GameSoundCon is a conference and seminar on
video game music
Video game music (VGM) is the soundtrack that accompanies video games. Early video game music was once limited to sounds of early sound chips, such as programmable sound generators (PSG) or FM synthesis chips. These limitations have led to t ...
and video game
sound design
Sound design is the art and practice of creating auditory elements of media. It involves specifying, acquiring and creating audio using production techniques and equipment or software. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including filmmaking ...
. GameSoundCon began as a multi-city conference providing seminars occurring 2-4 times per year in various cities in the US on creating music and sound effects for videogames. Speakers and panelists from throughout the industry cover topics ranging from composing game music to game sound design and the business of game sound.
Background
The first GameSoundCon was held in Los Angeles at the Hyatt Regency Century City Century Place in September 2009, primarily designed for composers, sound designers and audio engineers with little or no experience in games, but experience in traditional media such as music/TV/film.
In the 2009 GameSoundCon conferences, two parallel content tracks were given. In the first track, called "Main Game Audio Sessions," tutorials and panel sessions included: Composing Game Music, Game Audio Tech 1& 2, Game Sound Design as well as roundtables on business issues, casual game music and licensing. In the second track, staff from MTV's Harmonix Music Systems gave tutorials on how to create content for the ill-fated
Rock Band Network
The ''Rock Band'' Network (abbreviated RBN) was a downloadable content service designed by Harmonix with the help of Microsoft to allow musical artists and record labels to make their music available as playable tracks for the ''Rock Band'' seri ...
.
In 2011, hands-on training sessions in
FMOD
FMOD is a proprietary sound effects engine and authoring tool for video games and applications developed by Firelight Technologies. It is able to play and mix sounds of diverse formats on many operating systems.
Features
The FMOD sound system ...
were added, taught by Stephan Schutze. In 2013,
Wwise sessions were added as well.
In 2013, GameSoundCon went to a once-per-year format, settling in Los Angeles. At the same time, GameSoundCon expanded its format, adding a second series of session tracks for higher-end talks for those with significant experience in games
In 2016, it expanded again, adding additional session tracks for Virtual Reality audio and game audio research
Industry Survey
Each year, GameSoundCon publishes the GameSoundCon Industry Survey which covers topics such as compensation for game composers, sound designers and other game audio roles; work and environment; contract terms, rights, bonuses, royalties; use of live musicians and middleware; and education level.
In 2016 The GameSoundCon Industry Survey did a deeper analysis on gender-based differences in salaries for game composers and sound designers . The study suggested a "
gender pay gap
The gender pay gap or gender wage gap is the average difference between the remuneration for men and women who are Employment, employed. Women are generally found to be paid less than men. There are two distinct measurements of the pay gap: non ...
" equivalent of approximately 2 years of experience.
A similar GameSoundCon study showed a large increase in the demand for composers and audio directors virtually coincident with the opening of the Apple "app store" and the release of Facebook's developer program
G.A.N.G. Scholars Program
GameSoundCon, through its partnership with the Game Audio Network Guild, provides complimentary passes to its conference through the G.A.N.G. Scholars Program.
Student applications require the applicant to submit essays, recommendations from professors and GPA
Keynote Speakers
* GameSoundCon (
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - September, 2016 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Gordy Haab, Independent Composer
* GameSoundCon (
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - November, 2015 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Chance Thomas, Independent Composer
* GameSoundCon (
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - October, 2014 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Marty ODonnell, Independent Composer
* GameSoundCon (
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - November, 2013 (2 days); Keynote Speaker:
Austin Wintory, Independent Composer
* GameSoundCon (
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - October, 2012 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Clint Bajakian, Sony Computer Entertainment
* GameSoundCon (
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - November, 2011 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Guy Whitmore, Popcap
* GameSoundCon (
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - June 6, 2011 (1 day)
* GameSoundCon (
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
New York may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* ...
) - October 2010 (2 days)
* GameSoundCon (
Seattle
Seattle ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the 18th-most populous city in the United States. The city is the cou ...
,
Washington
Washington most commonly refers to:
* George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States
* Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A ...
) - May 11, 2010 (1 day)
* GameSoundCon (
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
) - November 2010 (2 days)
* GameSoundCon 2009 (Los Angeles, California) - September 23/24 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Marty O'Donnell, Audio Director,
Bungie
Bungie, Inc. is an American video game company based in Bellevue, Washington, and a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment. The company was established in May 1991 by Alex Seropian, who later brought in programmer Jason Jones (programme ...
* GameSoundCon 2009 (San Francisco, California) - November 13/14 (2 days); Keynote Speaker: Chance Thomas, HUGESound
References
External links
Official WebsiteUC PUBG MobileGame Audio Network Guild
{{Video Game Trade Shows
Video game development
Video game conferences