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Dev Blog #28: Developer Interview - calgoblin

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MaverickFM

Pathfinder Games
This week I had a catchup with Calgoblin, our Lead Composer and Sound Artist.
1. What brought you to TW?
I was initially sourced out by [TWDEV] hannibaldinski, I think through IndieDB. As I was joining the project Traction Wars was shifting from a mod to being a full standalone game, which meant there was a great opportunity to grow with it. Being just out of college I had minimal prior development experience, but had been composing music for many years. Game development had always been an interest for me, and Hanni believed I could write ’epic music’, so joining the team seemed a perfect match.


2. What does your role involve?

I have spent a lot of time working on the soundtrack which has been continuously growing ever since I joined. (Some of the tracks were written so long ago that they have had to be reworked as fit in with the more recent additions.) Not much composing happens these days, but it is still important to keep on top of various themes and edit them to fit into the dynamic score.


The other half of my role focuses solely on audio, which includes designing, sourcing and editing sound effects required for the game. Implementation of all those sounds is a huge task and I spend a lot of time in Wwise testing and reworking various ideas; experimenting with parameters and trying to get the most out of the audio. The final stage comes in linking the Wwise audio events to objects in Cryengine, which is when all the previous steps finally make sense!


3. How has your role changed?
Given that I originally applied just for a composer role, moving up to Lead Composer/Sound Designer meant learning audio design and specialising in game audio, which has come primarily from university and my experience on the TW team. It was a logical progression for my role in the audio department, and has created the responsibility to ensure all the audio is consistent, accurate and immersive. I also get to work closely with other audio designers and our resident voice artist, ScheifferB.


4. What have you done so far?
I’ve produced sounds for many of our weapons, created explosions and Foley and various other audio effects; I’ve been creating dynamic distance-based effects and have so far implemented over 900 audio files; I’ve worked closely with ScheifferB in producing dialogue for the British and also with Two Big Ears in getting real 3D audio working with 3Dception; I’ve also done a lot of composing and now need a cup of tea!


5. What do you enjoy most about game development?
Seeing (and hearing) everything come together. Usually when I start work on an object or task it is entirely mute and, although very pretty, the visuals will probably not be as effective until audio has been added. But when the audio matches perfectly, suddenly that weapon or animation has come to life. There is a lot of trial and error, and a lot of learning, but very rewarding when it all comes together.


6. What is your favourite sound?
I recorded General Naga saying 'wee' during one of our playtests and afterwards abused it tremendously. It became the default testing sound for every new weapon or piece of equipment; nothing is more threatening than hearing ‘wee’ firing all around you at various pitches.

My favourite serious sound is our soundset for the Thompson SMG, which is greatly satisfying to fire. Combined with our 3Dception implementation and bullet whizzing and ricocheting sounds when you are being shot at, it is truly terrifying.


7. What is your favourite TW composition?
This question would make a very good community poll... But my favourite composition would be Where Are You; a remembrance piece based on a poem written by a partner of an airforce pilot who was widowed by the war. It contains a lot of emotion and am hopeful to find a place for it ingame. Other favourites of mine include the theme for the British, Faire la Guerre, and the Pegasus theme, which is now also on our Soundcloud!

https://soundcloud.com/https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Ftractionwars%2Fpegasus
8. What equipment do you use?
All of my work is on a PC - laptop or desktop, depending on what is needed and where I am. Audio editing takes place primarily in Cubase or Audition, but I've also been known to use Logic, SoundForge and Audacity. All of my compositions are done in Cubase with the assistance of a Behringer keyboard and occasional virtual touch-screen drum pads if I'm feeling particularly experimental. Field recordings are done with my trusted portable recorder and Rode NTG2 shotgun microphone, which have been used to record the birds and trees of Traction Wars.


9. What is your favourite cookie?
I'm a sucker for anything double chocolate, triple chocolate, quadruple chocolate with additional melted chocolate inside... But white chocolate and raspberry is a personal favourite.​



We will be back in two weeks time with another update but in the meantime you can find us on social media from the links below!

 
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FlyingR

Member
Cal, I'll keep telling you... that theme is very very good, a piece of art! That build-up... it makes me anxious of what is going to come next! Please make that theme or an extended version of it for the loading screen of Pegasus!

Is is possible to download it? :D
 

Esu21

Member
Usually when I start work on an object or task it is entirely mute and, although very pretty, the visuals will probably not be as effective until audio has been added. But when the audio matches perfectly, suddenly that weapon or animation has come to life. There is a lot of trial and error, and a lot of learning, but very rewarding when it all comes together.

The way you express this is amazing. Really made me think of what any game would be without sound...

Oh, and what an epic theme!
 

Simon

Senior Member
"My favourite serious sound is our soundset for the Thompson SMG, which is greatly satisfying to fire. Combined with our 3Dception implementation and bullet whizzing and ricocheting sounds when you are being shot at, it is truly terrifying."

Can it get better than that? I think not
 

matthew3

Member
This is great to hear and see,,, im also interested in audio engineering and sound design, good to see someone show interest in audio for games, would be an awesome job .
 

Aniallator

Member
Clearly, @calgoblin is some form of higher being. If only there was a word that described a group of people who worshipped one or more godlike figures... oh, well.
 
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