With events like Game Music Connect, the Video Games Live symphony, and MAGFest, it would seem as if video game music is experiencing a surge in popularity right now, and rightfully so. Take a second to think about some of the most memorable images from your favorite video games, and I guarantee that almost all of them involve some kind of awesome, haunting, and artistic tune playing in the background.
Galloping into Gerudo Valley on horseback and hearing the infectious acoustic guitar in Ocarina of Time, hearing “Far Away” for the first time as you ventured into Mexico in Red Dead Redemption, humming along to the catchy techno tune as your about to face a gym leader in Pokémon Red/Blue, the list goes on and on.
If you’re a fan of video game music, you’re in luck, as PAX East 2014 is dedicating a panel to an often overlooked, but absolutely necessary part of any successful video game: composers.
The panel, which is entitled “Maestros of Video Games,” is set to feature six of the industry’s most successful and award winning composers as they discuss their diverse music backgrounds, what it was like scoring music for some of the most popular franchises and titles in history, and just their general experiences.
Here is the current list of panelists:
Garry Schyman (the BioShock series, Dante’s Inferno, Destroy All Humans!)
Peter McConnell (Broken Age, Plants vs. Zombies 2, the Sly Cooper series, Brutal Legend, Psychonauts, Grim Fandango)
Cris Velasco (Company of Heroes 2, Mass Effect 3, The Borderlands series, Clive Barker’s Jericho, the God of War series)
Tom Salta (Halo: Spartan Assault, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the Ghost Recon series, the Red Steel series)
Mark Morgan (Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout: New Vegas)
Billy Martin (Rayman Legends, Rayman Origins)
Emily Reese, the host and producer of Minnesota Public Radio‘s “Top Score” podcast will moderate the panel. Additionally, guests that attend will receive a free soundtrack sampler courtesy of Sumthing Else Music Works, and a meet and greet/autograph signing will immediately follow the panel, outside of the Condor Theatre.
Event Info:
PAX Condor Theatre
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Saturday, April 12th
12.30pm
What do you think? Will you be attending? What video game music did you find most memorable? Sound off in the comments section, or on Twitter @ArtistryInGames, with your thoughts.