Mick Gordoncomposer of the soundtrack Doomsday Eternaland many other Bethesda Softworks titles published a lengthy denunciation in which he evaluated the reasons that led to his departure. ID Software and the release of the game’s music in a sad state (we’re talking about the OST, not the music in the game).
The public complaint stems from a 2020 Reddit by Marty Stratton accusing him of being the cause of the mediocre work done on the OST. After trying to resolve it amicably, without success, Gordon decided to explain the situation from his own perspective, to confirm what he called the truth, and to avoid further reflection on his career.
The post is very long and articulate and deserves to be read in its entirety because apart from the discussion, it’s very interesting because it makes it clear what is the job behind the creation of a video game’s soundtrack and what’s what. Conflicts that may still arise in a work environment.
Emphasis is different. ID Software initially he would ask the composer to create two levels of music per month, which is not impossible, but the levels were not yet available, the reference material was insufficient and no one had given him definitive indications to follow.
Gordon accused Stratton of lying publicly to cover up his managerial inadequacies, causing the composer to go through long periods of hardship, not being well-directed to the task, throwing most of his work in the trash and only getting paid for half of it. Some of the soundtrack was salvaged from material it thought was discarded.
The situation described is definitely toxicLast-minute communications, late contracts, working on the OST entrusted to a stranger without warning Gordon, and the public disclosure of accusations after the two had agreed on a joint statement led to major reprisals for Gordon. As always, players do the worst by sending him offensive messages, posting his data online, and threatening him in every way and shape, even suggesting that he committed suicide.
Gordon, Stratton, id Software, Bethesda, and Reddit’s moderator tried to remove Reddit’s offensive post, passed by his lawyers, also sought a public apology, but was unsuccessful in his intent. Bethesda would offer him a large sum to cover up Stratton’s behavior and take the blame for everything. Gordon refused and, fed up with the years-long situation, decided to make this statement public, along with documents proving his thesis.
Too bad a success story like Doom Eternal’s is tainted by similar events. But if what Gordon says is true, Bethesda, and at this point Microsoft, should really do something to fix the situation.
Source: Multiplayer
