HAPPY'S PROFILE

Current challenge:

Artwork by PeteMohrbacher @ Deviantart.com

You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

In the previous chapter you were called in aid by the network, your task being to complete the ninth symphony of the network's late composer. The symphony is now complete and the concert series arranged for it was a big success! Everything's well!

Until suddenly, the scenery before you starts to twist and distort. Everything around you starts to dismantle into particles of prismatic light. What is this!? Is this the notorious curse of the ninth symphony!?

Your sight now completely consists of strange light, glowing in different colors. Abstract shapes and forms construct and dismantle everywhere around you. It's dark, it's light and then you discern outlines of something akin to a humanoid, forming in front of you. A voice in your thoughts speaks to you "I am void and now you shall become a part of me."

You automatically reach out for the holster of your instrument, but your hand trembles and the instrument falls to the ground, sending out a couple of disjointed notes. You can't help, but to notice that as a result of this the outlines of the humanoid form falter slightly.

You pick up your instrument and begin summoning the Sounds.

"You have composed your ninth symphony already, Summoner! You have created enough! This is your final destination!" The voice inside your head yells.

You continue playing your instrument valiantly, harnessing your imagination to repel the powers of the void. The form in front of you starts lashing out into different shapes.

"No! You cannot defy me! Come forth my minions! Lady Excusas! Deadly cyborg: Procrastinator Mk. 3!"

The rock off against the void has begun!

Composer: You pull out your big guns. You begin summoning the sounds fitting for battle!

Developer: It's time to rock out! What are the best battle themes? What even makes a good battle theme?

• Composers: Your challenge is to compose a piece of video game music for a battle scene. The choice of video game genre and music genre is free!

• Developers: What battle themes do you enjoy the most? What are the elements in them that stand out for you?

• Impression: Fitting for a battle of any sort.

• Instrumentation: No restrictions

• Game World Setting: No restrictions

• Video Game Genre: No restrictions

• Game Instances: A battle scene
  
  

• You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
  Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

• Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

• You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

• You may update your submissions with further versions.

• You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

• You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

• The challenge will run for one month and end 17th of June 2016

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Chapter I - Light of Heart



You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has brought you to another new Realm where the Sound has disappeared. You look around you and everything seems pretty colorful. You could even say some of the very ordinary things appear cute!

You wander around and some places really make you feel homely. You come across situations that could be called quirky! Even comical! You meet people of whom some seem to be strangely witty, some plain silly, and can someone really be that poignant!?

Something about this place puts a smirk on your face. It feels charming. You feel happy. You feel lighthearted.


Composer: You grab your instrument and begin to summon the Sounds...

Developer: You set out to search for situations that have the most immediate need for Sound. You see your ally beginning summon the Sounds, but wait, are those the Sounds of this Realm? That will need to be determined!



Challenge:

Composers:

Find a way to convey some of the impressions of the flavor and compose a piece, or pieces of light-hearted video game music for any instance of any video game genre.

Developers:

Find a way to convey what makes video game music light-hearted. Be sure to let your composer allies know if they are any good at their job, or if they could use help at something. You may have some ideas for them as well.


Track restrictions:

Impression:

Light-hearted

Instrumentation:

Free choice. Mind impression.

Game World Setting:

Free choice. Mind impression.

Video Game Genre:

Free choice.

Game Instances:

You may compose for any game instance of any video game genre.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 1st of June 2015

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by Djahal @ deviantart.com

Chapter II: Assault Action!


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has brought you to another new Realm where the Sound has disappeared. You look around you and find yourself in middle of combat! Adrenaline rushes in your head as you barely dodge an attack of a huge robot.

This is about survival! But what are those weapons? And what is all this technology and gear? Who are those soldiers? Should you try piloting a mecha? Or perhaps some other machinery? Are you familiar with any combat tactics? You join in the assault and engage in action!


Composer: You also grab your instrument and begin to summon the Sounds...

