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The Sound of Story

An Exploration of Sound and Music in Games

The Sound of Story returns with a special video games edition, presenting leading music and sound practitioners working in the indie and AAA sectors.

Exploring topics such as writing interactive scores, designing sound for immersive environments and working with procedural audio, The Sound of Storyis an exciting opportunity to learn about the creative and technical processes behind innovative sound in games. Illustrated with clips, case-studies and anecdotes, The Sound of Story is a must for students, sound professionals, gamers, and music producers alike. The Sound of Story is co-produced by Lighthouse and Rewire, and features talks with John Broomhall, Adele Cutting, David Housden and SØS Gunver Ryberg.

John Broomhall

Selected clients & credits: Sony PlayStation / Microsoft / Forza Motorsport / XCom / Transport Tycoon / Guitar Hero DLC / American Idol

John Broomhall is an acclaimed game music and sound creative, senior game development manager and commentator, with dozens of credits variously as composer/producer, audio director/consultant, sound effects designer and voice director. His prolific career encompasses such iconic titles as Forza Motorsport, XCom, Transport Tycoon, Guitar Hero DLC, and American Idol and prestigious clients, Microsoft and Sony PlayStation. In 2009 he received a Recognition Award by the Game Audio Network Guild of America, and in 2013 co-founded Game Music Connect, to celebrate and explore the music of video games and the extraordinary talent behind it.

Talk: Broomhall will discuss game audio’s history, development and future directions, exploring what game sound can learn from its own evolution and from storytelling film sound.

Adele Cutting

Selected clients & credits: EA / Microsoft / Gamesys / Nickelodeon / the Harry Potter franchise / Sim City / Shadow of the Beast

Adele Cutting is a BAFTA award-winning audio professional working in the games industry. After fifteen years as the Senior Audio Director of Electronic Arts, working on blockbuster titles including the Harry Potter franchise, she formed audio production company, SoundCuts, working with clients Microsoft, Gamesys and Nickelodeon on projects across a range of gaming platforms, from mobile to VR. SoundCuts was a finalist in the 2015 and 2016 Develop Awards for Audio Outsourcing, and the TIGA 2016 awards in the Audio Supplier category. Photo: Shadow of the Beast © 2016 Sony Computer Entertainment. Developed by Heavy Spectrum Ltd.

Talk: Drawing on her many years of experience, Cutting will discuss the creative considerations and challenges of working on different types of projects, and at varying budget levels.

David Housden

Selected clients & credits: Bossa Studio / PlayStation Home / Thomas was Alone / Volume / Monstermind

Award-winning, BAFTA nominated composer David Housden is best known for his collaborations with visionary game developer Mike Bithell, including on his latest opus Volume, a sci-fi re-imagining of the Robin Hood mythology. Housden creates melodic, original music scores that illuminate imaginary worlds with real emotion and immersion, and was instrumental in helping to bring to life 2D shapes with character and personality on Bithell’s indie hit Thomas Was Alone. Other projects include Bossa Studio’s BAFTA award-winning Monstermind and Sony’s virtual world, PlayStation Home.

Talk: Housden will discuss his approach to composing, the interactive nature of music, and his journey from playing in a garage rock band to working in games.

SØS Gunver Ryberg

Selected credits: Inside / THOTH

Danish sound artist and composer SØS Gunver Ryberg has a broad background in performance and production that encompasses multichannel installations, live concerts, performance art, video games, and much more. Through her award-winning, often site-specific work, she seeks to explore the potential of the acoustic space, and mix new forms of expression and new media. Her commissions for theatre have included original scores for the Luzerne Theatre in Switzerland and Deutsche Theatre in Berlin. In 2016, she released her debut EP, AFTRYK, which is nominated for several prizes. For video games, Ryberg has created music and sound design for two acclaimed indie productions: the multiple award-winning INSIDE, which she worked on with Martin Stig Andersen; and, as part of SGR^CAV, a collaboration with Cristian Vogel, for twin-stick shooter game THOTH.

Panel discussion: Ahead of her Rewire performance, SØS Gunver Ryberg will join the other speakers to discuss creating powerful and innovative audio for games.