Saori Kobayashi (#552)

[kyubihanyou]

An archived interview that is a bit of a pain to access
http://web.archive.org/web/200304130...i_pdorta.shtml

You can either press the stop button there or read it here.

Saori Kobayashi
Born: July 31 Yokohama City, Kanagawa Japan †
Education: Musashino University of Music, Piano major
First Game Worked on: Inspector Gadget (HUDSON)
Favorite Drink: Japanese Sake
Favorite Food: Italian, Ethnic
Hobbies: Car driving
Influences: Lots of people
Favorite Game(s): AZEL-Panzer Dragoon Saga, Metal Gear Solid, Genso Suikoden, Vandal Hearts
Favorite Movies: Braveheart
Studio Gear: AKAI CD3000XL, Roland XV5050, E-Mu Vintage Keys, etc.
Sound Tools: Logic Audio Platinum

Credits Include:
INSPECTOR GADJET (SNES)
Deep Duck Trouble (GAME GEAR)
Sylvan Tale (GAME GEAR)
Sonic Drift 2 (GAME GEAR)
Let's Make Pro Soccer Team (SEGA SATURN)
AZEL-Panzer Dragoon Saga (SEGA SATURN)
SHADOWGATE 64 (Nintendo 64)



RocketBaby: At what age did you become interested in music?

Saori Kobayashi: I'm not sure. I guess since the day I was born. I was into music before
I realized it.

RB: How did you get started in the game making business?

SK: I used to work as a freelance composer. During that time, a friend of mine in the
music business gave me a job creating game music. In 1993, I got to know the people of SEGA's
sound team, and I had an offer to work with them.

RB: How will Panzer Dragoon: Orta's music be different from the other games in the series?

SK: The big difference is the way music is generated. "Zwei" and "Azel"'s music was
played by the Saturn's sound chip. "Orta"'s music was all recorded in studio.
The music in "Zwei" and "Azel" had imaginary-regional tones, which were coincidentally
made by the Saturn's sound hardware limitations. They gave a distinctive atmospheric
feeling to help making up the Panzer world. So, in the way how music was made,
"Orta" was closer to the first "Panzer Dragoon". But musically, "Orta" was based
on and expanded from "Zwei" and "Azel"'s music.

RB: What was your initial reaction to receiving this assignment?

SK: Personally, I loved the Panzer world, so I felt really honored to work on the
music of the series again.

RB: How do you interact with the director or designer of the game. How do you translate their
musical vision?

SK: I didn't have much time to interact with them. They gave me the story and
backgrounds for each stage, then I imagined how the game will be, and it was
up to me to represent it in a musical way. I guess how the director's vision of the world
and my musical vision match together in the game, is up to the each game player to judge.
But the theme song's structure was made as the director requested.

"I've never worked outside Japan.
Now I'm working freelance again, so I'd love to take offers from overseas."
-Saori Kobayashi 2003

RB: What is your process for creating music?

SK: When I'm not working with PC, I listen to many kinds of music. Then I turn on my
PC and start composing, I try to make a lot of phrases and patterns. Pick the good ones and
arrange them on the sequencer. But good melodies don't come every time I compose.
Sometimes they come easily, sometimes I anguish hours sitting in front of my keyboards.

RB: Can you share some thoughts about working on Azel:Panzer Dragoon?

SK: "Azel" was an RPG and I had to make a lot of tunes. So I came up with a method of making
themes for each of the important characters and backgrounds, then make many variations.
In a way, it was easy to make tunes with this idea. But in other way, the amount of tunes
I had to make were too many, in the end, I thought my composing ability had drained out.

RB: What game genre do you like best for creating music?

SK: I like RPG's. I like games with a deep story line. In fact, any genre of games
with deep story line, whether action or shooting, I'd love to work on.

RB: What advice would you give to those who want to create music for video games?

SK: Listen to many kinds of music. A lot of them.

RB: Any Final thoughts?

SK: Please enjoy the game. Then, please listen to the music. I hope you will find the new way
to enjoy the Panzer world with the music. I feel very lucky to had an opportunity to work on
"Panzer Dragoon Orta". I would like to keep working on projects like this to try expressing my
music.

Translated by Tomonori Sawada


A big thank you to Saori Kobayashi for taking the time to chat. Special thanks to by Tomonori Sawada, Yukifumi Makino, WaveMaster and SEGA.

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[CHz]

What game is she credited in as Satoru Kobayashi? That seems like an odd alias for a woman to use.

(and it doesn't appear to be the SMS version of Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck, the game only lists "S. Kobayashi": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4HsAsMy1D8#t=46m34s)

Sources for alias additions to artist entries would be appreciated in general, per our sourcing policy: http://vgmdb.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5704.

