Episodes

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2020 Games Bafta Awards Special20200404Jessica Curry with news of the winners at the 2020 Games Baftas, plus interviews with nominees for the music award.

Music played in podcast:

Bear McCreary - Deliverance (God of War)

Bear McCreary - Ashes (God of War), ft. Eivor

Andrew Prahlow - Timber Hearth (Outer Wilds)

Petri Alanko - Loquitur Ahti Sequuntur (Control)

Guy Jackson - I Picture You Before Me (Sea of Solitude)

J.J. Ipsen - Green Shoots (Planet Zoo)

Ludvig Forssell - Spatial Awareness (Death Stranding)

Brad Fotsch - Spring Jive (Wattam)

Sam Bird - Operation Receiver (Wattam)

Daniel Ols退n/Jonathan Eng - Sayonara Wild Heart (Sayonara Wild Hearts) ft. Linnea Olsson

Laurence Chapman - Heaven's Vault (Heaven's Vault)

Ryo Nagamatsu - Sword Search on Koholint Island (The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening)

British Sea Power - Instrument of Surrender (Disco Elysium)

Olivier Derivi耀re - Massacre (A Plague Tale: Innocence)

British Sea Power - Disco Elysium, pt. 1 (Disco Elysium)

2021 Bafta Gaming Awards20210327Louise Blain reflects on this week's 2021 Bafta Gaming Awards, talking with the nominees and featuring the music - considering them as a possible litmus test on the shape of gaming in the 2020s.

Music featured in the programme is taken from the nominees for the Best Gaming Music category, which are: GHOST OF TSUSHIMA by Ilan Eshkeri, Shigeru Umebayashi, Peter Scaturro; HADES by Darren Korb; THE LAST OF US PART II by Gustavo Santaolalla, Mac Quayle, Scott Hanau; MARVEL'S SPIDER-MAN: MILES MORALES by John Paesano, Scott Hanau, Alex Hackford; ORI AND THE WILL OF THE WISPS by Gareth Coker; and SACKBOY: A BIG ADVENTURE by Jay Waters, Joe Thwaites, Joanna Skorupa.

Nominees for the Game of the Year include ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS which has proved such a hit during a year of lockdown.

Louise looks at these, and more, listing the winners.

In Louise's words:

'Gaming was such a lifeline for so many people over 2020 and the 2021 British Academy Games Awards nominations reflect that. I don't think many of us would feel quite as connected to friends if we hadn't spent months fishing together in Animal Crossing: New Horizons or sharing the emotional web of The Last of Us Part 2. Vitally, 2020's games are a clear indicator of the diversity possible in this industry. I can't wait to explore the incredible scores nominated in the Best Gaming Music category. From the heroic joy of Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales to the indie sword-spinning action of Hades, these are soundtracks to define a year like no other.'

65 Days Of Static20200425Jessica Curry's adventure into the exhilarating, joyous world of video game music continues with guest Paul Wolinski of band 65daysofstatic.

Music played in podcast:

Yuka Kitamura - Soul of Cinder (Dark Souls III)

Jonne Valtonen - Albion Online Main Theme (Albion Online)

Disasterpeace - Vignette: Panacea (Hyper Light Drifter)

Andreas Waldetoft - A New Dawn (Stellaris: Utopia)

Garry Schyman - The Ocean On His Shoulders (BioShock)

65daysofstatic - Escape Velocity (No Man's Sky)

65daysofstatic - Supermoon (No Man's Sky)

65daysofstatic - Debutante, ft. Debbie Clare.

65daysofstatic - Blueprint for a Slow Machine (No Man's Sky)

A Shell in the Pit - Farewell (Wandersong)

Joel Corelitz - We Run in Tunnels (Hohokum)

Erik Satie - Gnossienne No 4

Martin O'Donnell - Vision of a Lasting Flame

Yoko Shimomura - Apocalypsis Noctis (Final Fantasy XV)

65daysofstatic - Hypersleep (No Man's Sky)

65daysofstatic - Heliosphere (No Man's Sky)

Takeshi Furukawa - End Titles (The Last Guardian Suite)

Jessica Curry with joyous video game music and guest Paul Wolinski of 65daysofstatic.

A Gamer's Guide To The History Of The World20210807Louise Blain with gaming music inspired by the world history and civilisation marking the launch of 'Humankind' with a new score by Arnaud Roy.

Louise looks at how world history has been potent source of inspiration for game designers and looks at the pains to which some games and their composers have gone to in order to bring the past alive. Featured soundtracks include 'Far Cry: Primal', 'Rome: Total War', 'Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey', 'Europa Universalis IV', 'Kingdom Come Deliverance', 'God Of War III', 'Assassins Creed: Origins', 'Assassins Creed: Unity' and 'Civilisation VI'.

French composer, Arnaud Roy, talks about his music for the new game 'Humankind', which is out later this month; and also in the programme, a chance to hear a sneak preview of music by Austin Wintory for his new game 'Aliens Fireteam Elite'.

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

Apocalypse2022110520230902 (R3)Louise Blain looks as gaming music in a post-apocalyptic world and talks to Bear McCreary about his score for the God of War series. The programme includes music from Alexei Omelchuk's 'Metro Exodus', Jesper Kyd's 'State of Decay' and Jessica Curry's 'Everybody's Gone To The Rapture' with a musical nod in the direction of Tom Clancy as well.

Louise Blain looks at gaming music in a post-apocalyptic world.

Beyond The Console. Gaming Music In Concert20240504Elle Osili-Wood hosts 'Beyond the Console', a concert of some of the best live orchestral gaming music from the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham. Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and Robert Ames. The programme includes exciting arrangements of music from games such as Zelda, Fallout IV, Shadow of the Colossus and a medley of 90s gaming music.

Elle Osili-Wood hosts a concert of great gaming music with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Elle Osili-Wood hosts Beyond the Console, a programme of live orchestral gaming music from the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham. Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and Robert Ames.

Elle hosts a concert of great gaming music with the BBC Concert Orchestra in Nottingham.

Elle hosts 'Beyond the Console', a programme of live orchestral gaming music from the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham. Featuring the BBC Concert Orchestra and Robert Ames.

