Minor in Game and Interactive Media Scoring
In the minor in game and interactive media scoring, students will gain the knowledge, commitment, and practical, professional skills for a successful, sustainable music career in the video game industry. The minor provides a framework of courses that comprise a survey and history of music in video games, a working knowledge of the video game industry, and interactive scoring techniques applied to the composition of video game music. This minor will focus on modern approaches to music in video games, professional opportunities and development, business aspects, evolving technology, and creative development.
This program is focused on collaboration, not only within Berklee, but also with universities offering the top video game development programs. These collaborations allow Berklee students to experience real-world game development and to learn by directly working on actual games designed by other students. This minor allows students to further explore and cultivate career opportunities, relevant technologies, compositional techniques, aesthetics, historical perspective, self-discipline, musicianship, and storytelling.
Annually, video games represent a more than $20 billion revenue stream in which many composers, sound designers, and related audio professionals can participate. Many Berklee alumni have gone on to work in audio for video games, and it represents a great opportunity for future students. The minor in game and interactive media scoring emphasizes the opportunities for growth for musicians in this industry.
This minor is open to all. Students must follow the regular declaration of minor/specialization procedure as outlined in the Registration Guide. This minor is managed by the Screen Scoring Department.
Upon completion of a minor in game and interactive media scoring, students will:
- demonstrate a broad knowledge of video game history as it applies to interactive musical advances;
- compose and produce scores using the most common interactive composition techniques for video games;
- describe the business of making video games and the development process of modern games, including types of industry jobs, budgeting, scheduling, and networking;
- implement music in a game using a middleware engine;
- collaborate with game developers using technology tools and interpersonal and organizational skills;
- use sample libraries, sequencers, and samplers to create convincing orchestral mockups as well as synth sounds; and
- conduct a recording session for an interactive project.
Core Courses (take all of the following; 8 credits):
- GAIM-271 Introduction to Game and Interactive Media Scoring (2 credits)
- GAIM-371 Scoring for Interactive Media (3 credits)
- LHUM-433 Digital Narrative Theory and Practice (3 credits)
MIDI and Audio Production (choose one of the following; 2 credits)
- PW-365 Orchestral Mock-Up Production (2 credits)
- MTEC-280 Introduction to Sound Design (2 credits)
- GAIM-381 Audio Foundations of Interactive Media (2 credits)
- FILM-465 Advanced Orchestral Mockup Production (*This course is only electable by FILM majors) (2 credits)
Middleware (choose one of the following; 1 credit)
- GAIM-201 Unity for Musicians (1 credit)
- GAIM-202 Wwise for Musicians (1 credit)
- GAIM-203 FMOD for Musicians (1 credit)
11 total credits required for this minor.