Shnabubula Releases NES Jams, Brains Melt

The story picks up immediately where Game Genie ends. A young boy, Tommy, has just defeated his Game Genie, and in its place is a mysterious NES cartridge. Upon placing it in his NES, something wondrous occurs; the message PREPARE TO JAM appears and Tommy approaches his brother’s keyboard. Suddenly, the game and his fingers begin to play music together! Now, this is just a brief summation of the album’s story; the real beauty is the album itself. Just read with me as I take you on an aural tour through the 11 tracks contained on this album. Let us begin.

1. Underwater (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)     2:51

Starts out calm and aquatic sounding… 0:20 brings in some piano work. 0:40 brings in a nice little jazzy part. Pretty nice track; great way to kick the album off. 1:09 kicks off a bit of a calm section, and 1:18 or so is where it really kicks off with some nice arrangement. The piano and the NES accompaniment work phenomenally together. 1:56 or so brings in a series of crescendos. 2:10 is where you can tell the end is coming. Everything keeps on getting better and better until the finale begins at 2:44.

2. Temple (Zelda 2)     3:16

Source kicks off right away, of course. Sam keeps it simple, sticking to the source pretty tightly with minor changes with the accompaniment. 0:29 is where the accompaniment takes off, and the keys follow shortly after. The source is held tightly for the first minute, and then some nice arrangement comes in at 1:09 or so. This is probably one of the best renditions of this theme I’ve heard, and I’ve heard a few. 1:52 brings a breakdown, and it starts to pick up once again at 2:04 or so. 2:16 is where some real awesome piano comes in, and it only gets more awesome from there. The source is loosely held throughout this segment, and comes back in full force with crazy accompaniment at 2:56 or so. Final at about 3:09.

3. Alien Lair (Contra)     3:06

This one starts out kinda tense. 0:17 changes that in an instant; some big stuff is going down somewhere. 0:37 brings even more tension in, with force put into each and every piano note. 1:06 brings a very brief break. This song definitely has a nice feel to it, one that captures quite a few intense emotions in its many layers. 2:04 brings this point home, and even moreso at 2:15. The accompaniment goes pretty nuts from here on out. The end is definitely near at 3:01.

4. Night Sea (Little Nemo the Dream Master)     3:45

And now a well-placed calm spot; don’t be fooled, it’s just the calm before the storm. Shnabubula actually released a video of this track on his Youtube channel as a teaser for the album; it was the second such teaser. 0:32 brings in some nice bass. Nice work on the keys at 0:56 or so, and great accompaniment at 1:04 on. This song definitely has a great flow, one that makes me just want to sway back and forth to the rhythm. Some nice solo at 1:55 or so; back to the source at 2:10 with some embellishments. Naturally; wouldn’t be a Shnabubula track without them. Okay, so maybe not so calm; 2:40 or so brings some pretty crazy piano, and it calms down at 2:56. Very calm at 3:10 or so; it remains this way until the end of the track. The true finale begins at 3:34.

5. Dwelling of Doom (Castlevania 2)     3:16

Funky, just the way I like it! It starts getting even funkier at 0:22 or so. Even crazier parts begin at around 0:56; this song is focused mostly on the keys and the accompaniment only adds to the experience. It starts getting pretty crazy at 1:30 or so; breakdown at 1:50. It really picks back up at 2:07; signature Shnabubula insanity comes in not too long after. I’m still amazed that he can moves his hands as fast as he can; seriously, he must be part machine or something, because this skill is near-inhuman. The finale begins suddenly at 3:10.

6. Kung Fu Alley (NES Original)     4:42

This is completely original, and completely lacks the keys of all the other tracks. Fitting that it’s the middle track; five are before it and five are after it. Very nice rhythm, and very nice to listen to. Apparently, the track was supposed to loop at some point, but it wouldn’t. Ah well, it’s a great song nonetheless. Pretty nice part at 1:32 or so. Short breakdown at 1:58 or so, that goes into another great part; sounds like it could be a stage set atop some cliffs or something. 2:28 brings in some nice duality between dominant parts in the track, and 2:42 brings in some nice backing effects. 3:06 adds in a whole different part that fits in perfectly. Again, the song has some great flow and rhythm to it. Everything fits together perfectly, and it sounds phenomenal. There’s a feeling of something coming at 3:56 or so; probably signaling the finale. And the finale does come in at 4:28 or so.