Bigger And Better20230401Louise Blain looks at how gaming titles grow in scope and effectiveness and is joined by award-winning composer Stephanie Eonomou for a look at the impact of this on the music. The programme features music by Stephanie composed for Assassin's Creed - Siege of Paris, and the recent Assassin's Creed - Dawn of Ragnarok.

The programme also includes scores from Gustavo Santoalalla's The Last Of Us; Brad Derrick's Elder Scrolls-Blackwood; Beyond Skyrim - Morrowind - The New North by Eric Gordon Berg; Bioshock 2 - Minerva's Den by Gary Schyman; Bill Elm and Woody Jackson's music for Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare; and Jesper Kyd's Borderlands 2 - Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep. This month's HiScore is Marcin Przybzlowicz and Mikolai Stroinski's The Witcher - Blood and Wine.

A look at the music for gaming add-ons and expansion packs.

Boss Scores20210130Music for a gallery of gaming villains and, in particular, Boss Scores - the underscore and themes for the final nemesis between player and antagonist. And we also showcase some of the quieter music that prepares the player for their biggest battles. This week's edition includes a cut-scene interview with Stuart Chatwood, the composer of Darkest Dungeon and Prince of Persia. Presented by Louise Blain.

Louise Blain and the villainous characters of gaming music.

Choices20211106Louise Blain looks at music for games in which chosen paths determine the outcome of the game and she talks to composer Richard Jacques about his score for the new 'Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy' game.

The programme also includes music from Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Deus Ex -Human Revolution, Vampyr, The Walking Dead, Hitman 2 - Silent Assassin, Detroit - Become Human, The Forgotten City, and The Dark Pictures Anthology, as well as Richard Jacques music for Mass Effect and the new Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.

Louise Blain talks to composer Richard Jacques about the new Guardians of the Galaxy.

Comedy20230107Louise Blain explores the lighter side of gaming soundtracks with a look at music for some of the wittiest games on the screen and talks to composer Grant Kirkhope. The programme looks at some of the ways humour appears in games and in gaming scores and features music from Oli Woods' 'Worms WMD', Peter McConnell's 'Psycholnauts 2', River Boy's 'Cult of the Lamb', Christopher Heral's 'Rayman Legends', Ryan Ike's 'West Of Loathing', Dan Golding's 'Untitled Goose Game', Toby Fox's 'Undertale' and the 'Stanley Parable' from the Blake Robinson Synthetic Orchestra. The programme also features cues from 'Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope', 'Yooka-Laylee' and 'Kingdons of Amalar - Reckoning' by Grant Kirkhope and this month's HiScore is Gareth Coker's 'Immortals - Fenyx Rising'.
Cooking Up A Feast With The Best Food In Video Games20240907Just as it is in the real world, food is a fundamental to many games. It isn't just points, like Pac-Man's cherries, it looks delicious, it sizzles temptingly and it brings people together. Maybe you're Link in Zelda Breath of the Wild - knocking up seafood paella - or Venba, the south Indian mother connecting with her son through the language of cooking, or maybe you are Wilson in Don't Starve trying, well... not to starve. Whatever you play, grab a plate and join Elle Osili-Wood to sample the music of the tastiest games around.

Cooking and eating food is a fundamental to so many games. So, whatever your taste, grab a plate and join Elle Osili-Wood to sample the music of the most delicious games around.

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

Crime Time, The Game Is Afoot20220806Louise Blain with gaming music designed to underscore the murky world of crime and punishment. Louise's guest is the composer Richard Wilkinson who talks about his score for the forthcoming Peaky Blinders game. The programme also features music from Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, Austin Wontory's Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Jesse Harlin's Mafia, Woody Jackson's Red Dead Redemption 2, Thief by Luc St-Pierre, Jesper Kyd's Hitman: Blood Money, and Michael Hunter's music for Grand Theft Auto 4.

Gaming music in an underworld of crime.

Dark Fantasy20210703Louise Blain looks at music for games which reflect some of the darker aspects of the fantasy realm and probes the hybrid world of Metroidvania. And she's joined by composer Gareth Coker who talks about creating the score for the two 'Ori' games and also the light-hearted venture into Greek mythology, 'Immortals - Fenyx Rising'.

Featured scores in the programme include Salt and Sanctuary, Nioh 2, Dead Cells, Hollow Knight, Axiom Verge, Guacamelee! 2, Ender Lilies - Quietus of the Knights, Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will o'the Wisps, Immortals - Fenyx Rising, and this month's HiScore - Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

Escape To Japan20220507Japan is one of gaming's most important epicentres. Louise Blain goes in search of the music of this key sub-genre. Featuring such composers as Koji Kondo (Super Mario Brothers), Shunsuke Kida (Demon's Souls); Yasuaki Iwata and Manaka Kataoka (Zelda: Breath of the Wild) and Kow Otani (Shadow of the Colossus). And we hear from Cody Matthew Johnson and Yoko Honda, the composers of an arresting soundtrack to the new samurai game Trek to Yomi, featuring highly authentic Gagaku music.

A look at the wild and beautiful world of Japanese gaming.

Extraterrestrial Gaming20230701Louise Blain probes the universe for gaming's alien beings in pursuit of an 'out of this world' selection of extraterrestrial gaming music. Her line-up includes George Strezov's ‘Stranded Alien Dawn', Austin Wintory's ‘Aliens: Fireteam Elite', Mick Gordon's ‘Prey', Andreas Waldetoft's and Bert Meyer's ‘Stellaris', Winifred Phillips's ‘Spore Hero' and Andrew Prahlow's ‘Outer Wilds'. Louise also focuses on scores for the ‘Mass Effect' franchise and Destiny 2. Her guest is the ‘Beyond Skyrim' composer Eric Gordon Berg.

A look at what happens when gaming and its music leave the comfort of planet Earth.

Finding The Heart Of Sound20200125Jessica Curry has the latest and greatest music for video games.

