Biography / Trivia

While in college, Stephen Rippy joined Ensemble Studios when it was transforming from a database add-ons company to a game making one. His older brother David, whom had been working there for a few years already, acted as a contact to submit Stephen's musical ideas. The two brothers actually ended up writing the soundtrack for "Age of Empires" together, as well as its expansion and "Age of Empires II". After these titles, David stopped to work on music and another person came in to replace him: Kevin McMullan. Stephan knew him since high school and they played in garage bands together.

Today, Stephen is still an active composer at Ensemble Studios and have worked on all released titles so far.

• He also has a solo career, composing mainly acoustic and soft rock songs. Between 1996 and 2006, he released 10 albums.
  
• In addition to Stephen and David, there is also another Rippy working at Ensemble Studios: Chris.
• Inspirations for the "Age of Mythology" soundtrack include: Peter Gabriel, Tuatara, Bill Laswell, Talvin Singh, and Tchad Blake.
• When asked in an interview which of the "Age" music he prefers, Stephen answered: "The new stuff from "Age III" is definitely the strongest material out of anything we've done, but it's also kind of a new sound for us. I think that "Age of Mythology" was the most refined version of what we think of as the "Ensemble Sound." (source: Age of Empires III Heaven)
• Mentioned having really enjoyed the "Grim Fandango" soundtrack, composed by Peter McConnell.

Albums (5)

Albums - as arranger (1)