Jake Kaufman
Jake Kaufman | |
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![]() Kaufman in 2009 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Jacob Kaufman |
Also known as | virt virtjk |
Born | April 3, 1981 |
Genres | Video game music, chiptune |
Occupation(s) | Composer, sound designer |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels | Big Lion Music |
Jacob Kaufman (also known as virt or virtjk) (born April 3, 1981) is an American video game music composer. After starting out creating arrangements and remixes of video game soundtracks, he began his commercial composing career in 2000 with the score to the Game Boy Color port of Q*bert. He continued to compose music for games for the next couple of years, working primarily with handheld video games. In 2002, he set up the website VGMix, which hosts video game music remixes, and continues to administrate it. His career began to take off over the next few years, resulting in him transitioning jobs into a full-time freelance composer by 2005. Since then he has worked on several big-name projects such as the Shantae series, Contra 4, Red Faction: Guerrilla, DuckTales: Remastered, and Shovel Knight.
Biography
Kaufman was born on April 3, 1981. He dropped out of high school, with what he describes as "a total lack of work ethic and no concept of timeliness or organization."[1] He spent the next few years composing arrangements and remixes of video game music under the alias "virt". In 2000, Kaufman broke into the video game industry as a composer, with his first work being the Game Boy Color port of Q*bert.[2] Over the next few years, he composed the music to several Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games. In 2002, Kaufman was one of the co-founders of the website VGMix, which hosted video game music remixes.[3]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Jake_Kaufman_at_Notacon_6_%2817724209324%29.jpg/220px-Jake_Kaufman_at_Notacon_6_%2817724209324%29.jpg)
During 2002–2005, Kaufman's career as a video game music composer began to take off. By 2005, he was a full-time freelance video game composer.[4] He continued to compose music to increasingly big-name projects, such as Contra 4 and TMNT in 2007 and Red Faction: Guerrilla in 2009; he described composing the soundtrack to a Contra game and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game as his "lifelong dream".[5] Kaufman contributed a track to the official arranged album of music from Ketsui: Kizuna Jigoku Tachi.[6] He was a full-time employee of Volition while working on Red Faction, but in January 2010, he left the company to become the "lead audio guy" for WayForward, for which he had already composed several soundtracks such as those of Shantae and Contra 4.[7] For WayForward he first composed the soundtrack to Shantae: Risky's Revenge, the sequel to the game he worked on ten years prior.[8] Original Sound Version named Kaufman their Composer of the Year for 2011, based on his work on BloodRayne: Betrayal and Mighty Switch Force, as well as several other soundtracks and arranged albums.[9] Kaufman lives with his puggle Nugget in northern Los Angeles.[5][7]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Jake_Kaufman_on_stage_at_MAGFEST_X.jpg/300px-Jake_Kaufman_on_stage_at_MAGFEST_X.jpg)
While working at WayForward, Kaufman composed music for the Shantae series, the BloodRayne series, and nearly a dozen other games. During this time he also composed music for independent games such as Shovel Knight. On November 1, 2014, Kaufman announced that he was leaving WayForward on mutual terms to work as a freelance composer and sound designer from his own studio, in order to be able to set his own schedule and choose his own projects.[10] The last games which he worked on for the company were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze and Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.
In February 2015, Kaufman collaborated with Jessie Seely, a video game vocalist and professional artist, to launch the Kickstarter campaign of [NUREN] The New Renaissance. [NUREN] was self-described as "the world's first virtual reality rock opera." The project was planned to be a full-length music album, accompanied by music videos that users would experience using a head-mounted display such as the Oculus Rift. The proposed music and videos were set in a post-war future society where androids cater to humanity's needs; two prototype androids named QGK and RIX were planned as the main subjects of the project. In March 2015, the project was successfully funded with $76,950 raised.[11] The project was slated to arrive to Kickstarter backers in February 2016. In his August 2016 Kickstarter update, Kaufman cited "contracting work" and a "ridiculous client workload" as obstacles to completing [NUREN]. Kaufman now broadcasts bi-weekly live development sessions via his Twitch channel.[citation needed]
Works
Video games
Year | Game | Role |
---|---|---|
2000 | Q*bert (GBC)[12] | Composer |
Drymouth (GBC)[13] | Composer | |
M&M's Minis Madness (GBC)[14] | Composer | |
2001 | Tennis Masters Series (PSX) | |
David Beckham Soccer (GBC/GBA)[15] | Composer | |
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? (GBC) | ||
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (GBA)[16] | Composer | |
X-Blade Inline Skater (GBA)[17] | Composer | |
2002 | The Scorpion King: Sword of Osiris (GBA)[18] | Composer |
Karnaaj Rally (GBA)[19] | Composer, sound effects | |
Godzilla: Domination (GBA)[20] | Composer | |
Shantae (GBC)[21] | Composer | |
