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soulOS: memories not found's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Creativity | #1 | 4.650 | 4.650 |
| Impression | #10 | 4.250 | 4.250 |
| Overall | #14 | 4.242 | 4.242 |
| Quality | #22 | 4.338 | 4.338 |
| Correlation to theme | #65 | 4.037 | 4.037 |
| Composition | #90 | 3.938 | 3.938 |
Ranked from 80 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
Game Description:
soulOS: memories not found is a Zach-like puzzle game with visual novel elements about repairing old, worn down computers, long since out of date, eaten by bit rot.
Each client brought to the shop has its own story to tell, as do the computers they bring.
Music Description:
For this EP, we chose to make a mixed-electronica soundtrack, blending between glitchy and natural textures as a way to bridge the conceptual gap between the digital and physical.
01 - Power On: Main menu theme.
02 - Booting Up: BGM for the first cutscene at the start of the game, showing the start of the player's career, and introducing the first customer's computer.
03 - /dev/null: One example BGM for the puzzle solving section of the game.
04 - In My World: BGM for the cutscene that plays after solving the first computer. Represents the way memories can be hard to access after a period of time, and may need some coaxing to remember.
05 - Freed Memory: BGM for the resolution to the first customer's story, after the player is able to restore the customer's computer, finding old photos of them with their mother at the beach.
Software:
We used a variety of DAWs, VSTs, and other bits of software to create this. The non-exhaustive list includes: FL Studio, Ableton, Reaper, Bitwig, MuseScore, Pitchmap, LOVE, Valhalla Room, Valhalla Shimmer, Emergence, Disperser, Kontakt (various libraries), and more.
Process and Inspirations:
After seeing the image, we started brainstorming various ideas, and decided on a botanica-like vibe. We recorded and found water/ocean samples based on the aesthetics of the image, and drafted a motif to work with. As we worked through the jam, we were inspired by a few videos that we saw to move towards our final conceptual game idea, which really helped tie the entire EP together.
Message from the artist
This was a really enjoyable experience for both of us, and we can't wait to get your feedback!
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
We used both the image and text prompt as inspiration. The outlined female figure in the picture juxtaposed with the full color child made us think of themes of memory and forgetting, especially with the child being the only thing depicted in full detail. Additionally, we interpreted the text prompt as getting an introduction to a character's inner thoughts and emotions, peering within them to see a view "inside their world".
We chose to make the game concept revolve around computer restoration, as often nowadays, so much of who we are is stored on our computers and phones through digital photos, text messages, and the documents we leave behind. As such, restoring computers seemed to be a good conceptual fit for the way time decays the accuracy of memory, and the ways one can peer into another's inner world.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://soundcloud.com/isopyrum/sets/ostjam-7-soulos-memories-not
Number of tracks5
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
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Comments
What a unique entry! The sound design worked into the music is some of the best I've encountered from the whole jam. Y'all should be proud of this one! That drop in In My World made my jaw drop with it.
Incredible work!
Every track is a unique and satisfying soundscape. In a way, the crazy sound design in the first 3 tracks prepares you for the beat drop in In My World. It's not only face melting, but it works in the context of the entire soundtrack. This soundtrack is definitely going in my favorites!
This is wicked cool, Booting Up is so clever. Such a cool combo of sound effects, synths, and sound design. I was really dig this as a chill entry then In My World started playing and now I'm losing my mind. This is such a good entry with an amazing contrast and both your tracks fit together well
Damn, this is a vibe. I adore the foley in these tracks, blending computer beeps with ocean waves. The dreamy ambient pads in Power On let the foley wash over me like waves, the guitars in Booting Up were pleasant and lulled me into a sense of comfort, only to turn to slight discomfort in the face of /dev/null. But nothing could have prepared me for the intensity that was the second half of In My World. Freed My Memory was a solid ending. Overall, great sampling and composition! :D
No notes honestly i was just in for the vibes the whole way through this may be my winner pick ngl
Love the using of samples of keyboard typing and such. Also have vibe like the first big vaporwave LPs. Unique, love it!
