Adventure X - The Narrative Games Convention Celebrating Narrative in Video Games
Adventure X is the only games conference in the UK dedicated to narrative games. As such, it's a perfect fit for Arctic Awakening, a narrative adventure game for which I am the composer.
With its narrative focus, Adventure X was high on the list of games conferences we wanted to showcase at this year.
Of the hundreds of applicants, only a handful of games make it through the selection process. So, we were thrilled when Arctic Awakening was among the 20 titles chosen to exhibit at last weekend's event!
With the previous two year's conventions cancelled due to COVID-19, this year's event seemed even more exciting. So, with the chance to watch real game enthusiasts play the demo beckoning, James Simpson, Arctic Awakening's director, and I headed to London.
Arctic Awakening
James Simpson Director & Joff Winks Composer at Adventure X 2022
Adventure X - The Narrative Games Conference
Adventure X usually takes place at the British Library. But due to an electrical fire, the venue changed at short notice to the Stockwell Street Building, part of Greenwich University.
The fire this year may have been an unexpected gift, though. Greenwich is a more vibrant part of London packed with little cafes and London pubs nestled into the little side streets. And with the masts of the Cutty Sark rising above the buildings, the evening skyline is mesmerising.
Cutty Sark London
Named after the nickname of a fictional witch created by Robert Burns in his 1791 poem Tam o’ Shanter.
Getting to a conference with lots of gear in tow can be tricky. But I lucked out with a stunning Airbnb! A beautiful house that, in the 1700s, was the residence of the astronomer royal. And did I mention a mere 5-minute walk from the venue with off-street parking? In fact, the parking gods seemed to be smiling on me all weekend, positioning a convenient parking bay for unloading the computers and monitors right outside the venue.
I don't attend many conferences, but I particularly enjoyed Adventure X. Over the weekend, I met dozens of great people from many backgrounds: game enthusiasts, developers and directors, writers, narrative designers, voice actors and composers.
Everyone I spoke with was enthusiastic about narrative games. And all generously shared their feedback, experience and knowledge. Thanks to Dylan Nagel, director of Lake & Andy Walsh, Horizon Forbidden West, for their conversation and feedback. I'd also like to thank Aleix Romon and Odysseus for their comments and encouragement about the music.
It's a nerve-wracking experience watching people play a build that you've been working on for months and months. But when a smile spreads across the player's faces as they nod in appreciation of the work, it's magic!
Narrative and Music - A Perfect Pair
The pairing of music and story has created many memorable moments. From ballet and opera to cinema, television and games, music enhances the power of narrative.
As a musician and composer, I am keenly aware of the importance of narrative. The script is the hymn sheet from which I sing in a manner of speaking, and it underpins all my thinking musically.
Narrative-driven games are one of my favourite genres to score. I enjoy how stories fire my imagination and challenge me to reach for new sounds. Stories often push me outside my comfort zone, but it's exhilarating to think in new ways. The setting of time and place, the character's developments, and their interactions and emotions all feed my creative process.
Arctic Awakening's narrative fuses the adventure of a survival story with the sci-fi mystery of an Xfiles episode. The mixture of these components is a perfect example of how a story can influence the creative possibilities for music!
Whilst talking with fellow composer Aleix, we touched on the inspiration for Arctic Awakening's music. Aleix was interested in the evolution of my thinking.
I described starting with the sound of tenuto flute swarms as a way to represent the Alaskan wilderness. Then, via Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' score for The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward, Robert Ford arrived at a reimagining of the Western. A mix of stark solo strings, acoustic, electric, bowed and slide guitars and the Andean Charango.
Below is a track called Wander. It underscores Kai's first exploration of the wilderness after crashing his plane. Snow for miles, wind in the birch trees, the blue sky above and danger around every corner!
For more music click here.
A demo of Arctic Awakening is available to download on Steam. Please wishlist if you enjoy playing.
Adventure X - Should You Visit?
Having stood up for the entire weekend of Adventure X, my legs and back were feeling the strain! But I thoroughly enjoyed it! The people who attended were warm, welcoming and engaging in conversation. And they kept James and me rushed off our feet for the entire convention.
Arctic Awakening was well received, gaining much praise from those who played. And the two chairs we had set up were seldom empty.
The developers exhibiting were passionate about their art. And the community spirit among the different development teams was honestly inspiring. There's something marvellous about how open and helpful the indie dev community is. It's hard to think of another sector with such strong
're wondering whether or not to attend Adventure X, my advice would be to go! I don't think you will regret featuring your game there or attending as a game enthusiast. Either way, you will have a good time, meet some great people and help celebrate the artistry of narrative in games.
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