Brian Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Brian L. Schmidt is a music composer for various video games and pinball
games. He began in the video game music and sound industry in 1987 as a composer/sound designer and programmer for Williams Electronic Games in Chicago writing music and creating sound effects for pinball machines and coin operated video games. In 1989, Schmidt left Williams to become an independent consuptant under the company name of Schmidt Entertainment Technologies. While a consultant, he worked on over 100 console and arcade games. Schmidt is also the creator of the BSMT2000
audio DSP , which is used in various pinball games and video arcade machines and the QSound "Q1" 3D game sound chip used by CAPCOM. In 1998 Brian was recruited by Microsoft to become Program Manager for DirectSound and DirectMusic. From 1999-2008, Schmidt was the program manager of the Xbox Audio and Voice Technologies division at Microsoft
and was responsible for much of the audio architexture for the Xbox and Xbox 360. He also created the startup sound for the original Xbox console.
Schmidt was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Game Audio Network Guild (www.audiogang.org) in 2008 for his contributions to the game audio industry. His work has received numerous awards such as Sega's "Best Sound" award and the Game Audio Network Guild's "Best new audio technology" awards. In 1989, his theme from the video game, NARC, was recorded and released by The Pixies . Other game music by Brian is featured in the CD Box set, Legends of Game Music. Brian also received the 2009 G.A.N.G. recognition award at the 2010 Game Developers Conference for his work founding GameSoundCon.
Brian received dual undergraduate degrees, a B.M. in Music and a BSc
in computer science from Northwestern University in 1985, where he created the first dual degree program between the School of Music and the Technological Institute there . Following that in 1987, he received his Masters Degree entitled "Computer Applications in Music" also from Northwestern University. Portions of his thesis were published in the Computer Music Journal in 1987.
Schmidt left Microsoft in February 2008, and formed Brian Schmidt Studios, L.L.C., an independent consulting firm. He is also the creator of GameSoundCon, a conference and seminar on video game music and video game sound design for the professional audio community.
Currently, Data East Pinball and Sega Pinball are known as Stern Pinball.
Electronic Arts
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
games. He began in the video game music and sound industry in 1987 as a composer/sound designer and programmer for Williams Electronic Games in Chicago writing music and creating sound effects for pinball machines and coin operated video games. In 1989, Schmidt left Williams to become an independent consuptant under the company name of Schmidt Entertainment Technologies. While a consultant, he worked on over 100 console and arcade games. Schmidt is also the creator of the BSMT2000
BSMT2000
The BSMT2000 is an audio DSP created by Brian Schmidt for use in various pinball and video games ....
audio DSP , which is used in various pinball games and video arcade machines and the QSound "Q1" 3D game sound chip used by CAPCOM. In 1998 Brian was recruited by Microsoft to become Program Manager for DirectSound and DirectMusic. From 1999-2008, Schmidt was the program manager of the Xbox Audio and Voice Technologies division at Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
and was responsible for much of the audio architexture for the Xbox and Xbox 360. He also created the startup sound for the original Xbox console.
Schmidt was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Game Audio Network Guild (www.audiogang.org) in 2008 for his contributions to the game audio industry. His work has received numerous awards such as Sega's "Best Sound" award and the Game Audio Network Guild's "Best new audio technology" awards. In 1989, his theme from the video game, NARC, was recorded and released by The Pixies . Other game music by Brian is featured in the CD Box set, Legends of Game Music. Brian also received the 2009 G.A.N.G. recognition award at the 2010 Game Developers Conference for his work founding GameSoundCon.
Brian received dual undergraduate degrees, a B.M. in Music and a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in computer science from Northwestern University in 1985, where he created the first dual degree program between the School of Music and the Technological Institute there . Following that in 1987, he received his Masters Degree entitled "Computer Applications in Music" also from Northwestern University. Portions of his thesis were published in the Computer Music Journal in 1987.
Schmidt left Microsoft in February 2008, and formed Brian Schmidt Studios, L.L.C., an independent consulting firm. He is also the creator of GameSoundCon, a conference and seminar on video game music and video game sound design for the professional audio community.
Williams
- Fire! (with Chris GrannerChris GrannerChristopher P. Granner is a freelance music composer, best known for composing music for video games and pinball games.-Career and biography:...
and Rich Karstens) - Big GunsBig Guns (pinball)Big Guns is a 1987 pinball machine designed by Mark Ritchie and Python Anghelo and released by Williams.The theme associated with this particular machine is that you must rescue your queen from king tyrant and his warlords. The game takes place in space...
