{"id":15166,"date":"2020-09-23T14:49:54","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T19:49:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/?p=15166"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:25:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:37","slug":"how-to-become-a-video-game-audio-designer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/how-to-become-a-video-game-audio-designer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Become a Video Game Audio Designer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-discover-the-skills-training-and-industry-paths-that-lead-to-a-career-in-game-audio\">Discover the Skills, Training, and Industry Paths That Lead to a Career in Game Audio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You enter the war zone and achieve a triple kill streak in <em>Call of Duty;<\/em> you hit your opponent with a combo in <em>Super Smash Bros<\/em>; you battle the undead in <em>Resident Evil.<\/em> The sounds you hear fuel your adrenaline, get you pumped up, and help create your experience. Behind these video games are people and teams who are responsible for the audio that is keeping you locked in. <br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Gina Zdanowicz isn\u2019t teaching <em><a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/courses\/game-audio-101?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;tum_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-article-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Game Audio 101<\/a>&nbsp;<\/em>at Berklee Online, she\u2019s running her own sound design company, <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/seriallab.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Serial Lab Sound<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Zdanowicz\u2019s passion for video games started as a child in the \u201980s. Playing one of her favorite games, <em>Super Mario NES<\/em>, she noticed how the music would make her feel as she explored the different levels. Being pushed towards playing musical instruments by her parents and her natural inclination to technology made this career choice an easy one, even though back then, it wasn\u2019t the most popular profession.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Gina-Zdanowicz-1.jpg\" alt=\"Gina Zdanowicz\" class=\"wp-image-15175\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Instructor Gina Zdanowicz teaches <em>Game Audio 101<\/em> at Berklee Online. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think I had some kind of force of nature watching over me,\u201d she says. \u201cI was always interested in how things work. Back then we didn\u2019t have the internet\u2014It wasn\u2019t the stone age, but we didn\u2019t have the internet, where I could go on and say, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m really interested in games and music, what do I do?\u2019\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This curiosity led her to Berklee where she studied Music Synthesis. At the time, this was the best major to prepare for a career in game audio design. You can hear her work on more than 100 game titles such as <em>Runewards<\/em>, <em>Wolfenstein: Youngblood<\/em>, <em>Just Cause 3<\/em>, <em>Bioshock 2<\/em>, and <em>The Bureau: XCOM Declassified<\/em>, just to name a few.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Gina graduated, Berklee introduced a game scoring curriculum. One of the people to come through that program is Renzo Heredia. He graduated with a bachelor&#8217;s degree in Electronic Production and Design and Film Scoring with a minor in Video Game Scoring and is now working for <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.obsidian.net\" target=\"_blank\">Obsidian Entertainment<\/a> as an associate audio designer.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/RenzoHeredia_Headshot.jpg\" alt=\"Renzo Heredia\" class=\"wp-image-15169\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Berklee alum Renzo Heredia is an associate audio designer at Obsidian Entertainment. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Berklee Online has adapted the campus\u2019 game scoring curriculum, offering courses and a certificate program that can prepare you for a career as a game audio designer, like Gina and Renzo. Below they offer some tips to consider if you\u2019d like to compose for video games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-compete-in-a-game-jam\">1. Compete in a Game Jam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Game jams are a great way to break into the video game design scene. They are events where you and a team have 48 hours to make a game from scratch. Usually game jams have a theme and each teammate tackles different elements such as the storyline, visuals, audio, and code and work together to have a finished product by the end of the two days. Renzo competed in game jams and says that they helped him earn some cred in the field early on.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe made a platform called Hoop Snake, and I became known as the Hoop Snake guy because I made a song\u2014it\u2019s still on SoundCloud, and I made a song that anytime the snake powers up, a ballad for Hoop Snake plays,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s something that made people laugh, and people go, \u2018Oh Renzo, you\u2019re the Hoop Snake person. How are you?\u2019 whenever I would go to a video game meetup.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-soundcloud wp-block-embed-soundcloud wp-embed-aspect-1-1 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hoopsnake (Global Game Jam 2012) by Renzo G. Heredia\" width=\"500\" height=\"450\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fplaylists%2F937720933&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=750&#038;maxwidth=500\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Renzo says the game jam was a great way for him to practice his game scoring skills with the added pressure of competition, and to meet others who were interested in the same field. Down the road, these connections can be invaluable.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI know that everyone from that project did happen to continue working on games,\u201d says Renzo. \u201cThat Global Game Jam was helpful, not just for me, but for everyone else on the team.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/globalgamejam.org\/games\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Check out  this database of the game jams happening by location<\/a>.