Patrice Désilets and his lifelong obsession with time ; The Assassin's Creed creator reflects on his career, and the importance of gameplay mechanics before story →

In this interview, Patrick Désilets discusses how the concept of time plays a crucial role in making video games interesting and engaging for the players. He gives an insight on how time-traveling and historical settings are fundamental to the Assassin's Creed franchise, and how they allow the player to experience different time periods and cultures. The developers use time to create a sense of urgency and tension within the game's narrative, adding an extra level of challenge and excitement to the gameplay. By using time as a core element, the Assassin's Creed franchise has been able to create an immersive experience that allows players to explore the past and engage with historical events in a unique way. 

Click the blog post title to learn more about Patrick Désilets’s career and how he uses time in his work on games industry.biz !

Xbox Is Now the First Carbon Aware Console, Update Rolling Out to Everyone Soon →

Team Xbox recently announced new updates of the console’s power management, reducing its environmental impact. In fact, they claim that for every two consoles switching to the main sustainable feature Shutdown, the equivalent amount of carbon removed by one tree planted and grown for a decade will be saved. By presenting an array of energy saving options, the Xbox is now the first carbon aware console !

Click the blog post title to learn more about the way you can make your Xbox carbon aware on news.xbox.com.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date and everything we know so far →

Get ready to embark on a new adventure in the world of Hyrule! "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is officially launching on May 12th, 2023 exclusively on Nintendo Switch. Thanks to gamesradar.com, this highly-anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild will take us back to the magical world we fell in love with, but with even more exciting new features. You'll get to explore the skies of Hyrule with a brand new suite of abilities. Link is back and better than ever with his new magical arm, which grants him new powers to tackle dungeons and fight evil. With a larger open world to explore, expanded traversal and combat systems, and a pool of diverse weapons, Tears of the Kingdom promises to be the ultimate Zelda experience.

Click on the post title to learn everything we know about Zelda : Tears of the Kingdom so far !

How video game music is bringing orchestral scores to new ears →

Music and games are tightly intertwined, and orchestral music has been used on a number of big names in the Gaming Industry to enhance the player’s experience. Many game music compositions have been recorded by the London Philharmonic and include popular games such as Super Mario, Angry Birds, and World of Warcraft. By this mean, younger audiences have been introduced to beautiful orchestral pieces, oftentimes disregarded in other contexts.

In this article from games hub.com, Dr Diana Caroll highlights the positive impact music syncing has on the younger generation. Click on the blog post title to check it out !

Fall Guys beats Fortnite and Warzone as PlayStation's most-downloaded free-to-play game in 2022 →

Sony has officially published its annual list of games which received the most downloads from the PlayStation Store in 2022. Surprisingly, Fall Guys drew the most downloads last year in both the US/Canada and in Europe. Thanks to the World Cup, FIFA’s dominance was a neat certainty in the European continent. In the US and Canada, however, guns remain the bigger draw with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 airdropping onto PlayStation storage space the most in both nations. For PSVR downloads, the excellent Beat Saber remains the most popular title. A clear separation exists between the PS5 and PS4 charts, with owners of the former seemingly far more likely to pick up new releases.

Check out the full charts by clicking the blog post title and read the full article on ag.hyperxgaming.com.

How Riders Republic mobilized its players for the first digital climate march →

Riders Republic is an outdoor sports game developed by Ubisoft Annecy, a studio located in the heart of the French Alps. In a studio surrounded by mountains, a team of outdoor sports and nature enthusiasts honour the amazing landscape around them by developing Riders Republic. Going as far as reproducing several U.S. national parks, including Yosemite and Bryce Canyon in the game.

“Creating a game that would help our players develop and foster a passion for nature, biodiversity, and the great outdoors was integral to our approach from the beginning, so we were excited to take it a step further with Project Rebirth”, explains Ubisoft Annecy’s Boris Maniora.