Developer: You set out to search for situations that have the most immediate need for Sound. You see your ally beginning summon the Sounds, but wait, are those the Sounds of this Realm? That will need to be determined!



Challenge:

Composers: 

Find a way to convey the setting and the mood described in the flavor. Compose a piece of video game music that fits a modern, or a futuristic, sci-fi military setting. The game instance you will need to be composing for is an assault type action scenario.

Developers:  

Solve what sort of music can be used for assault type action scenarios in video games and how to pump out some adrenaline from the consumers! Be sure to let your composer allies know if they are any good at their job, or if they could use help at something. You may have some ideas for them as well.



Track restrictions:



Impression:

Alerting, confronting


Instrumentation:

Your track may contain synthesizers, percussive elements and contemporary band instruments.
Classical orchestral instruments are allowed in the mix, but should not make up the most of the song


Game World Setting:

Modern or futuristic sci-fi military setting.


Video Game Genre:

Action Game, CRPG, Strategy Game, Tactical J-RPG



Game Instances:

You have to compose for an assault type action scenario.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 1st of July 2015

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Artwork by thomaswievegg @ Deviantart.com

Chapter III: The Dark Ages

You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has brought you to another new Realm where the Sound has disappeared. You look around and find yourself surrounded by vast green forests and fields accompanied by occassional glimmering riverbeds. Further in the distance you spot some small villages and castles, and large mountains in the horizon.

The beautiful scenery leaves you with a bittersweet feeling of melancholy for a moment until you're suddenly struck with a cold breeze that quiets the nature. Now an oppressive feeling weaves its way to you as you recall various old folklores about mysterious beasts and otherworldly creatures.

You wouldn't mind being in a cozy tavern or at a town fair right now.

Composer: You grab your instrument and begin to summon the Sounds...

Developer: You set out to search for situations that have the most immediate need for Sound. You see your ally beginning summon the Sounds, but wait, are those the Sounds of this Realm? That will need to be determined!



Challenge:

Composers:

Find a way to convey the setting described in the flavor. Compose a piece of video game music that fits a medieval setting. Dark fantasy and folklore elements may be present in the setting as well.

You may compose for any game instance or location in medieval setting.

Developers:

Solve what sort of music can be used for a medieval setting, and what it is specifically in the music that makes you connect it to a medieval scenery. Be sure to let your composer allies know if they are any good at their job, or if they could use help at something. You may have some ideas for them as well.


Track restrictions:

Impression:
No definitive restrictions. Medieval, melancholic, opressive, beautiful, mysterious, old, folky.

Instrumentation:
Classical orchestral instruments and old renaissance instruments like lute, fiddle, hurdygurdy, harp, dulcimer and the like.

Game World Setting:
Medieval setting with folklore fantasy elements.

Video Game Genre:
No restrictions

Game Instances:
You may compose for any game instance or location in medieval setting.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 1st of August 2015

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by Reluin @ Deviantart.com

Chapter IV: World of Traditions


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has brought you to another new Realm where the Sound has disappeared. You look around and find yourself surrounded by very diversely dressed individuals.

Something about the looks of each person tells you that they come from entirely separate parts of this Realm and that each of them represent a different, a very distinct ancient culture, and a tradition.

In fact, these are the representatives of the greatest royal courts of this Realm, and each one of them wishes you to accompany them and return the Sound to their court and their land.

The question is: which land will you visit?


Composer: You choose your destination and grab your instrument.

Developer: You set out to search for situations that have the most immediate need for Sound. You see your ally beginning summon the Sounds, but wait, are those the Sounds of this Realm? That will need to be determined!



Challenge:

Composers:

Compose a piece of video game music that has world music influences.

You may compose for any game instance or location in the setting.

Developers:

Solve which settings and situations could greatly benefit from world music influence and suggest these to the composers. Be sure to let your composer allies know if they are any good at their job, or if they could use help at something. You may have some ideas for them as well.


Track restrictions:

Impression: No definitive restrictions. The song should be influenced by some traditional music ornamentation styles, or instrumentation.

