Roll With It

A set of music for GMTK 2022

 Posted on July 18, 2022

It’s a set of music for the GMTK game jam.

About the game

The theme of this jam is Roll Of The Dice. Our team has created a game consisting of 6 mini-games. Each time the dice is rolled, the player is taken to a different game including:

  • Serve: Serve the right food to the right customer, but do it quickly or they will get angry!
  • Avoid: The goal is simple - avoid the bullets.
  • Jump: Jump over the obstacles and try not to die.
  • Count: Match the number on the screen with the number of dots on the dice before time runs out.
  • Care: Keep Dicey alive by feeding him at the right intervals. Don’t feed him too little - he’ll starve, but don’t feed him too much either.
  • Chill: Take a breather. Maybe pet your cat. Have a sip of tea. This break will not last long, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Here is the link to the game

Music on SoundCloud

Here is the link for the music:

Music required

Since it consists of 6 mini-games, we decide to make 6 pieces of music. Once for each. Also

  • We are going to make all six pieces of music the same melody, and the same tempo. In this way, we can switch between different games but keep the music playing.
  • However, the 6 mini-games are different in design, the music should fit each mini-game.

Well, to make 6 pieces of music in two days (GMTK 2022 is a 48-hour jam) is not easy. Luckily, we are not going to make 6 different pieces of music, but 1 music and 5 variations.

Design of music

The first music I work on is Serve:

  • Making the melody and harmony is nothing special.
  • It’s a basic binary form music. I try to balance the music in two sections.
  • Choosing the tempo is a BIG headache. It needs to fit all the music (so they are the same length and can switch to each other freely)
  • It’s mostly finished in the afternoon of the first day.

Avoid is the second one:

  • It’s the most challenging game among the six. The player may (or should) be pushed a bit hard.
  • The music should be thrilling but not that thrilling.
  • Some more beats are added so it’s hot-blooded.
  • One more Pad is added so it is thicker.

The third one is the Care:

  • It should be relatively relaxing.
  • As a comparison. Piano and violin are added to make it lush and beautiful (I do love the combination of piano and violin)
  • The String does make it feels a bit slow and calm.
  • Also, the drum sets are changed to a weaker one.
  • We tried to use a meow sound for the melody. It does not work.

Chill is designed for the player to relax:

  • It should be an ambient one.
  • But, sorry, I cannot change the tempo. I try to make it as chill as I could.
  • Large reverb is used. No, a large reveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerb is used in the music. It feels good.

Jump comes next:

  • This is as challenging as the Avoid. I’m encouraged to make it overwhelming.
  • A new set of drums is used. To add some force and a punchy feel to it.
  • Personally, the kick fits well in the music like a footstep sound.

The last one, Count:

  • This should be between the Care and Serve. Not as calm as petting the cat, but not that pushing as working in the restaurant.
  • Trumpet and saxophone are used to add a tone of jazz.
  • Drum beats are re-arranged.
  • This is the last minute of the second day. I’m in a hurry. Not sure if it’s well-balanced.

Since I make music just for fun. Whoever comes here can use my music freely in their project as long as you credit it.

Music  EDM  Calm  Relaxing  GameJam  Jazz 

See also