Film Scoring Competition

Disclaimer of Affiliation:

The Soundtrack Series – Film Scoring Competition is an independent educational and artistic initiative not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by any of the developers, publishers, or rights holders of the video game titles featured in the competition. All games, images, characters, and related intellectual property are the exclusive property of their respective companies:

  • Splinter Cell: Conviction – Ubisoft
  • Assassin’s Creed: Origins – Ubisoft
  • Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora – Ubisoft
  • Immortals Fenyx Rising – Ubisoft
  • Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle – Ubisoft/Nintendo
  • Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – Ubisoft
  • Prince of Persia (2008) – Ubisoft
  • Star Wars Outlaws – Ubisoft/Lucasfilm Games
  • Watch Dogs: Legion – Ubisoft
  • Rayman Legends – Ubisoft

These video clips are provided for educational and non-commercial use only, strictly within the context of the Soundtrack Series competition.

  • The clips have had their original sound removed to comply with fair use principles and avoid unauthorized use of original music or dialogue.
  • These gameplay clips are used solely for the purpose of scoring practice and showcasing musical creativity in a competitive format.
  • You may not share, upload, sell, modify, or redistribute any of the game clips provided.
  • These clips are only to be used within the scope of this competition.
  • Any public distribution of the clips (with or without your music) is strictly prohibited.
  • Submitting a score to this competition does not grant you any license or ownership of the footage.
  • Any breach of these conditions may result in immediate disqualification and possible legal consequences by the intellectual property holders.

🎬 SOUNDTRACK SERIES – FILM SCORING COMPETITION CLIP DESCRIPTIONS

Overview:

Participants will choose one of the 10 provided video game scenes to rescore. Each clip is approximately 1 to 3 minutes in length. Below are descriptions of each clip along with musical guidelines to help contestants align their compositions with the narrative and emotional context of the scene.

🎮 1. Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010)

Scene Type: Stealth Elimination Sequence

Scoring Note:

You must underscore a stealth situation where the protagonist takes out enemies silently. The music should gradually intensify as the danger level rises. Think suspenseful textures, tight rhythmic pulses, and carefully layered instrumentation to reflect tension and imminent threat. Use silence and space strategically.

Scene Type: Temple Exploration Ending in Combat

Scoring Note:

Begin with atmospheric and mysterious tones that reflect the grandeur and ancient history of the temple. Toward the end of the cue, there’s a fight scene — use heightened versions of your initial motivic ideas to transition into action. The musical continuity between exploration and combat is key.

Scene Type: World Exploration

Scoring Note:

This is an expansive, majestic cue. You are exploring the beautiful alien world of Pandora. Let the music reflect awe, wonder, and nature’s grandeur — while also responding dynamically to whatever you encounter. Orchestral color and ambient detail are vital.

Scene Type: Open Exploration with Enemy Encounters

Scoring Note:

The music should be heroic, vibrant, and full of orchestral motion. It begins as an open-world exploration and shifts into light combat. Embrace sweeping themes, brass flourishes, and rhythmic drive. Maintain an adventurous and mythological tone throughout.

Scene Type: 1-Minute Minigame

Scoring Note:

This short scene is playful and energetic. Think fast-paced, whimsical, and colorful game music. Use quirky instrumentation and lively rhythms that match the upbeat and unpredictable nature of the minigame.

Scene Type: Boss Fight

Scoring Note:

High energy and intensity are essential. This is a boss fight, so your score should reflect the urgency and danger. Use aggressive percussion, dynamic harmonic shifts, and bold thematic gestures. Avoid static underscoring — keep the cue alive and pulsing with conflict.

Scene Type: Valley Exploration into Fight Scene

Scoring Note:

Start with an ethereal and exotic Middle Eastern-inspired sound palette to reflect Persian landscapes. Use modal melodies, ethnic percussion, and atmospheric textures. As the scene transitions into a fight, amplify the energy using the same instrumentation, keeping it grounded in cultural flavor.

Scene Type: High-Stakes Stealth Scene

Scoring Note:

Tension, suspense, and cinematic drama should drive this cue. You’re sneaking through a high-stakes environment — possibly undercover or escaping. Use dramatic orchestration, emotional swells, and restrained pacing to build suspense, with occasional bursts of action when things heat up.

Scene Type: Urban Stealth with Gunplay

Scoring Note:

This clip features both stealth and action. Begin with a tech-noir, atmospheric feel — subtle electronic textures mixed with modern orchestral elements. As gunplay erupts, transition into adrenaline-fueled scoring that blends hybrid elements and rhythmic tension.

Scene Type: Platforming/Obstacle Chase

Scoring Note:

This is a run-and-jump sequence full of momentum. Music should follow the rhythmic beat of the obstacles and movements — dynamic, kinetic, and tightly synced. It should feel like a musical rollercoaster: playful, fast, and highly interactive with the visuals.

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