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-freelance-your-audio-design-work\">2. Freelance Your Audio Design Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While most game audio design jobs are based in Los Angeles, freelancing provides the opportunity to work from anywhere in the world. Sometimes freelancing can be the stepping stone to working in-house at the company of your choice or starting your own company; or it might just be the right destination for you. However, there are both pros and cons of freelance work just as with any other work.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen you\u2019re working freelance, obviously you have to make sure that you\u2019re invoicing, and that you\u2019re working out a good payment,\u201d says Gina. \u201cYou also have to generate the business, too, so you have to be out there networking. And you can\u2019t wait until you\u2019re finished with one project to say, \u2018Okay, now I\u2019m going to look for my next.\u2019 It\u2019s this continuous process.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this type of work, much of the battle is putting yourself out there to get the work flowing. Gina stresses the importance of meeting people and relationship-building.&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think the biggest thing is networking, which can be pretty difficult,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m a pretty shy and introverted type of person but I think my passion for wanting the career in audio outweighed that shyness and introversion. So, I just got out there, and I started to go to conferences around that time games were becoming a bigger thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At one of the conferences, Gina met Jason Canter, who brought her in to do the audio for projects like <em>BioShock 2<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-explore-in-house-audio-design-opportunities\">3. <strong>Explore In-House Audio Design Opportunities<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve gotten some footing in the field, try exploring in-house opportunities at a company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been a blessing. I\u2019ve been very fortunate to be with the team here,\u201d says Renzo of his work at Obsidian. \u201cI think what I enjoy the most is, even as an associate audio designer, I can still ask anyone here questions.\u201d&nbsp;<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3899\" height=\"2425\" src=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/takenote\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/renzo_obsidian_audioteam_photo_2019.jpg\" alt=\"Renzo with the Audio Team at Obsidian Entertainment. \" class=\"wp-image-15177\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Renzo (bottom row, third from the left) with the Audio Team at Obsidian Entertainment. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Working in-house guarantees a consistent pay timeline as well as a team of people to learn from and connect with that are all in the same field. Unlike freelancing, you don\u2019t have to worry about contracts, health insurance, or when your next job will come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-study-game-audio-design\">4. <strong>Study Game Audio Design<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Berklee Online has several options ranging from a <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/certificates\/game-audio-design-and-production-professional?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\">professional certificate in Game Audio Design and Production<\/a> to a <a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/music-degrees\/undergraduate\/music-composition-for-film-tv-and-games?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">bachelor\u2019s degree program in Composition for Film, TV, and Games<\/a>. We recommend starting with the following three courses that will not only give a nice introduction to game audio design, but also help you prepare a solid foundation and develop the necessary skills to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/courses\/game-design-principles?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Game Design Principles<\/a> <\/strong><br>With this course, you\u2019ll learn an overview of video game design, and explore the iterative process of coming up with ideas, prototyping, testing, and revising, that is at the heart of the video game industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/courses\/game-audio-101?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Game&nbsp;Audio&nbsp;101 (opens in a new tab)\">Game&nbsp;Audio&nbsp;101<\/a><\/b><br>If you have no experience working with sound production or engineering, this course will give you the tools needed to work at a game development company or as a freelance game audio professional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/online.berklee.edu\/courses\/game-audio-production-with-wwise?campaign_id=7010Z000001ZkQgQAK&amp;pid=&amp;utm_source=takenote&amp;utm_medium=blog&amp;utm_campaign=bol-gen-takenote-link-from-article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\">Game Audio Production with Wwise <\/a><\/strong><br>This course is designed for the musician who wants to compose music and create unique sounds and creature voices for video games. This class focuses on both the creative process of designing unique audio and the practical challenges of putting that content into a game, and will prepare you for all major aspects of game audio production and implementation. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever wonder who creates the sounds that fuel your triple kill streak or boss battle showdown? Berklee Online instructor Gina Zdanowicz and alum Renzo Heredia share how they built careers in video game audio\u2014and what aspiring game designers should know about game jams, freelancing, and breaking into the industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":15170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,9569],"tags":[7719,7722,7718,7720,7227,7724,7721,7612,7723,6678],"class_list":["post-15166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-music-for-film-tv-and-games-articles","tag-game-audio-design","tag-game-scoring","tag-gaming-music","tag-gina-zdanowicz","tag-music-composition-for-video-games","tag-obsidian-entertainment","tag-renzo-heredia","tag-scoring-video-games","tag-serial-lab-studio","tag-video-games"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - 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