Micro Machines (GBA)[22] | Composer | |
Hardcore Pinball (GBA)[citation needed] | ||
Rugrats: I Gotta Go Party (GBA)[23] | Composer | |
2005 | Spy Hunter / Super Sprint | |
Juka and the Monophonic Menace | Sound designer | |
Legend of Kay (PS2) | Composer | |
Rebelstar: Tactical Command[citation needed] | ||
Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree | Composer | |
2006 | Uno 52 | Music engineer |
Platinum Mahjong (Mobile) | Sound designer | |
Scurge: Hive | Sound designer | |
The OC (Mobile) | Sound designer | |
Miami Nights: Singles in the City (Mobile) | Composer, sound designer | |
Lumines Mobile | Sound designer | |
Lionel Trains: On Track | Music engineer | |
Ibiza Beach Party (Mobile) | Composer, sound designer | |
Brain Challenge (Mobile) | Lead sound designer | |
2007 | Shrek: Ogres & Dronkeys | Composer, sound designer |
Contra 4[24] | Composer, sound designer | |
TMNT (DS) | Composer | |
Cranium Kabookii | Composer | |
Uno / Skip-Bo / Uno Freefall | Music engineer | |
Surf's Up (GBA, DS) | Composer | |
Petz: Catz 2 | Composer, sound designer | |
Elements of Destruction (DS) | Composer, music engineer | |
CSI: Dark Motives (DS) | Sound engineer | |
Brothers in Arms DS | Sound designer | |
Balls of Fury (DS) | Music engineer | |
2008 | Imagine: My Secret World | Composer |
Winx Club: Mission Enchantix | Composer, sound designer | |
Pokermillion 2009: The Bluff (Mobile) | Composer, sound designer | |
Ben 10: All Out Attack! (Mobile) | Composer, sound designer | |
2009 | Red Faction: Guerilla[25] | Composer, sound designer |
Mighty Flip Champs! | Composer, sound designer | |
Virtual Villagers: Erschaffe dein Paradies! (DS) | Composer | |
Where the Wild Things Are (DS) | Sound designer | |
Barbie and the Three Musketeers | Composer | |
2010 | Despicable Me: The Game - Minion Mayhem | Composer, sound designer |
Shantae: Risky's Revenge[26] | Composer, sound designer | |
Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame[27] | Composer, sound designer | |
2011 | DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu[28][29] | Composer (Black Label Arrange) |
SpongeBob SquigglePants | Composer, sound designer | |
Thor: God of Thunder (DS) | Composer, sound designer | |
Mighty Milky Way | Composer, sound designer | |
BloodRayne: Betrayal | Composer, sound designer | |
Centipede: Infestation | Composer | |
Happy Feet Two: The Video Game (DS, 3DS) | Sound designer | |
Mighty Switch Force![30] | Composer, sound designer | |
Otomedius Excellent[31][32] | Composer (DLC BGM pack) | |
Saints Row: The Third | Additional audio | |
2012 | Retro City Rampage | Composer |
Darkstalkers Resurrection[33] | Composer | |
Hotel Transylvania | Composer | |
Double Dragon Neon[34] | Composer | |
Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!! | Composer | |
Silent Hill: Book of Memories | Sound designer | |
2013 | Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I Don't Know! | Composer |
Mighty Switch Force! 2[35] | Composer | |
DuckTales: Remastered[36] | Composer | |
Regular Show: Mordecai and Rigby in 8-Bit Land | Composer | |
Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge[37] | Composer | |
2014 | Wonder Momo: Typhoon Booster | Composer |
Shovel Knight | Composer | |
Boot Hill Heroes: Part One[38] | Composer | |
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse[39] | Composer | |
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze | Composer | |
2015 | Adventures of Pip[40] | Composer |
Supreme League of Patriots[41] | Composer, sound design, bass, guitar | |
Mighty Switch Force! Hose It Down! | Composer | |
Vanguard V[42] | Composer (main theme) | |
Legend of Kay Anniversary | Composer | |
2016 | Pulsar Arena[43] | Composer |
Crypt of the Necrodancer | Composer (alternate soundtrack) | |
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero | Composer | |
Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche[44] | Composer | |
2020 | Vitamin Connection | Composer, music producer |
TBA | [NUREN] The New Renaissance | Composer |
Cyber Shadow[45] | Music producer |
Film
- Press Start (2007)
- Rampage (Korkusuz) (2009)
Television
- OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017)
- Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (2019)
Other work
- FX (2001) [46]
- FX 2.0 (2002)[47][48]
- FX3 (2006)[49]
- Kwakfest (compilation album, 2008)[50]
- Kind of Bloop (2009), the track “Freddie Freeloader”[51]
- FX4 (2012)[52]
- FX3 Remastered (2013)[53]
- Balance and Ruin (OC ReMix Final Fantasy VI cover compilation album, 2013)[54]
- Choice Nuggets (compilation album, 2013)[55]
- Power Overwhelming (2015)[56]
References
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Big Lion Music – Stuff I've Done". Big Lion Music. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Big Lion Music – Q*Bert (GBC)". Big Lion Music. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ Mieszkowski, Katharine (March 18, 2002). "Hot Salsa Tetris". Salon.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Big Lion Music – Game Soundtracks". Big Lion Music. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Jake. "Big Lion Music – About". Big Lion Music. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ Carl, Larson (October 6, 2009). "CAVE Music Interview With KETSUI Arrangers". Original Sound Version. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
- ^ a b Kaufman, Jake (November 20, 2009). "Big Lion Music – Wessiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide". Big Lion Music. Retrieved December 27, 2009.