Composing duo The Flight have been behind the scores for Alien: Isolation, Assassin's Creed Odyssey and the Ivor Novello winning Horizon Zero Dawn, which really push the sonic boundaries of how games music can sound. Alexis Smith from the Flight joins Jessica in the studio to talk about how you collaborate on a game and why creating and experimenting with new sounds and instrumentation, from harmonica orchestras to analogue robots, can bring a game score to life.

Plus Jessica has a eclectic and surprising mix of musical treats from games, including music by American singer Rhiannon Giddens, an epic opera boss from Nier: Automata and a classic track from the world's most famous - and certainly fastest - hedgehog, Sonic.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Greg Edmonson - Nate's Theme (Uncharted: Drake's Fortune)

Rhiannon Giddens/Daniel Lanois - Mountain Hymn (Red Dead Redemption II)

David Garc퀀a - The Seed of the Name (Arise: A Simple Story)

The Flight - A Wanderer's Work (Horizon Zero Dawn)

The Flight - A Resplendent Soil (Horizon Zero Dawn)

The Flight - Territory of None (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Jared Emerson-Johnson - Ted E. Bear's Mafia-Free Playland And Casino (Sam and Max Save the World)

Masato Nakamura - Sonic the Hedgehog: a Symphonic Suite

Philip Sheppard - Little One (Detroit: Become Human)

Keiichi Okabe - A Beautiful Song (NieR: Automata)

The Flight - Hills of Attika (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

The Flight - Athens, Birthplace of Democracy (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

The Flight - Ash Hills (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

The Flight - Beads Fall on Bronze (Horizon Zero Dawn)

The Flight - Legendary Animals (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

Kan R. Gao - To the Moon - Main Theme

Exploring music written for video games, plus an interview with The Flight.

Games Exploring Grief20240601Elle Osili-Wood explores an unexpected theme in video games: Grief. Many people may think that gaming is all about winning, solving puzzles, annihilating enemies, fleeing, conquering. However, there are a growing number of games which explore that most human of states: grief and the pain, vulerabiltiy and transformation involved in its process. Elle surveys the music of games such as What Remains of Edith Finch? (composer Jeff Russo), Spiritfarer (Maxime Lacost-Lebuis) and Firewatch (Chris Remo). And in this month's cut-scene, Elle talks to composer Nainita Desai, the composer of a new grief-themed game 'Tales of Kenzera: Zau'.

Elle Osili-Wood plays the soundtracks to films exploring the human state of grief.

Elle Osili-Wood plays music from games exploring the human state of grief, including Jeff Russo's score to What Remains of Edith Finch? and Spiritfarer by Maxime Lacoste-Lebuis.

Gaming Future20220101Music for games set in the future, and a look at future developments in music and gaming.
Going To The Movies20220827Gaming has always enjoyed a special relationship with the movies, but title don't always transfer well from one medium to the other. Louise looks at the symbiotic relationship between games and movies and talks to composer Nainita Desai about his music for the upcoming new Sam Barlow game Immortality.

The programme includes music by Stuart Chatwood for Prince of Persia, Henry Jackman for Uncharted 4, Jim Dooley for Epic Mickey 2, and Mark Mothersbaugh for Ratchet & Clank. The programme also has music from Jason Graves for House of Ashes, Harry Manfredini for Friday the 13th and John Paesano for Marvel's Spider-Man.

The Hi Score is Jeremiah Pena's music for Jurassic World Evolution.

Louise Blain with gaming music inspired by movies.

Harnessing Special Powers20210403Louise Blain scopes into one of gaming's great pleasures: acquiring specal powers.
Horror!20210501Louise Blain focuses on the theme of horror in gaming music, including Little Nightmares, Silent Hill, Dying Light and the Resident Evil series. Louise meets composer Jason Graves to talk about his music for Dead Space 2 and Until Dawn, and about his musical creation known as `The Instrument`. Also in the programme, a sneak preview of Bobby Krlic's new score for the forthcoming release, Returnal.

Louise Blain meets composer Jason Graves to talk about his music for Dead Space 2.

Interview With The Vampire Composer Elliot Goldenthal20240420Matthew Sweet in conversation with Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Elliot Goldenthal.
Let's Take Turns20221203
Literary Games20240106The world of literature has made a sizeable impact on gaming both in terms of themes and ideas and in shaping narratives. More recently, gaming has been making its mark on literature, with more and more books appearing based on established games and on the distinctive nature of gaming; it has even been suggested that some games could be considered forms of contemporary literature.

Elle Osili-Wood considers the relationship between games and books in a programme that features soundtracks by Marcin Przybyłowicz for ‘The Witcher 3' ; by Maribeth Solomon & Brent Barkman for ‘Sunless Skies'; Garry Schyman for ‘Bioshock'; The Alkemie Early Music Ensemble for ‘Pentiment'; Cœur de Pirate for ‘Child of Light', Laurence Chapman for ‘80 Days'; Andrea Boccadoro for ‘Astrologaster'; and Adam Gubman for ‘Elsinore'. Elle's guest is composer Petri Alanko who talks about his music for the remarkable ‘Alan Wake' series, including the new ‘Alan Wake 2', and also ‘Quantum Break'.

See also: Words & Music on Sunday 7th Jan and Free Thinking on 9th Jan

Elle Osili-Wood's subject is gaming and literature in a show that features music by Garry Schyman, Coeur de pirate and Elle's guest, composer of the Alan Wake series, Petri Alanko.

Lost Masterpieces20200118On Sound of Gaming we celebrate the greatest music from the best video games, but what about the almost hits? The should've-beens? The has-beens?

What happens to the music when a game gets cancelled, a character is changed or a game is taken off the shelves? Today Sound of Gaming is dedicated to Lost Masterpieces - music that could have been heard by millions of players but instead has been lost to the whims of history and the creative process, with never before heard gems from composers like Joris de Man, The Flight and Jim Guthrie.

The BAFTA winning composer Austin Wintory - well known for his work on games like Journey, Abzu and the Banner Saga - talks to Jessica today not about his hits, but about the 'ones that got away', music he's written for pitches that didn't make it and games that didn't see the light of day.

Plus music from games such as Alien: Isolation, Chrono Trigger and Borderlands 3 that didn't find its way into the game, plus a lost gem of a game score by composer Michael Nyman and other treats you just don't hear enough.