Instrumentation: Free instrumentation, but the track should contain at least some ethnic instruments.

Game World Setting: No restrictions

Video Game Genre: No restrictions

Game Instances: You may compose for any game instance or location in the setting.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 15th of September 2015

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by yuumei @ Deviantart.com

Chapter V: Modern Moods


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has brought you to another new Realm where the Sound has disappeared. You look around and find yourself seated in a flying aircraft.

You gaze out of the window by your side and see a huge metropolis sprawling beneath you. You spot some large and shabby industrial zones in the city, as well as tall and shiny scyscrapers and corporate-buildings, and some cozy neighborhoods and downtown shopping boulevards, too.

You also notice that even if the city view dominates the landscape, its borders can be seen a bit further ahead with fields, forests and a sea stretching far and broad behind it.

Suddenly an emergency strikes your aircraft and you are forced to evacuate. As you jump off the vehicle you're glad that you had the time to find a parachute, as well as your instrument; because there's no knowing of what sort of locale and situation you'll find yourself landing in!


Composer: As you have made your landing and taken a breather you pull out your instrument and begin summoning the Sounds for the situation, location, or for the characters present.

Developer: As you have made your landing you start wondering about how a modern situation, location, or characters could sound like. What could be included in these categories to begin with, anyway?


Challenge:

Composers:

Compose a piece of video game music that fits a modern world setting. Scifi and fantasy elements may be present in the setting. Usage of and references to modern musical genres and styles is recommended.

Developers:

Solve which modern musical styles should be used to refer to specific modern locations and situations, and think of scenarios that could work with more unconventional approaches as well.



Track restrictions:

Impression: Modern. e.g. Urban, industrial. Possibly usage of musical styles from 1960s to present day.

Instrumentation: Contemporary band instruments should make up most of the song: guitars, basses, drum kits, pianos, electrical organs, synths, horn sections, solo strings, solo winds, etc.

Game World Setting: A modern setting with or without scifi and fantasy elements.

Video Game Genre: No restrictions

Game Instances:

You may compose for any game instance or location in the setting.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 15th of November 2015

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by wylielise @ Deviantart.com

Chapter VI: A Game Within A Game


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Previously your journey had brought you to a modern day Realm, but as you now feel that you've already seen enough of it you decide to boot up a video game. As you turn the power on something strange happens and you find yourself being sucked inside! As you regain your consciousness and look around you, you find yourself in a game within a game! And the Sound is missing!


Composer: What sort of game is this? What Sounds does it require?

Developer: What sort of game could this be? What could the different games within games sound like?


Challenge:

Composers:

Compose a piece of video game music that fits a video game instance that presents a game within the game.

Developers:

Come up with different instances in video games that could count towards being games within games and could warrant for music that specifically underlines that. Think how these instances should be approached musically to underline the fact that they are games within games!


Track restrictions:

Impression: The theme should emphasize the fact that it is specifically for a separate game instance in the video game. E.g. a board game, a card game, or something of the like.

Instrumentation: No restrictions

Game World Setting: No restrictions

Video Game Genre: No restrictions

Game Instances:

You have to compose for a game instance that is specifically a game within the game, and has separate set of gameplay mechanics apart from rest of the game. The song should underline the fact that this is such a scenario. E.g. some sort of minigame, a card game, a board game, a dice game, betting, racing, or some other game!



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 15th of December 2015

Good luck everyone!

Show

Artwork by Square Enix

Chapter VII: An Open World


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

Your journey has introduced you to a wondrous luxury known as the video games! Rest of your journey can still wait for a little bit longer, can't it? You have discovered a whole new type of video game experience: the Open World video games! But as you enjoy the exploration, immersion and the adventures on these vast landscapes, you can't help but to feel that you could retouch their soundscape a bit and create an entire new ambiance of your own!

Composer: You pull out your instrument and begin summoning the Sounds in a form that fits well for an Open World video game setting.

Developer: You start pondering on how music of Open World video games might differ from the music of some other video game genres.