(with Chris Granner) - Space Station: Pinball Rendezvous
- Banzai Run
- Swords of Fury
- Black Knight 2000Black Knight (pinball)Black Knight is a 1980 pinball game designed by Steve Ritchie and released by Williams Electronics.This game is known for its two-level playfield , and introduced the patented "Magna-Save", in which a player-controlled magnet is used to prevent outlane drains. This was first of a series of four...
(with Dan FordenDan FordenDaniel "Dan" Warner "Toasty" Forden is an American sound programmer and music composer, and was the lead programmer on several high-profile arcade and pinball games...
and Steve RitchieSteve RitchieSteven Scott Ritchie is an acclaimed pinball and video game designer. He has been called "The Master of Flow" by pinball aficionados due to the emphasis in his designs on ball speed, loops, and the like....
)
Data East Pinball
- Back to the Future: The PinballBack to the Future: The PinballFor other Back to the Future games, see List of Back to the Future video gamesBack to the Future: The Pinball is a 1990 pinball machine designed by Joe Kaminkow, Ed Cebula and released by Data East. It is based on the Back to the Future trilogy of movies...
- The SimpsonsThe Simpsons (pinball)The Simpsons is a 1990 pinball game released by Data East Pinball. It is based on the animated sitcom The Simpsons and features many elements from the series, such as character voices and music. The game was popular in the United States, becoming a hit for Data East Pinball. It has been cited as...
- Checkpoint
- Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (pinball)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a 1991 pinball machine designed by Joe Kaminkow and Ed Cebula. It is based on the comic book series of the same name, and was preceded by a related TV series and feature film...
- Batman
- Star Trek: 25th Anniversary
- Hook
- Lethal Weapon 3Lethal Weapon 3 (pinball)Lethal Weapon 3 is a pinball machine produced by Data East Pinball. It is based on the first three movies of the Lethal Weapon motion picture franchise.-External links:**...
- Star WarsStar Wars (1992 pinball)Star Wars is a 1992 pinball machine released by Data East. It is based on the Star Wars original trilogy of films.-External links:* *...
- Rocky & Bullwinkle
- Jurassic ParkJurassic Park (pinball)Jurassic Park is a pinball machine produced by Data East Pinball. It is based on the motion picture of the same name.-Gameplay:There are 11 gameplay modes, called "Computer Screens". They are started by shooting the right scoop, called "Control Room", when it's lit. These modes are stackable...
- Last Action Hero
- Tales from the Crypt
- The Who's Tommy: Pinball Wizard
- WWF Royal Rumble
- Guns N' RosesGuns N' Roses (pinball)Guns N' Roses was a pinball machine based on the rock group Guns N' Roses. The artwork featured photos by Robert John from his book Guns N' Roses: The Photographic History. This game was a widebody pinball game with several unique twists. Among them, was an old fashioned revolver, which players...
- Maverick
- Aaron Spelling Custom Pinball (Which is actually a customized version of Lethal Weapon 3 made for Aaron Spelling)
Sega Pinball
- Mary Shelley's FrankensteinMary Shelley's Frankenstein (pinball)Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is a 1995 pinball machine released by Sega Pinball. It is based in the film of the same name.-Layout:The game feaures three full sized flippers. two of these are at the bottom in the normal position and the other one is located further up the table...
- Baywatch
- Batman ForeverBatman Forever (pinball)Batman Forever is a pinball machine released in June 1995 by Sega Pinball. It is based on the motion picture of the same name.- Features :Uses the 192x64 "supersize" dot matrix display with Motorola 68000-based 16-bit controller...
- Apollo 13Apollo 13 (pinball)Apollo 13 is a 1995 pinball machine based on the film Apollo 13. It was designed by Joe Kaminkow and Joe Balcer, and released by Sega Pinball. It is notable for its 13-ball multiball mode, the largest of any pinball machine ever made.-Gameplay:...
- GoldenEyeGoldenEye (pinball)GoldenEye is a 1996 pinball machine released by Sega Pinball. It is based on the 1995 James Bond film of the same name.-Gameplay:There are 5 modes which can be started at the Mode Start Lane. You cannot start one mode while in another. In non-mode single ball play, the bumpers cycle the currently...
