Game Audio Network Guild

Y'know how TMBG had their regular dial-a-song phone thing, and more recently JoCo pulled off the song-a-week thingamajigger?

Well that is sort of what this is like, except it's not hilarious at all (well maybe a tiny bit sometimes), also it's not a publicity gimmick, also it doesn't have an '-a-' in the middle. 

So, I guess it's completely different short of that it requires regular creativity and dedication. I've dubbed my endeavor "Just for Fun" and it mostly is, but it's also for exploring new composition styles. 

Essentially, I've challenged myself to compose a new song every two weeks. The rules of engagement are as follows:

• It must be composed in less than exactly four hours. 
• It has to be different than my current niche or project. 
• It has to be something fun.
  

I have managed to keep at it since January 1st 2010, and I'm working on my 10th at the moment. It's been an awesome exercise for doing some informal personal development while relaxing and thinking a bit outside-the-box. 

Is there anyone else out there with a little personal project outside their regular work day? If there is, I'd love to hear what you're working on.

If you want to see the silly stuff I've generated, you can take a listen here.

This is my first GANG blog, but I’ve been trying my hand at blogging elsewhere for a few years now. I’ll be short on my introduction, but if you’re interested in checking out the blogspace that I use to share news about my games and other career-related things, you can check it out here.

My name is Harry Mack and I love indie game culture. That is not to disparage the bigger, shinier, 3Der mission of the mainstream industry. However, I definitely belong where the hands-on passion, interesting games, and unique industry visionaries are.

I have been in the industry for about ten years, a fifty-fifty split between in-house and out-house (or freelance if that’s too lavatoryesque). I’ve been a pianist for twice that time, with a formal background in music and a little game design education for bonus marks. 

This year’s GDC brought me a fun blast from the past. I’d like to take a moment to use it to highlight some of the stepping stones that originally led me into the indie game world.

Those of you in attendance at the GDC this year may have caught a great little panel titled “What you Need to Know About Casual Games 2010 .” Speakers Nick Fortugno and Juan Gril did an excellent job rapidly reviewing some of the innovative and dominant trends in casual game space over the last year.

Just to clarify, from Nick and Juan’s perspective ‘casual’ game really means ‘super-awesome indie’ game. They shared a lot of insight and perspective into experimental design choices, and it was also a source for leads on some new games to try out.

I enjoyed it so much, that I decided to do some looking back into their presentations at past GDCs. I got quite the surprise when I found out that examples chosen for two of four of the 2009 categories were games that I worked on. Corpse Craft was selected to highlight new themes and mechanics in multiplayer games. To show a trend in the evolution of arcade games they recognized Braid ’s innovation and brilliant level design. 

Even if it took place a year ago, it was nice to see these very creative games getting recognition. If you’re interested in checking  out the session transcript, it is still posted on Gamasutra. 

For me it was a chance to reflect on some of the excellent memories that began my serious love affair with indie games. I mean we flirted before, but those games were the moment where it became really serious. Now that I am completely immersed, I look constantly forward to being one of a sea of participants playing a role in creatively shaping the indie community, both locally and globally.

It would be great to hear from any other game audio designers out there with a similar focus.

Greetings all...

Having just joined G.A.N.G. and recently returned home from my first experience of GDC, I thought I'd best begin my Blog in an introductory fashion.

I'm a Composer/Audio Engineer based near Newcastle, Australia. 33 going on 34, and endeavoring to establish myself in the Games Audio Industry.  

For the past twenty years or so I have expressed my creativity in a non-professional manner, through live musical performance (guitars, drums and vocals) and composition. My compositional experience has entailed work for short films, dance productions and numerous bands and solo-projects.  

I have also completed studies in audio engineering, and have recorded, mixed, mastered and co-produced material for several other artists.

Until recently I managed a large retail environment, turning over tens of millions of dollars each year, with around 40 team members to nurture. As fast-paced and exciting as my position was, it did not satisfy my insatiable creative urges. Thus, my partner Melinda and I founded Microscopic Media as a platform to combine my creative talents with my business experience. Fortunately we may also call on Melinda's seven years experience in retail and operations management when I need to concentrate on getting creative. 

My first GDC in San Francisco was an amazing experience. Everyone I met from the audio community were very welcoming and approachable, which was a refreshing change from the music and film industries. No-one was 'too important' to have a conversation with me, or to exchange contact details. So thanks to those I met, and I look forward to meeting more of you through G.A.N.G.

