On Music

One of the most important ways to translate the desired feel and pace to a game other than its game play is its music. Today games can have epic musical scores that could be compared to that of movies. They can often be dynamic and respond to the players actions to create the appropriate atmosphere. Alternatively they can be simple synthesised musical loops that bleep and blop mindlessly as the game is played. The quality and complexity of a games soundtrack would usually dictated by its intended platform and budget, so the more monies can be invested, the more intricate the musical score. Older games kept to simple 8-bit melodies that were limited by the hardware of the day. As games have progressed, so has the scope of their musical scores.

With simpler games, like those produced by lots of small indie game companies, the musical scores are nonetheless still very important. Music has a fundamental impact on the tone of the experience. Apart from a games setting and graphics, the music is the next most important aspect in building the games atmosphere. Whether the game is supposed to be serious or lighthearted, scary or humorous, having the right kind of music is essential. Puzzle games like Angry Birds or Cut the Rope, have cheerful music that goes well with the colourful graphics to create fun puzzlers that are not meant to be taken too seriously.

Alien Traps Capsized is an example of a game where the music can be . While the game is side scrolling platformer that has stylised cartoonish graphics, overall the game has serious tone and feel to it. This is achieved through its use of an immersive electronica soundtrack, produced by Solar Fields. The haunting music certainly adds to the mystery and danger that the games setting invokes, while also keeping games pace fast and furious.

Another very simple game that has excellent music is Armour Games Red. This is a simple but fun game where the player must deflect large objects from hitting the player. The player controls a stationary gun platform that can shoot the incoming objects to change their course so they do not impact. It just has one piece of music throughout. Absolute Space (Jazzanova Remix) by Koop is the track used. It gets quite fast and intense as it goes on, which is very similar to the game itself. It also gives a serious tone to what otherwise would be a simple puzzle game.

When selecting what to use for Magma Surge, the games main premise needs to be considered, ie the player escaping from a deep dangerous volcano. The constantly rising lava plume means that the player needs to keep moving to avoid death. So the game involves people and risk of an explosive demise, but it is also a platform game and will contain stylised cartoony graphics. What was needed was a form of music that would be fast paced but not oppressive. Very lighthearted music suited to puzzle games would not be appropriate, nor would a heavy rock soundtrack akin to a mindless FPS or fighting games.

Taking this into consideration, the music that I settled on was an electronic drum and bass soundtrack. This versatile genre was I felt ideal for creating the atmosphere that was needed. Games with large underground sections, for example Mario or the more recent Terraria, have a moody music when the player is in these sections. Levels where the player is being chased or pushed forward by a large and deadly hazard usually speed up the music to increase the tempo. Drum and bass has a naturally high BPM and the electronic aspects would be well suited to creating the desired atmosphere.

So our resident producer, Jamie Page, is currently working on creating a number of track loops that will be incorporated into the game. The final music delivery is expected this week, with the stuff created so far more than surpassing my initial hopes! Once they have been delivered I shall be posting up some examples for your aural pleasure.