Austin Wintory - Crude Gum

Joris de Man - Knights (unreleased)

Raison Varner - General Traunt Sketch (Borderlands 3 - unreleased)

Austin Wintory- Death Arisen

Austin Wintory - Squares

Austin Wintory - A Guessing Game

Austin Wintory - Oases

Michael Nyman - Enemy Zero (Enemy Zero)

The Flight - The Space Jockey (Alien Isolation - unreleased)

Yasunori Mitsuda - The Singing Mountain (Chrono Trigger - unreleased)

Frank Ilfman - Akiro (Akiro - unreleased)

Chris Hülsbeck - The Great Giana Sisters Suite (excerpt)

Austin Wintory - Whiskers and Beams

Austin Wintory - The Call (Journey)

Hitoshi Sakimoto - Staff Roll (Vagrant Story)

Jim Guthrie - You, Me and the Sun Swallowing Sea (Below - unreleased) King George's Hall, Blackburn

Presented by Tom McKinney

Jessica chats to Bafta-winning composer Austin Wintory about the 'ones that got away'.

Monsters!20210904Join Louise Blain as she journeys into the world of video game monsters. At times terrifying, fantastical or actually, just plain cute, these creatures often inspire developers and composers to some of their best music. We'll meet every creature: dinosaurs, Pokemon to hungry sharks. And, in our cut-scene, British composer Ben MacDougall takes us through the several musical worlds that comprise the game Godfall and its new expansion Godfall: Fire and Darkness.

Louise Blain explores music from the wonderful world of videogame monsters.

Mythologies2024020320241102 (R3)

The wonderful music of games imbued with ancient mythologies, both virtual and real.

Not only are many games inspired by some of the world's great mythologies, they also set out to create rich mythological type narratives themselves. Elle Osili-Wood reflects this as the latest iteration of the Prince of Persia franchise reaches our screens. Her guests are the game's co-composers - the ground-breaking Iranian musician, Mentrix, and celebrated video game composer Gareth Coker.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say: 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Gaming.

The latest Prince of Persia game has arrived, and Elle Osili-Wood listens to music reflecting our world mythologies.

[LISTEN NOW]

New Year New Games20200101You may have found a shiny new console in your Christmas stocking, or perhaps you're working out what to get in the sales - or going slow after another New Year's Eve party...

Luckily Sound Of Gaming returns for a New Year's Day special. Jessica Curry plays the best video game music to bring you back to life after the night before, picks some of her favourite games and soundtracks from the past year and looks into her 2020 crystal ball at what may be the biggest scores of the New Year.

Gareth Coker - Naru, Embracing the Light (Ori and the Blind Forest)

Todd Baker - An Endless Desert (Alto's Odyssey)

Ramin Djawadi - Riftworm Village (Gears 5)

Kristofer Maddigan - Elder Kettle (Cuphead)

Guy Jackson - My Floating Sanctuary (Sea of Solitude)

Gareth Coker - Up the Spirit Caverns Walls (Ori and the Blind Forest)

Disasterpeace - Nocturne / Memory (FEZ)

Claude Debussy - Minstrels (Pr退ludes - Book 1)

Austin Wintory - Delphinus Delphis (Abzû)

Lena Raine - Light Rail (Oneknowing)

Takeshi Furukawa - Epilogue (The Last Guardian)

aivi & surasshu - Mika

Koji Kondo - Great Fairy's Fountain Theme (The Legend of Zelda)

Jessica plays video game music to soothe aching heads and picks some 2019 highlights

Night City Tracks And Transformations20201212With the release of the eagerly awaited Cyberpunk 2077, Louise Blain immerses herself among the sounds of RPG (Role Play Games) and meets composer Marcin Przybylowicz.

Role Playing Games are some of the most creative and empowering gaming environments that there are. Games which let the player pursue a fictitious destiny as someone other themselves Where they get to choose and sometimes even create their own avatar. Louise focuses on games that offer a real potential for character creation in an exploration of the musical world of RPGs. Featured game scores include World of Warcraft; Pillars of Eternity; Eve Online; Dragon Age - Inquisition; The Sims; Fallout 4 and Final Fantasy.

This week's CutScene features Polish composer Marcin Przybylowicz talking about his music for Witcher 3 and also about his score for the greatly anticipated newly released games Cyberpunk 2077.

Louise Blain with a vital selection of role play gaming music.

On Air, Online And In Concert With The BBC Philharmonic20241123

A chance to experience a live video gaming concert like no other!

Using ground-breaking new technology developed by the BBC exclusively for Radio 3, Sound of Gaming brings the live concert straight into the World of Gaming with a virtual, live concert.

Hosted by Elle Osili-Wood, we look forward to welcoming not only an audience listening live on Radio 3 and in the BBC Philharmonic studios but ALSO those attending as avatars!

For information on how to take part in the live concert online, please visit the BBC Philharmonic website.

Online listeners will have the chance not only to listen to the concert and interact with other avatars and gaming music fans around the UK in the virtual BBC Philharmonic concert hall, but also learn more about the fascinating world of the orchestra and the instruments that plays those huge soundtracks from gaming world itself: music such as Gareth Coker's Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Brian Tyler's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Jessica Curry's Dear Esther and Inon Zur's Starfield Medley.

Join world-renowned conductor and gaming composer Eimear Noone and the BBC Philharmonic orchestra in this interactive live musical spectacular. Who knows, you might even bump into some people you know backstage in exclusive interview room pods!

And if that weren't enough - remember you can even listen to this on most smart speakers! Just say 'Ask BBC Sounds to play Sound of Gaming'.

Elle Osili-Wood with gaming's greatest soundtracks performed live by the BBC Philharmonic.

Elle Osili-Wood with a unique live and online concert of gaming music: performed by the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Eímear Noone.

[LISTEN NOW]

Open Universe Games20231007Monthly series showcasing music from the world of gaming, today with Elle Osili-Wood focusing on open universe games - where you are free to roam where you like - featuring highlights of scores by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger), Ilan Eshkeri & Shigeru Umebayashi (The Ghost of Tsushima), Ludvig Forssell & Justin Burnett (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain) and Gareth Coker (Halo Infinite). And she's joined by Inon Zur, Israeli-American composer of Starfield, the vast new game in the open world genre.

