Gaming News He’s already a star and wants to try a unique experience for his next video game…
The legendary Nintendo composer still has innovative ideas for his future projects.
During the DICE Awards in February the legendary The Japanese composer Koji Kondowas particularly known for his productions of Nintendo games honored for outstanding contributions to the industry. He took advantage of it to Talk about an instrument he would like to use in his next compositions.
The first composer to be inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame
Koji Kondo, the brains behind it iconic themes from many Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda gameswas the first composer inducted into the AIAS Hall of Fame (Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences) during the DICE awards ceremony. With a career spanning four decades, Kondo is the Maestro behind timeless classics from Nintendo. Fans could hear that Kondo’s emotional reflections on his career and achievements during his acceptance speech:
I am deeply grateful to have been selected by DICE for this important award. It is a true honor to be recognized in this way and I feel very humbled. (…) Thanks to the help of the many people around me and the support of our customers and fans, I was fortunate to be involved in the development of game music for decades. I am grateful to everyone who helped and supported me. I will continue my efforts in the musical and sound aspects of development to hopefully make the gaming experience even more enjoyable for everyone in the years to come.
Buy Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Nintendo Switch at Amazon
An instrument that he would like to integrate into his next compositions
While Koji Kondo has always had an innovative approach In the field of video game composition, he plans to introduce new instruments in his future projects. In fact, GameDeveloper used the ceremony to ask him What instrument had he not used yet? but who would interest him? The composer had only one thing in mind: the Taishōgoto, also called the Nagoya harp.
This instrument relatively unknown to us, has a fascinating origin. Taishōgoto was founded in 1912 by musician Gorō Morita originated from Morita’s inspiration during his travels in Europe and the United States to study western instruments. Fascinated by the mechanics of the typewriterMorita designed a unique instrument to play on Press typewriter-like keys with one hand and strum the strings with the other. This combination of keys and strings gives the instrument a distinctive sound reminiscent of both Japanese tradition and Western innovation
When I was a child, my aunt practiced on this instrument. The idea of playing the keys with one hand and strumming with the other seemed appealing and interesting.
The Taishōgoto offers a unique sound and an exotic aesthetic that could greatly enrich Kondo’s future projects. As a pioneer of video game music composition, Kondo sees this instrument as a Opportunity to push the boundaries of the audio experience in games to come and thus offers the players a even more intense atmosphere in the worlds created by Nintendo. There is no doubt that Koji Kondo will continue to make offers to players unforgettable symphonies and timeless melodies that will remain in your memory.
Zelda and Mario are still a staple at awards shows
At the 27th edition of the DICE Awards Nintendo scored two big victories. In addition to this well-deserved award for Koji Kondo, two Nintendo games also shined that evening. If it was Baldur’s Gate III that won Game of the Year, Nintendo can still do it Count on Mario and Zelda to fill your trophy cabinet
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available on Switch.
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