George Sanger

George Alistair Sanger

Born	1957-12-14
Birth Place	Austin, Texas
Nationality	American
Aliases	The Fat Man, Team Fat
Website	fatman.com

George Alistair Sanger, AKA The Fat Man is a highly successful video game music composer and audio consultant. His work ranges all the way back to 1983 and continues on to this very day. He has composed music for over 200 games. Often seen sporting a cowboy hat, this Texan has an entire sound team (Team Fat) to help him with his work in the video game market. Aside from his work composing music, George also does consulting work for audio and has written a book about multimedia music called "The Fat Man Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness". Some of his best known works include The 7th Guest, The 11th Hour, and Wing Commander. Sanger has also composed music for several platforms.

Sanger started his career in video game music when his brother Rick was roommates with David Warhol. Warhol was programming the Intellivision game Thin Ice. Sanger, already fascinated with video games at the time begged Warhol to let him write music for the game, and Warhol accepted his pleas. Later, David Warhol founded Realtime Associates, which George Sanger worked for, as well as a great deal of other composers.

One significant contribution Sanger made to the video game industry was the standard OPL3 patches for the FM synthesis chips used throughout the DOS era, which he did with K. Weston Phelan.

Music Development

DOS/MAC

George used Performer for all of his MS-DOS and Macintosh music. He wrote the MIDI files to be played back on a Roland MT-32.

While George is not a sound programmer, he designed instruments for the AdLib sound card which were used in many games along with Team FAT member Kevin Phelan. These can be heard in the Midpak sound driver.

GB

For his work with Realtime Associates, he would do the music in an identical fashion to his NES music; he would write MIDI files in Performer for the Macintosh. Said MIDI files were given to David Warhol, which he would arrange in Cakewalk for DOS, then converted into his sound driver.

For the game Track Meet (GB), Sanger gave his MIDI files to Rebecca Heineman who arranged his music for the Game Boy in the handheld's modified Z80 assembly. She did this with an Apple II computer she developed the entire game on.

For Ultima: Runes of Virtue (GB), his MIDI files were converted to Sculptured Software's sound driver.

INTV

Sanger used a 4-track tape recorder to record his composition for Thin Ice (INTV). He then transcribed his composition to sheet music on manuscript paper, which was then handed over to David Warhol, who programmed Sanger's compositions into the game in assembly. Though Sanger wrote the main theme, Warhol stated in an interview that he composed the rest of the songs in the game. Sanger talks about working on the music in this video.

NES

George used Performer for the Macintosh and wrote on a Roland MT-32, and David Warhol would arrange his MIDI files in Cakewalk which were then converted into 6502 assembly code using a driver that Warhol wrote.

For Home Alone, he used Sonix for the Amiga, the sequencer Bethesda had set up in their studio. His files were then converted to Randy Linden's sound driver.

For Tecmo NBA Basketball, he presumably wrote MIDI files in Performer, which were then handed to Paul Webb to code in assembly using Ken Moore's sound driver.

Adventures of Rad Gravity

Some listeners criticized the title music, and George Sanger uploaded a video talking of the game's music. He was assigned by Interplay to write four songs for the game, all of which he gave names to. However, he would not reveal which song title went with what song. The song titles he listed were called Bad Monster, Schizo, Be-Bop-Boop-Bang, and Working. Sanger explained that the title music was inspired by many things; Uncontrollable Urge by Devo, Dancing Days by Led Zeppelin, the Rocky and Bullwinkle Theme, and Carmen's Habanera. He also explained the song was originally longer in length, and must have been cut down in the final game.

SNES

For Tecmo Super NBA Basketball, George used Sculptured Software's sound engine known as BMUS. According to Paul Webb, George had a negative reaction to the software because the program suffered many flaws.

For the his other SNES music, George composed MIDI files in Performer using the MT-32.

Rocketeer uses a custom sound driver, possibly by the game's programmer Steven Bjork or the sound designer John Brooks. The instruments sound like they were taken from the MT-32.