Featuring some of the best music from games in which you are free to roam.

Orchestral Manoeuvres20200111Jessica Curry has the latest and greatest music for video games.

Composer Takeshi Furukawa emerged as one of the most exciting new voices in video game music with his Bafta-nominated score for The Last Guardian, a visually and aurally stunning story of a boy's friendship with a mythical beast. Furukawa-san chats about writing The Last Guardian, working with the London Symphony Orchestra for the game, and why in games it's just as important as film for a composer to have a 'voice'.

Plus Jessica has a mix of favourite tracks, something brand new from the cheeky and charming game Wattam and a Classic Track from a brooding Hitman that has stood the test of time courtesy of Jesper Kyd.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Music played:

Koji Kondo - Legend of Zelda Suite

Bear McCreary - God of War

Asuka Takahashi - A Long Time: The Six Years (Wattam)

Takeshi Furukawa - Overture: Lore (The Last Guardian)

Takeshi Furukawa - Forest (The Last Guardian)

Takeshi Furukawa - Sentinel II (The Last Guardian)

Takeshi Furukawa - The Parade (Bhopali)

George Strezov - CH4 (Surviving Mars)

Jesper Kyd - Apocalypse (Hitman: Blood Money)

Nobuo Uematsu - Ahead on Our Way (Final Fantasy VII: Piano Collections)

Sarah Schachner - Modern Warfare Main Theme (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

Takeshi Furukawa - Falling Bridge (The Last Guardian)

Takeshi Furukawa - Finale II: Escape (The Last Guardian)

C418 - Dog (Minecraft)

Ary Warnaar - Maki Ya (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game)

Composer Takeshi Furukawa talks about his beautiful score to The Last Guardian

Platformers20210206Jumping, climbing, running, Louise Blain focuses on music for platform games, from Donkey Kong and Mario to the present day. Lena Raine, composer of the award-winning 2018 game 'Celeste' joins the programme to talk about that and some of her more recent work, and there's music from Rayman Legends, Cuphead, and Ori and the Blind Forest.

Louise Blain with music for platform games.

Player A V Player B2023120220231209 (R3)Elle Osili-Wood on conflict from the straightforward will to win to complex moral dilemmas

From a straightforward will to win to complex moral dilemmas. Elle Osili-Wood asks what impact conflict has on gaming music? Her guest is American composer Cris Velasco who talks about his new scores for The Lords Of The Fallen, and Song of Nunu. Also in the programme, Elle features music from Sid Meier's Civilisation VI, Celeste, Sackboy - the Big Adventure, It Takes Two, Divinity - Original Sin 2, The Order -1886, Apex Legends, World of Conflict, and Baldur's Gate 3.

From a straightforward will to win to complex moral dilemmas. Elle Osili-Wood asks what impact conflict has on gaming music with guest composer Cris Velasco.

Playing Together20211204Louise Blain samples some of the music from multiplayer games. We're playing together.
Playing With Music20191116Jessica Curry with the most exciting and inspiring video game music to open your ears and mind.

Stand by for, amongst other things, a sonic reimagining of Debussy, a nursery rhyme murder mystery, Deep Space musical dystopia and much loved tracks from two classic franchises.

Plus Jessica chats to French composer Olivier Deriviere. Known for his work on Assassin's Creed IV: Freedom Cry, A Plague Tale, and the new GreedFall, Olivier is one of the most in-demand composers working in games today - described as `Game music's eclectic daredevil`, he talks to Jess about pushing the boundaries of what music in games can be and how interactivity has exploded the aural possibilities composers can work with.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Full playlist:

Yoko Shimomura - Theme (Kingdom Hearts)

Kenta Nagata/Hajime Wakai/Toru Minegishi/Koji Kondo - Dragon Roost Island (The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker)

Claude Debussy/Daniel Ols退n - Clair de Lune (Sayonara Wild Hearts)

Olivier Derivi耀re - Making Peace with Ourselves (GreedFall)

Olivier Derivi耀re - The Balloon Plan (11-11 Memories Retold)

Olivier Derivi耀re - Father (A Plague Tale: Innocence)

Jim Fowler - Chasing Shadows (Diggs Nightcrawler)

Berlinist - Karasu (Gris)

Inon Zur - Main Theme (Fallout 4)

Osama Murata - Nozomi's Confession (Shenmue)

Jason Graves - Fly Me to the Aegis Seven Moon (Dead Space)

Yoko Shimomura - Guile's Theme (Streetfighter II)

Floex - The Glasshouse with Butterfly (Machinarium)

Olivier Derivi耀re - A Plague Tale (A Plague Tale: Innocence)

Olivier Derivi耀re - In Shock (A Plague Tale: Innocence)

Olivier Derivi耀re - Together Forever (A Plague Tale: Innocence)

Jim Guthrie/J.J. Ipsen - The Light in Us All (Planet Coaster)

Jessica Curry with some of her favourite tracks and a chat with composer Olivier Deriviere

Relaxing Escapes20210605Louise Blain meets composer Ilan Eshkeri to talk about his music for Sims 4.
Resurrection20240302Elle Osili-Wood takes a look at how death and rebirth inhabit the gaming world.
Rising To The Challenge20220604Louise Blain features music for games which really test a player's capabilities, physically and intellectually, and Louise talks to Kristofer Maddigan about his music for 'Cuphead', including the much anticipated Cuphead sequel - 'The Delicious Last Course' which is out at the end of the month.

As well as 'Cuphead', the programme includes music from 'Bloodborne' by Nobuyoshi Suzuki, from Tomas Dvorak's 'Machinarium', Yugo Kanno and Akihiro Manabe's 'Nioh 2', Richard Beddow's 'Total War Saga - Troy', Damian Mravunak's 'The Talos Principle', 'Hades' from Darren Korb, Bobby Krlic's 'Returnal', 'It Takes Two from Gustaf Grefberg and music from 'Destiny 2' by Michael Salvatori, Skye Lewin and C Paul Johnson. This week's HiScore is Ben Prunty's 'FTL'.

