1st Edition
The Theory and Practice of Writing Music for Games
The nature of game music charges the modern-day composer with understanding a whole host of aesthetic and technical principles unique to the medium. Based on years of working in the field, as well as teaching the subject at colleges and universities, The Theory and Practice of Writing Music for Games is an invaluable resource for those looking for a classroom tested, directed course of study.
As players and composers, themselves, authors Steve Horowitz and Scott R. Looney share the inspiration and joy of game music with an emphasis on critical thinking and the creative process, exploring the parallels and distinctions to concert music, film, TV, cartoons, and other popular forms.
Each chapter builds on the next and guides the reader step by step through the essentials. Along with all the theory, a multitude of clearly defined hands-on projects and exercises are included, designed to prepare the reader to go out into the field with a complete understanding of the art and craft of music composition for games and visual media.
Key Features:
• Discusses a variety of topics in a simple and easy-to-understand format.
• Provides a valuable resource for teachers and students, anyone who is looking to build a career in music for games.
• Breaks down the fundamentals needed to build your career.
• Includes fun and practical exercises that strengthen your composer chops.
Visit the Companion Website for additional resources: www.gameaudioinstitute.com/crc-press/
Chapter 1 The Adaptive Composer
Chapter 2 Building Blocks
Chapter 3 The Composer's Toolbox
Chapter 4 Music as Information
Chapter 5 Cinematic Transitions
Chapter 6 Living in Limbo
Chapter 7 Get In The Game: Applied Musical Concepts
Chapter 8 Middleware Music Concepts and the Technical Composer
Chapter 9 Advanced Approaches
Chapter 10 Lessons Earned
Assignment 01 Composer Report
Assignment 02 Create the Music Section of a GDD (Game Design Document)
Assignment 03 (A) Setting Up YourWork Space
Assignment 03 (B) Welcome to the Screen Shot Challenge
Assignment 04 Notation Exploration
Assignment 05 Classic to Modernity, the Art of Translation
Assignment 06 Composing For Cinematics
Assignment 07 Defining Form
Assignment 08 Welcome to the Limbo Challenge
Assignment 09 Gameplay Music Analysis
Assignment 10 Breakout!
Assignment 11 The Music Maze
Assignment 12 Mood Board
Assignment 13 Day and Night
Assignment 14 Create a Technical Design Document (TDD)
Assignment 15 Create a Website and Artist Statement
Biography
Steve Horowitz is a creator of odd but highly accessible sounds and a diverse and prolific musician. Perhaps best known as a composer and producer for his original soundtrack to the Academy Award-nominated film “Super Size Me.”, Steve is also a noted expert in the field of sound for games. As audio director at Nickelodeon Digital, he has literally worked on hundreds of well known titles, projects that have garnered multiple Kid Screen, Webby, and Broadcast Design awards. Horowitz also received a Grammy Award in recognition of his engineering work on the multi-artist release, “True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe [Sugar Hill].” Best Bluegrass Album” (1996). The artist behind thirty one albums of mind bending original music, Steve currently resides in San Francisco.
Scott Looney is a passionate artist, soundsmith, educator, and curriculum developer who has been helping students understand the basic concepts and practices behind the creation of content for interactive media and games for over fifteen years. He pioneered interactive online audio courses for the Academy Of Art University, and has also taught at Ex’pression College, Cogswell College, Pyramind Training, UC SantaCruz, City College SF, SF State University and Oregon State University. He has created compelling sounds for audiences, game developers and ad agencies alike across a broad spectrum of genres and styles, from contemporary music to experimental noise. In addition to his work in game audio and education, he is currently researching procedural and generative sound applications in games, and mastering the art of code.