Gameography

To see a list of games George has worked on, go to: http://fatman.com/game-credits

Though he was not credited in the game, Sanger confirmed his involvement with composing all the music to The Adventures of Rad Gravity (NES). Instead Dave Worhal is credited. [1]

Released	Title	Notes
1983-10-??	Capture the Flag (A8)
1986-??-??	Thin Ice (INTV)	Main Theme; arranged by David Warhol.
1990-03-??	Swords and Serpents (NES)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1990-03-10	Battlechess II: Chinese Chess (DOS)
1990-08-??	Dick Tracy (NES)	With David Hayes. Music arranged by David Warhol.
1990-08-??	Total Recall (NES)	With David Warhol.
1990-10-??	Maniac Mansion (NES)	With David Govett, David Hayes, David Warhol, Chris Grigg, and David Lawrence.
1990-09-26	Wing Commander (DOS)
1990-12-??	The Adventures of Rad Gravity (NES)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1990-??-??	LHX: Attack Chopper (DOS)
1990-??-??	Loom (DOS)
1990-??-??	Stormovik: Soviet Attack Fighter SU-25 (DOS)
1990-??-??	Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire (DOS)
1991-01-??	Fun House (NES)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1991-05-??	The Rocketeer (NES)	With David Hayes. Music arranged by David Warhol.
1991-06-??	Skate Or Die: Tour de Thrash (GB)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1991-09-??	Monster Truck Rally (NES)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1991-11-??	RPM: Radical Psycho Machine Racing (SNES)
1991-12-??	Dick Tracy (GB)	With David Hayes. Music arranged by David Warhol.
1991-12-14	Ultima: Runes of Virtue (GB) - Ultima: Lost Rune	Dungeon Music.
1991-12-31	The Rocketeer (SNES) (ロケッティア)
1991-12-??	Home Alone (NES)
1991-??-??	Chuck Yeager's Air Combat (DOS)
1991-??-??	Death Knights of Krynn (DOS)	Music Production
1991-??-??	DragonLance: Shadow Sorcerer (DOS)
1991-??-??	The Heroes of the 357th (DOS)	With David Warhol.
1991-??-??	Lexi-Cross (DOS)
1991-??-??	Pools of Darkness (DOS)	Music Producer
1991-??-??	Tony La Russa's Ultimate Baseball (C64)	Arranged by Linwood Taylor.
1991-??-??	Tony La Russa's Ultimate Baseball (DOS)
1991-??-??	Track Meet (GB) (トラックミートめざせ！バルセロナ)	Music arranged by Rebecca Heineman.
1991-??-??	Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2 - Martian Dreams (DOS)
1991-??-??	Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi (DOS)
1992-03-01	Wing Commander (SNES) (ウィングコマンダー)	Sound Artist with David Govett and Marc Schaefgen.
1992-03-21	Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (DOS)	With David Govett.
1992-06-??	Defenders of Dynatron City (NES)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1992-07-??	Tetris Classic (DOS)	AdLib Instruments.
1992-09-29	Wings 2: Aces High (SNES) (スカイミッション)
1992-09-??	Word Zap (GB)	Music arranged by David Warhol.
1992-10-??	Q*bert 3 (SNES)	With Joe McDermott.
1992-11-??	Tecmo NBA Basketball (NES)	Music arranged by Paul Webb.
1992-12-25	Tecmo Super NBA Basketball (SNES)	Music arranged by Paul Webb.
1992-??-??	Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed (DOS)
1992-??-??	The Dark Queen of Krynn (DOS)	Music Producer
1992-??-??	The Dark Queen of Krynn (MAC)	Music Producer
1992-??-??	Faceball 2000 (SNES)
1992-??-??	Hong Kong Mahjong Pro (DOS)	Music Producer.
1992-??-??	MicroLeague Baseball IV (DOS)	Music and Sound Producer.
1992-??-??	Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (DOS)	With David Govett.
1992-??-??	SpellCraft: Aspects of Valor (DOS)	Piano Sonata #23 Orchestration and Shell Music.
1992-??-??	Stunt Island (DOS)	AdLib Tones.
1993-03-17	Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures (DOS)	With David Govett.
1993-04-28	The 7th Guest (DOS)