Sarah Schachner20200328Jessica Curry has the latest and greatest music for video games plus an interview with composer Sarah Schachner.

Music played:

Sarah Schachner - Return Of The Medjay (Assassin's Creed Origins)

Jessica Curry (arr by Materia Collective) - All the Earth (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)

Yoko Shimomura - The Other Promise (Kingdom Hearts II)

Cœur De Pirate ?- Final Breath (Child Of Light)

Sarah Schachner - Main Theme (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

Sarah Schachner - Ezio's Family (Assassin's Creed Origins)

Sarah Schachner - Legion of Dawn (Anthem Legion of Dawn)

Yoko Kanno - Hana Wa Saku 'Flowers Will Bloom

Joel Nielsen - Apprehension (Black Mesa)

Jerry Martin - Under Construction (The Sims)

Sarah Schachner - Piccadilly Circus (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare)

Mike Morasky - Icosahedron (Half-Life: Alyx)

Sam Webster - Puzz (Grindstone)

Jessica Curry with the greatest music for video games, plus composer Sarah Schachner.

S-heroes20220205With the release of the new action role-playing game 'Horizon Forbidden West', featuring the character Aloy, Louise Blain foregrounds music for games where women take the lead. She looks at the ways in which the representation of women has developed in gaming and features music from 'Mirror's Edge Catalyst', 'Uncharted: Lost Legacy', 'Assassin's Creed Odyssey', 'Dishonored 2', 'Control' ,'Hellblade Senua's Sacrifice' and 'Tomb Raider'. And Lousie talks to composer Joris de Man and vocalist Julie Elven about the creation of the score for the Horizon series.

Louise Blain celebrates the story of gaming's action 'heroines'.

Solitude20220402Louise Blain ponders the notion of solitude in gaming. She wanders through the woods of Wyoming in Firewatch, saddles her horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 and explores the gargantuan architecture of Destiny 2: The Witch Queen. Our CutScene marks the tenth anniversary of Journey with its composer Austin Wintory. Louise talks to him about how his symphonic re-working of the soundtrack with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Louise also features the soundtracks of not one, but two of this year's BAFTA-nominated game scores - Returnal by Bobby Krlic and Psychonauts 2 by Peter McConnell.

Louise Blain is joined by composer Austin Wintory to mark Journey's tenth anniversary.

Stealth20201114Louise Blain's journeys through gaming music.
Survival20211002In this month's episode of Sound of Gaming, Louise Blain carefully packs her bags to go on a journey through the soundtracks of the best survival games. These are the games where we have to carefully manage our scarce resources, forage for supplies, and craft tools and weapons to stay alive. From the dangers of the night in Don't Starve - where our task is exactly as the title suggests - to attempting to stay warm in the frozen wilderness of The Long Dark, survival games are an often intimidating prospect. Louise will be exploring the atmospheric soundtracks of these lonely landscapes and talking with composer Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, Medal of Honour).

Radio3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

The Art Of Video Games20240706Video games have come a long way from the pixels of Pong and Pac-Man. From games based on medieval manuscripts like Inkulinati and Pentiment, to hand-drawn wonders such as Cuphead, games have become works of art in themselves. Some even ask the player to create that art. Elle Osili-Wood dusts off her easel and to illustrate the best of them.

Elle's guest on the programme has been involved with a number of such titles - 'Chicory: A Colorful Tale' and 'Ori and the Will o'the Wisps' - she is the go-to woodwind soloists for game and film composers alike: Kristin Naigus.

Producer: Barnaby Gordon

Elle Osili-Wood showcases the best illustration in games.

Elle Osili-Wood dusts off her easel to showcase the best illustration in games, from Chicory: A Colorful Tale to Cuphead. Elle's guest is superstar woodwind player Kristin Naigus.

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

The Call Of The Sea20220305Louise Blain explores music for games that are all at sea including Sonic the Hedgehog, Minecraft Dungeons, Spiritfarer and Sea of Solitude. Her guest for the CutScene is Robin Beanland who talks in detail about his Score for Sea of Thieves, and there's music from the newly released Changing Tides in the much loved Far series.

Radio 3's regular jaunt into the latest, brightest and best gaming soundtracks.

The City Getaway20221001Louise Blain goes on a virtual city break, sampling the soundtracks of gaming's most compelling urban landscapes. She takes in some of the cities which are centre stage in video games such as Venice in Tomb Raider 2 with a score by Nathan McCree and the terrifying plague ridden imaginary city of Yharnam in Bloodborne, beautifully brought to life by the composer Tsukasa Saitoh and others. And to hear how music enhances these gaming metropolises, Louise hears from the composing duo Joe Henson and Alexis Smith - known as The Flight - who wrote the Ivor Novello award-winning score for Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which imagines the cities of ancient Greece.

Louise Blain goes on a virtual city break to some of gaming's urban soundscapes.

The Dazzling Music Of Indie Games20191102Jessica Curry celebrates the dazzling musical world of indie games.

Most people have heard of the titans of video games - like FIFA, Mario, Call of Duty or Fortnite - but there's also a thriving indie scene pushing the boundaries of what games and their soundtracks can be. For an indie, no adventure is too small, too silly, too bizarre or too bittersweet - and often they dive deeper than huge games into subjects such as grief, love, illness and what it means to be human. Indie soundtracks then can be some of the most experimental music in the whole genre - from tender chamber music to full on electronic freak outs - Jessica plays some of her favourites.