Click the blog post title to read on about how the developer encouraged gamers to engage with reforestation through Project Rebirth.

Elevating the way video game companies work with music →

Branding through music is key to any project and is always one of the biggest cultural positioning tools for any producer or marketer -- gaming or otherwise.

Look at FIFA and GTA and how they have made music core elements of their products and marketing. Think about the music from Halo or Rocket League; it doesn't necessarily represent what consumers might listen to for purely musical purposes but you know instantly the cultural space that these brands sit in. The music becomes a key part of any game's identity, shaping the environment, and often driving high levels of long-term recognition.

Ben Sumner shares seven key things that can be done to improve the way music is integrated in games. Click the blog post title to read the full article on games industry.biz.

10 Songs That Became Famous For Being Featured In A TV Series →

TV series have come leaps and bounds over the years. Settings, storylines and even camera work has improved or changed for the better. The sheer range of genres covers everything from sci-fi to period dramas, making something available for audiences of varying tastes to enjoy. But it’s not just these aspects that make up the DNA of our favourite shows.

As we’ve seen through our video game work at Feel For Music, being placed in a scene, trailer or even just being connected to a popular franchise can have a positive effect on streaming number, and even a rise in listenership. Like games, music is an extremely important aspect in screen work and plays a huge part in setting the tone, be that a song placed in a particular scene or as a recurring theme tune. A lot of tracks have been in the public sphere prior to their placement, but have found further appreciation after being featured in a TV show. In this article, Screenrant investigate the 10 songs that blew up thanks to their placement in a major TV series.

Music licensing in games: trials, tribulations, and what's next →

Licensing music for video games is a big chunk of our business. It’s a space that’s constantly evolving, influenced by things like technology and the way that games are sold and marketed, so it’s in our best interest to try and develop new ways of integrating music in games. Whether it’s in-game performances a la Fortnite, or in-game album experiences like Radiohead’s Kid Amnesia exhibition, it’s certainly a future to be very excited about.

In this article, experts in the music licensing space reveal their biggest challenges, advice for publishers big and small, and what they expect from the future of music in games. The games and music industries have had a long and at times illustrious relationship. Early 80s arcade titles like Journey set the tone early, but licensed music came into its own in the 90s and 00s with titles like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, Wip3out, Crazy Taxi, Guitar Hero, and licensed sports titles. Today, licensed music is still a major part of the games market, but the relationship is far more multifaceted due to evolving market trends. Click the blog title to view the original article.

The Role of Music in Gaming →

Join PlayStation, BMGPM, Laced Audio and Feel For Music and composers Uèle Lamore and Scott Stallone for a discussion on crafting compelling game music.

As the role of music in gaming becomes ever more important, LBB reaches out to composers Uèle Lamore and Scott Stallone, BMGPM creative licensing managers Thomas Cottrell (UK) and Allen Mattox (US), Laced Audio A&R/community manager Tom Quillfeldt and audio director Justin Andree, Feel For Music consultant Ben Sumner, and Playstation music supervisors Codie Childs and James Marshall to explore how music in gaming is sourced and how it is evolving.

Head over to the LBB website by clicking the blog post title to read the full article.

OK COMPUTER: WILL THE NEXT PHASE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY TAKE PLACE INSIDE THE METAVERSE? →

Record companies, artists, fans and perhaps the entire entertainment business are being readied to experience immersive digital environments that take us beyond the universe. Is this the future or a marketing-led tech fantasy?

Radiohead are due to release their Kid A Mnesia this month. The interactive experience was created in conjunction with Epic Games and will be available on PS5, PC and Macs very soon. The band’s latest venture follows the trend of musicians branching out into the gaming sphere to create similar environments inside the metaverse. Ben Gilbert explores these recent endeavours and attempts to understand if this is no more than a market trend or the future of the music industry. Click the blog post title to read the full article. Originally published on Synchblog.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla already second most profitable title in Ubisoft history →

Assassin's Creed: Valhalla launched last November but it is already the second most profitable title in Ubisoft's history, the publisher announced today as part of its financial results for the first half of the fiscal year. For the six months ended September 30, Ubisoft reported net sales down less than 1% year-over-year to $877 million, with second quarter sales up 21% to $466 million.

