Annual Game Music Awards 2015 – Audio of the Year
We are pleased to present the winners in the ‘Audio of the Year’ category of the Annual Game Music Awards 2015. These panel-voted, officially-recognised awards provide a thorough and wide-reaching recognition of achievement in game music over the last year. The panelists have selected their choices by carefully considering the merit of the game music created this year — as art and entertainment, as part of in-game experiences and as part of stand-alone albums. Congratulations to all winners, runners-up, and nominees.
Outstanding Achievement — Cinematic Music
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
When Mikolai Stroinski and Marcin Przybyłowicz joined forces to create the music of The Witcher 3, they surpassed expectations with their unique Polish score. The cinematic tracks range from refreshingly raw to deceptively beautiful, bringing grit and depth to one of the year’s greatest gaming experiences.
Runners-Up
Batman: Arkham Knight
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Other Nominations
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Halo 5: Guardians
Mad Max
Ori and the Blind Forest
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
Outstanding Achievement — In-Game Music
Bloodborne
In Bloodborne, FromSoftware’s in-house team interacted with cinematic artists such as Ryan Amon to create a powerful, choral driven soundtrack. In doing so, they brought to life the gothic world of Yharnam and its accompanying monstrosities.
Runners-Up
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Other Nominations
Axiom Verge
Etrian Mystery Dungeon
Transformers Devastation
Ori and the Blind Forest
Super Mario Maker
Outstanding Achievement — Music Production
Star Wars: Battlefront
The production value of Star Wars: Battlefront was universally praised: the game looks and sounds exactly like Star Wars should. This is in no small part thanks to the music, combining John Williams’ iconic themes with original music from Gordy Haab, meticulously recorded by the LSO at Abbey Road Studios.
Runners-Up
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Other Nominations
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Galactic Civilizations III
Ori and the Blind Forest
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
Outstanding Achievement — Music Licensing
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
From the Bowie cover “The Man Who Sold The World” to the classic pop song “Kids in America”, The Phantom Pain’s track selection was both strong and befitting of the game’s cold war setting. Hideo Kojima likely personally selected the majority of these tracks himself.
Runners-Up
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
Life is Strange
Other Nominations
Fallout 4
LEGO Dimensions
Need For Speed
OlliOlli 2
Rocket League
Outstanding Achievement — Sound Design
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Phantom Pain is an impressive example of sound design and original music complementing each other, with Ludvig Forssell’s music masterfully mixed with the crisp and realistic sounds. The end result is robust and memorable audio experience throughout.
Runners-Up
Star Wars: Battlefront
Splatoon
Other Nominations
Bloodborne
Fallout 4
Halo 5: Guardians
Project CARS
Xenoblade Chronicles X
Outstanding Achievement — Voice Dialogue
LEGO Dimensions
Reflecting the talents of Traveller’s Tales’ writers, LEGO Dimensions features characters from diverse franchises interacting in an entertaining way. A-list actors who have played these iconic characters lent their talents to the game, resulting in an incredible achievement for video game dialogue.
Runners-Up
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Other Nominations
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
Batman: Arkham Knight
Life is Strange
Minecraft: Story Mode
Pewdiepie: Legend of the Brofist
Outstanding Achievement — Main Theme
Theme X (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
Xenoblade Chronicles X’s main theme is undeniably an impressive one, mixing electronic, orchestral, and acoustic elements together into a dynamic track. At times epic and at others quite tender, the theme is a perfect representation of the game’s multifaceted world.
Runners-Up
Main Theme (Ori and the Blind Forest)
Miami Theme (Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number)
Other Nominations
Main Theme -Wilderness Ark- (Metal Saga: Wilderness Ark)
Metempsychosis (Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi)
Prelude of an Adventure (The Great Ace Attorney)
SOMA Main Theme (SOMA)
The Axiom (Axiom Verge)
Outstanding Achievement — Vocal Theme
Quiet’s Theme (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
Written by Akihiro Honda and Ludvig Forssell, Quiet’s Theme is a hauntingly beautiful piece boasting Stefanie Joosten’s vocals and gorgeous orchestral accompaniment. Unforgettable, masterfully arranged, and impressively integrated, this is one of Metal Gear’s greatest tracks.
Runners-Up
The Way (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
Tree of Life (God Eater 2: Rage Burst)
Other Nominations
Dragonsong (Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward)
I’m Back (to Rise) (Killer Instinct: Season 2)
Last Song (Bravely Second: End Layer)
Signs (There Came An Echo)
The Path of Destiny (Sword Coast Legends)
Winner descriptions by Joe Hammond, Harris Iqbal, Emily McMillan, Don Kotowski, Christopher Huynh, and Oliver JIa.
Posted on February 15, 2016 by Chris Greening. Last modified on February 15, 2016.
About the Author
Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!
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