Plus Jessica talks to composer Lena Raine, whose BAFTA nominated music for the breakout indie hit Celeste has been one of the most talked about scores of recent years.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Full playlist:

Kristofer Maddigan - Ruse of an Ooze (Cuphead)

Oli Wood - Buffet Balloons (Overcooked 2)

Laurence Chapman - Before the Fall (Heaven's Vault)

Gareth Coker - Ori and the Will of the Wisps (extract)

Lena Raine - First Steps (Celeste)

Lena Raine - Heart of the Mountain (Celeste)

Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt - The Brothers Swim (Burly Men at Sea)

Nate Sandberg & Matthew Joynt - Heroic Feats (Burly Men at Sea)

Austin Wintory - I Was Born For This (Journey)

Kristofer Maddigan - Die House (Cuphead)

Julien Neto - From Cover to Cover (Osmos)

Jessica Curry - The End of All Things (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)

Jessica Curry - Liquid Light (Everybody's Gone to the Rapture)

Lena Raine - Awake (Celeste)

Lena Raine - Anxiety (Celeste)

Lena Raine - Beyond the Heart (Celeste: Farewell)

Peter Due - City Streets (Forgotton Anne)

Andrew Prahlow - Outer Wilds (Outer Wilds)

Jessica Curry chats to composer Lena Raine about her music for Celeste.

The Ex Factor20240427With the release of Zendaya's Challengers, Matthew Sweet takes on the best film breakups.
The Extraordinary20230603Louise Blain uncovers some of the most imaginative, creative games around - from the astonishing storytelling in What Remains of Edith Finch to the upturned morality of Shadow of the Colossus. And her guest Winifred Phillips talks about scoring Sackboy, Assassin's Creed Liberation and Jurassic World Primal Ops.

Louise uncovers games of great imagination. And Winifred Phillips is our Cutscene guest.

The Joy Of Gaming20230805Louise Blain immerses herself in the sheer pleasure of gaming and the music that makes it stick. What makes certain games so full of joy? Well, the music is certianly part of it and Louise includes Jesper Kyd's score for Assassin's Creed and music from the games Spiderman 2, Flower and Spiritfarer, among others. And in the Cut-Scene interview, Louise talks to the brilliant young British composer David Housden who has created the soundtrack to the latest global gaming sensation, Disney Illusion Island.

Louise immerses herself in the pure pleasure of gaming and the music that comes with it.

The Lone Wolf20231104Elle Osili-Wood plays music from games in which you are a solitary hunter, traversing landscapes in search of adventure and challenge. Including music from the new game Spider-Man 2 (composer John Pesano). Elle will argue that, although in many games the main character is a loner, in reality gaming is far from being a solitary occupation.

Elle Osili-Wood plays soundtracks from games in which you are a solitary hunter.

Elle Osili-Wood plays music from games in which you are a solitary hunter, crossing landscapes in search of adventure and challenge. Includes music from the new game Spider-Man 2.

The Music Of Star Wars: Outlaws20240803Elle Osili-Wood's guest is composer Wilbert Roget II to talk about his music for the brand new Star Wars game - Star Wars: Outlaws. Along the way we encounter all sorts of other rule-breakers, from the games that challenge our preconceptions about what they are (Dave The Diver, an action adventure which becomes a role-playing game and then a management simulator!) to games that ask the player what rules they are prepared to break (Papers. Please) and Metal Gear Solid, which challenges you to question its own rules.

Producer: Barnaby Gordon

Composer Wilbert Roget talks to Elle Osili-Wood about his music for Star Wars: Outlaws.

The Rise Of Robots20241005

Elle Osili-Wood guides us through the soundtracks for the best robots in video games as well as exploring how AI is being used as both a story-telling device and gameplay mechanic in gaming. Featuring music from Halo Infinite (by Gareth Coker) with themes around human-AI bonds, NieR: Automata (Square Enix Music) which asks what counts as being alive, and Detroit: Become Human (Philip Sheppard) which explores the idea of civil rights for robots.

Producer: Barnaby Gordon

Elle Osili-Wood with the soundtracks for the best robots in video games.

Elle Osili-Wood guides us through the soundtracks for the best robots in video games and explores how AI is used as both a story-telling device and gameplay mechanic in gaming.

[LISTEN NOW]

The Secret Tricks Of Video Game Composers20191109Jessica Curry with the latest and greatest music for video games.

Today she's joined by composer Winifred Phillips who has scored some of the biggest game franchises from Assassin's Creed III: Liberation to God of War to Little Big Planet. She's also written a handy composers guide on how to write game music. Jess and Winifred chat about writing for those huge franchises, the glory of live games music concerts and what composers are getting up to in games.

Plus composer and musician J.J. Ipsen calls up to introduce an exclusive new release - his music for the brand new game Planet Zoo, and Jess's Classic Track is an absolutely seminal score - music from Chrono Trigger by Yasunori Mitsuda.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Full playlist:

Yasunori Nishiki - Main Theme (Octopath Traveller)

J.J. Ipsen - Title Theme (Planet Zoo)

Laura Shigihara - Fish Heads and Morizora's Cave (Rakuen)

Winifred Phillips - Main Theme; Aveline's Escape; Society Suite in 4 Movements (Assassin's Creed III: Liberation)

Traditional Russian/Johann Sebastian Bach/Ang耀le Dubeau - Tetris theme

Yasunori Mitsuda - Main Theme; To Far Away Times (Chrono Trigger)

Michiru Yamane - Unfinished Business (Skull Girls)

Christopher Larkin - City of Tears (Hollow Knight)

Winifred Phillips - The Ziggurat Theme (Little Big Planet 3)

Winifred Phillips - Main Theme (Dark Eye: Book of Heroes)

Gustavo Santaolalla - The Last of Us (The Last of Us)

Composer Winifred Phillips joins Jessica Curry to unpick how to write video game music

The Worlds Of Action Adventure20201107~Sound Of Gaming returns to Radio 3 with a much-anticipated mix featuring some of the very best and newest gaming soundtracks out there. And with new scores comes a new voice. In the first of two programmes, gaming journalist and music enthusiast, Louise Blain, guides us though the many worlds of ‘action adventure' games, as evoked by the music. She looks forward to the release this week of the latest incarnation in the Assassin's Creed franchise - ‘Valhalla' - with a storyboard inspired by the Viking invasion of Britain and boasting a sonorous new soundtrack by this Louise's guest, Jesper Kyd.

Louise Blain's journeys through gaming music.

Theatres Of Conflict20201205Louise Blain with an hour of great gaming music.
Time Travel20230304Louise Blain is joined by Deathloop composer Tom Salta.
Unlikely Companions20230506Louise explores music for games in which an unusual character makes an appearance.
Vinyl Special20200418Jessica Curry with a special edition of Sound of Gaming looking at video game music on vinyl, including a special report from Newcastle vinyl store 'Chipfreq' plus chiptune and chat from composer Chipzel.

