Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach sells more than 1.4 million copies worldwide

Fan favorite free-roam survival-horror game FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: SECURITY BREACH (ScottGames/Steel Wool) has sold more than 1.4 million copies, according to industry tracking standard Video Game Insights .

A success from the start, the game was released worldwide on December 16, 2021 for PlayStation 5, Playstation 4 and PC (Steam). This is the eighth main installment in the Five Nights at Freddy's series and the thirteenth installment overall.

Developer/publisher Steel Wool Games brought Duncan in as Creative Audio Consultant early on. With Duncan at the helm, the audio team created a dynamically-implemented audio tension system which closely follows the player’s experience as they explore the world - and are taken on a wild ride as they try and stay alive through the night.

From Steel Wool: "In Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, play as Gregory, a young boy who’s been trapped overnight inside of Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy himself, Gregory must uncover the secrets of the Pizzaplex, learn the truth, and survive until dawn.”

Roles:  Creative Audio Consultant. Initial audio system design and implementation direction. Environment, interactive object and character audio design and concepts. Additional sound design and creation. Surround (5.1) implementation and mix.

Link: Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach on Steam
Link: Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach on Twitch

Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach released worldwide

Fan favorite free-roam survival-horror game FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: SECURITY BREACH (ScottGames/Steel Wool) was released worldwide for PlayStation 5, Playstation 4 and PC (Steam). This is the eighth main installment in the Five Nights at Freddy's series and the thirteenth installment overall.

The game features a dynamically-implemented audio tension system which closely follows the player’s experience as they explore the world - and are taken on a wild ride as they try and stay alive through the night.

From Steel Wool: "In Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, play as Gregory, a young boy who’s been trapped overnight inside of Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy himself, Gregory must uncover the secrets of the Pizzaplex, learn the truth, and survive until dawn.”

Roles:  Creative Audio Consultant. Initial audio system design and implementation direction. Environment, interactive object and character audio design and concepts. Additional sound design and creation. Surround (5.1) implementation and mix.

Link: Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach on Steam
Link: Five Nights At Freddy's: Security Breach on Twitch

Apple's "Ultimate Rivals: The Rink" takes top honors at 2021 NYX Game Awards

ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK (Bit Fry/Apple) took top honors at the 2021 NYX Game Awards, winning both Gold Winner for Mobile Games - Arcade Game and Grand Winner for Mobile Games - Sports Games.

Featuring a dynamically-implemented 12-track retro-electro circuit-bent/glitch score and an extensive sound implementation scalable from iPhone headphones to full 5.1 surround on tvOS, the game pushes the boundaries of sound on Apple’s new platform, Apple Arcade.

From Apple: "Set in a digital world of the near future, Ultimate Rivals™: The Rink is a hockey experience that, for the first time, gives fans the ability to play as their favorite athletes wherever and however they choose.”

From Bit Fry: "For the first time on NHL ice, star athletes from every sport including Alex Morgan, De'Aaron Fox, Jose Altuve, Justin Turner, Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and JuJu Smith Schuster, face off in this total-crossover hockey showdown. As worlds converge, a new type of action arcade game arises, with rivalries and alliances never before imagined.”

Roles:  Creative Audio Director. Audio system design and implementation direction. Composed and produced full original music score and marketing tracks.

Link: ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK on Apple Arcade
Link: ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK teaser trailer - music by Foals

Apple's "Ultimate Rivals: The Rink" released worldwide

Old-school/futuristic hockey action game ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK (Bit Fry/Apple) was published worldwide by Apple on December 19, 2019 for iOS, MacOS and tvOS devices. Featuring a dynamically-implemented 12-track retro-electro circuit-bent/glitch score and an extensive sound implementation scalable from iPhone headphones to full 5.1 surround on tvOS, the game pushes the boundaries of sound on Apple’s new platform, Apple Arcade.

From Apple: "Set in a digital world of the near future, Ultimate Rivals™: The Rink is a hockey experience that, for the first time, gives fans the ability to play as their favorite athletes wherever and however they choose.”

From Bit Fry: "For the first time on NHL ice, star athletes from every sport including Alex Morgan, De'Aaron Fox, Jose Altuve, Justin Turner, Wayne Gretzky, Alex Ovechkin, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and JuJu Smith Schuster, face off in this total-crossover hockey showdown. As worlds converge, a new type of action arcade game arises, with rivalries and alliances never before imagined.”

Roles:  Creative Audio Director. Audio system design and implementation direction. Composed and produced full original music score and marketing tracks.

Link: ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK on Apple Arcade
Link: ULTIMATE RIVALS: THE RINK teaser trailer - music by Foals

Underworld Ascendant released worldwide

First-person action role-playing game UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT (505 Games/Otherside Entertainment) was released worldwide on November 15, 2018 for the PC/Steam platform.