- ^ Greening, Chris (September 28, 2010). "Jake Kaufman Releases Shantae: Risky's Revenge Album". Square Enix Music Online. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
- ^ Napolitano, Jayson (February 23, 2012). "OSV Composer of the Year Award 2011: Jake Kaufman". Original Sound Version. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- ^ Greening, Chris (November 1, 2014). "Jake Kaufman becomes freelance composer and game designer". Game Music Online. Retrieved November 15, 2014.
- ^ "[NUREN] The New Renaissance". Kickstarter. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Q*Bert (GBC)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Drymouth (GBC)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "M&Ms Minis Madness (GBC)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "David Beckham Soccer (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Atlantis – The Lost Empire (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "X-Blade Inline Skater (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "The Scorpion King – Sword of Osiris (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Karnaaj Rally (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Godzilla: Domination (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Shantae (GBC)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Micro Machines (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "Rugrats: Gotta Go Party (GBA)". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on January 18, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 29, 2007). "d:\virt\work\contra\ds\". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 21, 2009). "Happy Father's Day!". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (September 27, 2010). "Shantae: Risky's Revenge Original Soundtrack". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (September 15, 2010). "Batman: The Brave and the Bold: The Videogame: The Release!". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ http://store.steampowered.com/app/550382/
- ^ http://vgmdb.net/album/23844
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (December 22, 2011). "Mighty Switch Force OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ https://www.destructoid.com/otomedius-x-s-soundtrack-features-28-artists-120-tracks-195024.phtml
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH8RTXAVJJ0
- ^ Jimenez, Rey (March 23, 2013). "DuckTales Interview: How Do You Improve Perfection? – PAX East 2013". IGN. 3:40. Retrieved April 9, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Kaufman, Jake (September 11, 2012). "Double Dragon Neon". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 14, 2013). "Mighty Switch Force 2 OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Sarkar, Samit (March 22, 2013). "DuckTales Remastered announced by Capcom, launching this summer on XBLA, PSN, Wii U eShop for $15". Polygon. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Rasa, Chris (October 12, 2015). "Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge". Hardcore Gaming 101. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (April 11, 2014). "Boot Hill Heroes OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (October 24, 2014). "Shantae and the Pirate's Curse OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 11, 2015). "Adventures of Pip OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (March 16, 2016). "Supreme League of Patriots". Bandcamp. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
- ^ Moravetz, Justin (October 8, 2014). "Jake Kaufman creates another musical track for Vanguard V". Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (May 14, 2015). "PULSAR ARENA OST". Bandcamp. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 5, 2016). "Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche – Extra Crispy or Original Soundtrack". Bandcamp. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ Doolan, Liam (March 28, 2019). "Yacht Club Games Reveals Cyber Shadow, A Thrilling New 8-Bit Ninja Platformer". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
- ^ "Virt – FX EP {mtk060} Netlabel Archive". Monotonik. Retrieved June 20, 2016.
- ^ "FX 2.0". Monotonik. Archived from the original on July 16, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake. "FX 2.0". Big Lion Music. Archived from the original on July 9, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ "Virt: FX3". 8bitpeoples. 2006. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (November 16, 2008). "Kwakfest". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Baio, Andy. "Kind of Bloop: An 8-Bit Tribute to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue". Wayback Machine archive of KindOfBloop.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Kaufman, Jake (March 1, 2012). "FX4". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (June 4, 2013). "FX3 Remastered". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ Hamilton, Kirk. "Hell Yes, It's OC Remix's Mondo Musical Tribute To Final Fantasy VI". Kotaku. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- ^ Kaufman, Jake (August 28, 2013). "Choice Nuggets". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
- ^ "Big Bad Bosses: About". Big Bad Bosses. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved February 1, 2016.