Me when great song gets posted,
Me when great song gets posted,
Me when great song gets posted,
Me when great song gets posted.
I adore both the OST and game concept so much that I wish this was already a game I could play, haha. It seems like the sort of thing that would be really relaxing while also packing a lovely emotional/narrative punch :D
I really love how you managed to give the whole thing a very watery feel even though it's about computers by connecting the themes with the fluidity of memories! It's one of those really nifty things that just makes my brain happy x3
Emotionally, it's giving me kinda Cytus/Voez vibes!
Great soundscape, very polished, quality is top on this. Interesting approach with the big sound design track and the more electro and even some smooth jazzy tracks in the mix I didn't think that would fit together, well done.
Amazing blend of sound design and music, it's the first time I really hear anything like this. Do you have any amazing inspirations for your work? I would love to hear more of this style. Amazing work, incredibly unique and expertly crafted. Also the mixing / mastering are amazing!
(PS: In My World was WOooooow)
Damn, you captured glitchy digital PC aesthetic pretty well. Lots of interesting sound effects and foley sounds to adds a nice amount of spice to each track. Good use of dynamic range to create contrast, you could have clipped and limited the hell out of everything but it was done very purposefully at specific places. Very diverse set of musical genres, seemed a little weird at first but I can see how you can tie it together with the creative interpretation of the theme. Overall one of the most unique soundtracks to come out of this jam, congrats.
Love the colorbass-ish sound design of the first track “Power On”, immersive and creative
This is an extremely creative and ambitious take on the theme, and y'all nailed it. The glitchy synths and computer hardware foley mix surprisingly well with the more watery and biological sounds, and the synths and guitars are mixed in a way that evokes a very specific Wii Sports era nostalgia. The drop on "In My World" perfectly contrasts the textured soundscapes that precede it, and the pivot to jazz on "Freed Memory", while unexpected, is pulled off in a way that feels like a very natural conclusion to the project (although i felt like it ended a little abruptly). Absolute banger of a soundtrack overall, give urselves a pat on the back
Really cool project, I think botanica was a really great choice for this concept. Its aesthetically tight and really interesting to listen to. I love how pensive it is until you're ready to get loud. It is so dramatic and impactful, really great.
Ok this is crazy. Feels like we had very similar ideas, with old computers and botanica. You really melded electronic and organic well. The drop in "In My World" was rad. Great job on that. Love the soundscapes that you used with water, I tried to pull a similar stunt :D
this is insane and would not be surprised if this got first place. the levels of creativity in this project are seriously astounding, and the way you two incorporate so many sounds into these tracks is great. the songs perfectly fit what they're intended for, especially /dev/null, as it does give me the edge that most puzzle sections in games give me. serious props to this project. my only only only complaint is that the jump that In My World has feels too loud and it seriously scared me on first listen, although the idea of it was extremely well-written, and the resolution of it was the cherry on top. the game concept is also really intriguing and would love to see it come to life.
Really interesting and creative premise. "Freed Memory" is heavenly
wow wow wow the variety here is so crazy good!! i love how the sound design/music line gets blurred here -- the jazzy final track is such a welcome change and so well-written. love the glitchscapes happening throughout, my favorite track was definitely Booting Up. such a cool take on the theme as well. awesome work!
Such clarity...
Such attention to detail in the quieter tracks...
And "In My World" completely flung me out of my seat
One of the most immersive submissions I've seen! Great job!
Very interesting! The blend of natural sounds and digital aesthetics is very unique sounding to me. I really enjoyed Booting Up with the mouse click/error noise beat, and /dev/null reminds me of some of the harsher BGM tracks from Steven Universe (harsher in a good way) such as Sugilite's theme.
But In My World... wow, great job. Nothing could have prepared me for that drop.
-Chey