Welcome to VideoGameMusicAcademy.com!  I’m super excited to finally launch the site, and I really appreciate you taking the time to visit and have a look around.  In this post, I’ll give you a run-down of my vision for the VGM Academy, how I’m going to get things started, and what you can expect to find here in the coming months.

Welcome to the Starting Zone

Most video games have some sort of “starting zone,” or introductory level to teach you the mechanics of the game while introducing you to the protagonist (if there is one), the environment, and the plot (if there is one).  This is a critical function to enjoying the game because it helps players avoid any confusion or frustration within the first minutes/hours of gameplay.  That period of time is a make-or-break experience for most gamers; If the game seems more difficult or confusing than it’s worth in fun, the player will stop playing.

In the game audio industry, I’ve found a lot of resources out there – books, software, gear, forums – that do provide some value to game music composers and sound designers. For the life of me, though, I haven’t been able to find a clear starting point or roadmap for success.  The information is too disjointed, and I have no way of discerning what’s important and what’s not because there’s no data to support anything.  Sometimes the simplest questions have the most complicated answers, and these obstacles make it very difficult to stay motivated or make consistent progress on anything.

That sucks.

In response to this frustration and need, I want to build a resource – a Starting Zone, if you will – to help new and aspiring composers and sound designers find the answers they need without getting lost in the weeds.  More importantly, I want to make sure you don’t miss out on any of the key ingredients that build a successful career as an artist.  Being a newb doesn’t have to suck – it can be fun and exciting.

For the Intermediate Players

Some of you may have experience in the industry already, and that’s awesome!  You may have composed for a handful of games, done an entire soundtrack here or there, or maybe you’ve provided sound effects on a few projects.  Even so, you may have come across some obstacles in your career that have been tough to break through on your own. You may struggle to find new work opportunities, or you may not make enough money as a video game audio professional to entirely support yourself.  You may be working a full-time job outside of the music business to take care of yourself and your family and pursuing your passion in your finite free time – and that’s great, too!  It can also be challenging, and the VGM Academy wants to help you achieve your goals none the less.

Whether you’re looking to make your income more consistent, your professional experiences more enjoyable (or more frequent), or if you’re looking to turn your passion into your full-time job: the VGM Academy will try to help you grow your business so you feel as confident about the non-musical elements of your career as you do about the music stuff.

For the Advanced Players…

Thank you for visiting, but your Princess is in another castle.  Sorry!

Seriously, though – If you’re looking for high-end gear comparisons/recommendations, advanced composition techniques, or networking opportunities with the AAA video game companies… you’re probably not going to find it here.  If you’re already really successful in your career and finding consistent work, or you’ve worked on big-name titles before than I congratulate you on your success and wish you the best of luck in your quest!

IF, however, you’re looking for an opportunity to give back to the video game audio community then please feel free to email me or connect with me on Twitter to chat more.  The gaming industry has some of the most humble people I’ve encountered, which is totally awesome!  Everyone seems happy to help, and if you’re looking to help folks just starting out on their journey I’d be happy to help you provide that value to them.  If you’re interested in writing a guest blog post, holding a webinar/seminar, or being interviewed on the Video Game Music Academy podcast to help teach or contribute to the community of new and aspiring game audio creators then feel free to get in touch with me.  If you have specific ideas, I’d love to hear them – but keep in mind that my top priority is doing what’s best for the VGMA community!

LET’S DO THIS!

Now that the formalities are out of the way, let’s get going!!  I encourage you to head over to the Starting Zone for your in-game tutorial on what to do next.