Challenge:

Composers: Compose a piece of video game music that fits an Open World video game, such as an MMORPG, sandbox, adventure or any other Open World type game. Remember to give room for ambiance! The song should be suitable for exploration of an open world location.

Developers:

Figure out potential differences between video game music choices for Open World video games, and some other genres such as platformers or JRPGs for example. What sort of music works best for an Open World setting?



Track restrictions:

Impression: The song should fit to be a background track of any location where exploration in an Open World video game occurs.

Instrumentation: No restrictions

Game World Setting: No restrictions

Video Game Genre: Open World, Sandbox, MMORPG, Adventure, Western RPG, etc.

Game Instances: Exploration on an open world location.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 15th of February 2016

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by Kuvshinov-Ilya @ Deviantart.com

Chapter VIII: Seizing the Feeling


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

You have refreshed your focus in an environment rich with video games and you are now ready to continue your journey and to focus in the very essentials in your work. This comes handy because a mysterious stranger has approached the Regal Musicians Network with a special request concerning her companion who is lacking feelings of any sort. The stranger is asking your help bringing back her companion’s emotions.


Composer: You choose a specific emotion you wish to give to the mysterious stranger’s companion. What feeling will you choose? You pull out your instrument and begin summoning the Sounds.

Developer: Come up with a list of different emotions and the ways they could be musically expressed! Analyzing existing works will help your process!


Challenge:

Composers: Pick a specific emotion eg. Love, hatred, relief, anxiety, fear, etc. and a compose a theme for this very specific feeling.

Developers:

Come up with a list of different emotions that a video game narrative could evoke. Try to come up with ways to describe how each specific emotion could be expressed musically.



Track restrictions:

Impression: Bound to convey the desired feeling of the theme.

Instrumentation: No restrictions

Game World Setting: No restrictions

Video Game Genre: No restrictions

Game Instances: No restrictions, but the theme should specifically emphasize the chosen emotion.



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 1st of April 2016

Good luck everyone!

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Artwork by sandara @ Deviantart.com

Chapter IX: The Ninth Symphony


You are a journeyman, a Disciple of Sound and you have been tasked to solve a series of mysterious disappearances of Sound in the Realms of Melodies by the Regal Musicians Network.

The Regal Musicians Network is in a pinch. The most renowned composer of the network had recently completed her ninth symphony and arranged a series of concerts where the most famous orchestras would perform this magnificent piece of art.

However, the composer passed away in a tragic fire, along with most of the notations of the ninth symphony. The orchestras got some material to practice with, but not enough to warrant for a full performance! You, the aspiring star have been called in aid. This is your time to shine! You have one month. Will you be able to make the orchestras flourish and the concert series to be a great success?


Composer: You have to compose for a symphonic orchestra. In your repertoire of instruments you have strings, winds, brass, percussion, choir, organ, piano and other orchestral instruments. Can you make effective use of them?

Developer: How does orchestral music differ from other music? What strengths does it carry? What are the limitations? What goals are harder to approach with orchestral music?

Challenge:

Composers: Your challenge is to compose a piece of video game music using orchestral instruments only. The melody should be expressed with variety of instruments, or sections. Your audience will appreciate creative ornamentation.

Developers:

Come up with an argument speaking in behalf of orchestral music, or against it. Find examples of effective use of orchestra, or the lack of thereof.



Track restrictions:

Impression: Orchestral!

Instrumentation: Orchestral!

Game World Setting: No restrictions

Video Game Genre: No restrictions

Game Instances: No restrictions



Submission rules:

You agree that your submitted tracks will be shared under 
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License

Render a track with as little audio quality loss as possible.

You may submit as many pieces as you wish, but rememeber that quality is what matters.

You may update your submissions with further versions.

You may contact event organizer and sign up for post processing of your track.

You may collaborate and interact with all the rest of the community to any end you wish. You are encouraged to share tips, viewpoints, references and material for inspiration.

The challenge will run for one month and end 1st of May 2016

Good luck everyone!