- Mini-Viper
- Independence Day
- Twister
- Space JamSpace Jam (pinball)Space Jam is a 1996 pinball machine released by Sega Pinball. It is based on the film of the same name.-External links:***...
- The Lost World: Jurassic ParkThe Lost World: Jurassic Park (pinball)The Lost World: Jurassic Park is a 1997 pinball game designed by John Borg and released by Sega Pinball. It is based on the movie of the same name.-External links:*...
- Star Wars TrilogyStar Wars Trilogy (pinball)Star Wars Trilogy is a 1997 pinball machine released by Sega Pinball. It is based in the Star Wars original trilogy. Was released in the year of the release of the special editions of the films.-Gameplay:...
- The X-Files
- Starship Troopers
- Lost In Space
Currently, Data East Pinball and Sega Pinball are known as Stern Pinball.
Arcade
- NARCNARC (video game)NARC is originally a 1988 arcade game designed by Eugene Jarvis for Williams Electronics and programmed by George Petro. It was one of the first ultra-violent video games and a frequent target of parental criticism of the arcade game industry. The object is to arrest and kill drug offenders,...
(Williams; with Marc LoCascio) - Tattoo AssassinsTattoo AssassinsTattoo Assassins is an unreleased 1994 versus fighting game by Data East. Spearheaded by Bob Gale and Joe Kaminkow , Tattoo Assassins was designed to be Data East's answer to Mortal Kombat.- Development :Tattoo Assassins was developed to compete with the popular...
(Data East Pinball)
Electronic ArtsElectronic ArtsElectronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
- Crüe BallCrüe BallCrüe Ball is a 1992 pinball video game developed by Electronic Arts for the Mega Drive/Genesis. It was based around the glam metal band Mötley Crüe and featured three Crüe songs: "Dr. Feelgood", "Live Wire" and "Home Sweet Home". The game's soundtrack by Brian L. Schmidt features heavy metal-style...
- Desert Strike: Return to the GulfStrike seriesStrike is the common name of a series of video games created by Mike Posehn, John Patrick Manley and Tony Barnes released between 1991 and 1997 by Electronic Arts for a number of video game systems. The games are multi-directional shooters shown from an isometric perspective...
(with Rob HubbardRob HubbardRob Hubbard is a music composer best known for his composition of computer game theme music, especially for microcomputers of the 1980s such as the Commodore 64...
) - Jungle Strike
- Mutant League FootballMutant League FootballMutant League Football is a video game that was released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis. The game was designed using the Madden '93 engine, and features a different take on football, where the games resemble a war as much as a sporting competition....
- NBA Live 97NBA Live seriesThe NBA Elite is series of basketball video games, published by EA Sports. There has not been any entry in the series on a home console since 2009. In November 2010, development of the franchise was moved from EA Canada studio to Florida-based Tiburon studio...
- Super Baseball 2020Super Baseball 2020is a futuristic baseball video game. It was first released in Japan for the Neo Geo in 1991, and then it was later released in North America for the Mega Drive/Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993.The game follows the basic rules of baseball, but there are several upgrades...
Other developers
- WeaponlordWeaponlordWeaponlord is a 1- or 2-player fighting game originally designed for release on the Super Nintendo by Visual Concepts, and published by Namco. During the inception of the title, the development team also began work on a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis version and both were released in October 1995...
(NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
) - World HeroesWorld Heroesis a series of fighting games created by ADK originally created for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinets with the assistance of SNK, though some of the games in the series were also ported to the Neo Geo AES and Neo-Geo CD platforms, as well as some non-SNK platforms such as the Super NES and the Sega...
(Sega Midwest Studio) - ZoopZoopZoop is a puzzle game developed by Hookstone, and published by Viacom New Media.Some of its rules resemble those of Plotting , but unlike Plotting, Zoop runs in real time....
(Viacom New Media) - Congo
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
- Madden NFL 93
- Madden NFL '94Madden NFLMadden NFL is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game series is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator...
(Electronic Arts) - Madden NFL 95
- Madden NFL 96
- MechWarrior 3050MechWarrior 3050Mechwarrior 3050 is the second Battletech based game from Activision for Super NES. This time around its viewed in an isometric view as opposed to the first person view of the previous game...
- NBA Live 97 (Electronic Arts)
- Weaponlord (Namco)
- NHL '96 (Electronic Arts)