Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break will challenge the way you look at video games. The game takes on a huge risk by integrating a live-action series into gameplay. It’s a big task and every detail is painstakingly important, with the pressure trickling down to music department.
iDigitalTimes spoke to John Kaefer, music composer of Quantum Break ’s digital series, about the unique project. Kaefer isn’t new to the music industry; his credits include earning a doctorate at The Julliard School, scoring the original drama Sequestered on Crackle, and his work has been featured on 20/20 . However, the world of video games was new to Kaefer, but he was up for the challenge.
Quantum Break is different from other games. Not only does the game include a live-action series, but the scenes change depending on player choices. Kaefer said you could play the game multiple times, make different decisions, and have a unique experience in every single playthrough.
“It’s really cool,” Kaefer said, referring to the concept of Quantum Break . “The [live-action] series is integrated into the game itself, so how you play the game affects the show. If you go with one direction it changes the course of the plot in the TV series. What’s interesting about it is it’s a fully produced, high quality show, so it feels really immersive.”
Kaefer enjoyed the new challenges that came with scoring a series alongside its video game counterpart. He felt it was important that he worked directly with the game’s composer to make sure the vibes were consistent with the tone of the live-action series. The music he created accents a scene’s tension and emotions. For Kaefer, it was about helping the player immerse themselves in the live-action as well as the gameplay.
“The mood is moody [laughs],” Kaefer said. “There’s a tension to many scenes. You’re unsure of what’s going to happen, so the characters are searching. There’s also a very strong emotional component, which helps tie together the game, both the gameplay and the TV series. There are a few action sequences. It feels like a modern cinematic experience.”
Kaefer continued, “The main challenges working on [ Quantum Break ] were probably more logistical, just figuring out how to put everything together. When you have an episode that has eight changes, [the question] is how do you insert these juncture points. How do you make it flow…It was challenging in a ‘hard way,’ it’s more fun [for me] in how do I score a scene that has subtle changes. I’ve scored the same scene a few different times, but something new happens each time. It’s all in the same world. It’s fun finding that balance.”
Kaefer maintains Quantum Break ’s developers put a lot of time and effort into the live-action series. Players will experience a fully produced, high quality show that gets to “the heart of the game and you really get to know the characters in a unique and new way,” according to the music composer. The best part of working on Quantum Break for Kaefer was pulling inspiration from the game to make a modern sound that’s just as unique.
“I really enjoy combining electronic elements, even analog instruments, into an orchestral hybrid texture. [The music] has very modern elements,” Kaefer said. “It has synthesizers, which can only be produced today because of the technology, but at the same time I incorporate in string-writing and even use more unusual instruments…It creates this organic sound. It’s a hybrid sound.”
Kaefer hopes players will enjoy the live-action series as much as the gameplay. You can check out Kaefer’s previous work here to get a feel for his sound. Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break will be available exclusively for the Xbox One and Windows 10 on April 5.
