Photo of Keith Zizza
Email
kzizza@wpi.edu
Office
Salisbury Labs 205
Phone
+1 (508) 8315000 x4928
Education
ASCS Northern Essex 1993

I began my audio career "old school": editing with analog tape, a chopping block, and razor blades. I've since spent the past 20 years in digital audio, most of that time exclusively in the video game industry. Audio is one-third of the gaming experience; I'm most interested in optimizing the technical and aesthetic qualities of a game's soundscape (the interactive melting pot of music, sound effects, and dialogue), the end result being helping to suspend the player's disbelief and make game play even more immersive and engaging.

After working as an audio director on more than 30 commercially released video games (including work for Sierra, Tilted Mill, EA, Demiurge, Warner Brothers, Sega, Discovery, and most recently, The Oregon Trail), I'm proud to now be a part of the IMGD team, where I can teach a new generation of developers and innovators the necessary skills in game audio technology, design, and production.

In my spare time, I can't seem to get away from audio; I've been a keyboard player in various classic rock and blues bands since the ’80s, enjoy restoring vintage tube radios, and am currently digitizing my collection of 78 RPM records.

Scholarly Work

“IMGD Professor Adds Music to Historic Game” (WPI Connection, 4/12)

“Your Audio Design Document: Important Items to Consider in Audio Design, Production, and Support” (Gamasutra.com, 7/00)

“Writing Music Under Extreme Deadlines” (coauthor, Gamasutra.com, 6/99)

Professional Highlights & Honors
Award-winning composer and sound designer in the game development and broadcast industries.,

Award-winning composer and sound designer in the game development and broadcast industries.,

Active TV series composer (ASCAP), with placements on NBC, MTV, VH1, and other networks.,