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Futuristic Runaway's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Correlation to theme | #78 | 3.667 | 3.667 |
| Creativity | #88 | 3.667 | 3.667 |
| Overall | #120 | 3.405 | 3.405 |
| Quality | #133 | 3.333 | 3.333 |
| Composition | #140 | 3.154 | 3.154 |
| Impression | #141 | 3.205 | 3.205 |
Ranked from 39 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
My inspiration was taken directly from the competition's image and 'Runaway' tag, with the goal of giving it a cybernetic-edge fully awash with synths and digital sound-debris.
When my computer synth setup entirely stopped working (I've been using BUZE for ages without issue until now), I thought that my chances to compose something for the competition had died with it, but then I randomly stumbled across Waveform 11 and it turned out to be a complete godsend - everything you hear on these three tracks made use of settings from that program and my MIDI keyboard - played direct (my approach is immediate and I play/record live as a literal jam - I feel more comfortable composing in-the-moment because it's much harder to overthink, which zaps my creativity quickly).
The game that this soundtrack is from - "Futuristic Runaway" - tells the story of the character Glitch. The game itself is a modest pixel-based 2D side-scroller with a striking visual style capturing vivid shadings of pink, purple and aqua.
I've separated my recording into three 'chapters' which reflect the three distinct sections of the game.
Chapter One "Run Away" covers the Glitch's decision to pack up and leave home (after they discover a cyberwolf has decided to take residence), with a focus on stealthily finding and collecting some needed items - backpack, electrosword (their primary weapon) and food - and then heading for the front door.
Chapter Two "Lost in the Neon Forest" focuses on Glitch heading further into unknown (and increasingly unsafe) territory as they encounter sinister forest beings (neon spiders that drop from above and attack, pulsing cable-vines that electrocute when touched). Glitch is able to obtain components to upgrade their electrosword whenever they overcome an enemy. The chapter culminates in a boss-battle with a fully grown cyberwolf (similar to the one that they encountered earlier however larger and more fierce), hopefully with enough upgrades on board to emerge victorious.
Chapter Three "Safe Back Home" involves Glitch having cleared the danger of the forest and their decision to return to the safety of their home, where they discover the cyberwolf has left. But is it happily ever after ??
Credit for the cool cover image to the AI-run NightCafe Creator.
Download/play of these tracks can also be found at:
https://driveelizabeth.bandcamp.com/album/futuristic-runaway-itch-io-ost-composi...
and
https://soundcloud.com/driveelizabeth/sets/futuristic-runaway
Credit for the cool cover image to the AI-run NightCafe Creator.
Message from the artist:
Thanks for looking at my entry for itch.io's OST Composing Jam #4. It's great to be included amongst so much talent and inspiration!
Theme:
How does it fit the theme?
I've separated the recording into three 'chapters' - the first capturing the protagonist's desire to pack up and leave home, the second reflecting sinister things (neon spiders!) when they become lost and scared, and the third suggesting the relief of escape and returning to the comfort of home.
Due to the exclusive use of synthesised sounds, I wanted to shift the idea of being a runaway to a futuristic space.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/driveelizabeth/sets/futuristic-runaway
https://driveelizabeth.bandcamp.com/album/futuristic-runaway-itch-io-ost-composing-jam-4-entry
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Comments
Very pleasant, a tip I have is I would add a little quantization and some more atmospheric sounds to make the sound fuller.
Thanks for listening and for the suggestion!
Very nice soundtrack, I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the sound, great work!
Thank you!
Pretty nice synthwave timbre, sounds pretty well in general you nailed what you said about the theme it fits perfectly the description. My only comments would be to watch out your playing and quantize, alot of the times it feels a little off, you can still quantize notes in a "human" way so it doesn't sound robotic but its still in time. Good job though.
I recorded the synth tracks direct to audio which severely limited my ability to adjust post, so quantising wasn't really an option. I completely agree with your feedback, I can hear the small timing inconsistencies and would love it to be tighter - next time this will be my focus!
Futuristic Runaway is quite original ! And it was very pleasant to discover ! Good Job !
Glad you enjoyed it.
I love how you implemented the main melody so seamlessly! And for whatever reason, the more ambient synth you used in the second track reminded me of Lone Survivor, if you've ever heard of it (it's a psychological survivor horror game). There's this creepy ambient sound they use when you explore an apartment with zombie-like creatures everywhere. Your second track gave off a similar vibe of constant danger and feeling vulnerable/out in the open.
Also I'm glad you were able to get things working again, tech issues are the worst -_-
Thank you! I don't actually play video/computer games so references are generally lost on me! If the track reminded you of something it tells me I'm on the right track in terms of sound and structure though, which is good!
I really like the story that goes with all of this. The music matches it really well. Also really like how the pieces all go together with that lower (2ndary?) melody going throughout with some shifts.
Thanks! I tried to keep it both familiar and fresh which was a fun challenge.
All three tracks reflect the ambiance perfectly. I can imagine they all fit the story you're telling. I love the sound of the synths you used. Good work!
Thank you for the kind words!
Well done, I loved the three track. I gave you some suggestion if you don't mind. :) Take care!