From Otherside Entertainment: "OtherSide Entertainment, which includes original creators of the ULTIMA UNDERWORLD series, is innovating upon the series’ signature player-authored gameplay in bold new ways. Return to The Stygian Abyss, a breathtaking fantasy realm, rife with danger and full of intrigue. Journey through the unfamiliar. Unlock your creative potential. Utilize your environment to stack the odds in your favor. Devise the ideal battle plan or dive in and think on your feet."

Roles:  Additional environment, weapon and character sound design/creation.

Link: UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT official website
Link: UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT teaser trailer

Mothergunship released worldwide on PC, PS4, Xbox One

Bullet-hell first-person shooter MOTHERGUNSHIP (Grip Digital) was released worldwide today on PC/Steam/PlayStation 4/Xbox One.

From Grip Digital: "MOTHERGUNSHIP is a bullet-hell FPS where you craft your own guns, play together with your friends, fight gigantic bosses and defeat a robotic alien armada that conquered Earth."

Roles:  Additional weapon and character sound design/creation. Voice acting (Joe OS). Composed, arranged, performed and produced two pieces of music for the "Resistance" trailer.

Link: MOTHERGUNSHIP official website
Link: MOTHERGUNSHIP "Resistance" trailer

Underworld Overlord released worldwide for Oculus Go, Gear VR

VR action-tower-defense game UNDERWORLD OVERLORD (Google/Otherside Entertainment) was released worldwide on May 1, 2018 for the Oculus Go and Gear VR platforms.

From Otherside Entertainment: "As a newly-undead Lich, protect your dungeon realm from brazen adventurers who attempt to rob your treasures and slay your precious monsters. As master of your domain, direct your monsters into the fray, place deadly traps, defenses and cast spells that help or hinder. Use strategy, brawn and trickery to thwart the heroes and preserve your subterranean rule. "

Roles:  Audio Director, Composer. Audio system design and implementation. Dialogue creation, post-processing and integration, Environment, weapon and character sound design/creation. and implementation. Composed and produced original score for both game and trailers. Trailer audio post and SFX creation.

Link: UNDERWORLD OVERLORD official website
Link: UNDERWORLD OVERLORD teaser trailer

The Station (Original Score) released worldwide

The original score to indie narrative-exploration game The Station(2018, PS4/XboxOne/Steam) was released worldwide today. Blurring the lines between ambient sound and underscore, the tense, powerful soundtrack relies heavily on synthetic texture and hyper-processed natural sound.

Role:  Composed, arranged, performed and produced ambient underscore for The Station (2018, PS4/XboxOne/Steam)

Link: The Station (Original Score) on Spotify

Honor Of Kings (ARENA OF VALOR/KINGS OF GLORY) Exceeds 50 Million Active Players

Blockbuster mobile MOBA game "Honor Of Kings (Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory/) "  (winner of Best Music In A Casual/Social Game at the 2016 G.A.N.G. Awards) has exceeded 50 million active players as of January 2017. Developers Tencent reached out to Duncan Watt to compose and produce a variety of interactive music cues for three maps (gameplay areas/levels) of the game, alongside soundtrack work from Jeff Broadbent, and a Main Title from Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe.

From Tencent: Honor of Kings (Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory) is a type of MOBA mobile game, launching on the platform of Ipad and IPhone, using Wwise as game audio middleware, and Unity as the engine. Users can experience 5v5 game mode with rapid rhythm and fast battle speed. 

Sound Production Team: Formosa Interactive;
Music Production: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, Jeff Broadbent, Duncan Watt; 
Recording and Mixing: Abbey Road Studio

Role:  Composed, arranged, performed and recorded a variety of interactive musical underscore cues, for use in the Forest, Desert and Volcano maps (levels) in the game.

Link: Honor Of Kings trailer

Honor Of Kings(ARENA OF VALOR/KINGS OF GLORY) Wins G.A.N.G Award For Best Music In A Casual/Social Game

Honor Of Kings (click to see trailer)

Blockbuster mobile MOBA game "Honor Of Kings (Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory)" won the award for Best Music In A Casual/Social Game at the 14th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards, held on March 17th at the 2016 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Developers Tencent reached out to Duncan Watt to supply a variety of interactive music cues for the exciting, immersive PVE (Player Vs Environment) game mode, alongside soundtrack work from Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Jeff Broadbent.

From Tencent: Honor of Kings (Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory) is a type of MOBA mobile game, launching on the platform of Ipad and IPhone, using Wwise as game audio middleware, and Unity as the engine. The PCU has already reached 1 million, and the revenue ranks third in Grossing on the App Store. Users can experience 5v5 game mode with rapid rhythm and fast battle speed. 

