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Fat Man on Game Audio, The: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness

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The guidance provided in this book is badly needed by the industry and can only come from someone who really knows and understands the intricacies, history, and challenges of game audio. George "Fatman" Sanger reveals both his soul and talent in this documented journey of what it takes and means to be successful with game audio. Much like big screen movies, audio can leave an audience with either a sense of intense emotion or it can destroy their overall experience. The same is true of games. Audio is a key component of game design but there are a select few who have truly mastered the art and technique of enhancing a game players overall game experience. Read this book and learn from the master. This book will reveal what it takes to be a highly sucessful audio developer. It reveals the unique problems facing the audio developer and then teaches them the most useful, efficient, and direct ways to overcome these problems. This book is unlike any other in that it not only gives readers the know-how on but it also teaches the reader how to add soul and life into their game audio by examining their personal lessons in music, science, politics, philosophy, and other life experiences. This book is an inspiration to all audio developers.

Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars You're being duped!, September 8, 2003
By 
Jeff Johannigman (Austin, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness (New Riders Games) (Paperback)
Don't buy this book if you think it will tell you how to create great audio for computer games. That ain't what it's all about. George Sanger, the Fat Man, the Myth, the Legend, is tricking you all. You only think you're reading about game audio, when in fact the book is really chock full of hidden messages and secret codes about the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. In short, it's trying to get us all to be good to each other. How subversive!

Seriously (no, not really), I've known George personally for many years as a great musician, savvy entrepreneur, attention-grabbing huckster, sage philosopher, playful papa, and all around swell guy. What I didn't appreciate until now is what a great writer and storyteller he is.

So, buy the book already. You'll learn how to make great game audio. You'll learn how to win friends and influence people. You'll learn where those outrageous suits come from. You'll learn the important secrets of life. And you'll smile. A... Read more

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A mostly entertaining romp, December 22, 2007
This review is from: The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness (New Riders Games) (Paperback)
I found this book in the bargain bin at a local book store. I play music and am interested in recording.

I found the book entertaining mostly because the character of the author really shines through. He seems like a kind of Hunter S. Thompson of this small and fairly obscure musical niche.

He drops lots of names and there are many inside jokes. One can get a bit lost in all of the people who pass through the book. I found some nuggets of wisdom about music and dealing with people and mostly I was entertained.

I think Mr. Sanger would be an entertaining person to have a drink with.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An inside look by a brilliant guy, November 4, 2003
By 
Patricia Pizer (Montreal, QA Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Fat Man on Game Audio: Tasty Morsels of Sonic Goodness (New Riders Games) (Paperback)
Chock-full of great tales from the game industry as well as the audio biz, The Fatman's book will make you feel like an insider. Well-written, fun & outrageous, this pick will doubtless become dog-eared for favorite bits of advice & sheer audacity. A must for anyone who thinks they know games. There's only one Fatman...and this is PURE Fat!
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Table of Contents



The Strange World.


About the Author.

PERSPECTIVES.

How to Think.

The Manifatso. Lines and Mirages: Mistaken Assumptions Commonly Found at the Beginning, Middle, and End… er… I Mean, the Advanced Level of Game Audio Careers. Death and Game Audio. How to Understand Everything. Opposites, or for Every Philosophy, There Is an Equal and Opposite. Philosophy (or Rule of Thumb Wrestling). Insurmountable Problems and How to Deal with Them. The Great List of Insurmountable Problems Begins Here. The Secret Elixir.

What to Expect from an Industry Based on Games.

Things Happen Fast. Sidebar: Barefoot and in the Kitchen with DragonLord. A Simple People. What Gamers Do. Q: Where Do Competitors Come from, Mommy? A: Define “Competitor”. Venture Capital: Angel or Devil? The Culture of Game Audio, or if You're Gonna Be Portin', You Gotta Look. Like You're Portin', or, Better Still, Tell Me How to Be Like You, Fat. Man!!! or Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way. A Gallery of Greats.

A Fat-Centric History of Game Audio Hardware and Software.

The Fall from Paradise. I Actually Started It —George. General MIDI Rides to Texas. Adaptive Audio: A Report by Alexander Brandon.

TECHNIQUES AND MEDITATIONS.

Art and Its Opposite.

First Things First, Second, and Third: It's About Repetition. Why in the World Would You Want to Write Music for Games? Risk and Trivial Pursuit. Art and Judgment. The Beatles Solution. Son of Repetition: Special Consideration for Children's Games.

Money and Its Opposite.

How Much to Charge. How to Get Work. How Not to Get Work. How to Answer the Phone. The Dreaded Bidding Process. Planning for Greatness: Eliminating Schedules and Specifications.

Hitting the Road with the Rubber.

Methods (Superstitions) of Efficient Audio Production. How to Make Great Sound Effects. How to Make Great Music. Sidebar: Song, Arrangement, Recording—Knowing the Difference. An Effective Method of Simultaneous Musical Composing and Recording Using. Computer Tools to Full Advantage, or What Be the Workflow du Jour, Fat? Okay, Equipment. Rooms, Racks, and Dumb-Asses. Electronic Equipment. Creating Your Signature Sounds. Sidebar: Pipe Lengths for Building a Set of Gang-A-Bong Chimes.

Hope for the Future, in Which Perspectives, Techniques, and Meditations Collide.

Integration for Beginners. Everything Comes Together, or What Are the Remarkable, Unexpected Benefits Brought About by an Integrator? or There's a Reason They Call It. “Bookending”. A Christmas Wish.

Appendixes.

Projects. Bruce Sterling's Famous GDC Speech. What Didn't Happen. The Nudie Suit Story. Sound Man Saves Picture, or What It Takes to Get Work in Show Business. Curriculum Vitae. A Partial List of Games to Which The Fat Man and Team Fat Contributed. Great Fat Moments in History: An Illustrated List of Cameo Appearances by The Fat Man. Web and Print Resources.

Index.

Downloadable Sample Chapter

Sample Chapter - 67 kb - Chapter 22 - First Things First, Second, and Third: It’s About Repetition

Errata

Errata for the book - Updated 07/22/03 - 33 kb - Errata0094.pdf

 
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