We’re starting a little series on here that takes a look at what it’s like to be an indie video game composer, offering tips for the business side of things as well as insight into the process of designing music and sound for video games.

Years ago, the prospects for an indie game composer – especially one influenced by chiptune and classic gaming tunes – were slim. If you weren’t an uber-talented genius with the right connections, it was not a viable way to make a living. While it’s still not the easiest lifestyle, I can say it is possible. Read on to find out exactly what it takes and feel free to add any questions you have to the comments.

I have spent the last year and a half supporting my family on freelance endeavors in the gaming world. Right off the bat, I want to say that I don’t consider myself the top-of-the-line expert in the world or production and sound design. I have a background of playing in ska bands as a kid and just being nuts about game music since the NES came out. I’ve never worked on an AAA game, I don’t have an agent or a $50,000 home studio. That being said, however, thanks to the explosion in video game design and advances like the iOS market, I can make a decent living doing what I love.

This series will answer questions like, “what’s the bare minimum you need to get started?”, “how do you find clients?” and other things like that. Feel free to post in the comments any topics you have questions on. I plan to consult with other indie musicians for feedback as well.

Part I: What It Takes

Flexibility

If you’re thinking of having a go at making music for a living, there are some things you need to make sure you are aware of. First off, you probably will have to make types of music you don’t know or particularly like from time to time. For example, if all you do is dubstep or chiptune, you’re narrowing down the type of clients and the type of games you’re music applies to. Be prepared to emulate everything from classic orchestral tunes to hard-driving electronic and industrial music. You can’t be picky, this is how you make your living, you might be making nothing but little kids game music for months. You have to be able to make it your own and find some fun in the process if its not the music of your choice.

Continue reading Life as A Freelance Video Game Musician: Part 1: What It Takes →