Feel For Music worked as Music Supervisors on the Assassin’s Creed World Cinematic Trailer, sourcing, licensing and remixing Koda’s ‘Soul of a Man’ for use on the very first trailer in the franchise's most recent instalment. It now has over 18M Youtube views and last month, we picked up an award for Best Sync In A Gaming Trailer from the guys at Music & Sound. Hit the blog post title to view the trailer.

Life is strange: true colors is out now →

There is a lot to announce this week as Life is Strange: True Colors has been released into the world, along with the official soundtrack of the game, which we at Feel For Music helped bring to fruition.

Our company has a long history with the franchise, working on every instalment so far, and winning awards for our work along the way. LiS has always had a very strong connection with music, not just in the narrative but in the way in which music is used in-game. The franchise has a very strong musical DNA and we as a music supervision company feel proud to have played a part in creating and maintaining that legacy.

The True Colors OST features great artists like Michael Kiwanuka, Phoebe Bridgers, Novo Amor, mxmtoon, and so many more. The original score for the game was also announced by Angus and Julia Stone. The duo confirmed they would be releasing a full album of original songs all written for the game.

Our in-house band, Driftwood Drive, have released their debut EP, ‘Follow The Low Tide’. The release features music that features in True Colors, both in marketing and in-game. It’s all original music written by some of the FFM team and it’s out now on Spotify and all other streaming sites.

That’s a lot to keep track of. If you’d like to stream the full soundtrack of Life is Strange True Colors, we’ve very kindly put together a Spotify playlist to play on repeat when you’ve finished, or while you’re playing the game. Click the blog post title to head to our Youtube page to view more Life is Strange content.

Take a look at the first official gameplay footage in this 13 minute Life Is Strange: True Colors clip →

The guys over at Square Enix treated us to some gameplay footage of the upcoming Life Is Strange: True Colors yesterday. The game is due to be released on Friday 10th September, and it’s great to get some gameplay footage to get a feel of what the game will be like.

The upcoming adventure game takes place in the fictional town of Haven Springs. Alex is a young woman who can experience and manipulate the emotions of others, and after her arrival at Haven, is on a quest to discover the truth behind her brother's death. With the game now just a few weeks away, Square Enix has dropped a lengthy new video providing a more in-depth look.

We also have the ‘Wavelengths’ DLC to look forward to, coming out September 30th, to which Square Enix just dropped the trailer for on their YouTube channel. You can view the Life Is Strange: True Colors first official gameplay trailer by clicking the blog post title.

Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, and The Division merge in Ubisoft's free-to-play FPS XDefiant

Ubisoft revealed it’s previously teased “new Tom Clancy” game this week. XDefiant is a free to play 6v6 first person shooter that combines different factions from Ghost Recon, The Division, and Splinter Cell.

In the announcement video, Ubisoft detailed the ‘high octane’ arena shooter, displaying it’s more fun and rebellious take on what traditionally is a more serious franchise. Ubi also boasted the game’s realistic gunplay and personalised classes in the form of factions.

Each faction offers it’s own traits and abilities that will effect gameplay and team dynamics. Factions, load outs and weapons are interchangeable and Ubisoft promise an arsenal of authentic weapons and attachments.

Interested parties can sign up now to participate in the game's "early roll-out phases". These closed tests will begin for PC players in US and Canada on 5th August and will initially feature 10 maps: seven standard arena maps supporting three different modes - Domination, Ringleader, and Upload - and three linear maps playable in either Escort and Zone Control modes.

Eventually, XDefiant will be available on PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Amazon Luna, and Stadia with full crossplay expected at launch.

