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Martin O'Donnell: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Martin ODonnell.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Marty in the ViDoc [[O Brave New World]].]] | [[File:Martin ODonnell.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Marty in the ViDoc [[O Brave New World]].]] | ||
{{Article Quote|John Williams is to movies, as Marty O'Donnell is to video games.}} | {{Article Quote|John Williams is to movies, as Marty O'Donnell is to video games.}} | ||
'''Martin "Marty" O'Donnell''' (aka '''Marty the Elder''') (born May 1, 1955) is an [[United States|American]] composer known for his work on musical pieces for video games from [[Bungie Studios]] such as the [[wikipedia:Myth (series)|''Myth'' series]], ''[[wikipedia:Oni (video game)|Oni]]'', and the [[Halo Trilogy|''Halo'' trilogy]]. O'Donnell collaborates with his musical companion [[Michael Salvatori]] for many of the scores. He has also directed voice talent and sound design for the ''Halo'' trilogy. He was [[wikipedia:Dismissal (employment)|terminated without cause]] on April | '''Martin "Marty" O'Donnell''' (aka '''Marty the Elder''') (born May 1, 1955) is an [[United States|American]] composer known for his work on musical pieces for video games from [[Bungie Studios]] such as the [[wikipedia:Myth (series)|''Myth'' series]], ''[[wikipedia:Oni (video game)|Oni]]'', and the [[Halo Trilogy|''Halo'' trilogy]]. O'Donnell collaborates with his musical companion [[Michael Salvatori]] for many of the scores. He has also directed voice talent and sound design for the ''Halo'' trilogy. He was [[wikipedia:Dismissal (employment)|terminated without cause]] on April 11, 2014,<ref name="terminate">[https://twitter.com/MartyTheElder/status/456303189998841856 '''Twitter''': ''MartyTheElder''] (@MartyTheElder: "''I'm saddened to say that Bungie's board of directors terminated me without cause on April 11, 2014.''")</ref><ref name="terminate2">[https://halo.bungie.net/en/News/News?aid=11484 '''Bungie.net''': ''There are those who said this day would never come...'']</ref> and has since founded his own studio, Highwire Games, with several other ex-Bungie friends.<ref>http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/legendary-halo-composer-marty-o-donnell-reveals-he-s-working-on-secret-new-game</ref> | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
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When composing the score for ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', Marty wanted to approach the film noir atmosphere of the game with a more dark and jazz-like feel and incorporated the saxophone into many pieces. In addition, he wanted to move away from the traditional musical style of Halo and try new methods. In an interview, Marty stated that the first thing he told himself when beginning work on the soundtrack was, "no monks." The final product was met with universal critical praise, and won the Spike Video Game Award for "Best Original Score". | When composing the score for ''[[Halo 3: ODST]]'', Marty wanted to approach the film noir atmosphere of the game with a more dark and jazz-like feel and incorporated the saxophone into many pieces. In addition, he wanted to move away from the traditional musical style of Halo and try new methods. In an interview, Marty stated that the first thing he told himself when beginning work on the soundtrack was, "no monks." The final product was met with universal critical praise, and won the Spike Video Game Award for "Best Original Score". | ||
Marty composed the score for ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', although he aimed to give the game a somber and dark feel, foreshadowing Reach's fate. <ref>[http:// | Marty composed the score for ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', although he aimed to give the game a somber and dark feel, foreshadowing Reach's fate.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/Projects/Reach/default.aspx Halo: Reach VGA Interview]</ref> | ||
=== ''Destiny'' and termination of employment === | === ''Destiny'' and termination of employment === | ||
Following the release of ''Halo: Reach'', Marty was involved in the development of Bungie's next title, ''Destiny''. However, on April | Following the release of ''Halo: Reach'', Marty was involved in the development of Bungie's next title, ''Destiny''. However, on April 11, 2014, he was terminated without cause by the company's board of directors.<ref name="terminate"/><ref name="terminate2"/> On May 1, 2014, O'Donnell filed a lawsuit against Bungie and its President, [[Harold Ryan]], in Washington's King County Superior Court, alleging the company had failed to pay him for unused vacation time, paid time off, and other benefits.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2014/06/06/former-halo-music-composer-sues-bungie-for-failing-to-pay-for-unpaid-benefits/ '''VentureBeat''': ''Former Halo music composer sues Bungie for unpaid benefits'']</ref> On July 21, 2014, the suit was settled for $95,019.13.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2014/07/21/halo-music-creator-wins-legal-settlement-for-unpaid-wages-from-bungies-chief-exclusive '''VentureBeat''': ''Halo music creator wins legal settlement for unpaid wages from Bungie’s chief (exclusive)'']</ref> A second separate but related lawsuit was decided by a court-appointed arbitrator on September 4, 2015. The arbitrator ruled that Bungie had violated its contract with O'Donnell, had unlawfully deprived him of the stock he held in the company, and had illegally excluded him from its profit-sharing plan; initial damages owed totalled $142,500.<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2015/09/04/ex-bungie-composer-marty-odonnell-wins-epic-legal-fight-with-former-bosses/ '''VentureBeat''': ''Ex-Bungie composer Marty O’Donnell wins epic legal fight with former bosses'']</ref> | ||
=== ''Highwire Games'' === | === ''Highwire Games'' === | ||
A year after his departure from Bungie, Martin O'Donnell formed his own studio called Highwire Games, currently at work on their debut game ''Golem'' for the | A year after his departure from Bungie, Martin O'Donnell formed his own studio called Highwire Games, currently at work on their debut game ''Golem'' for the PlayStation VR. A musical prequel to ''Golem'', ''Echoes of the First Dreamer'', was successfully funded on Kickstarter with a budget of $55,705.<ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/135470902/echoes-of-the-first-dreamer '''Kickstarter''', ''Echoes of the First Dreamer'']</ref> | ||
== Personal life == | == Personal life == | ||