Student of the Game

Navigating the video game industry is like playing on expert mode - without a strategy guide. In this rapidly evolving, hit-driven industry, technology advances at breakneck speed while personalities and business dynamics shift constantly. Many aspiring professionals ask how to break into game audio, but fewer discuss what happens after you're in - or how to avoid getting lost along the way. Student of the Game offers a rare, unfiltered perspective from an independent video game composer who has survived and thrived over the past decade. Through candid anecdotes and hard-won insights, this book reveals: - The reality behind industry buzzwords like "networking" and "imposter syndrome" - Practical strategies for building sustainable professional relationships - Red flags and pitfalls that can derail promising collaborations - Mental frameworks for persistence when facing inevitable setbacks - The truth about gigs that didn't work out - and why This isn't just another "how to break in" guide. It's a survival manual for anyone serious about building a lasting career in game audio, complete with the aches, breaks and breakthroughs that define professional growth in this challenging but rewarding field.

Chase Bethea is a multi-award-winning video game composer known as the "Swiss army knife of video game composition." His acclaimed scores include I Can't Escape: Darkness, Aground and On the Peril of Parrots. Chase has made history multiple times, including being the first video game composer on the Mogami Cable roster and being featured in books such as Global Histories of Video Game Music Technology and The Theory and Practice of Writing Music for Games. He has delivered 60+ talks at GDC, PAX, Berklee and more.

Chapter 1 - Story Mode, Chapter 2 - Starting Points/Stat Distribution, Chapter 3 - Inventory, Chapter 4 - Putting Your Own Spin on It, Chapter 5 - Class Type(s) - Inaccurate Labels People Give , Chapter 6 - "The Next. . ." Is a Trap! Be the First! Be Who You Are!, Chapter 7 - "Ism's" Not Advice, Chapter 8 - Certain Tips Often Spoken but Didn't Stand True, Chapter 9 - Math versus Mentality, Chapter 10 - Corrupted Save Files - The Dead Ends of What I Thought Was Going to Be a Good Connection, Chapter 11 - Continue?, Chapter 12 - Failed Level Skips - How My Career Could Have Advanced Sooner, Chapter 13 - Do a Barrel Roll! - Not a Sneak Roll!, Chapter 14 - Turning Off the Game, Chapter 15 - Be Prepared to Play as Many RPGs at the Same Time, Chapter 16 - True Networking or The Real Truth about Networking, Chapter 17 - Hey! Listen!, Chapter 18 - Navigating Emotional Intelligence, Chapter 19 - The Imposter Syndrome Facade, Chapter 20 - Low HP, Chapter 21 - Shield Mode, Chapter 22 - Sidequests, Chapter 23 -Training Mode/Experience Points (XP) - The Workout, Chapter 24 - Developer Collaboration Experiences, Chapter 25 - Strategy Guide, Chapter 26 - Nobody Cares, Work Smarter Not Harder, Chapter 27 - Step Climbing to Reach the Top of the Flag, Chapter 28 - From Rejected to Selected, Chapter 29 - Playable Character, Chapter 30 - Multiplayer - The Dream Team, Chapter 31 - Parental Influence, Chapter 32 - Load Save, Chapter 33 - Infinite Mana, Chapter 34 - Choose Your Endgame