Sound Production Team: Formosa Interactive;
Music Production: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, Jeff Broadbent, Duncan Watt; 
Recording and Mixing: Abbey Road Studio

Role:  Composed, arranged, performed and recorded a variety of interactive musical underscore cues, for use in the Forest, Desert and Volcano maps (levels) in the game.

Link: List Of 2016 G.A.N.G. Award Winners
Link: Honor Of Kings trailer

Honor Of Kings(ARENA OF VALOR/KINGS OF GLORY) Nominated For Best Music In A Casual/Social Game At The 14th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards

Honor Of Kings (click to see trailer)

Blockbuster mobile MOBA game "Honor Of Kings(Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory)" has been nominated for Best Music In A Casual/Social Game at the 14th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards, to be held on March 17th at the 2016 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Developers Tencent reached out to Duncan Watt to supply a variety of interactive music cues for the exciting, immersive PVE (Player Vs Environment) game mode, alongside soundtrack work from Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, and Jeff Broadbent.

From Tencent: Honor of Kings(Arena Of Valor/Kings Of Glory) is a type of MOBA mobile game, launching on the platform of Ipad and IPhone, using Wwise as game audio middleware, and Unity as the engine. The PCU has already reached 1 million, and the revenue ranks third in Grossing on the App Store. Users can experience 5v5 game mode with rapid rhythm and fast battle speed. 

Sound Production Team: Formosa Interactive;
Music Production: Hans Zimmer, Lorne Balfe, Jeff Broadbent, Duncan Watt; 
Recording and Mixing: Abbey Road Studio

Role:  Composed, arranged, performed and recorded a variety of interactive musical underscore cues, for use in the Forest, Desert and Volcano maps (levels) in the game.

Link: Honor Of Kings trailer

Jiu Long Jhan Nominated for Best Sound Design In A Casual/Social Game at the 2016 G.A.N.G. Awards

Free-to-play 3D RPG-action mobile MOBA game "Jiu Long Zhan" has been nominated for Best Sound Design In A Casual/Social Game at the 14th Annual G.A.N.G. Awards, to be held on March 17th at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Released in 2015 by Tencent, the game is a fast-paced, exciting MOBA experience.

From Tencent: Multimode innovative competitive fighting, MOBA action lets you enjoy a fresh and fast fighting experience. Game theme: Taking the magnificent Three Kingdoms world view, and changing the Three Kingdoms into a contemporary, dark, and fashionable style.

Role: Voice FX, voice processing

Link: Jiu Long Jhan Trailer

Underworld Ascendant Early Progress Gameplay Footage Trailer Shown

Underworld Ascendant (Otherside, TBA)

Indie developer Otherside Entertainment has released a trailer of some early-progress gameplay footage from the upcoming Underworld Ascendant. The team contracted Fastestmanintheworld to handle audio, voice-processing and cinematic post for the trailer.

The trailer can be seen on a number of game-review sites around the world, including IGN, Polygon and PC Gamer. Footage can be seen here:

UNDERWORLD ASCENDANT EARLY-PROGRESS GAMEPLAY TRAILER
Footage: Underworld Ascendant Early-Progress Gameplay Trailer

Role: Audio design (work-in-progress), SFX creation, voice processing, cinematic post services.

Link: Underworld Ascendant website

SEGA Releases "PUZZLE AND GLORY"

"Puzzle And Glory" (Sega/Demiurge, 2015)

Sega and Demiurge have released the new free-to-play RPG-puzzler "Puzzle And Glory" worldwide. Demiurge brought Fastestmanintheworld on to handle sound design, sound implementation and compose the musical theme and underscore.

From SEGA's website: SEGA and Demiurge Studios have released a new free-to-play, match-3 RPG game titled Puzzle & Glory on iOS and Android devices.

“This multiplayer hack ‘n slash dungeon crawl represents the next generation of what a match-3 RPG should be, and beyond that it’s incredibly fun to play,” said Albert Reed, general manager at Demiurge Studios and VP of Product Management at SEGA.

Players are able to create a party of characters (including knights, hunters, elves and dragons), each with their own attributes to create combos during battle. In addition to the main campaign, the game includes player-vs-player and guild-based gameplay features.

Role: Sound design, SFX implementation. Composed, recorded and performed original musical theme and musical underscore.  

Link:  Puzzle And Glory website

Original soundtrack to "Third Eye Crime" released

Third Eye Crime (Original Soundtrack)

Retro-jazz-noir soundtrack to critically-acclaimed stealth game "Third Eye Crime" (Moonshot/Gameblyr, 2014) released today. A collection of cues from the game, the soundtrack includes smoky jazz orchestra, upbeat jazz trio and introspective solo piano - and the title track ("A Thief By Night") features performances by Curt Ramm (E Street Band) and Dominique Messier (Cirque du Soleil, Celine Dion).

