallout, Baldurs Gate, Hitman Blood Money and then what do u get ? Only a few great games dont have much music in them like Half Life.

FranTheMan217 5 pts

GOD this would be great as a podcast!

Ramnath2k 5 pts

Kill zone over rated game. I dont find this game interesting starting from killzone 1 till killzone 2

BigBoss154 5 pts

Killzone 3's main theme is really incredible. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTp9ZlK_K0w&hd=1 I don't know how many times I've delayed a game just by sitting at the main menu listing to it. Joris de Man really is the man.

sabas10 5 pts

People like him (and games like Killzone 3) make myself proud of being Dutch. Really nice soundtrack.

markus-phoenix 5 pts

Joris IS the man! =) great score!! can't wait for the soundtrack to buy. *God please let it be CDs, not Itunes thing*

Johny_47 46 pts

I think Joris De Man did a great job on the Killzone 2 soundtrack I hope the Killzone 3 is alike. And @tapout03 - ALOT of people respect and and love video game soundracks/scores, you having a halo picture it's a shame you probably play the multiplayer of Halo than the story because that's got a great soundtrack aswell, composed by Martin O'donnel. If most of the games I've played since I started playing games didn't have the memorable music in them by these brilliant composers then those games just wouldn't be so... memorable. A brilliant soundtrack can emmerse/suck you into a game world just as well as good voice acting/dialogue, characters or graphics etc. I like that he said he's inspired by Jesper Kyd and Garry Schyman, Jesper Kyd is my favourite, he did the soundtrack to Freedom Fighters, Hitman and the Assassins Creed soundtracks(Freedom Fighters is my favourite) and Garry Schyman did the music to Destroy All Humans and BioShock. I could talk so much about video game music, I love it =)

Johny_47 46 pts

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Renoo27 11 pts

@tapout03: No one, that's what sound tracks are for.

kartik24 11 pts

the first time i put on the beta - the only that hit me hard was the opening orchestra, its really beautiful

tapout03 5 pts

who buys games for the music in them? I mean come really!?!?

lunaticrichard 7 pts

@ joris ; je bent DE MAN !! En de vrouwtjes zullen ook geen probleem meer zijn :) DUTCH PRIDE !!! yeahhhhh killzone !!

Pete5506 20 pts

Had some impressive work in KZ2, looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us in KZ3

Kleeyook 6 pts

IGN review said that music in KZ3 is a hit or miss. That's a shame. KZ2 has the best music ever in FPS. :(

PSR8000 7 pts

wow, listening to his story, and it's funny how things come together. I write music and people always tell me it sounds like music for film or games. I just don't know where to send it! :p

tyskenfan 5 pts

His music in Killzone 2 was fantastic! I hope it is good in Killzone 3 too

jansong1 5 pts

excellent job by the way, Joris

jansong1 5 pts

I am jealous, this is what I dream of doing, I don't know who to submit music to and I have thousands of songs. Lucky bastage!!!

joined2comment 5 pts

where can i download the soudtrack, NOW!

untouchables111 5 pts

ninjaman44, me to. i was mad when i had to reload the game a few time but that loading music was great.

ninjaman44 5 pts

When I first started the Killzone 3 beta, I actually stopped at the main menu to listen to the music. It was beautiful.

POPEYE1716 5 pts

I wish there was a KZ2 and 3 OST

Jake518 5 pts

This guy really does a good job with the music in the Killzone series. No wonder why GG kept him around.

Bruchko7 5 pts

This guy is amazing! First time I put in Killzone 2 and I heard the title music I knew the game was a step up for the genre. This guy's orchestral segments are better than most of the stuff in Hollywood films these days

Mr_Ditters 32 pts

I dont care so much about the composer but the sound in KZ3 is amazing with surround sound. Its some of the best sound effects Ive heard in a shooter.

johny300 5 pts

I wish this guy makes the soundtracks for GG next game.

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