[kyubihanyou]

Originally Posted by CHz

What game is she credited in as Satoru Kobayashi? That seems like an odd alias for a woman to use.

(and it doesn't appear to be the SMS version of Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck, the game only lists "S. Kobayashi": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4HsAsMy1D8#t=46m34s)

Sources for alias additions to artist entries would be appreciated in general, per our sourcing policy: http://vgmdb.net/forums/showthread.php?t=5704.

It was indeed Duck Trouble.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/sega-m...d-duck/credits

What I lose in Kobayashi I gain in Nagao.

[Blitz Lunar]

i wonder if she was also responsible for Lucky Dime Caper. the style is somewhat similar.
http://www.mobygames.com/game/lucky-...ng-donald-duck
a game with no credits that has baffled me for many a year.

[Cedille]

Originally Posted by kyubihanyou

It was indeed Duck Trouble.

http://www.mobygames.com/game/sega-m...d-duck/credits

I checked the staff credit, and it just lists S. Kobayashi.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4HsAsMy1D8#t=2802s

EDIT: Oops, I didn't noticed CHz already posted the exact same link. Nevermind

[Jormungand]

I will ask Ms. Kobayashi about this, as well as any other games we don't know about.

[kyubihanyou]

Originally Posted by Jormungand

I will ask Ms. Kobayashi about this, as well as any other games we don't know about.

I know this is probably really late in saying or you probably already planned to ask this and/or did ask this, but could you ask what her "Sound" role in Sonic Drift 2 was? My guess is Sound Effects only because there are completely different sounds between it and Drift 1, such as the race signals at the start of a round and the Result screen.

[Jormungand]

I received a reply from Ms. Kobayashi.

1. She has always been credited under her real name, so no pseudonyms.

2. When asked about "Satoru Kobayashi" she replied: "I have never met him."

3. For Sonic Drift 2, she only composed music. She did not do sound effects.

4. She did not work on Lucky Dime Caper.

5. When I asked about other SEGA games she has worked on, she hilariously linked to her artist profile here at vgmdb. I think it's safe to say that the following constitutes her full list of works as a composer:

Inspector Gadget (SNES)
Deep Duck Trouble (GAME GEAR)
Sylvan Tale (GAME GEAR)
Sonic Drift 2 (GAME GEAR)
Let's Make Pro Soccer Team (SATURN)
AZEL-Panzer Dragoon Saga (SATURN)
SHADOWGATE 64 (Nintendo 64)
Panzer Dragoon ORTA (Xbox)
Hoshigami Remix (DS)
Hototogisu Ran (PSP)
Kocha-e (original work)
GE-ON-DAN vol.1 (original work)

[kyubihanyou]

Great job Jormun.

Looks like I get to have some fun with Drift 2 beyond the Sonic 3 callbacks...

[VRC-7]

There's a "Sarry" credited on Torarete Tamaruka!? (GG) and Coca Cola Kid (GG).

[Jormungand]

I don't think I can't handle any more excitement this year! Two years ago, when PROJECT DRACO was announced, I made a single wish: please let Saori Kobayashi be the composer!

Kobayashi writes on AKANE's blog that the PROJECT DRACO dev team is made up of many former Panzer Dragoon staff, and that she will be in charge of the music! Can someone verify that I'm reading this right? I feel like I'm dreaming.

上の記事にもあるように、このプロジェクトには
かつてのパンツァードラグーンの制作スタッフが集結しています
(おっと・・けして続編ではございません）

そして私も僭越ながら音楽を担当させていただいております

Naturally, Yumiko Takahashi will have her voice used in the game.

Ironically, one of my interview questions for Ms. Kobayashi was going to be about her possible participation in PROJECT DRACO.

http://akanesky.blog.shinobi.jp/
http://www.famitsu.com/news/201109/16050400.html <--some screen caps from the game.

[DragoonEnRegalia]

I honestly can't wait, especially if there is going to be a soundtrack release (please?).

[Jormungand]

Ms. Kobayashi reports that she did some music for Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz:

http://www.supermonkeyball.com/vita/

^May be NSFW, depending on your perspective...

[Don]

Originally Posted by Jormungand

Ms. Kobayashi reports that she did some music for Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz:

http://www.supermonkeyball.com/vita/

^May be NSFW, depending on your perspective...

Yoshitaka Hirota also contributed some music.

[Jormungand]

Originally Posted by Don

Yoshitaka Hirota also contributed some music.

As if I didn't already want the soundtrack enough! I wonder what the chances are for a soundtrack release?

[Jormungand]

Leaked Crimson Dragon demo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0tWhS7hJJA

It's a true Panzer soundtrack, alright. Wild, beautiful, and perpetually in motion.