Chapter one: Well done, I really love the synthwave vibe. I can see these colors and idea in front of my eyes. What I can suggest you a little bit, if you would like to give a more old vibe, you can give a little bit pitch shifting with an LFO on some instruments. It will be sound a little bit dirty, that gives more depth for the instrument. But well done. High five for the slow flow.
Chapter two: Oh God I love so much the sub like drone sounds. Hell yeah, It sounds like a dark movie. I love the unison trick. The glitchy thing drives me crazy, hell yeah. I really love the arrangement. My ears a little bit pleased for more bass, more like sub bass.
chapter three: Just suggesting, a little more reverb for the drops. Cool lead sounds, nope, cool synth sound for all of these. I like how you keep the mood of the track. well done. Only a little bit more bass. :D but it's my taste.
I really appreciate your suggestions - my knowledge base isn't huge in terms of more complex EQing but I'm keen to go back and see if I can learn the tricks you've suggested to see what they do to the sound. I'm always learning something so thank you!
you are welcome! :) Don't get it too seriously for the first time. If you do more tracks and you catch more videos on you tube, you will get enough practice. :)
I think the live aspect is really cool and the small imperfections every now and then really give it a live feeling. I'm actually quite surprised how tight it all is for a live performance!
Run away - Sounds good. It's a pretty welcoming opening track.
Lost in the Neon Forest - I feel now we've entered the dangerous portion of the game. Where I really need to start paying attention to not making mistakes. I really enjoyed that opening synth. Also like that the theme comes back.
Safe Back Home - I think this is my favourite. I'm a sucker for that Synth Brass sound.
Great work!
Thank you for the kind reframe of having a live feeling - maybe it's a little bit of the organic remaining in the digital future!
I really liked 2 and 3. Synths add futurism!
That's where my mind and ears took me too!
Loving the future synth elements in here! Great use of the main theme throughout these tracks. Nice submission!
Thanks! I did enjoy playing with variation of a theme without departing too far from it where it became something else.
Love these synths and the use of leitmotif!
Hi! Great submission, I like how you said you "perform" the tracks live, it does feel alive. The fact that you use very similar instruments throughout all three chapters makes the whole coherent.
Here's my quick impression of the three chapters.
Chapter 1: My favorite of the three, a great introductive theme, I can clearly see Glitch packing their things and the player navigating in a tutorial zone / not-that-dangerous zone.
Chapter 2: You set up the tone and overall ambience. Something that is hostile yet you feel like you can overcome this Neon Forest with that electrosword.
Chapter 3: A much more peaceful track, I can see the credits appearing slowly but still letting space for the conclusion and, of course, the suggestion that not everything is solved.
Thanks for this submission!
That's really cool, you've described what I had envisioned better than I feel I could have done myself. Glad the tracks 'took you' to the places I had hoped they would - a neat reminder for me how music has a huge influence on the experience of a setting.
Run Away is SO COOL!! I got hit with so much Nostalgia listening to it. And I think it would also work perfectly for an 8-bit sort of video-game.
That's a big compliment - thank you :)
and its true
Really love the undertone/base/raw sounds of Lost in the Neon Forest, could even listen to a song of that, without the melodies. Especially at end it sounds like something's being eaten by the cyber undertones. Nice
Super the fact that you did it all live!
Thanks! There is a button on the keyboard that says 'Modulate' but it can be a mixed bag in terms of what it achieves. In this case, it glitched the keyboard sounds out fully and I'm so glad that it did! Happy accidents and all that.
Really love the sound and feel to your track 'lost in the neon forest' really cool and stylish! Great bass sound!
Thank you!
Love the sound and feeling of your tracks and how well you stayed within the jam theme!
It is impressive how fast you adapted to a new situation, as you stated that you had to improvise. Even though you've played it directly, the soundtracks still sound awesome. My favorite track here is "Lost in the Neon Forest". Good work!!
I pretty much approach any of my music is through spontaneity and improvisation - if I sit with a piece for more than a few hours it loses its shine and energy. So I guess I work within that framework! Glad you liked the Neon Forest too :)
Great job! I am amazed at people who compose live like this! I loved the textures you were able to make in "Lost in the Neon Forest" !
Thanks - the 'blip' sounds were a fun surprise when they arose and in my mind are kind-of emulated footsteps.
Given this track was written live, I'm super impressed! Very cool what you were able to do with a brand new piece of software, too. The synths sound great!
My only advice is, if you are able to back through what you wrote and quantize it, it would make the tracks sound a little cleaner rhythmically-- though I know that might not be possible with this program, so no sweat if not! Still, a really good job :)
I appreciate your advice and it makes complete sense - the audio was recorded as wave files so they resisted the 'correcting' that would have been possible with MIDI programming. This might be a track that I return to in order to learn how to program with composition software. Cheers!
I'll say this-- if all of these were recorded as wave files, and you actually managed to make it that clean with literally no quantizing, then this is super impressive!!! Yes, there were occasional flaws, but all is forgiven if you didn't have the option to quantize. I can ignore those things and hear what you are trying to communicate loud and clear-- and I loved it.