7. Title (Double Dragon)     3:34

This was the first song Shnabubula released as a teaser on his YouTube channel. Source comes in at the ten-second mark. Very fast-paced, and great to listen to. 0:32 brings a slightly slower part. 0:54 kicks off more source usage and also signals the beginning of some awesome arrangement; check out 1:24. Just when you think the source is gonna kick off again at 1:38, Shnabubula switches it up with a rather beautiful breakdown. It starts picking up again at 2:02. Everything that follows is just pure greatness and insanity, especially at 2:32. Source leaps back in at 2:43, maintaining the same speed from the insanity. The finale kicks off for this song at 3:14. Yes, a 20 second long finale. Great work though.

8. Gemini Man (Megaman 3)     3:57

This is probably one of the more underrated MM3 tracks; let’s see what Shnab can do with this one. Some nice flair comes in at 0:12 or so in the form of source usage. More source usage at 1:06 or so. The accompaniment on this song works so well with the keys, and really helps to set the mood. 1:38 kicks off a nice arranged section. 1:59 brings in a breakdown, and it starts to come together once again at 2:17. 2:51 brings the source usage back into full force, with the usual additions and arrangement. 3:08 is where the accompaniment really adds a feeling of finality to the track; the end is definitely near. 3:24 on reinforces this point, and the finale finally begins at 3:48 or so.

9. Stage 1 (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2)     2:59

This kicks off instantly with a great speed and feel. 0:27 makes you just want to yell out HEROES IN A HALF-SHELL! TURTLE POWER! 0:52 has a pretty nice section of keys. 1:12 has the HEROES IN A HALF-SHELL part once again. 1:28 signals the start of a pretty sweet section, focusing on keys with some great accompaniment. 2:14 keeps the speed going with some awesome section, building and building until 2:35 when the finale starts with the HEROES IN A HALF-SHELL part and truly ending at 2:55. Such a great fast song.

10. Area A (Shatterhand)     3:25

In comparison to the previous track, this song is rather slow. But it’s still great; it picks up at 0:17. Okay, maybe it’s not slow; it’s pretty nice. A really smooth section begins at 0:47; 1:14 or so signals another pretty nice section. 1:38 has some more arrangement, and everything’s put together in a wondrous fashion. A sense of finality almost comes in at 2:17 or so; a small breakdown at 2:24 or so also sounds like it is leading up to the end. Some really awesome piano comes in at 2:46 with great crescendos on the accompaniment. The end is near at 3:10, and the song ends at 3:23.

11. Wood Man (Megaman 2)     3:37

Here it is, the final track on this album. Sticks to the source pretty strictly at the start, then takes off at 0:32 with the accompaniment first, and then it really begins with the piano at 0:42. There’s a great breakdown at 1:14, and it continues for some time. This part loosely adheres to the source, keeping the same rhythm but adding in many many more parts. Great work on the keys from 2:00 on. 2:19 keeps the insanity going. I’m surprised his hands aren’t on fire by now; this is such an insane speed. Some source resumes at 2:42 with more crazy piano playing; it normalizes at 2:55 or so. Some nice accompaniment effects begin at the three-minute mark, really adding to the sense of finality. They pick up even more at 3:22 or so. The finale begins at 3:32, and the end of the album is shortly after.

To help publicize the release of the album, Shnabubula organized a listening party on 3/15, hosted on Noise Channel Radio. The show, run by virt’s wife Truestar, peaked at 100 listeners, and the album is currently at #5 on the Bandcamp top sellers list. It’s actually pay-what-you-want, so if you want it free, you can get it for free. But I’m sure that Shnabubula would appreciate some payment on it; he certainly deserves it. The album can be found both on Ubiktune and Bandcamp; it’s well worth the download, and the money if you choose to actually buy it. Stay tuned for an interview with Shnabubula, among other things. Until next time, game on!

8bitSF Presents POW: Indie Music and Developers Collide

In commemoration of the Game Developer’s Conference occurring in San Francisco this week, 8bitSF decided to hold a chiptune show. Gathering artists such as minusbaby, Freaky DNA, A_Rival, Disasterpeace, and virt, the show featured a variety of chiptune styles.

Louis Gorenfield kicked the night off immediately, playing some of his own original creations. Next up was The Glowing Stars, whose traditional rock style mixed with chip really kicked off the show. Their setlist included some tracks from their collaborative Horchata album, except with just them instead of Awkward Terrible as well as it was on the album. They were followed by Zen Albatross, whose tracks flowed into each other into one cohesive groove.

