Video Game Music

From the limited soundtracks of Pong to the expansive and dynamically adaptive music of Final Fantasy and Assassin's Creed, video game music has come a long way since its humble beginnings. As the medium has evolved and its popularity grown exponentially, we want to highlight Video Game music as a worthy genre in its own right.

We've teamed up with online course and degree provider ThinkSpace Education to bring you an exclusive series of how-to videos from renowned game composers. Each video uses a different sounds palette from the Albion range, and offers downloadable audio stems.

Key Terms

  • Stinger: A triggered short musical phrase that plays over the top of the continuous music. 
  • Looping: Music often needs to play continuously in some scenes and this is when loops are generally used. These loops should seamlessly play into each other. 
  • Adaptive Audio: As more games no longer follow a linear structure, audio elements in games need to be dynamic to game events and adapt to the games surroundings.
  • Tempo Alteration: Increasing and/or decreasing tempo throughout gameplay to create a different atmosphere for the player.
  • Digital Signal Processing (DSP): These are used to enact effects to audio in realtime while in the game.
  • Horizontal Re-sequencing: The ability to switch between musical cues based on a game event
  • Cues: Changes in music that highlight a game event/new location. Length of these cues varies.
  • Themes: A recurring musical motif that is the “core” sound for the game. Often used in the opening credits of a game/game menu. 
  • Transitions: Music fading from one scene to another or from one game even to another. These short adaptive seamless musical transitions are important to stop the game audio from being jarring.

Hear from the experts...

We spoke with SQUARE ENIX’s music director Keiji Kawamori to learn more about the process behind arranging FFVII’s iconic melodies and creating original pieces of music for the world of FFVIIR. We spoke with SQUARE ENIX’s music director Keiji Kawamori to learn more about the process behind arranging FFVII’s iconic melodies and creating original pieces of music for the world of FFVIIR. Olivier's approach to video game composition has always been about much more than simply scoring the game. It’s not about what players hear, but how and why they hear it. Olivier's approach to video game composition has always been about much more than simply scoring the game. It’s not about what players hear, but how and why they hear it. Game developers Sucker Punch tapped Ilan Eshkeri and Shigeru Umebayashi to create this incredible score. Ilan, a 20 year veteran composer went above and beyond alongside Shigeru Umebayashi in creating the soundscape of Tsushima. Game developers Sucker Punch tapped Ilan Eshkeri and Shigeru Umebayashi to create this incredible score. Ilan, a 20 year veteran composer went above and beyond alongside Shigeru Umebayashi in creating the soundscape of Tsushima.

When scoring for a Horror game, keep in mind these genre staples:

  • Use unsettling/eerie sounds and instruments in your palette to build atmosphere: broken pianos, atonal vocals and whispers
  • A low hum or persistent droning can deepen the immersive experience
  • Tempo alteration will help build tension throughout the game
  • Silence is your friend! Use it to heighten anxiety and anticipation

Our library picks for Horror game scoring

Albion Iceni
Albion Iceni
£199.00
Apocalyptic low end orchestra
Albion IV Uist
Albion IV Uist
£399.00
Dark, progressive orchestral articulations
Estática
Estática
£29.00
Visceral textures from boundary-pushing experimentalists
Albion IceniNow playing Albion Iceni

Iceni Trailer

Albion IV UistNow playing Albion IV Uist

Sin

EstáticaNow playing Estática

Trailer Music

Inspiration: Horror Game Scores

When scoring for a Sci-Fi game keep in mind the following genre staples:

  • Use synthesizer elements for futuristic atmosphere
  • Sound design to add unusual and otherworldly elements
  • Focus on world building through melodies and textures to immerse players in the games unique universe

Our library picks for Sci-Fi game scoring

Albion Loegria
Albion Loegria
£199.00
Beautiful chamber-sized composer tools
Albion NEO
Albion NEO
£399.00
Intimacy and definition
Raven Bush — Moonglades
Raven Bush — Moonglades
£29.00
Visceral acoustic & electronic layers
Hainbach — Landfill Totems
Hainbach — Landfill Totems
£29.00
One-of-a-kind electronics from a sonic innovator
Albion LoegriaNow playing Albion Loegria