1993-04-??	Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (DOS)	FM Voice Design.
1993-06-01	SEAL Team (DOS)
1993-09-06	Master of Orion (DOS)	Music Producer with David Govett.
1993-09-15	Return to Zork (DOS)	AdLib Instruments.
1993-09-??	Zombies Ate My Neighbors (SNES)	Music Producer
1993-10-01	The 7th Guest (CDI)
1993-11-??	Star Trek: Judgement Rites (DOS)	Original Music with David Govett.
1993-??-??	The Amazon Trail (DOS)	AdLib Instruments.
1993-??-??	The Berenstain Bears Learning at Home: Volume One (DOS)
1993-??-??	The Berenstain Bears Learning at Home: Volume Two (DOS)
1993-??-??	Forgotten Realms Unlimited Adventures (DOS)	Music Producer
1993-??-??	Fantasy Empires (DOS)	FM Sound Design.
1993-??-??	IndyCar Racing (DOS)	With Joe McDermott.
1993-??-??	Merchant Prince (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1993-??-??	MicroLeague Football 2 (DOS)	Music and Sound Producer.
1993-??-??	Putt-Putt Goes To The Moon (DOS)
1993-??-??	Tecmo Super NBA Basketball (GEN)	Music arranged by Dean Morrell.
1993-??-??	Tony La Russa Baseball II (DOS)	Original Music with David Govett.
1993-??-??	Zombies Ate My Neighbors (GEN)	Music Producer
1994-02-??	SimCity 2000: CD Collection (DOS)
1994-03-23	Super Wing Commander (3DO)
1994-03-??	Wing Commander (SCD)	Original Soundtrack.
1994-04-03	SSN-21 Seawolf (DOS)	With Tim Melton and Rob Wallace.
1994-04-??	Dark Legions (DOS)	FM Timbre Library.
1994-06-01	Hocus Pocus (DOS)	Sound Programmer.
1994-09-??	Master of Magic (DOS)	Music Producer.
1994-09-??	Realms of Arkania: Star Trail (DOS)	Tonebanks.
1994-11-07	Freddi Fish and the Case of the Missing Kelp Seeds (W16)
1994-11-19	U.S. Navy Fighters (DOS)	With David Govett and Adam Holzman.
1994-12-19	Blackthorne (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1994-??-??	Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse (DOS)	FM Sound Design.
1994-??-??	Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo's Curse (DOS)
1994-??-??	Creep Clash (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1994-??-??	Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager (DOS)	FM Voice Design.
1994-??-??	Inherit the Earth: Quest for the Orb (DOS)	Insturument Sounds.
1994-??-??	Kingdoms of Germany (DOS)	Instruments Sounds.
1994-??-??	NASCAR Racing (DOS)	"The Fastest Sport" track.
1994-??-??	Perfect General II (DOS)	General Midi patches.
1994-??-??	Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon (3DO)
1994-??-??	The Red Crystal: The Seven Secrets of Life (DOS)	AdLib Instruments.
1994-??-??	Star Trek: 25th Anniversary (AMI)	With David Govett.
1994-??-??	Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Enhanced CD-ROM (DOS)	With David Govett.
1995-07-27	Let's Explore the Airport (W16)	Main Theme.
1995-07-27	Let's Explore the Farm (W16)	Main Theme.
1995-08-10	Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo (W16)
1995-09-25	F-22 Lightning II (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-09-30	Zoop (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-11-30	The 11th Hour (DOS)
1995-11-??	Let's Explore the Jungle (W16)	Main Theme.
1995-12-??	Shannara (DOS)	With David Govett, Joe McDermott and Kevin Phelan.
1995-??-??	1830: Railroads & Robber Barons (DOS)	Music Producer.
1995-??-??	Cyberbykes: Shadow Racer VR (DOS)	Midi OPL patches.
1995-??-??	Dime City (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	Empire II: The Art of War (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	Machiavelli the Prince (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	The Orion Conspiracy (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	Putt-Putt Goes to the Moon (W16)