After him, virt came on stage, playing a couple tracks off his recent FX4 album and another from the Mighty Switch Force soundtrack. The crowd went wild just as he did on stage, and it was a rather crazy experience.  Following virt wascrashfaster; their fusion of chip and synthesized vocals proved to be a unique and enjoyable set.  After a short break,minusbaby took the stage. Just as with Zen’s set earlier in the night, it was one cohesive experience.

Disasterpeace took the stage next, and proceeded to rock out like there was no tomorrow. He also played a mix of recent stuff and a fan favorite. We were treated to Freaky DNA next, and he played a mix of tracks. Dancing like mad on stage, he controlled the playlist via a usb controller and really got everyone moving. A_Rival ended the night, and a fitting finale it was. He played several tracks, including his remix of the classic Ninja Turtles theme song, and ended it with a song from his album 8-Bit Pimp. He also handed out free copies of said CD after the show.

It was a rather successful night; people had predicted upwards of 100 people to show up, and judging by how packed it was that mark was probably exceeded. Great times were had by all, some of the times drunken, but all in all a great show.

The VS Tour w/ Mega Ran, Willie Evans Jr, Adam WarRock, & DJ DN³


Mega Ran and his cohorts are hitting the road… and your face! In his most recent musical stint, the Capcom-licensed rapper Mega Ran will be embarking on the VS Tour  throughout the United States, beginning in Arizona and concluding the tour with a final bang at SXSW Music, one of the biggest music festivals in the country with more than 2,000 performers. With big names like Adam Warrock, Willie Evans Jr., and DJ DN³ on deck for their first ‘interactive tour’, we guarantee that you’ll be shuffling to what could possibly be one of the best live performances of the year. Oh, and we forgot to mention that Mega Ran plans to hold small fighting game tournaments wherever possible. Who else do you know that does that?!

While the tour is scheduled for this coming Spring, Mega Ran has started a funding campaign with the same name to help raise money for support. With a goal of $2500 in mind and the campaign ending on Tuesday, March 13th, Mega Ran and his dudes have set up sweet packages as incentives for you to help out: $5 will get you audio of the project itself, $10 a physical copy of the VS Project, $15 an exclusive poster and EP, and so on.  The list of locations and dates for the VS Tour is also located below. If interested, please help support Mega Ran’s endeavors into the touring world… We promise that you won’t be disappointed.

[EXPAND Click here for the VS Tour Dates & Locations]

2.24 Tempe, AZ @ Stray Cat w/Adam Warrock and Kirby Krackle
2.25 Tucson, AZ @ Vaudeville
2.27 Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
2.29 Madison, WI @ Inferno
3.2 Louisville, KY @ Louisville Arcade Expo w/Ricky Henry
3.3 Charlotte, NC @ Crown Station w/The ThoughtCriminals and Mr. Invisible
3.4 Columbia, SC @ Conundrum w/Adam Warrock and more
3.5 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree w/Adam Warrock and more
3.6 Jacksonville, FL w/Adam Warrock, Andy D and more
3.7 Orlando, FL @ The Geek Easy w/Adam Warrock and more
3.10 Fayetteville, AR @ Smoke and Barrel w/Adam Warrock and The OneUps
3.11 Ft. Worth, TX @ Aardvark w/Adam Warrock and MC Lunchboxx
3.12 Houston, TX @ Check Other Outfitters w/Adam Warrock and H.I.S.D.
3.13-3.17 Austin, TX @ SXSW Music Festival[/EXPAND]

 

Random Encounter Performance Tomorrow @ The Geek Easy

 

For you Orlando residents out there, we just got word that Random Encounter is playing a free show at the Geek Easy tomorrow, February 24th:

Hey everybody! Did you know we’re playing a FREE SHOW at The Geek Easy in Orlando next Friday the 24th? Because we are! And guess what! We’re playing 2 never before heard songs at this show as well as all of our regular goodies. But make sure to come, because this will be the last time we will play (most) of this set. We’re writing and arranging new music and will not be playing (most) of this stuff for some time! AGAIN, it’s FREE! Star Lake will be joining us and it will be a super amazing time!

With their amazing stage presence and crazy show antics, we’d definitely say that Random Encounter is one of the best live performances we’ve seen in the VGM community to date. This free show is restricted to those 16 and up, so no tweens allowed. And for those who are 21+, you can BYOB (holla!). Donations are also being accepted, so please be generous! Be sure to RSVP on Facebook, as well as enjoy rad tunes from one of the best VGM cover bands out there.

