OverClocked ReMix - Reception - Industry Reaction

Industry Reaction

According to a 2005 interview, the organization has never received negative feedback from a game composer or game publisher, and Lloyd stated, "Like all communities surrounding fan works, we're out, first and foremost, to honor that which we love, and I think the concept and goals have been well received all around."

Several video game industry professionals have praised the OC ReMixes of their compositions, including Alexander Brandon (Tyrian/Unreal Tournament/Deus Ex), Barry Leitch (Top Gear), Nicholas Varley (Syberia), and David Wise (Donkey Kong Country). OverClocked ReMix has also been praised for its work by several industry figures including Doom lead designer John Romero, Tommy Tallarico, "The Fat Man" George Sanger, and Jeremy Soule. Contra 4 associate producer Tomm Hulett stated he hoped the game's music, scored by Jake "virt" Kaufman, would be arranged for OC ReMix in the future.

I just wanted to let you know that I support what you're doing with game music. in both your honor and Nobuo Uematsu's.

— Jeremy Soule to David W. Lloyd (djpretzel), upon submitting Final Fantasy VI "Squaresoft Variation" to OverClocked ReMix

In late 2002, the first OC ReMix by a veteran professional game composer was released, The 7th Guest "Fat Dance" by "The Fat Man" George Sanger. In early 2004, this was followed by the second ReMix of its kind, Final Fantasy VI "Squaresoft Variation" by Jeremy Soule, who dedicated the arrangement to both OC ReMix founder David W. Lloyd and Final Fantasy series composer Nobuo Uematsu. In 2005, Sanger provided another ReMix performed alongside Team Fat colleagues and game composers, Dave Govett, Joe McDermott and K. Weston Phelan, entitled Wing Commander "Wing Theme Surf." Tommy Tallarico Studios' Earthworm Jim Anthology marked the first release of OC ReMixes on a commercial video game music album in late 2006. In October 2009, composer Alexander Brandon and ReMixer Jimmy "Big Giant Circles" Hinson collaborated to arrange a track Brandon composed for the game Deus Ex. In March 2010, OC ReMix released its Donkey Kong Country 2 ReMix album, Serious Monkey Business, featuring a closing track performed by the game's original composer, David Wise, alongside Grant Kirkhope and Robin Beanland, three composers with ties to Rare's Donkey Kong Country/Land franchise.

Several artists beginning as amateurs, many directly drawn to video game music arrangement by OC ReMix, have seen their interest in video game music catalyze into professional music opportunities, including Dain "Beatdrop" Olsen (Dance Dance Revolution SuperNOVA 2), Jillian "pixietricks" Aversa (Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword), Andrew "zircon" Aversa (Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge), Jimmy "Big Giant Circles" Hinson (Mass Effect 2) and Danny Baranowsky (Super Meat Boy).

Beginning in 2008, at the invitation of Tommy Tallarico, OC ReMix promotional CDs have been given away as contest prizes at every performance of orchestral game music concert series, Video Games Live; OC ReMixes were played in the concert hall before the show at the June 29 and June 30, 2007 Kennedy Center performances in Washington, D.C.