How do you ensure an engaging experience to players?
The wonderful thing about games is the freedom an interactive experience gives to players; but there’s an inner divide between the stories we want to tell, and the experience we want to give.
Eh, just do it the simple way: mind control.
Many designers add music with a target mood or atmosphere in mind, but music can be used for much more than just aesthetics.
Music can subtly direct players on what to do next.
Marry Music and Mechanics
Music makes bosses HARDER.
Music makes rewards BETTER.
Music makes puzzles FASTER.
Music makes victories STRONGER.
Play Out the Drama
“Music is the language of the soul. If your games are going to truly touch people, to immerse, and embrace them, they cannot do it without music.” – Jesse Schell in The Art of Game Design
OK, so who are you anyway?
Hey! I’m Asjio (a.k.a. Giovanni Tabor), a professional composer and hobbyist game developer from Randolph, Vermont. I studied music education at the University of Vermont and recently earned my Master of Fine Arts in Music Composition from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Over the last 7 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on hundreds of projects for audio branding, podcast/YouTube intros, books, and my personal favorite: indie games.
Core Interests
Ever since learning audio middleware (i.e. FMOD), I’ve been inspired to find new ways to use music to further push the boundaries of interactive media. When I’m writing music for video games, my core questions are: “What would we like players to do?” and “How can we use music or sound to get them to do it?”
Genres
I most enjoy writing:
Classic Arcade
I use a modded GameBoy Advance and/or other chiptune hardware to make authentic sounding arcade music.
Modern Chiptunes
These arcade tracks are rooted in the classics, but with a modern twist.
Trailer Music
Contemporary Classical
I am greatly influenced by artists such as Disasterpiece, known from his soundtracks for FEZ and Hyper Light Drifter; Joe Hisaishi, composer for Studio Ghibli movies (i.e. Castle in the Sky); and Chopin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is custom music right for me?
Timing
I think the best time to start thinking about music is during the world building phase or when transitioning from a prototype to developing a beta.
Your Time is Valuable
Stock assets are awesome tools for prototyping and referencing, and there’s SO MANY to choose from; but when you’re creating a finalized soundtrack for your game, there are so many options out there that it can take a lot of time searching for the *right* song. You’ll probably need to combine works from several different albums, and their volumes and equalization will all need to be carefully balanced to make them sound cohesive — all this while working within a release schedule. Custom music is made tailored to your project, so you’ll be able to check it off the list.
Do you have any financing options?
As a hobbyist game developer myself, I know how tough it can be getting all the help you need for your upcoming game. I’m happy to split the cost combined with a rev-share for indie devs (50% upfront + rev share).