Original Sound Version’s OSVOSTOTY 2011 Awards Winners Announced

 

As we’ve mentioned before, the winners and runner-ups of Original Sound Version‘s 3rd Annual OSVOSTOTY 2011 have been announced today  and the results are quite intriguing. Editor-In-Chief Jayson Napolitano had many bright things to say of the artists that the OSV staff chose for this year, as he states:

The smoke has finally cleared, and we can finally announce our winners and runners-up for our 3rd annual Original Sound Version Original Soundtrack of the Year 2011 Awards. As always, there are a few surprises, and while I know some editors are still passionately clinging to their given favorite, I think that points to the amazing quality and variety of music that was released in 2011. This year in particular saw a number of new franchises and sequels that went in radically different directions, and I think the music accurately reflects this fresh and exploratory direction.

The list of winners and runner-ups are listed after the jump. ThaSauce would also like to congratulate all of the winners and nominees of this year’s 3rd Annual OSVOSTOTY 2011 Awards as well. Here’s to hoping that next year’s awards will be as exciting as ever!

[EXPAND Click here for an official list of the 2011 OSVOSTOTY winners & runner-ups!]

Best Handheld Soundtrack
Winner: Jake Kaufman’s MIGHTY SWITCH FORCE!
1st Runner-Up: Tsutomu Narita’s UnchainBlades ReXX
2nd Runner-Up: Hitoshi Sakimoto’s Valkyria Chronicles 2 -Unrecorded Chronicles-

Nominees: DJMAX Portable 2, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

Best Fan Arrange Album (Western)
Winner: Metroid Arrange 25th Anniversary Album (Bad Dudes)
1st Runner-Up: Intergalatic Redux (The OneUps)
2nd Runner-Up: brass 2: mouth (the minibosses)

Nominees: Harmony of a Hunter (V.A.), Made of Metal (VikingGuitar), No NES For The Wicked (Vomitron)

Best Fan Arrange Album (Eastern)
Winner: UMEMOTO ~He Lives Here~ (WOODSOFT)
1st Runner-Up: FF VIOLIN -FINAL FANTASTIC VIOLIN 2- (TAMUSIC)
2nd Runner-Up: Kinoko Sanmai!! (Mackerel Sky)

Nominees: CHRONO TRIGGER ~Saihate no Kanade~ (earth Japan SOFT), North Wind (Magical Trick Society)

Best Official Arrange Album
Winner: NieR Tribute Album -echo-
1st Runner-Up: SQ Chips
2nd Runner-Up: Hideki Sakamoto Orchestral Works

Nominees: Oboromuramasa Ongakushuu Hensou no Maku, Symphonic Odysseys, The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD

Best Live Concert
Winner: Symphonic Odysseys (Team Merregnon)
1st Runner-Up: The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony (JMP Productions)
2nd Runner-Up: Back to the Future: Two Generations of Film and Video Game Composers (VGO)

Nominees: Gamers X-Mas (David Westerlund), JADE-II (Takeaki Kunimoto), LEGENDS (Team Merregnon)

Best “Other” Release
Winner: Tree of Knowledge (yogurtbox)
1st Runner-Up: IMERUAT (IMERUAT)
2nd Runner-Up: Songs for the Cure ’11: Remedy (V.A.)

Nominees: Now is the point at which I touch eternity (freesscape), Oto Gift (Basiscape), Play for Japan (V.A.)

Best Chip Music Release
Winner: Beautiful Lifestyle (George & Jonathan)
1st Runner-Up: Roots (Danimal Cannon)
2nd Runner-Up: Equilibrium (V.A.)

