Customer Reviews

The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness (New Riders Games)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Don't buy this book if you think it will tell you how to create great audio for computer games. That ain't what it's all about. George Sanger, the Fat Man, the Myth, the Legend, is tricking you all. You only think you're reading about game audio, when in fact the book is really chock full of hidden messages and secret codes about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. In short, it's trying to get us all to be good to each other. How subversive!

Seriously (no, not really), I've known George personally for many years as a great musician, savvy entrepreneur, attention-grabbing huckster, sage philosopher, playful papa, and all around swell guy. What I didn't appreciate until now is what a great writer and storyteller he is.

So, buy the book already. You'll learn how to make great game audio. You'll learn how to win friends and influence people. You'll learn where those outrageous suits come from. You'll learn the important secrets of life. And you'll smile. A lot.

I found this book in the bargain bin at a local book store. I play music and am interested in recording.

I found the book entertaining mostly because the character of the author really shines through. He seems like a kind of Hunter S. Thompson of this small and fairly obscure musical niche.

He drops lots of names and there are many inside jokes. One can get a bit lost in all of the people who pass through the book. I found some nuggets of wisdom about music and dealing with people and mostly I was entertained.

I think Mr. Sanger would be an entertaining person to have a drink with.

Chock-full of great tales from the game industry as well as the audio biz, The Fatman's book will make you feel like an insider. Well-written, fun & outrageous, this pick will doubtless become dog-eared for favorite bits of advice & sheer audacity. A must for anyone who thinks they know games. There's only one Fatman...and this is PURE Fat!

This book is categorized under games and audio and for this reason anyone looking to get into game audio may mistake it for a how-to (although George does offer a how-to section later in the book.) Said duped person would be disappointed to find out that The Fat Man's book is more of a living history of the industry, rather than one of the "extreme" technical guides.

On the other hand, those who read it will be delighted how George communicates his acquired philosophy and knowledge in such a fun and practical manner. The book is kind of like a career survival guide.

Sounds confusing, eh?

Being a musician and a game dev enthusiast, I really enjoyed the book. He nailed the attitude that you should have (or adopt) to be successful at doing something you love to do. Anyone interested in music, interactive entertainment or making a living in a fledgling industry should seek it out and soak it up.

A philosophy of life and art worth reading --especially should fuel your creative juices from engineering to animal husbandry. Really funny,too.

Reviewing this book is very easy. If you ever played Wing Commander or 7th Guest or 11th Hour, you know the Fatman. You know what he is capable of. But you don't know his story... This book is a great modern story told by the Fatman himself, a story with ups and downs, with drama and comedy and heroic american moments, and even better, its all a true story. If you ever wonder what does it mean to be a game composer, a music composer, a musician, even more than that, to live your dream, read this book. It won't teach you how to be the best in the business, it will teach you that whatever you do, put your heart in it. The Fatman has been around computer games since the beginning, and hopefully he will continue in this field till the end. Long live the Fatman... this book really inspired me to follow my dream and be a musician.

So useful that my copy was tattered and dog-eared when Amazon delivered it to me! In an industry brimming with half-talented, self-pretentious posers, Sanger is a shining exception; fully-talented, highly innovative and original, he manages to warm my heart with his innate kindness and constantly positive outlook.
Inside this book we find many key lessons about life and business that Fat has uncovered along the road. Indeed, the title says it all: "Tasty Morsels"; I smiled all the way through it. This book is a must-buy for anyone interested in either the computer game industry or in starting a small creative business.

My current audio career is primarily doing audio for games. I occupy a small niche on the periphery of the industry doing mostly online Shockwave games. In the industry there is one name that looms (pun intended) above all others, that name is The Fat Man. A.k.a. as George Sanger, The Fat Man has simply done more than anyone else in the audio for games. Sure there are several other greats like Tom Tallarico and Aaron Marks but take my word for it. Fat is The MAN!
What does this have to do with you, you ask? If you are a musician, composer. engineer or somehow try to make money from sound or computers you need to read the book "The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness" While this book is about game audio, it is more about art, life, the universe, and everything. sort of like "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" without the morose bits. If The Fat Man is a great white shark then I am a hungry remora fish feeding on the "tasty morsels." And tasty they are. He is a philosopher, (learn to travel between the pillars of fear and desire) he is pragmatic, (build equipment racks from 2X4s) he is a swaggering, cowboy hat wearing, Rolls Royce driving, jester in the court of "golden eared" Audiots. Oh. and BTW I've met him and call him friend.
Buy the book NOW!.

This a hilarious, and wonderful book from one of the legends of game audio. Full of gems of wisdom about getting things done in the game business. If you have an interest in game soundtracks, learn from the master!

If you have any interest in video game or interactive software development, youll find it pretty enlightening. Just read it. Youll see.