It's a level

I created a track this past week that actually is now in a completed level. It always feels very good to finally see your audio in  the final version of a level. especially when the level comes together exactly as you had it. There is a very nice feeling you get to see a piece of finally finished work actually come together with the design, programming and art all together.

The next track I will be making will be for minigames. Being that there is a deadline coming up I am probably going to need to do two tracks in one sitting for this next week. The next two tracks will be for the soccer game and also for the elusive four square game. Of course I need to see the way both of these work to really make the track fit the level. especially when it comes to minigames and they need to be something that is made specifically forhe tempo of the game. I have no idea how fast the game is going play so I need to make sure the music can keep up with the gameplay, and visa versa.

There is a very tight connection between gameplay and proper audio. If the gameplay doesn't fit the audio or the other way around it is very easy to tell. Just like noticing something is off-beat or off tempo within an audio track.

Just doesn't pass

I created the heavy metal track and it really didn't work well. It just doesn't fit the audio we already and we cant afford to remake every track. The track worked really well for the intended theme but it just couldn't be implemented into the game. My director took the hit for that and acknowledges that it was his suggestion so that is nice to hear. Also it is always good to prove that you can create audio when it is directed towards the designer. Basically you don't have full creative control. This is something you will find much more often in the studio then in a group independent project.

I am going to have to create another track for the game because of this but as I said before I have enough time to do it. This is going to just take up more time but it at least gives me something to do during the week. I need some more work to do. I say this because the next level isn't ready yet, I need to see the level before making the audio for it.

For the next eek I will be spending my time creating another track, most likely for the four square game but potentially for a new level.

Taking some direction

I continued and continued to work on the track I had created. It was for the four square game we created. Turned out that the track I made wasn't well received for four square and so we are just going to hang onto it for another level. This is all okay because it can be reused but otherwise I would have to double down on my work since it was my fault. This can definitely happen with sound when my group members aren't checking out my track during the process of creation. Everybody has different tastes and I am not the lead of this project so it isn't my choice.

My director told me that for this coming week he wants me to focus on dark and grungy style music. I felt that it was too late to switch our audio style but having a free week I decided to go for it because that is what the lead asked me to do. I began to work on this audio by finding samples for metal and industrial noises. I then started the process of listening to other soundtracks that fit this new genre.

Essentially these past two weeks and this next week will be purely experimental. this isn't an issue assuming you have been doing all your work on a timely schedule, making sure everything gets done when it needs to be. Always, always, always leave yourself extra time.