Nominees: Cheap Dinosaurs (Cheap Dinosaurs), SOUNDSHOCK: FM FUNK MADDNESS!! (V.A.), The Octagon (Jonathan Baken)

Best Indie Game Soundtrack
Winner: Bastion
1st Runner-Up: Jamestown
2nd Runner-Up: Sword & Sworcery

Nominees: Cthulhu Saves The World, Escape Goat, Ravenmark: Scourge of Estellion

Best Sound Design
Winner: Portal 2
1st Runner-Up: Batman: Arkham City
2nd Runner-Up: Dead Space 2

Nominees: L.A. Noire, Limbo, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Best In-Game Soundtrack
Winner: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
1st Runner-Up: Dark Souls
2nd Runner-Up: Child of Eden

Nominees: Dead Space 2, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, Uncharted 2: Drake’s Deception

Soundtrack of the Year
Winner: Final Fantasy XIII-2
1st Runner-Up: Deus Ex: Human Revolution
2nd Runner-Up: Rayman Origins

Nominees: Bloodrayne: Betrayal, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword[/EXPAND]

Pro Tip: Get In On zircon’s Production Workshop Tonight

 

In his most recent Facebook update, award-winning sound designer and audio specialist Andrew Aversa has just announced that he will be hosting a free production session today, February 16th  for those who are interesting in learning the finer aspects of audio production and sound tuning:

This FRIDAY at 9pm EST, I’m going to do an experimental 1 hour long live production session. I’ll work on a track, take some Q&A, talk tech and just generally have a good time. If it goes well I’ll probably do both freeform sessions and maybe more structured classes focused on Q&A, at a low price per ‘seat’ (like $5-10).

Better known by his exhaustive involvement in the VGM community as zircon, Aversa has arranged and collaborated on over twenty accepted submissions and projects for OverClocked ReMix since 2004. He has also produced music for a variety of video games, television, and interactive media, such as Soul Caliber V, Return All Robots!, Heroes, and MTV’s Making Of series to name a few.

With zircon’s substantial experience with video game music and sound, we would like to urge aspiring professional composers and remixers or even those interested in exploring the scope of sound design to take advantage of this exciting event (can we just mention again that it’s free?). The production session will be hosted on Livestream.

Nerdy Show’s MegaCon Panel with Brian Clevinger This Sunday

We’ve just received word that the folks behind Nerdy Show, one of our favorite podcasts for nerd culture & general interweb shenanigans, will be present at this year’s MegaCon in Orlando, FL to raise money for a charity dedicated to Triforce Mike’s memory:

If you are attending MegaCon this weekend, stop by & say hi to the A Comic Shop crew at the Nerdy Show table in Artist Alley, white section, table 13. We’ll have Triforce Mike’s new comic Dungeons & Doritos #1 and his tribute T-Shirts available for sale to raise money for the charity started in his memory. Hope to see lots of friendly faces there!

As one of the largest sci-fi and comic book conventions in Orlando, MegaCon 2012 will commence this Friday, February 17th through Sunday, February 19th. Special guest Brian Clevinger, the mastermind behind popular webcomic 8-Bit Theater and the Eisner-nominated Atomic Robo, will also be present at Nerdy Show’s MegaCon Panel this Sunday in Room 221C at 3 PM. If you happen to be interested in attending MegaCon, one-day and three-day tickets are available on-site for $25 and $60, respectively.

EARTHBOUND PAPAS “Metal Hypnotized” Contest Winners Published

You might remember the EARTHBOUND PAPAS contest we mentioned a few weeks back that invited EBP fans to remix or arrange their hit single “Metal Hypnotized”. According to contest rules, there were no limitations to how you can actually remix or arrange this song, as instrumentals and lyrics could be played or replaced with other members.  The EBP themselves also listened to each submitted track in order to choose the winners that were officially announced today.

As excited as we were to see the winning submissions of the contest, we were elated to find out that one of ThaSauce’s very own featured artists has been chosen to be a guest performer on the next EARTHBOUND PAPAS album. As shown above, Tony Dickinson, also known as Prince of Darkness, single-handedly transforms “Metal Hypnotized” into his own metal symphony with a nice touch of epic shredding that puts even the best metal bands to shame. Other notable entries (like this great 8-bit interpretation by Nikola Whallon or this piano composition by eba9production) were also rewarded with special autographed prizes from EARTHBOUND PAPAS.

ThaSauce would like to congratulate Tony Dickinson and the rest of the EBP contest participants who entered in the contest. Thanks for taking time out to create such incredible interpretations for one of our favorite EBP songs!

10th Annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards Nominees Announced


On March 8th, the Game Audio Network Guild will celebrate its tenth annual G.A.N.G Awards at Game Developers Conference 2012 to commemorate the highest quality and achievement of those individuals, projects and products offering a significant and positive impact on the art and craft of interactive audio. Formed in 2001, The Game Audio Network Guild has quickly evolved over the years to become one of the largest game audio communities in the world. As such, it’s only fitting that the criteria involved for nominees of the G.A.N.G Awards include production value, quality, innovation and community service.

