Global composer Kevin Penkin to keynote value of music in games at High Score

According to the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, Australia’s video game industry generated $2.958 billion in revenue in 2017 – a 4% rise from 2016.

Its biggest market is the US followed by Europe.

So clearly, it makes sense for Australian music composers wanting to find global acknowledgement and revenue to tap into video games.

As part of Melbourne International Games Week, APRA AMCOS, in partnership with Creative Victoria, will present its popular High Score: Composition and Sound Art for Gaming, a full day dedicated to the craft and business of composing for games.

They introduced it last year and it was a sell-out so it’s back another year.

Composer and video games/Pokemon fanatic Kevin Penkin, born in Perth and now living in London, will deliver a keynote about the value of music to games.

Penkin is best known for the anime series Made in Abyss and the Melbourne-based Florence game soundtrack.

His interest in game music came from listening to the Phendrana Drifts theme from Metroid Prime; describing the theme’s electronic synths and acoustic instruments as “absolute bliss”.

Music for movies and games start off in the same way, he explains, you create a world around it and try and discover what is unique about it.

With games, he adds, the music needs a lot of movement to reflect the different levels.

“Video game music is really coming into its own, and I am so thrilled to be heading to Melbourne to talk about the nuances, skills and the process of composing for games,” said Penkin, who started composing seven years ago.

In 2015, he graduated from the Royal College of Music with a master’s degree in composition for screen.

His games work includes collaborations with legendary Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu on Jūzaengi: Engetsu Sangokuden, Norn9 and Defender’s Quest II: Mists of Ruin.

“High Score is the kind of event I wish I could have attended when I was just starting out,” he says.

High Score takes place at Southbank’s game development hub The Arcade on Saturday October 20, and facilitated by host of ABC ME’s Spawn Point Angharad ‘Rad’ Yeo.

Talks cover quick bytes on AI and how to work with developers, to in-depth industry panels covering royalties, grants, licensing and beyond, composers and music creators of all skill levels are encouraged to attend.

Also announced for the event are BAFTA-winning composer Jeff van Dyck and audio designer Anne-Marie Weber, the creatives behind the sound world of Hand of Fate 2.

Co-founders of Melbourne’s Girl Geek Academy, Sarah Moran and Lisy Kane will speak on diversity in teams, project management, and how to break into the industry.

Executives from Remote Control Records, Film Victoria, Pozible, The Otherworld Agency and more also take part.

Jana Gibson, head of member services at APRA AMCOS said: “Composing music and sound for games is by no means a niche speciality.

“It is a very viable professional opportunity, and we’ve produced High Score to help composers make inroads into this growing and diverse sector.

“It’s fantastic to have music as part of a really dynamic offering of programs at Melbourne International Games Week.”