What fills my time besides music you may ask?

Gaming of course! Although these days I do limit myself to PS3 (ID: Belegur) and iPhone in the interests of productivity.

I'm also obsessed with motorsport of all kinds. I have previously owned a racing kart and have also driven several other race cars. Apart from attending GDC, most of my other vacations have been planned around attending a motorsport event, however I did manage to see the NASCAR race at Vegas while I was in the USA :)

Photography, other visual art mediums, and travel are the other things that enrich my life on a regular basis.

If you want to know more about Microscopic Media or myself, please message me, check out http://www.microscopicmedia.com , or you can also find me on Facebook.

Thanks again for the warm welcome, and I hope to work with some of you on exciting projects in the future.

Cheers,

Brad. 

Hello my friends!

I've just uploaded a new song called The Dark Movements pt.2. It's another concept about Cthulhu, you'll love it.

I need your feedbacks, so please download it here and let me know: http://www.metallized.it/download/tdm2.zip 

Music for Sky Invader (french video game) under development

Work in progress (your opinion is welcome).

The playlist

...Of diligently trying to purchase EWQL Symphonic Choirs, only to have to put it aside for a more immediate money problem, I finally bought it (and at a price that I can afford)! Thank you NAMM deal! Only half a month in, and this year's already looking up!

 ~Bryan J

How are you doing folks?

I hope all is well, soon we have the christmas rush upon us. yey! =)
Last week I produced a couple of new themes (as usual), some pitches and I'm also working on the third AZURE album with my friend Robban Kanto.
5 new songs are currently in proces, I've wrecked some of my drum-gear so I have to buy some new stuff this weekend.

Ahh, and I also just got the heads up from CDbaby that the two EMBRACING albums we produced in 1996/1997 will be released on digital distribution in the coming weeks. iTunes, Spotify etc. So check them out when they are available.

 Don't forget to check my twitter and webpage www.morningdewmedia.com
for new music themes and mp3 demos.

Have a nice weekend my fellow audio artists!

Cheers,

Mattias Holmgren
MORNINGDEW MEDIA
http://www.morningdewmedia.com

Hi!

 Just wanted to share a trailer.  It´s from a small game we´re  doing all audio for, thought would be cool because it´s very fun and it´s Hallowen!  ;-)

Cheers,

J & G

Pro Zombie Soccer Trailer 1

Music Teaser 1

Music Teaser 2

MCV PR Note

Hi guys, I'm working on a weird stuff right now: a Role Playing Game.

I mean, not a VIDEO game, just a BOOK RPG... It's cool! RPG's author asked me to create a soundtrack for any single chapter... players will listen to it in loop, till the end of chapter sequence...

The theme is about Cthulhu, Ancients, and so on... it's exciting... 

Franz Schreker (1878-1934) 

He looks pissed! Gotta love old school photography.

• Here's his biography in a nutshell

Born the same year the Tokyo Stock Exchange is established, Franz Schreker was the oldest son of a Jewish court photographer. Beginning with violin studies, he moved into composition and graduated in the year 1900. At one point during his career, he was the second most performed living composer of opera next to Richard Strauss, which is HUGE! In 1933 he suffered a stroke and lived until two days before his 56th birthday. His music was forgotten because of his Jewish background and the rise of antisemitism in Germany.

• Stylistic characteristics

Schreker was very influenced by the high romantics Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner. He is rare however in that he pushed romanticism into polytonality (music in two keys at the same time) while maintaining many aspects of romanticism, instead of completely destroying the aural experience like the Rite of Spring did when it was premiered. The Rite of Spring was one of the first and most popular pieces of Expressionism, where composers began to explore pain and negative emotions within music (which subsequently lead to the rise of ragtime and jazz). Schreker's music doesn't promote the polytonality, it's used more as a tool.

• Die Gezeichneten - Act 1 Prelude  (youtube)
  

This opera's storyline is very strange, you'll see a bit of what I mean once the video gets going. However, The music starts out with Shreker's once famous 'shimmer,' which in this case is an alternation (in various instruments at various tempos) of D-major, and Bb-minor.

This blog is an experiment inspired by my friend Anita. I'm hoping people will be interested, as there are a lot of obscure composers who deserve some recognition.

-Jeff