Ben Houge (born 1974[1]) is a composer and sound designer who worked on the PlayStation 2 version of Half-Life and its expansions.
Biography[]
In 1996, he entered Sierra after leaving college; there he remained for 7 years. During that time, he designed sound effects, recorded and edited dialog for Half-Life: Opposing Force in 1999 and Half-Life: Blue Shift in 2001.[2]
In 2001 he also composed music and designed sound effects for the main menu of the PlayStation 2 version of Half-Life, as well as recording and editing additional dialog, and composing the music for promotional trailer. For that work he was called at the last minute. A loop of only 53 seconds long, the main menu music was composed with synthesizers (this is the pieced used for the main menu of the PC port of Half-Life: Decay).[2][3]
He also created the Sierra splash screen sound featured in every Sierra game published between 1998 and 2001,[2] familiar to the Half-Life gamers before Steam. The video itself was created by Valve's Jeff Lane.[2]
In 2003, he left Sierra and joined Ubisoft in Shangai in 2004 after working as a freelance audio contractor for around a year.[2]
He worked on numerous video games, promotional trailers, prototypes, and other miscellaneous projects.[2]
He also composed many classical/choir music pieces.[4]
He also co-founded "Sound Currents", a group of Seattle composers dedicated to presenting fresh, new, creative music through concerts in Shanghai, where Houge resides.[5]
Complete gameography[]
- Tom Clancy's EndWar (2009)
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 (2005)
- Hoyle Casino Empire (2002)
- Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura (2001)
- Half-Life: Blue Shift (2001)
- Half-Life (2001) (PlayStation 2 version)
- Ground Control (2000)
- Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned (1999)
- Half-Life: Opposing Force (1999)
- SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle (1999)
- King's Quest: Mask of Eternity (1998)
- Sierra's splash screen (1998)
- Leisure Suit Larry's Casino (1998)
- Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail! (1996)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Official website - Biography
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Official website - Games
- ↑ Official website - Audio
- ↑ Official website - Compositions
- ↑ About Sound Currents on the Sound Currents official website
External links[]
- Official website
- Ben Houge on Facebook
- Sound Currents
- Ben Houge on MySpace
- Ben Houge on MobyGames
- Ben Houge at the Internet Movie Database
- Ben Houge on Last.fm
Companies | Gearbox Software • Junction Point Studios • Valve Corporation |
---|---|
Production staff | Artists • Character models • Composers • Voice actors • Writers • Other |
Software | Achievements • Compilations • Demos • Games (Half-Life • Multiplayer • Non-canon • Portal • Third-party) • Game Engines • HL HD Pack • Mods |
Other Media | ApertureScience.com • Books (Lab Rat • Raising the Bar) • Fan content (Films • Games • Mods • Series) • Films • Merchandise • Preliminary Findings • Soundtracks (Songs • Composers) • The Final Hours (Half-Life • Half-Life 2 • Half-Life: Alyx • Portal 2) |
Cut content | Prospero • Half-Life Alpha • Half-Life 2 Beta • Half-Life 2: Episode Three • Half-Life 2: Episode Four |
Misc. | Canon • Development (Commentary • Half-Life 2 • Portal • Next Half-Life game) • Mr. Valve • Retcons |