Riot GAMES MADE SOME MUSIC FOR CREATORS AND STREAMERS →

‘Sessions: Vi’ is a collection of music that Riot Games has made free for anyone to use in their content without having to worry about copyright strikes. The compilation features work from artists such as Chromonicci, Junior State, Laxcity, and Tennyson, to name a few.

In what seems like a reaction to the 3 way battle between Twitch, the music industry and streamers, Riot’s decision to make the music free to stream within content will certainly prove popular with those who worry about their content being deleted, taking into consideration Twitch’s heavy handed technique on dealing with breaches of DMCA on their site. The recent accusations from the music industry of enabling and ignoring copyright violations in the form of a fiery missive to Amazon, the streaming platform’s parent company, caused a storm after streamers received notifications informing them that a complaint had been filed against their channel for hosting videos with copyrighted music — videos which Twitch had then deleted.

The first release contains 37 tracks and according to Riot that's just the beginning. The company has vowed to inject time into projects like Sessions in the future. It’s unclear whether Riot will continue to release free music, or possibly move to a subscription based service such as Monstercat Gold or Spinnin’, but stay tuned for more news on the subject. Hit the blog post title to hear ‘Sessions: Vi’.

E3 2021 Guide - Everything you need to know →

Get caught up all on all the biggest announcements, previews, and interviews from E3 2021. Running June 10 - 16, E3 2021 gave us a glimpse into the future of video games. The biggest game makers in the world packed the E3 2021 schedule and delivered a week of non-stop game reveals and announcements. 

With E3 2021 being an all digital event this year, many publishers were able to host their own virtual showcases. Companies like Nintendo, Xbox, Square Enix and Ubisoft all showcased their latest titles this way, whilst EA and Gearbox turned to some of their partners in order to reveal their latest work.

With so many reveals to keep track of, it can be hard to stay updated. This is why the folks over at Games Radar have very kindly put together an E3 guide. It’s home to all the previews, features, interviews and coverage of the event. You can view the guide by clicking the blog post title.

There was some truly phenomenal reveals this year and a hell of a lot of games. Be sure to keep an eye for our work in Square Enix’ Outriders, as well as the latest Life Is Strange content.

Building anticipation: How to make engaging gameplay trailers

Trailers are an essential part of a game’s campaign. A trailer can be the difference between success and failure in terms of game sales. It’s a crucial tool in garnering your audience’s attention and if done right, could take your game to the top of the charts.

Marketing agency Gnet shares practical advice on elevating your marketing by getting the most from your footage. From teaser and pre release trailers to launch and post-release trailers, Gnet directors Niko DeMordaunt and Andy Mitchell break down the techniques that will take your trailer to the next level.

Hit the blog post title to read the original article. Originally published on GamesIndustry.biz.

7 Important Moments in Game Music History →

As improvements to graphics, immersive story telling and snappy mechanics turned games into one of the most popular and lucrative past times of the modern world, the true appreciation of video game music has often been left behind. Everyone has a favourite game soundtrack, whether is be THPS or Fifa Street, but rarely do we consider how much game music has progressed over the past 50 years.

Patrick Jones over at Music Times delves into some of the most memorable moments in game music history. Click the blog post title to read the article.

Square Enix sees Outriders as "next major franchise" as it hits 3.5m players →

People Can Fly’s new FPS, Outriders, reached 3.5 million players in its first month. The title is “on track to become the company’s next major franchise”, Square Enix said of the game.

Outriders launched in April, having been set to release for the end of 2020, but the delay hasn’t seemed to stump the initial uptake of the game. It debuted at No.6 in the weekly physical charts and in the US at No.3 in the monthly charts for March.

Our work has featured throughout the Outriders campaign on the run up to the launch, and can be seen via our home page, with more visuals featured on our Youtube channel.

Original article by games industry.biz. Accessible through the blog post title.