Music played in podcast:

Chipzel - Courtesy (Super Hexagon)

Peter McConnell - Grim Fandango (Grim Fandango)

Michiru Yamane - Castlevania Theme (Castlevania)

Lena Raine - Sedate (ESC)

Chipzel -New Terra (Interstellaria)

Chipzel - Come On Down (Dicey Dungeons)

Nobuo Uematsu - The Prelude (Final Fantasy VII Remake)

Kevin Penkin - Florence (Florence)

Joe Thwaites/Jim Fowler - The Organ Ice Station (Blood and Truth)

Jonah Senzel

Louey's Playhouse - Puzzle Remix (Pony Island)

Jim Guthrie/J.J. Ipsen - Aspect Imaginarium (Planet Coaster)

Scott Hansen - L (Hohokum)

Jonathan Geer - Owlboy Main Title (Owlboy)

Chipzel - With Love (Phonetic Symphony)

Chipzel - Recovery (Interstellaria)

Jessica Curry with video game music on vinyl, plus composer Chipzel.

Virtual Reality20230204Louise Blain focuses on Virtual Reality in gaming through some of the music that these games have inspired. She is joined by the composer of 'Lone Echo' and 'Moss', Jason Graves, who talks about writing music for this comparatively new format. VR offers an opportunity for a greatly enhanced sensory gaming experience and the potential for even more imaginative game play.

Louise's selection includes Inon Zur's score for 'Eagle Flight', Jaroslav Beck's 'Beat Saber', Mike Morasky's 'Half Life: Alyx', Jesper Kyd's 'Robinson: The Journey', Jeffrey Pierce and Rob Pearsall's 'Falcon Age', Kenneth C M Young's 'Astro Bot Rescue Mission VR', Keiichi Sugiyama's 'Rez Infinite', Michael Gordon Shaprino's 'Down the Rabbit Hole, Michael Wyckoff's 'Boneworks'; as well as Lone Echo', 'Moss' and 'Moss Book 2' by Jason Graves.

Walking Through Virtual Worlds20240406Elle Osili-Wood is in Discovery Mode with exploration games like Dear Esther and Abzu.
Walking Through Worlds20240406Elle Osili-Wood is in Discovery Mode with exploration games like Dear Esther and Abzu.
Welcome To The World Of Video Game Music20191026Join Jessica Curry on a brand new adventure for Radio 3 as she delves into the exhilarating and joyous world of music for video games.

Some of the most cutting edge, dynamic and expressive music being made today is composed for video games. And the music, like the games themselves, comes in all shapes and sizes: from intimate chamber music to full jazz bands or electronica to symphonic music on the largest scale, so if you've never listened to music from games before, prepare to have your expectations confounded!

Jessica presents a heady mix of music to delight the most ardent gaming fans as well as enticing those who may never have even played a video game - with classic scores, new releases and some of her favourites.

Today she talks to composer British composer Grant Kirkhope who has scored some of the best loved video games characters from Banjo-Kazooie to Mario alongside a catalogue of hit games that have sold over 30 million. Grant chats about the terror involved in scoring the iconic moustachioed plumber and how melody is the key to great games music.

Plus we hear from music fans at EGX - the UK's biggest video games show.

Get in touch - email soundofgaming@BBC.co.uk

Full playlist:

Koji Kondo - Gusty Garden Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy)

Christopher Tin - Sogno di Volare (Civilisation VI)

Nainita Desai - Dawn (Telling Lies)

Grant Kirkhope - Oven Fresh Day (Viva Piကata)

Grant Kirkhope - Main Theme (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning)

Grant Kirkhope - Showdown Town Square (Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts)

Todd Baker - Impossible Worlds (Monument Valley II)

Nobuo Uematsu - To Zanarkand (Final Fantasy X)

Simon Hale - Temptation, Pt 1 (L.A. Noire)

Andrew Hale - Main Theme (L.A. Noire)

Traditional Russian - Korobeiniki (Tetris)

Cris Velasco - Theme for The Long Dark (The Long Dark)

Andrea Boccadoro - John Whitgift (Astrologaster)

Grant Kirkhope - Mid Boss Mayhem (Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle)

Grant Kirkhope - Tirnoch (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning)

Saori Kobayashi - The Ark (Resurrection: Panzer Dragoon Saga)

Jake Kaufman - Flowers of Antimony (Shovel Knight)

Jessica Curry leads us to the exhilarating world of VGM & chats to composer Grant Kirkhope

Wilbert Roget20200411Jessica Curry continues her look at video game music with composer Wilbert Roget II.

Music played in podcast:

Wilbert Roget II - A Brotherhood of Heroes (Call of Duty: WWII)

Christopher Tin - Baba Yetu (Civilisation IV), ft Soweto Gospel Choir.

Christopher Young - The Saboteur Theme (The Saboteur)

James Hannigan - Soviet March (Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3)

Wilbert Roget II - Cobra in the Hedgerow (Call of Duty: WWII)

Wilbert Roget II - Berga (Call of Duty: WWII)

Koji Kondo - Legend of Zelda: Suite

Wilbert Roget II - Home (Call of Duty: World War II)

Claude Vivier - Zipangu

Wilbert Roget II - A Matter of Time - Main theme (Mortal Kombat 11)

Wilbert Roget II - The Plains (Anew: The Distant Light)

Gareth Coker - Shriek's Tale (Ori and Will of the Wisps)

Christophe H退ral - Food Invaded (Rayman Legends)

Marcin Przyby?owicz - The Trail (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)

Works Like A Charm20220702Hocus-pocus, open sesame and the black arts, Louise Blain waves her wand to conjure up the immense world of magic within video games and their music. Featuring such titles as Assassin's Creed, Crash Bandicoot, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Trine 2. Plus a cut-scene interview with Peter McConnell about his alluring and hypnotic score to the new game Video Detective.

Hocus-pocus, open sesame, the black arts. A delve into the role of magic in video games.