Valve announces ‘Portal 2′ music video competition

If you haven’t run into The National’s haunting tune “Exile Vilify” in your playthrough of Valve’s Portal 2, it’s time to start over. (Really, it’s close to the beginning.) Apparently the band really needs a music video for the song, or at least that’s what it sounds like — from now until midnight on July 15, Valve is running a contest to determine the best music video for the song. To enter, upload your version of the music video to YouTube and tag it with “PORTAL2NATIONALEXILE.” Sounds like a weird movie title. The winner will receive a prize package containing an autographed guitar as well as a collection of Portal 2 merchandise. For reference, here’s the song, if you haven’t heard it yet.

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Video Games Live coming back to Los Angeles for E3

Video Games Live has managed to schedule its 200th show to coincide with E3 in Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre on June 8. If you’re there, it’s right across the street, so you pretty much have to go. (Hey, you can buy tickets here. I made it easy for you!) “Our historic groundbreaking first show ever was at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles back in 2005 so it’s pretty cool that this milestone is taking place in the same city where it all started,” said Video Games Live creator, host and executive producer Tommy Tallarico. (You’ll be able to meet him after the show.)  “Having so many talented game composers coming out to support us and to be a part of this special show not only means a lot to me, but to the fans as well.  It’s going to be an incredible night to remember.” This show will include

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Hey, part of the ‘Portal 2′ soundtrack is free

Valve announced yesterday via their Portal 2 blog that they’re releasing the official soundtrack of the game as an “aural stimulus.” Okay, actually, it’s all written in Aperture-speak, which is far funnier than I could ever muster on my own. So I’ll just quote it. With Aperture-brand turrets, boots, bots and panels flooding the applied science aisle of your local department store, you could forgive the up-and-coming test lab for taking a breather. Judging from their latest press release, though, their laurels remain untouched by backsides. Bolstered by recent breakthroughs in the field of jazz smoothing, Aperture announced today the first of three downloadable aural stimulus packages. Whether you’re a mega-science corporation with decades of test experience, or a young start-up liberating your first test subject from non-testing with a chloroform-soaked rag, Aperture guarantees results. Wake up your test subject, open the chamber door, and press play–let Aperture’s patent-pending rhythmic

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Rockstar announces two ‘L.A. Noire’ soundtracks

Yesterday, Rockstar Games announced that there will be two L.A. Noire soundtracks: The Official Soundtrack and L.A. Noire: Remixed. The remix album features six jazz standards from the soundtrack remixed by DJs. The tracklisting for that is below. The official soundtrack features selections from the score, which was inspired by 1940s films. It also features modern versions of the “torch songs” of the period, written by Stephen Coates with guest vocals from Claudia Brucken. Additional music was composed by Woody Jackson, who worked with Bill Elm on the Red Dead Redemption score. In-game, you’ll also hear over 30 classic jazz tracks featuring the work of the greats, like Billie Holiday and Dizzy Gillespie (both childhood favorites of mine — I know, I’m weird). Both soundtracks will release on iTunes on May 17.   L.A. Noire: Remixed Tracklist 1. Elle Fitzgerald & Louis Jordan – “Stone Cold Dead in the Market”

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Interview: Matthew Harwood, Composer for Homefront

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing the composer who takes Homefront from being just another first-person shooter, to a moving experience within a not-so distant future through it’s amazing soundtrack.  Matthew Harwood tells us about his experience, his feelings and about the beginnings of a fantastic music career.  He was very open and excited to share with us.  I hope you Enjoy! GamingAngels: Tell us a bit about how you got into the game music scene. What was your first project? Matthew Harwood: Sure!  I am Matthew Harwood, I am the Audio Director at Kaos Studios.  Heading up most of the sound design in the game and composing the music for Homefront is where I spent much of my time during Homefront’s dev cycle. I live in the Hudson Valley of New York.  I am 6’4”.   I love my wife,  my 4 kids, and playing outdoors with them and my dog Wilson. 

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iRig and iMic

Have you ever wanted a practice amplifier for an acoustic-electric, or electric guitar that is the size of your iPhone, iPod or iPad and had effects too? Not many years ago you would not have believed it possible. IK Multimedia created the AmpliTube software a few years back, and once iOS came along they started making not only the software, but also the iRig. That tiny little item does a great big job of making it possible for a guitar to be attached directly to any iDevice. The iRig adaptor manages the guitar’s input and allows you to plugs directly into the iPad or iPhone/Pod using the 3.5mm headphone jack, without toasting the thing. It just doesn’t seem like it would be feasible, but it is and it works great. Then you can listen to your guitar either through the earbuds, or the speaker. The iRig itself is small and

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Rock Band 3 adds some of the prettiest hate

Four tracks from Nine Inch Nails’ “Pretty Hate Machine” remaster will be available in the Rock Band 3 Music Store for PS3, 360 and Wii starting March 1. The four-pack of songs, all of which can be purchased separately, includes: “Terrible Lie” “Head Like a Hole” (Pro upgrades available) “Sanctified” “The Only Time” Next week, Harmonix is also releasing a slew of Pro Guitar/Bass upgrades for older songs for $0.99. You’ll have to have the original track to make the upgrade. Here’s a full list: Blink 182 – “Dammit” Boston – “More Than A Feeling” Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Bad Moon Rising” Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Fortunate Son” Eve 6 – “Inside Out” The James Gang – “Funk #49“ The Knack – “My Sharona (Cover Version)” Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Simple Man” Metallica – “…And Justice for All” The Offspring – “Self Esteem” Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – “Pride

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Civ IV wins at the Grammys

The Grammys were full of celebration of music and this year that included video games! Video Game composer, Christopher Tin won a Grammy Award for “Baba Yetu”. “Baba Yetu” has been performed at Video Games Live since 2006 and it is featured on the Video Games live dvd. Composer Christopher Tin said, “The fact that this song has had a life outside of the game is owed almost entirely to Video Games Live. They were the first to bring this music to concert stages around the world and to places I had never dreamed possible.” Video Games Live CEO Tommy Tallarico added, “We’re so proud of Christopher’s Grammy Award victory and what he has accomplished. This historic moment will continue to bridge the gap between mainsteam music and video games. It is an honor to perform his music in our show.” Here is the song as it appears in Video

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Castlevania composer joins Video Games Live

Castlevania and Megaman X3 composer Kinuyo Yamashita will be joining the New Jersey Symphony this Wednesday, December 29th and Thursday, December 30 for the New Jersey stop of Video Games Live. The performance will be at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Yamashita-san will be at the post-show meet & greet as well as the concert. This event is open to all ticket holders and tickets start as low as $21. Check out availability and purchase tickets here.

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12 Seconds in Heaven 09/23/2010: Game Soundtracks

Welcome to our weekly feature on @GamingAngels! “12 Seconds in Heaven” wherein several GA staffers will answer a question about anything going on at that moment in geek culture. This week the staff is talking about their favorite game music. There’s a ton of options and below is what our staff had to say. But what what about you? Let us know what game music is your favorite in the comments. From @kweenie: My favorite game music on 12seconds.tv From @violetzombie: Getting my love on for the FFX Soundtrack. on 12seconds.tv From @rainbowsleeve: 12 Seconds in Heaven: Game Soundtracks on 12seconds.tv From @gamingangel: Updating GA about to play Civ V on 12seconds.tv

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