Grammy Winner for Best Video Game Soundtrack Announced

At the 67th Grammy Awards, Winifred Phillips took home the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media award for her work on Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. The game itself is a faithful 3D remake of the original Wizardry from 1981, a medieval fantasy RPG considered a pioneer in party-based video game RPGs. Its influence can be seen in Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and many other beloved franchises. The remake stays true to its roots, even allowing players to view the original Apple 2 interface while playing.

This marks only the third year that the Grammy for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media has been presented. The inaugural award in 2023 went to Stephanie Economou for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, followed by Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab, who won last year for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Notably, Bear McCreary, known for composing the music for the God of War series, has been nominated all three years since the category’s introduction but has yet to secure a win.

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The score for Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord stood out among a strong field of contenders, beating out Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora by Pinar Toprak, God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla by Bear McCreary, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 by John Paesano, and Star Wars Outlaws by Wilbert Roget II. This was only the third time the Grammy category for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media had been presented, having first debuted in 2023. In her acceptance speech for the Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games, Phillips expressed gratitude to Digital Eclipse, the developers behind the 3D remake of the 1981 RPG classic. She also acknowledged the growing recognition of video game music. “Thank you for believing in music for games and recognizing it, for breathing life, enthusiasm, and energy into what we do. It means so much,” Phillips said.

Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord Remake Honored at the Grammy’s

Following the ceremony, Phillips described the experience as overwhelming, sharing that she was “blown away” by the win for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games. “I really didn’t expect it,” she remarked. “The category was populated with so much brilliance this year, and I have so much deep respect for the other nominees. To have been recognized is just a highlight of my career. It truly is.” She also spoke about the unique challenges of composing for video games, emphasizing the interactive nature of the medium. “We’re creating music that accompanies people who are having an experience, making choices, and living a grand story. It feels like a collaboration with the players. Like you know them, and they know you. It’s really very special.”

Phillips has built an impressive career in video game composition, previously working on God of War, LittleBigPlanet 2 and 3, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation. While she has received numerous awards throughout her career, including a nomination for Best Original Soundtrack Album at The Game Audio Network Guild in 2021, her score for Wizardry secured her first-ever Grammy win. With this victory, Phillips has cemented her place as a trailblazer in video game music, and her Grammy victory signals an exciting future for the growing recognition of video game soundtracks in mainstream awards.

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Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is a full 3D remake of the first game in the legendary Wizardry series of RPGs.

The first party-based RPG video game ever released, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord was a direct inspiration to series like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Digital Eclipse’s revival preserves the appeal of the classic, with many upgrades for modern role-playing game fans.

Dungeon Crawling, Deluxe: Craft your own party of adventurers and head into the labyrinth at the behest of the mad overlord Trebor, in search of the amulet stolen by the evil wizard Werdna. Battle groups of challenging enemies, avoid hidden traps, and make your way deeper into the dungeon as you prepare for the ultimate battle: Facing Werdna himself.

Commitment to Accuracy- Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord is built directly on top of the original 1981 game’s code. Although it looks all new, underneath the hood is the authentic game. You can even view the original Apple II interface as you play.

Challenge Without Hassle: While the well-known difficulty of the enemies has not been altered, quality-of-life improvements have been added in every area. Party management, navigation, spellcasting, and combat have all been significantly enhanced.

Released

September 15, 2023

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Digital Eclipse

Publisher(s)

Digital Eclipse