As for what makes up this larger and more eclectic mix, Audio Director Mark Lampert likes to think of the music as divided into thirds. A third of the music is instantly recognizable – stuff like Bing Crosby’s big hits. “We almost had too much Bing early on,” Lampert laughs. “You could pack the whole list with Bing Crosby if you wanted to.” The next third would be lesser-known tracks from well-known artists; “Orange Colored Sky” by Nat King Cole, for example. And the final third? That’s where it gets really fun. These are often obscure tracks from long-forgotten bands, with ludicrous lyrics and a distinctive sound. “I’d be curious to know if anyone related to those bands hears this stuff,” Lampert says. “Who knows when it was last on a radio?”
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But with so many more tracks – and this being the biggest world yet for Bethesda Game Studios – how did the team ensure the licensed tracks would not only set the right tone but also feel fresh after countless hours of playing the game? Some of it came down to internal testing. Once they settled on a working selection of songs, Howard made a playlist. “I listened to it all day at work for three or four days,” he says. “Just the music, without the DJ.” A few songs quickly got annoying. Others were too melancholy. Some were too long, interrupting the flow of the game. These were all tossed aside, and through this iterative process of listening, listening, and listening some more, the team honed in on a mix of songs that felt fresh and fit the mood no matter what you’re doing.
For Lampert, the music in Fallout 4 has an almost eerie way of matching up to what he happens to be doing in the game. “There were times when I was getting ready to launch a big battle and ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ happened to come on,” he says. “And then there are much more mellow, downbeat pieces that just seem to fit the picture at night, when you’re not in the midst of something.” Regardless of whether a player hears the right song at the right time, there’s such a wide range of music that players can switch around to suit their moods, bouncing between the Diamond City Radio station and the classical music station – or simply letting the original score set the tone.