1995-??-??	Savage Warriors (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	Star Trek: Judgement Rites Enhanced CD-ROM (DOS)	Original Music with David Govett.
1995-??-??	This Means War! (W16)	Voice Actor.
1995-??-??	WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1995-??-??	Zhadnost: The People's Party (DOS)	Music Producer.
1996-05-31	Sea Legends (DOS)	FM Timbres.
1996-09-27	The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Rose Tattoo (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1996-11-05	Jane's US Navy Fighters 97 (W16)	With David Govett, Joe McDermott and Kevin Phelan.
1996-11-30	Rex Blade: The Battle Begins (DOS)	MIDI Patch Libraries.
1996-12-16	Furcadia (W32)	With David Govett, Joe McDermott and Kevin Phelan.
1996-??-??	The Gene Machine (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1996-??-??	Rex Blade: The Apocalypse (DOS)	MIDI Patches Libraries.
1996-??-??	Synnergist (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1996-??-??	Super Street Fighter II (DOS)	General MIDI Timbres.
1997-10-06	Armored Fist 2 (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1997-12-12	Taranus (W32)
1997-??-??	Bazooka Sue (DOS)	Instrument Sounds.
1997-??-??	Warsport (W16)
1998-12-31	Battlecruiser 3000AD v2.0 (W32)	With Michael Goodis and David Govett.
1998-??-??	StixWorld (DOS)	MIDI Patches.
1999-01-31	Clue Chronicles: Fatal Illusion (W32)
2000-04-06	Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat from Your Head to Your Feet (W32)	With Joe McDermott.
2001-11-23	Pajama Sam: You are What you Eat from Your Head to Your Feet (PS1)	Original Music with Joe McDermott.
2001-??-??	Pajama Sam: Games to Play on Any Day (W32)	With Scott Shelly and Kelly Kristek.
2002-11-21	SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman (PS2)	Sound Design.
2002-12-17	SpongeBob SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman (GC)	Sound Design.
2002-??-??	Mike's Monstrous Adventures (W32)
2003-03-21	Piglet's Big Game (W32)	With David Govett.
2003-03-25	Shadowbane (W32)	Sound and Music with Jamey Scott, Mason Fisher, Christian Slayer, David Arkenstone, Chris Gates and Julia Botbol.
2003-09-16	Putt-Putt: Pep's Birthday Surprise (W32)
2003-10-16	Equilibria (W32)	Sound.
2004-09-28	Evil Genius (W32)	With Evan Jolly and Richard Joseph.
2004-11-04	Intellivision Lives! (GC)	"Surfing on Thin Ice" track.
2005-??-??	Scene It?: Turner Classic Movies Edition (DVD)	With David Govett.
2006-??-??	Scene It?: Music (DVD)	With David Govett and Joe McDermott.
2008-06-05	The Incredible Hulk (PS2)	Cinematic Scoring/Sound Design.
2008-06-05	The Incredible Hulk (PS3)	Cinematic Scoring/Sound Design.
2008-06-05	The Incredible Hulk (WII)	Cinematic Scoring/Sound Design.
2008-06-05	The Incredible Hulk (X360)	Cinematic Scoring/Sound Design.
2008-06-12	The Incredible Hulk (W32)	Cinematic Scoring/Sound Design.
2017-07-18	Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles (PS4)	"Dawn Till Dusk" lyrics.
2017-07-18	Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles (W64)	"Dawn Till Dusk" lyrics.
2017-10-23	Delicious: Emily's Moms vs Dads (IOS)	Songs Lyrics.
2017-10-??	Mortimer Beckett and the Book of Gold (W64)	"That Mortimer Beckett" lyrics.
2018-02-??	Parker & Lane: Criminal Justice (W64)	"Step Outside the Storm" lyrics.
2018-04-08	Dr. Cares: Amy's Pet Clinic (IOS)	Songs Lyrics.
2019-03-20	Amber's Airline: 7 Wonders (AND)	"Live for Getting Over It" Lyrics.
2020-02-17	Magical Diary: Wolf Hall (W64)	Guitar.
2023-10-19	The 7th Guest VR (VR)	Original Music.
Unreleased	Socks the Cat Rocks the Hill (SNES)	Music Producer
Unreleased	SpellCraft (SNES)	Shell Music arranged by Sam Powell.
Unreleased	Double Trouble Ramp (GB)
Unreleased	Son of M.U.L.E. (GEN)