Mix Challenge

• Please consult the official and very simple "Rules and Guidelines" (TL;DR version) for the Songwriting Competition regarding principles of the game, it's engaging game mechanics (allowed editing/re-submission of your entry until the deadline has been reached) and upload/submission guidelines.
• The general idea of this game is to "...just make music", to also challenge yourself by stepping a bit out of your comfort zone, and take a dip at realms you've never worked in before. Instrumentals are just as welcome as productions with vocals.
• The Genre, "Premise" and Rules Summary for this months challenge can always be found in in post #002

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: A small group of (fictional) Indie Developers reached out on the internet, looking for songwriters for their upcoming Hidden Object Game (often abbreviated as "HOG"), which is a planned return of a famous gaming franchise. They provided an interesting, yet funny description what they're looking for.


There is a ZIP bundle available with a more detailed "brief", and additional visuals for inspiration.

You can find the material under the following link:
SWC095 Video Game Soundtrack Visuals Pack - on the Mix Challenge server (715 kb, zip)

Indie Developer Game Company wrote: Hello there!
We are the "Crazy Basement Dwellers", nice to meet you.

We are honored to continue one of the most famous Puzzle Game / Hidden Object Game franchises out there. Yes, we are working on the next "Drancy New" title, which will be a long awaited sequel, and also a bit of a soft reboot. It will pick up a couple of years after Drancy's last adventure, and she will eventually pass on the torch to her grand-grand-grand-cousin (at least, that is the current plan). Of course you will hear/see old fan favorites, like Drancy's friend Tess, who will get into all kinds of crazy shenanigans this time around. There will be time travel, and "ghosts", and pirates, and monsters, and a lot of gear puzzles, and even more weird image puzzles. We might even do a long requested musical number. However, we're not sure about that yet. The code-name for the game is currently "Dude, where is my cat?!".

Due to an unfortunate freak incident with resin on a keyhole, not to mention a missing door handle, we've sadly lost access to our main songwriter. After trying various objects on a string to get that door open, we tried calling into the beyond, but we only get these weird noises on the phone. We're recently also getting these empty letters that we can't decipher. And then there seems to be this cat roaming around our studio now, with a small bag on it's harness that holds some solvent and a key to get that resin on that door open. But every time we try to reach for the cat with a long object, it just runs away and keeps knocking over our coffee mugs.

As you can see, we're definitely short on staff. And this is where you can volunteer... er, we mean apply for a new and exciting position at a game studio that doesn't take things too seriously. Also, we offer a nigh unlimited supply of pizza and various beverages.

All this makes no sense to you? FANTASTIC! Then you're perfect for the job.

Thank you for your time and efforts.
We look forward to hear what you come up with.

- the development team
"Crazy Basement Dwellers"

(the post is followed up with a lot of scribbling on paper with plenty of coffee stains)



YOUR TASK FOR THIS JOB APPLICATION:

You're asked to compose a piece of music that might work well for a "Hidden Object Game". The core idea is a "grand detective mystery" with all kinds of shenanigans. We would like to know how you interpret a "yet another stumbled into" detective mystery that feels like it's playing in the 1990s, but it's about 20 years later. It should fit the already existing universe of "Drancy New", we've provided audio demos. (see below)

We're not after a vocalized image theme for the time being, we're looking for music that can fit the puzzles.
We would love to hear something between 3-4 minutes of run-time (4:00 minutes max!).

.



Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This month, you can create a production in the (Video Game) Soundtrack genre.


Please read the provided "brief", as it gives you a roadmap as to what the developers are looking for. The songs should be instrumental (oohs/aahs as "choir" are allowed) and should not exceed a running time of 4:00 minutes. The song doesn't need to be able to run in a loop.

The sub-genre or rather "style" is up to you. As usual, you can try to push boundaries. And even though feedback will be limited (no "demo snippets", please), the clients will tell you if you're in the right area they are looking for.

This will be no easy task. However, I am looking forward to listening to your productions.
Have fun!

► Show Spoiler

Summary:

• create a production fitting to the given theme, genre and general premise
• you can use any tool that is at your disposal (samples, virtual instruments and/or real instruments), exceptions apply regarding vocal sample usage and certain songwriting tools)
• IMPORTANT: if you use non-licensed material (as in: non royalty free material from sample CDs, etc), give full credit to the source material
• for newcomers: no finished productions that have already been released outside of the time frame of the current Songwriting Competition (Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, etc), no cover versions or remixes of other artists, no ripped acapella's -- please only showcase your own new and original content (you are allowed to "remix yourself", recreate an old project, etc)
• do not go higher than -14,0 LUFS ILk/-1,00 dBTP in terms of perceived loudness (mastering). Music doesn't have to be squashed to bits in order to be impactful
• name your files properly prior to uploading and make the production downloadable. If you opt to present your entry through SoundCloud, the forum can also convert your links into a Soundcloud player through the [soundcloud] BBCode from the text editor (orange square with a white cloud in it)

Add-On Rules:

• <no (additional) add-on rules specified>

Filename Template: SWC095__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3

• example: SWC095__MisterFox__ColorOfTheSky.wav
• example: SWC095__Mister_Fox__Color_of_the_sky.wav

Please also try to provide only one file format (ideally the highest quality possible).


For a full set of rules, please consult the Official Rules and Guidelines (see Rule Book post #6). If you got any questions regarding the game mechanics or similar, please either utilize the global Gossip and Discussion thread, or reach out through Discord.

► Show Spoiler

Available Bonus Prizes for Songwriting Challenge participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.


RECURRING LICENSE SPONSORSHIP:


Cherry Audio is kind enough to give away one license of Voltage Modular Ignite, plus either a license of "Year One Collection" or "Year Two Collection"
Licenses will turn into NFR
More info on Cherry Audio: https://cherryaudio.com



IK Multimedia is kind enough to give away one license of MODO BASS 2 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Musiclab is kind enough to donate any 1 guitar of your choice to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Musiclab: https://www.musiclab.com



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Saurus4 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



kv331 audio is kind enough to either give away a SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
Licenses will not turn into NFR, you need to have a kv311 audio user account in order to pick up Expansions
More info on kv331 audio: https://www.kv331audio.com



JRR Sounds is kind enough to give away any-1 sound sets or sample set of winner's choice (exception: Bundles)
More info on JRR Sounds: https://www.jrrshop.com/jrr-sounds



Luftrum is kind enough to give away either a license of Lunaris 2, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum: https://www.luftrum.com/



Rekkerd Sounds is kind enough to give away 1 sound set of winners choice (exception: Krezie EDM and Neurofunk Vol. 1)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Rekkerd Sounds: https://sounds.rekkerd.org/



Ghostwave Audio (Vincent Bastiat) is kind enough to donate any 2 sound sets to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Ghostwave Audio: https://ghostwaveaudio.com



Hollow Sun is kind to donate one license of "Music Laboratory Machines - The Suite I" to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hollow Sun: http://www.hollowsun.com



Hornet Plugins is kind enough to give away any one license of winner's choice, alternatively any-2 licenses "Custom Bundle" with a total value less than 20 EUR MSRP
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins: https://www.hornetplugins.com



Sound / Graphic Designer, and honorary Mix Challenge staff satYatunes is donating one commercial product of winner's choice (until further notice)
More info on satYatune's page: https://satyatunes.com/



THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.