Outside the Game is the chance for Player2’s writers to inform our readers on what is happening with video game properties in the world of movies, TV, books and music. If it is game-related in a different form of media, you will find it here.
Outside the Game - Indie Symphony Returns, Tony Hawk Dusts Off His Boom Box and Anderson vs Saren
Indie Symphony II Brings The Orchestra to Melbourne
After a kick-ass show in 2023, the Indie Symphony is back and will once again be treating audiences to orchestral versions of classic indie game soundtracks and songs. Hosted by ABC Classic’s Game Music Host Meena Shamaly, Indie Symphony II will feature some of Australia’s finest musicians celebrating music’s vital role in video games.
Featuring songs from Baulder’s Gate 3, Abzu, Darkest Dungeon, Hades II, Undertale and Melbourne’s own Untitled Goose Game, the show will feature a full 60-piece orchestra, guest artists, a choir and an immersive lighting and visual experience all with the goal of bringing these classic soundtracks to audiences in a way they have never seen or heard before.
Orchestra Victoria’s CEO, Jacinta Ewers had this to say about the event. “We are excited to be bringing Indie Symphony II to Victorian audiences. After the great success of championing indie games in 2023, it’s great to have a brand new set of pieces from well-loved games to share with everyone, and to be working with the amazing composers and games developers from around the world.”
So if you are keen on an awesome night of cool tunes performed by amazing musicians then there are two shows coming on the 3rd and 4th of July at the Hamer Hall in Melbroune. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here:
Tony Hawk Is Bringing Classics, Both Old and New to THPS 3+4
One of the most important things for any Tony Hawk game is the soundtrack and both Tony and Activision are ready to keep that feeling alive with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. There have been two song list announcements so far featuring a host of classic returning songs as well as brand-new entries that will be new to players.
As you can see from the images above, there is a healthy mix of old stuff like Alice in Chains, Iron Maiden and Motorhead as well as a tonne of new bands I have never heard of before because… well, I’m old. But this excites me, so many tunes from my ’90s playlists originated in Tony Hawk games so I am hoping to discover some new bands and tracks when I return to the franchise later in the year. If you want to listen to the soundtrack as it currently exists you can click this link and listen to everything announced so far on Spotify. There are more songs to be announced so if your favourite from back in the day hasn’t been mentioned yet, don’t fret, there is still hope.
Outside the Game Recommendation - Mass Effect: Revelation
Look, we have a loooooonnnnngggg time before anything Mass Effect related hits our consoles and considering the rough run that Bioware is having within the grasp of EA’s suffocating systems even that isn’t a sure thing. So with that in mind, I recently revisited the Mass Effect tie-in novel, Revelation. Written by the game’s lead writer, Drew Karpyshyn (who also wrote the KoToR tie-in Revan, the fantastic Darth Bane books as well as working on KoToR, Balder’s Gate, Jade Empire and more for Bioware) Revelation is set 20 or so years before the events of the original Mass Effect game and focuses on a young David Anderson and his attempt to become a Spectre.
It is a rip-roaring SCI/FI novel that goes into why Anderson hates Saren so much, why he is so upset by the fact he missed out on the Spectre program and even lays the path for Saren’s journey from respected Spectre to pawn of the Reapers. The writing is sharp, the action set pieces are fantastic and the love that Drew has for the Mass Effect universe is clear. Honestly this is a must-read for any fan of the games, it fills in some wonderful backstory that makes the first game even better as a result.
The good news is, if you enjoy Revelation, Karpyshyn went on to write two more Mass Effect Novels, Ascension which focuses on Talia Vas Normandy during the time between the first two games and Retribution which follows after Ascension and dives deep into the story of the Illusive man. Both of these novels are fantastic, but not as essential for fans as Revelation.
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