Some Doom Eternal players weren't happy with the first person shooter's soundtrack. Among other things, the composer of the game Mick Gordon himself. He even publicly criticized the developer id Software for the quality of the finished OST and stated that he "never wanted to work with them again".
Now the developer studio is telling its own version of the events and opening in the same breath that they themselves are for planned DLCs for Doom Eternal won't be collaborating with Mick Gordon.
According to id, what went wrong with the Doom soundtrack?
According to Ids executive producer Marty Stratton, the composer’s negative statements were “very astonished”. According to him, it was never closed creative differences Mick Gordon is said to have been granted "all possible freedoms" for the composition of the Doom-Eternal soundtrack. However, problems with the OST resulted from other complications.
Production difficulties: Mick Gordon, according to the studio, asked several times during the development process for additional time to submit his work in order to meet his own quality standards. An issue that id agreed to. However, this made for a "difficult situation" because you had to stick to deadlines for the final release of the game.
Own OST as a way out: Since it was uncertain whether Mick Gordon could deliver his pieces on time, the lead audio designer Chad Mossholder was also commissioned to create songs for the soundtrack. Since, as a rule, only the composer himself has access to the original version of his pieces, Mossholder used already compressed building blocks as the basis for this.
Here's a comparison between the original BFG Division from Doom 2016's official soundtrack (left) vs. the BFG 2020 remix on Eternal's soundtrack from today (right).
Notice how the wavelengths in BFG 2020 form a nearly perfectly straight bar vs. the original with more definition pic.twitter.com/TCJRdOe1Yf
– Doominal Crossing: Eternal Horizons? (@thatACDCguy) April 19, 2020
Mick Gordon was informed
According to id Software, you have Mick Gordon informed about this project and the reasons for it. One week before the deadline expires, Gordon also wants to have the version planned for release sent to him so that Gordon himself can later deliver his work as bonus tracks.
After Gordon himself after a last minute shift only delivered nine out of 12 agreed piecesthat did not meet id Software's ideas, both parties are said to have agreed to combine Gordon's pieces with those of Mossholder. Buyers of the Doom Eternal collector's edition have been listening to the result since April 19, 2020.
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Pronunciation between Gordon and id Software
According to Id Software, according to Mick Gordon's statements, the developer had contacted him to understand how the public hostility came about. Gordon told the studio that he was surprised that the studio released a full soundtrack with 59 tracks.
He also said that he did not agree to some changes. Furthermore, some pieces were more intended as a demonstration version and not as part of the final soundtrack.
Gordon also criticized Chad Mossholder listed as co-composer – which, according to id Software, would not be true: the name of the lead audio designer was only added to the pieces he edited as contributing artists, so as not to deceive the customers.
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id Software separates from composer Mick Gordon
In conclusion, id Software explains that at the time of Mick Gordon's social media posts, there was never any discussion about ending the collaboration with the composer. However, the current situation has been taken as an opportunity to end the partnership with Gordon and not to collaborate with him for planned Doom Eternal DLCs, for example.
The executive producer of Doom Eternal Marty Stratton shows up "disappointed" of this development, but is convinced to find other talented artists with whom id Software can work in the future.
Stratton is also confident that Mick Gordon will continue to delight his fans. You appreciate your talent and also hope that his work on Doom Eternal will be recognized with awards, but that one will adapt to the new circumstances.
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