Freeworld: The sound of FreeWorld - by Raya

Composer Scott Morton and Mindsurge Entertainment CEO Clyde Bielss cheered yesterday when the 30-track CD containing the soundtrack of Freeworld was completed.

Scott Morton used to think he wanted to compose soundtracks for movies, until he was shanghaied by the lure of online gaming. An avid gamer himself, he found the allure of composing music for the interactive entertainment media too compelling. His credits to date list the music for Dracolith, put out by Brainstorm Studios in 2003; the music and sfx for Q'bicles from Dragonfly Game Design in 2004; and his work in progress, the music and sfx for Ray Pingree's Googrid. Now he can add the soundtrack of Freeworld to that list.

Mindsurge Entertainment CEO Clyde Bielss is extremely pleased with the Freeworld soundtrack. He had this to say about the composer's work:

"Scott went above and beyond the call of duty when it came to creating the soundtrack for FreeWorld. It is the heart and soul of the game and brings the world alive. We are proud to release this soundtrack before the release of the game and hope you enjoy it as much as we do."

Clyde thought that the CD would be released in about a month's time. He is aiming for the first week in September anyhow to coincide with the next phase of testing of Freeworld.

Here are eight excerpts from the CD. The one called Wild Adventure (1.56mb) is particularly enchanting. Its rollicking, at times poignant, tune draws the listener into playing the game with a stauncher heart and a jauntier tip of his helm. With 29 other tracks to choose from, the Freeworld gamer will feel right at home with his very own CD.

According to Clyde, the CD will be published by MindSurge Entertainment On-Demand Publishing and offered to the general public for $12.99. The 30 tracks from the game will be 100% digitally remastered for better sound quality.

Clyde, as his player character Draconus, enjoys snatching the odd few seconds here and there to play his game. He particularly loves to listen to the game music playing. His favorite?

"Taleron, the Tree City, is my favorite track. Whenever I hear that song it makes me feel like I'm in the middle of a fantasy movie playing the role of the hero. Sometimes I'll go to Taleron just to hear it play."

Gamer or not, you won't have to go to Taleron to hear it play. Clyde signed a contract with a sound design company recently to make the sound paks for the site. He is so convinced of the quality of this music that he is entering the CD in the next "GANG" awards at the Game Developers Conference (GDC).