Table Of ContentA COMPOSER'S GUIDE
Writing
INTERACTIVE
MUSIC for
VIDEO GAMES
Michael SWEET
About This eBook
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Writing Interactive
Music for Video Games
A Composer’s Guide
Michael Sweet
wWaAddison-Wesley
Upper Saddle River, ND » Boston + Iudianapolis« San esncisco
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Librury of Congress Carelagingia-Publicetion Daw
Suvel, Michael, aut
‘Wricing,inceractive music for video games : a compaser’s guide / Michael
Sweet
ayes crn
Tutus igre eleven: and ine
ISBN 978-0-321 961557 pb alk. pape)
1. Video game music—Insttuction and study, 1. Iide,
‘MIG. v58584 2014
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‘Copyright © 2015 Pearson Hducation, Ine
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ISDN-13: 978-0.221.96158-7
ISBN-do: 0-82-96 150-7
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Praise for Writing Interactive Music for
Video Games
‘Behind every great game expetience is an interactive score that
sfines the emotional through ol # game. Writiay lererortive
Masi or Video ames wl she yu ie foreleg
score, ftom basic concepts to sophisticaad techniques. Its
‘with advice from some of the greatest video game composers,
‘working today, and seriten wih the clarity ain! insight that
feanies Trine experience
‘Tracy Fullerton, Director, USC Game Innovation Lab
“suichael Sweet's book provides a much-needed text chat walks @
ceempner thigh all of the catea cinsoneions shen Fs
Slurig to wren the wie gan dusty. Nou simpy "how
to’ uta “hyo” tha dives deep ito the sesthetis nd est
practices of welling an interactive scoveTinough his yeals of
Selim tbe nists an your of ten hing, he Wale tring
ingelivy sr eqmuprctensive discussion i easing inva oe
Scores, Professor Sweet brings ogether the mute and alts, the
dnusiness, and perinent hisorical moments—all while secing
composer” expevations lor wrldng in the incty, There av
Hater auk che fu yu tea re ge
understand wing for gaines
Jeanine Cowen, Vice President for Curticulum and Program
Innovation, Acatlemic Altair, Berklee College of Music
“Viichael Swett demonstrates formidable depuh and head a
InoWledge related to adaptive music, Te advoity covers both che
creative aod technical components critical to being successful in
this Feld. This bach is # musi-reg for neweusmers and
ragerewca nent ging ant nora he ata
‘widea game composition.”
Chuck Doud, Director of Music, Sony Computer Entertainment
Worldwide Sutin
lear, amet cae ies a ile ith ial naman, Thi
is amis-read for any caniposer serious about scaring for garnes.
Je you want to know what makes game music unique. look no
further; this book will take you tothe nest level!”
Steve Maroy, Conptnie
“the processes and ecniques for composing fr games bas
‘ypleaiy been aback at of stange tenae and byzanene
Provecar. rin tteractoe Msi or Video umes meus
The sas you fe ool sth wh caning tu fw
fame: and presents them in an easy-to-undersiand sway, from tbe
Creative and technical sues to nang Bids and dealing eit
Contracts: An excellent resoure for both he proestona and
‘Spin Gonpeney ts Peak shold fe se ager
intrested ning mus for games,
—Brian Schmidt, Executive Director, GameSoundCon, and
President, Game Auli Network Guild
“Viichavl Sow! has wvilien a thorough and aamiprehensive guide
fox any composer or audio professional wishing to understand the
technical anc creative aspects of scoring video pames. Students
and professinnals a all levels sll fil his book valuable anv
‘soll worth veal
Garry Schyman, Composer, Bioshock seties, Middflexearth
‘Shadow of stordor, Dante's tnferno, and Xcomn the Bureaet
Dreclassfied: anil Adjunet Prolessear, CSC's SMPTY Program
The Addison-Wesley
Game Design and Development Series
Fe Adkison- Wesley
“isi inortiecolsviafgamedesgn far comple at of we publinsins.
sential References for Game Dealgners and Developers
hase prt gldes, writ by ditrgulshed profesor and industry gues
cover bac tones of gine dei and developmen ing trghtervard,
cemnree-sinse spproch. Th books eneourge rear toe things cn thei
adhe lor thane, mang iter for anyone tao hw to design ad
develop dial anes for Both computers and ob dices.
Gar
Inwemngam | ssusioossty | Safar
PEARS!
dedicate thi hook w all my farmer, coreent, ad fouure suns, wha
‘continue to surprise me every semester with thelr latent and abity 20
‘each
me equally abou Bfe, music, oad supporting one another.
Description:“This book is a must read for newcomers and experienced composers wanting to learn more about the art of video game composition.” —Chuck Doud, Director of Music, Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios All You Need to Know to Create Great Video Game Music Written by the developer of Berklee School of Music’s pioneering game scoring program, this guide covers everything professional composers and music students need to know about composing interactive music for video games, and contains exclusive tools for interactive scoring—tools that were previously available only at Berklee. Drawing on twenty years of professional experience in the game industry, Michael Sweet helps you master the unique language of music storytelling in games. Next, he walks you through the entire music composition process, from initial conceptualization and creative direction through implementation. Inside, you’ll find dozens of examples that illustrate adaptive compositional techniques, from small downloadable games to multimillion dollar console titles. In addition, this guide covers the business side of video game composition, sharing crucial advice about contracts, pricing, sales, and marketing. Coverage includes Overcoming the unique challenges of writing for games Composing music that can adapt in real time to player actions Developing thematic ideas Using audio middleware to create advanced interactive scores Working effectively with game development teams Understanding the life of a video game composer Managing contracts, rights, estimating, and negotiation Finding work The companion website contains software tools to help you master interactive music concepts explored in this book, with additional resources and links to learn more about scoring for games. See Appendix A for details.