The full list of nominees are announced below and we’d say that it seems pretty fair. What do you think?

[EXPAND Click here for the official list of nominees for the 10th Annual G.A.N.G Awards]

AUDIO OF THE YEAR
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dead Space 2
Gears of War 3
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

MUSIC OF THE YEAR
Batman: Arkham City
InFamous 2
Kinect Disneyland Adventures
L.A. Noire
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

SOUND DESIGN OF THE YEAR
Battlefield 3
Forza Motorsport 4
Gears of War 3
NCAA Football 12
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST SOUNDTRACK ALBUM
Batman: Arkham City
Dead Space 2
Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
Star Wars: The Old Republic
T
he Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST INTERACTIVE SCORE
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Dead Space 2
Kinect Disneyland Adventures
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST HANDHELD AUDIO
Death Rally HD
Infinity Blade II
Monster Hunter 3G
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
Super Mario 3D Land

BEST AUDIO IN A CASUAL/INDIE/SOCIAL GAME
Bastion
Conspiracy
Monday Night Combat
Orcs Must Die
Star Wars: Clone War Adventures
WindUp Knight

BEST CINEMATIC/CUT-SCENE AUDIO
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Crysis 2
Gears of War 3
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST DIALOGUE
Battlefield 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
L.A. Noire
Portal 2
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL
“Lacrimosa” – Dead Space 2
“Main Theme” – Deus Ex: Human Revolution
“GameWrapper” – Kinect Disneyland Adventures
“Pirate Dance” – Kinectimals Gold
“Glory, The Galactic Republic” – Star Wars: The Old Republic
“Small Beginnings” – Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – CHORAL
“Main Theme” – Batman: Arkham City
“Storm Clouds Over Stalingrad” – Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
“Guardians Theme” – RIFT
“Clash of Destiny” – Star Wars: The Old Republic
“Main Theme” – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

BEST ORIGINAL VOCAL – POP
“Rogue Heart”  – Dragon Age II
“Torched Song” – L.A. Noire
“Victoria’s Lab” – LittleBigPlanet 2
“Wabby Wabbo” – Plants Vs. Zombies (PS3/XBOX360)
“Want You Gone” – Portal 2
“Kayfoundo Naweea (Hungry Eyes)” – Star Wars: The Old Republic

BEST AUDIO MIX
Batman: Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Crysis 2
L.A. Noire
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

BEST USE OF LICENSED MUSIC
Kinect Disneyland Adventures
LittleBigPlanet 2
MLB 11: The Show
Rocksmith
Shift 2: Unleashed – Need for Speed
Stacking

BEST GAME AUDIO ARTICLE, PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST
Designing the Boot Sound for the Original XBOX
Game Developer Magazine – “Three Erroneous Conceits”
Mixing as Part of the Music Composing Process
Sound Effects Transformation: From This to That
The Use of Voice in Portal 2[/EXPAND]

The tenth annual Game Audio Network Guild Awards will commence on March 8th in San Francisco as part of the larger Game Developers Conference that will be occur at the same time. Be sure to check ThaSauce for the latest up-to-date news on G.A.N.G winners for this year!

Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy Tour Hits North America

Any Final Fantasy fans still out there? Touted as the ultimate “unique multimedia concert experience”, the official Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy world-tour has just launched in North America. Originating in Sweden in 2007, Distant Worlds features classic Final Fantasy selections with state of the art HD video presentations filled with exclusive images direct from Square Enix and  has performed regularly in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Under the direction of Grammy Award-winner and acclaimed conductor Arnie Roth, the concerts are performed by symphony orchestra, choir, and renowned vocal and instrumental soloists.

But wait, there’s more! If you happen to be a Video Game Orchestra fan, there’s a special treat for those who live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The VGO creator and director Shota Nakama will be performing with his guitar at the Distant Worlds concert on February 25, 2012 at 8PM. Song highlights include “Eyes On Me” featuring Susan Calloway, “Dear Friends” and “Vamo’ alla Flamenco” featuring guitarist Mr. Nakama, “Zanarkand”, “Maria and Draco”, “The Man With The Machine Gun”, “Blinded By Light” and “Aerith’s Theme”.

While the first concert performance will be in Pittsburgh, the tour will roam around North America with stops in Ontario, Boston, St. Louis, and Toronto from February to March. Be sure to check out the official Distant Worlds website to get your tickets for this special, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.