Thirst

Albion NEONow playing Albion NEO

Awake And Emerging

Raven Bush — MoongladesNow playing Raven Bush — Moonglades

Trailer music

Hainbach — Landfill TotemsNow playing Hainbach — Landfill Totems

Krautsalad

Inspiration: Sci-Fi Game Scores

Fun Facts

  • The theme song of the video game Civilization IV(2005) was the first video game music composition to win a Grammy Award(2011).
  • Pong was the first game to incorporate digital audio.
  • Storage space was a big issue for games in the beginning - it has to be stored physically - but the intro of 8-bit and then 16-bit audio microchips in the 80s led to more musical pieces.
  • Software used in embedding audio into video games needs to allow for interactive and adaptive elements, such as the changing of reverb between rooms and adaptive mixing and sound design. 
  • Koichi Sugiyama(Dragon Quest) was the first video game composer to put on public orchestral performances of his video game scores in 1987. 
  • Chiptune is a genre of electronic synthesiser music born from using the programmable sound generator (PSG) sound chips or synthesisers in vintage arcade machines, computers and video game consoles.
  • There’s an even split between freelance video game composers and in-house employed sound teams. 


When scoring for a Fantasy game, keep in mind these genre staples:

  • Incorporate folk/airy instrumentation
  • The lydian mode can be used to create wonder
  • An overall slower tempo can aid in fantasy immersion
  • Vocals, such as a choir, can contribute to a more epic atmosphere

Our library picks for Fantasy game scoring

Albion Tundra
Albion Tundra
£399.00
At the edge of silence
Albion Solstice
Albion Solstice
£399.00
Modern scoring, inspired by the past
Eric Whitacre Contrast
Eric Whitacre Contrast
£249.00
Breathtaking new extremes
Aska Matsumiya - Crystal Bowls
Aska Matsumiya - Crystal Bowls
£79.00
Intrinsic frequencies
Albion TundraNow playing Albion Tundra

Slow Burner

Albion SolsticeNow playing Albion Solstice

Mist Over Acheron

Eric Whitacre ContrastNow playing Eric Whitacre Contrast

Trailer Music

Aska Matsumiya - Crystal BowlsNow playing Aska Matsumiya - Crystal Bowls

Memories

Fantasy: Action Game Scores

When scoring for a Action game, keep in mind these genre staples:

  • Fast tempos will match the intensity of battle scenes
  • Dynamic sounds can be used to convey violence
  • Industrial sound design can immerse players in the chaos of combat

Our library picks for Action game scoring

Albion Legacy
Albion Legacy
£199.00
The Original
Abbey Road One: Grand Brass
Abbey Road One: Grand Brass
£49.00
The iconic sound of cinema
GAIKA — War Island
GAIKA — War Island
£29.00
Expansive industrial soundscapes
Albion Colossus
Albion Colossus
£399.00
A new dawn for epic scoring
Albion LegacyNow playing Albion Legacy

The Challenge

Abbey Road One: Grand BrassNow playing Abbey Road One: Grand Brass

Nearing The Dark Gates

GAIKA — War IslandNow playing GAIKA — War Island

Flyby

Albion ColossusNow playing Albion Colossus

Albion Colossus

Inspiration: Action Game Scores

Founded in 1996 by media composer Guy Michelmore, ThinkSpace Education provides online courses and university-accredited Masters degrees in film, TV and game composition, sound design and music production. To ensure students are at the very forefront of the industry, our teaching team features a wide array of working professionals, with countless blockbuster credits to their name.

Exclusive Offer: 

Save Over 30% on How To Write Video Games Music

This in-depth ThinkSpace Interactive course features many of the same composers as our video series, and gives you the skills you need to compose and produce for the ever-growing scene. Hosted by Guy Michelmore, you'll learn about the different systems used to implement game music, how to approach composing for cutscenes and cinematics, and how to adapt your writing style for a unique set of technical challenges.There's even a module on finding work as a games composer.

Use code SPITFIRE at checkout

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