Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord has achieved a remarkable feat, winning the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media. Composer Winifred Phillips, accepting the award, expressed heartfelt gratitude to developer Digital Eclipse and the audience for their belief in and recognition of video game music, emphasizing the passion and energy it inspires. This win is a significant milestone for her career.
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, a 3D remake of the original 1981 game, holds a special place in gaming history. Considered the first party-based video RPG, its influence is undeniable, inspiring classics like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Remarkably, this remake is built directly on the original game's code, even allowing players to view the original Apple II interface.
Phillips' victory was a triumph over stiff competition, including notable nominees like Wilbert Roget, II (Star Wars Outlaws), John Paesano (Marvel's Spider-Man 2), Bear McCreary (God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla), and Pinar Toprak (Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora). In a post-award interview, Phillips expressed her astonishment at the win, highlighting the exceptional talent of her fellow nominees and the unique collaborative nature of video game music composition. She emphasized the special connection between composers and players, describing the process as a collaborative storytelling experience.
Phillips joins a prestigious list of previous winners, including Stephanie Economou (Assassin's Creed Valhalla) and Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor). The award also marks a significant moment in video game music history, following the groundbreaking win of Christopher Tin's "Baba Yetu" (Civilization 4) for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist in 2011.