Free to download. Links:

THIRD EYE CRIME (ORIGINAL GAME SOUNDTRACK)
Listen on SoundCloud here
Watch/listen on YouTube here 
Grab it on Bittorret Bundles here  
Download it as a zip file here

REVIEWS:

"A sultry musical score plucked from a jazz orchestra that could have been conducted by Nelson Riddle" - Washington Times

"... a jazz soundtrack you'll be humming for days" - MacLife

"Simple but beautiful noir visuals, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack" - The Verge

"Phenomenal soundtrack makes non-smokers feel like lighting a cigarette in a dark alley..." - Gamezebo

"Third Eye Crime" Out On Steam

Film-noir stealth puzzler Third Eye Crime is out on Steam today. Created by ex-Bungie developers Moonshot Games, the game puts the player in the shoes of Rothko, a smooth-talking criminal who can telepathically predict where enemies will move to attempt to thwart his heists. 

Fastestmanintheworld wrote and produced the jazz underscore, which features trumpeter Curt Ramm (Springsteen/E Street Band) and drummer Dominique Messier (Celine Dion, Cirque du Soleil). The score also leans heavily on solo piano, which provides the underpinning for the many motion-comic panels in the game.

Reviews: 

“It has a terrific sense of style, with slick motion comic panels that move the story forward, simple but beautiful noir visuals, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack.” 
The Verge 

“The beautiful art, a sultry musical score plucked from a jazz orchestra that could have been conducted by Nelson Riddle, and the design package is vintage, 1940s noir at its finest.” 
The Washington Post 

“It's the can't miss pick of the week” 
IGN 

Role: Composed, arranged, recorded and performed jazz-orchestra soundtrack. Composed and performed a variety of solo piano vignettes. Created SFX assets. Provided sound design and implementation services.

Star Trek Timelines Teaser-Trailer Released

Disruptor Beam has released the teaser-trailer for the upcoming Star Trek Timelines. The team contracted Fastestmanintheworld to write, record and produce an original tribute to the iconic themes, and handle cinematic post for the trailer as well.

From Disruptor Beam's website: "In Star Trek Timelines you will explore a massive galaxy on the web, iOS and Android devices. Based on your favorite Star Trek series and episodes from across all eras, you will be able to play alongside your friends and your favorite characters — solving conflicts using science, diplomacy, and battle".

Role: Composed, recorded and performed original musical tribute theme. Provided cinematic post services.

Link: Star Trek Timelines website

BioShock Infinite: Burial At Sea - Episode 2 Released

 "Burial At Sea - Episode 2", the third of three downloadable content releases for BioShock Infinite, has released to the public. Providing a powerful, full-circle ending to the entire BioShock series, this release allows the player to play as Elizabeth, and features a tense, immersive stealth mechanic.

Irrational asked Fastestmanintheworld to provide string arrangements and performances for the opening scene, a fascinating walk through (no spoilers) a beautiful, well-known European city. Also featured is "Valse Immorale", an original work for theater organ and calliope, used in a particularly 'adult' area of Rapture.

Role: Composed, recorded and performed source music for theater organ and calliope. Arranged, recorded and performed period-appropriate string arrangements for opening scene.

BioShock Infinite Wins Best Audio At 2014 GDC Choice Awards

BioShock Infinite won Best Audio at the 2014 GDC Choice Awards, held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The original release of Infinite features more than 20 minutes of Duncan's work, which appears alongside Garry Schyman's innovative, original orchestra underscore, as well as works by Ken Levine, James Bonney, Scott Bradlee, and others. 

Fastestmanintheworld provided a wide variety of music for Infinite,  and more than 40 minutes more for its expansions "Clash In The Clouds"  and "Burial At Sea", all of which have gone on to near-universal acclaim.  

Links
2014 Game Developers Choice Awards Winners

BioShock Infinite Music Team Wins Multiple GANG 2014 Awards

The BioShock Infinite music team, led by James Bonney and Garry Schyman, won Music Of The Year, Best Original Instrumental and Best Use Of Licensed Music at the 2014 GANG Awards, held during GDC 2014 in San Francisco.  Infinite features more than 20 minutes of Duncan's work, which appears alongside Garry Schyman's innovative, original orchestra underscore, as well as works by Ken Levine, James Bonney, Scott Bradlee, and others. 

Fastestmanintheworld provided a wide variety of music for Infinite and its expansions "Clash In The Clouds"  and "Burial At Sea", all of which have gone on to near-universal acclaim.  

Links
2014 GANG Award Winners