Anyone go to the Video Game conference at the Rally?

[matto]

I'm actually not a huge gamer. I have an xBox and a hand full of titles. It depends what you are into, but today's games are very immersive, gorgeous to look at and sound fantastic. If you're interested in writing music for games, then you should at least be familiar with them and how game music maps to game play.

I would definitely agree with this. I don't think you can write effective game music without actually playing a few games at least. I think it's really its own world...gamers are very much into the games and into everybody involved in creating them (including the composers, which is very nice).
I think it's important to at least have a good view into that world. And yes, into the interactivity between music and game play.

One of the main reasons I'm not submitting to this listing (as much as I'm fascinated by the field) is that I really can't devote the time right now to immersing myself in the gaming world to the degree where I would feel comfortable saying "yes, I can bring something valuable to the table here". I don't like to do anything half-a$$ed.

I'm also firm believer that you have to enjoy what you do in order to compete at a high level. If you don't enjoy game music and the whole gaming "experience", why would you want to get into the field? You're never gonna be able to compete with those who really do. It's the same for every type or style of music.

Just MHO of course...

[jeffrey]

hey there guys - i kinda expected that response and that would be the one i would give to a person starting out looking to write for film and TV. You see early on in my schooling and had a prof just royally rip into me at class for not catching 'last nights episode of ____' , screaming ( seriously) "how could i expect to be in this field if i have no i idea what it on the tube last night". While he may have been over zealous and perhaps unstable i really took those words to heart.

Thing is i love the game music i'm hearing and it feel like a excuse to write (electro-orchestral) jablonsky/Revell-est tunes and have a place for them to go. But you see... tragically i have no Opposable thumb, it's hard enough playing GTR / piano and typing... - i joke but, damn i have no coordination for such things... well i guess i agree with the answer i just don't like it - but thank you both for your input.

-jeffrey

[matto]

First, you shouldn't let anything anybody here says discourage you from going for it if you want to. Worst case scenario you'll get a return and have another great piece or three that you can pitch elsewhere.

Second, if you don't think you'd be adept at "getting into a game" maybe you have a nephew or neighbor kid that's a game head and you could go hang with them for a few hours and let them show you around a few games.

[fusilierb]

First, you shouldn't let anything anybody here says discourage you from going for it if you want to. Worst case scenario you'll get a return and have another great piece or three that you can pitch elsewhere.

Second, if you don't think you'd be adept at "getting into a game" maybe you have a nephew or neighbor kid that's a game head and you could go hang with them for a few hours and let them show you around a few games.

Ditto to all of that. It was only a few Christmas's ago that I was hanging out with all my nephews and they were showing off all their new games that I really saw what video games were like these days. One game in particular hooked me so hard I bought my xBox that week and that game. I didn't bath or leave the house for five days (I'm seriously not kidding). It was that cool. Then I rented a ton of games over the next year, then my Xbox started collecting dust. I've brushed it off here and there this year and since the sequel to my first taste of crack just came out this week, I'll be back in heavily till I work that out.

My point is that I'm not an avid gamer. But I love the idea of what they are doing and the scoring for these things has become really something special over the past five years or so. So go visit your nephews, absorb what you can, and write something. There's no reason to be discouraged.
B

[jeffrey]

can i rent a nephew? but seriously. THANX for the input guys

[admin]

Hi guys and gals,

There are CD compilations and soundtracks you can buy that have much of the top game music on them. that seems like a great way to get familiar with the broad genre. I know that the game industry is a $52 BILLION industry, which I think has eclipsed TV and film combined (if the article I read was accurate). THAT's why I made it my mission to HAVE a video game music panel at the Rally and get amazing panelists.

As Bob has told me, there is 1 beginning, 500 middles and 5 endings to most video games. The composers get paid by the linear minute. Rates for the huge games runs approx. $750 per minute to as much as $3,500 per minute with no back end. The TOP guys can earn $250,000 to as much as $1,000,000 per year, but that's a small club.

Delivering on time and acting in a highly professional manner at all times is crucial. Not unlike the rest of the music industry, you need to thoroughly understand the game genre and the sub genres used within, be extremely well versed in the game scoring craft, and THEN bring something that's a little new, fresh and different to the table... but not TOO different. Familiar with a little twist, like orchestral with electronic subtext, electronic with textures that you might not hear normally, and so on. If you try to totally reinvent the genre, you might be making it difficult for yourself. Learn the rules, play by them, but bend them slightly. See... just like the rest of the music biz

Hope this helps,
Michael

[mazz]

Thanks Michael!

I'm listening to the soundtrack to the game Infamous right now and I must say, it's very cool and somewhat different from the big bombastic Zimmer-esque stuff I've heard on some other game soundtracks. A friend of mine mentioned it and I just got it via iTunes. It's got pretty much all the elements you mentioned and then some. Highly recommended!!

My rabid gamer friends have been an excellent source of feedback as well on this little journey toward January 7th (which I refer to as the day of reckoning! )

I would assume that game scoring, aside from the technical aspects of scoring for non-linear media (which of course is a huge part of it!), is much like film scoring in that it's a highly collaborative artform and a huge part of the game must be people skills, communication skills and the ability to deal with criticism and "rejection" on a daily basis. Most major leaguers I've met have mastered the art of checking the ego at the door, which I would imagine is one secret to their success.

This is an exciting opportunity and I thank you so much for providing the challenge! Happy New Year!

Mazz

[fusilierb]

This is an exciting opportunity and I thank you so much for providing the challenge! Happy New Year!

Mazz

Agreed!! No matter what comes of this, its been the most fun writing challenge I've ever had working on a listing. Thanks Michael for the super cool opportunity!
B