Gaming Industry Bigger Than Hollywood - Blockbuster Season

[Garritan]

According to an article in yesterday's San Francisco Chronical, the $10 billion video game industry generates more revenue than Hollywood. And this season has been a blockbuster with so many highly anticipated titles.

It started in August with the game title Doom 3, followed by The Sims 2 in September (Andy Brick one of our members was involved with the music for Sims2). Then followed by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in October, then Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Half-Life 2 last month. Then a milestone was set last month when Microsoft's Halo 2 -- "a sequel to a futuristic game with an elaborate plot that pits humans against invading aliens" -- surpassed Hollywood's opening-weekend movie box office record in just one day of sales.



$125 million: Value of total sales for the first 24 hours of Halo 2
$114 million: Opening-weekend gross for "Spider-Man," a Hollywood record
An Entertainment Software Association survey showed that the average gamer is 29 years old and spends more time playing games than other forms of entertainment like watching TV or movies.

The times they are a-changing.

Gary Garritan

[Joseph Burrell]

Hmmm. I wondered when this would officially occur. I always thought the mediam hadn't matured 10 years ago when I was playing games on the NES. Its nice to see it has finally became a profit monster. 'Back in my day' it wasn't mainstream at all (of course that has its advantages.) Hopefully, with this will come better pay for videogame musicians. Of course, the trend now is away from orchestral compositions to mainstream fare and this breaks my heart. Of course, popular culture sways the vote every time so this is only part and parcel of the process. But still unfortunate, nonetheless.

[Jerry W.]

I knew that gaming was getting bigger, but wow.

Now I have to figure out the best way to market myself to game developers!!!

Any ideas everyone?

Jerry :)

[LFO]

The gaming industry has been outselling Hollywood for several years now. I think it is three years running now, but it could be four. It makes sense that this would happen, given the huge market and the high prices of games. I wonder how the profit line of each industry compares. I doubt either industry is suffering. :)

I have been playing games since 1982 and really enjoy them. For my kids, I prefer them playing games than watching tv. In my view, I'd rather have them trying to figure out puzzles, learn how to create tactical and strategical plans, etc. than just watching a tv. Of course, it all requires moderation. The things are just too darn addictive! ;) My oldest boy literally taught himself how to read (the teacher told us not to help out much to see how he progresses on his own) so he could know how to load and save games and know what was happening in the game. Me second son has learned how to think through a problem from beginning to end before acting. This has transfered to his school work, amazing enough. He had a report to write and would not begin it until he had `laid out his plan'. Who would have guessed?

I don't understand why some parents write off video games as a waste of time, yet they let their kids grow into vegetables in front of the tv. (Have you seen the study where it was proven that people go into such a lethargic state while watching tv that they burn less calories than when they are sleeping? Ack!)

I guess I am writing this to let any parents out there who are unsure about video games know what our experience has been. You do have to set limits and be selective on what kids can and cannot play and that is purely subjective. As with anything else, given moderation they can be a great way for kids to have fun and develop many skills they otherwise may not.

-Kevin

[Link F.]

The biggest game will be released next year; The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion!

I can't wait for that one, it's a sequal to last year's Game of the Year, TESIII: Morrowind. Should be exciting!

BTW, TESIII: Morrowind was beatifully scored by Jeremy Soule, the guy sitting on the cliff in the GPO ad in EM! I hope Jeremy does the music for TESIV: Oblivion as well.

[LFO]

I put entirely too many hours into Morrowwind. :)

The score was diverse and at times very haunting. I'll be interested in seeing what they bring up next. Kudos to Jeremy for an outstanding job!

Another series that has produced some of the best music in the industry is the Final Fantasy series. Nobuo Uematsu is beyond incredible. The number of themes he comes up with (over 50 for Final Fantasy X alone!) and the consistant quality of both music and production is unequaled. For all of you Chicago people out there, a Friends of Final Fantasy concert will be given with the Chicagoland Pops Orchestra on February 19. Given the quality and popularity of the first Friends concert in Los Angelas, it will be a night to remember. I am still trying to find an excuse to get to Chicago via work and attend the concert.

Are there any other gamers out there with favorite soundtracks? If so, lets hear about them!

-Kevin

[Link F.]

I put entirely too many hours into Morrowwind. :)

Haha, diddo!

If I would put as much into my music as I do Morrowind, well... I could just quote your sig ;)

[Joseph Burrell]

Are there any other gamers out there with favorite soundtracks? If so, lets hear about them!

-Kevin

Yeah, I got lots of favorite videogame soundtracks:

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask
Legend of Zelda Wind Waker
Super Metroid
Actraiser
Suikoden 1 & 2
Final Fantasy 7 & 8
Lunar Silver Star Story
Valkyrie Profile
Donkey Kong Country 1 & 2
Banjo Kazooie
Conkers Bad Fur Day
Jet Force Gemini
Some tracks from Killer Instinct 1 & 2
Discworld Noir
Grim Fandango
Apprentice 1 & 2 (free online game)
Star Ocean 1 & 2
Luigis Mansion (yeah I know)
Castlevania Symphony of the Night
Castlevania 64
Super Smash Brothers Melee (awesome stuff)
Mario and Zelda Big Band (big band videogame remix tunes)
The first Maximo game
Paper Mario
Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door (wonderful game BTW)
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Cross
and on and on....

[BlueMax]

Gaming soundtracks really hit hard when the Roland MT-32 become mainstream and somewhat-affordable.

To this day, many of them still sound great despite the crude synthesis.

Check out some of the very best at: Quest Studios (http://www.queststudios.com) - I'd go straight to the MP3 page for full effect.

