Tell us about composing the first music for Star Citizen, the Arena Commander stuff. Was that MIDI orchestration at the time?
TL;DRThe first Arena Commander track was done in MIDI as a draft for Chris, always intended for a real orchestra, which later recorded it and moved the team.
Initially everything starts with MIDI orchestration. When I did the MIDI for that one, I already knew it would be played, of course, with a real orchestra for sure. So I didn't place too much detail into it. Some backers heard it. I think it was one of the very few, probably the only track where I heard some kind of not so positive comments back then. But no one does perfect. Everyone doesn't do good all the time, actually. It needs some luck and hard work. Most of it hard work. But anyway, that track was in MIDI just to get an idea for Chris. Chris loved it back then and we always thought we would have an orchestra. It took a little bit longer but it's done now and I love it personally. I personally really enjoy it and it was really a touching moment for me when it finally came true. We had one of our very own friends and colleagues, Bob Rissolo from our team, there in the session, and he heard it live. I still hope that we can actually play it live to people, to our people, or more people than just our backers, because it's because of them that we can do all of this. Of course, I never forget that. That's why we put so much passion into it. And I remember Bob was listening to it in the hall, and his eyes got a bit wet. I never thought that it would touch him like that. It was pretty cool. That was a really cool moment for me.
That hall is just amazing. The hall in Bratislava, it's absolutely phenomenal. It's just such a beautiful building. If anybody wants to check it out, just Google the Slovak radio building. It's an upside down pyramid in a brutalist style. And the whole back of the hall, it's the biggest musical organ in all of Europe. It's like a 40 foot musical instrument. It's amazing. It's breathtaking.