Mass Effect composer Jack Wall reflects on BioWare RPG collaboration

A rewarding team effort

According to TechRadar, Mass Effect composer Jack Wall has spoken about his time at BioWare. He described the project as a rewarding collaboration with Sam Hulick, Richard Jacques and David Kates. Wall said the experience taught him the value and importance of working with other composers.

Wall worked on the first two Mass Effect games. The score was for a science-fiction role-playing game. The interview also included his reaction to BioWare's closure.

Storytelling as the main job

Wall said his real strength is storytelling. He described himself as a decent composer, but he sees his main role as guiding a team. He wants the production and the music to serve the story.

He said working with other composers helped the project in the long run. He also said it can be easier to share the job when the goal is to keep music focused on the story. In his view, a team can reach that goal with less friction.

Music as an unseen presence

Wall said music can act like an unseen presence in the game. It can tell the story through sound. It can also help players become more immersed in the experience.

He said working with other composers can make that aim easier to reach. He described the team as being able to rise to a high-level view. From there, it is easier to see how all the parts are meant to work together.

Faster results and more polish

Wall said he likes the immediate satisfaction of getting music finished sooner. That gives more time to play with the score. It also gives more time to hone it.

He described the combined effort as a case where the result can be greater than the sum of its parts. The interview also noted that orchestral and synth sounds shaped the first two games. Wall discussed those influences as part of the same conversation.

AI is not an artist

Wall also addressed artificial intelligence as a possible replacement in video games. He rejected the idea that AI can be an artist. The comment pushes back against the idea that machines can replace human composers.

The remark adds a clear human-centred view to the discussion about game music. It also fits his wider point that composers should serve the story. In that view, the player experience remains central.