[SeanHannifin]

Andy Brick composed some music for The Sims 2? That's awesome! I hope to find that game under the tree this weekend, and will probably be addicted to it for a while.

Anyway, before these last few months in which I have been interested in music composition, my first and longest interest has been game programming. Perhaps I will get back into it in the following months, but I'm sure I'll never lose interest in music composition.

While the gaming industry is bigger than Hollywood, it is important to realize that game development is also cheaper and easier to break into. With the right amount of artistic and programming talent and hard work, a great game can be developed using only Visual C++ and PhotoShop. No need for elaborate sets, hundreds of special effects and actors. You can also buy 3rd-party 3d engines if you don't want to bother with a lot of graphics programming. It's rather nice!

[Daag Nabbott]

Gaming soundtracks really hit hard when the Roland MT-32 become mainstream and somewhat-affordable.

To this day, many of them still sound great despite the crude synthesis.

Check out some of the very best at: Quest Studios (http://www.queststudios.com) - I'd go straight to the MP3 page for full effect.

You're right. There are many interesting selections there. Why, as a matter of fact <he says blushingly>, they have, in MIDI, my entire score for Sierra's Quest for Glory III. But the URL I will post in this reply, is one of QuestStudio's MP3 pages. They have included four of my selections from QG3 in Mp3 format. They used a Roland Sound Canvas 88 and dumped the MIDI to digital audio (http://www.queststudios.com/quest/mp3-3.html).

Hmmm..., maybe I should GPO some of this score someday<?>.
:)
-Rudy

[Christopher Duncan]

I don't do much reading of fiction books these days because of scheduling issues. When I sit down with a good book, life pretty much comes to a halt until I finish it. Not good for productivity, mind you.

I haven't played computer video games since the ancient 8086 days of Digger, Asteroids and the old Star Trek grid / strategy game (debugging and colorizing a widely circulated copy of the latter in Borland Turbo Basic was the first programming I ever did). Even so, I would sometimes go without sleep because I couldn't get up from the game. I'm afraid to think what would happen to me with today's superb, motion picture quality games. You'd have to send out a search party for me. At least with a book, there's an end... :)

[BlueMax]

You're right. There are many interesting selections there. Why, as a matter of fact <he says blushingly>, they have, in MIDI, my entire score for Sierra's Quest for Glory III. But the URL I will post in this reply, is one of QuestStudio's MP3 pages. They have included four of my selections from QG3 in Mp3 format. They used a Roland Sound Canvas 88 and dumped the MIDI to digital audio (http://www.queststudios.com/quest/mp3-3.html).

Hmmm..., maybe I should GPO some of this score someday<?>.
:)
-Rudy
*gasp*choke*
YOU were the composer for QfG3??? That was one of the best Sierra soundtracks ever put out!! Holy smokes! I'm in the presence of greatness!
:eek:
For 15+ years it's been a dream to compose for computer games - ever since I first snagged an Adlib card (years before Sierra started using extra audio hardware!) I'll finally get the chance with a "freeware" title based on the Space Quest series - one of my favorite musical styles. And now GPO will be the star of the show.... once I have a PC to compose on, that is! ;)

Maybe with some true work out there, not merely examples, I could get my "big break". ;)

[LFO]

Joseph, that is quite a list! I am also a fan of Super Smash Brothers music. It creates the perfect environment for such a wild fighting game. Great stuff! I also like the Castlevania soundtracks - what great games they were!

Daag (Nabbit!) :)
You did the score to Kings Quest III?! Wow! Very cool. I lived for getting through Sierra games, it was a sad day when they finally were no more. KQ, Space Quest, etc. are classics. I'll have to go to the web site you posted and do some major searching and downloading. :)

-Kevin

[Daag Nabbott]

Daag (Nabbit!) :)
You did the score to Kings Quest III?! Wow! Very cool. I lived for getting through Sierra games, it was a sad day when they finally were no more. KQ, Space Quest, etc. are classics. I'll have to go to the web site you posted and do some major searching and downloading. :)

-Kevin

No, no!! NOT Kings Quest III. I did Quest for Glory III. BIG difference. But if you go to that site you can download the midis and mp3s of the Kings Quest series as well.

-Rudy

[bergelp]

I always wondered how one gets into being a composer in the gaming industry? I've composed the soundtracks for more than 10 movies (mostly Alpha Video releases) but cannot figure out how to get my foot in the door to compose for video games! Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Paul David Bergel
www.pauldavidbergel.com

[Daag Nabbott]

I always wondered how one gets into being a composer in the gaming industry? I've composed the soundtracks for more than 10 movies (mostly Alpha Video releases) but cannot figure out how to get my foot in the door to compose for video games! Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Paul David Bergel
www.pauldavidbergel.com

It is a must to attend the annual Game Developers Conference (and the E3 Expo, as well). The name of the game is to hobnob and smooze, talk yourself up, and be a likeable person. Here is some news you might want to follow up on:

"GDC Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications
--------------------------------------------------
The IGDA has just launched the 5th annual Student Scholarship Program.
Twenty-five college students will be awarded complimentary full access
passes to the Game Developers Conference. Students can now apply online.

The deadline to enter is Tuesday, January 18, 2004. Recipients will be
announced in early February.

Applicants are required to be full-time college students (or equivalent) and
IGDA student members for consideration. The IGDA's Education Committee and board members will judge scholarship applications.
http://www.igda.org/scholarships/"

-Rudy

[LFO]

Sorry Naab! UGH! I really did mean Quest for Glory! That is what I get for not looking back to the earlier post! GAAAAHHH! ;)

-Kevin

P.S. For the record, both Quest for Glory and Kings Quest rocked!