Over the next year, GameGrooves will be hosting articles, interviews, and resources for how to produce a 5-track cover album in a year (11 months and some change to be exact). It doesn’t matter if you’ve just started making video game covers or if you've been producing for years, this challenge is for anyone and everyone!

Challenge:

Create a 5-track video game cover EP in a year.

TIMELINE:

January & February: Album Ideas - Allen from GameGrooves

Creating Your First Video Game Cover Record

Arranging Your First Album

March & April: Arrangement - Sydney K. (Smart Game Piano)

April 30th - Check-in 2: Arrangements are finished

May & June: Recording - ???

June 30th - Check-in 3: Recording is finished

July & August: Collaboration & Mixing - ???

August 31st - Check-in 4: Mixing is finished

September & October: Mastering - ???

October 31st - Check-in 5: Mastering is finished

November & December: Marketing & Album Art - ???

December 31st - Check-in 6: Marketing is finished

Rules:

1. All five tracks must be from a licensable video game(s) (read Soundrop’s guide to learn more).

2. Artists must submit all their work for every check-in.

3. Artists must create this album from scratch (i.e. no previous track arrangements).

4. Artists must create all their own work (tracks, album art, etc.)

   • Feedback is allowed, but the artist is not allowed to have someone else work on their album.

   • Collaborations are allowed, but the primary artist must be responsible for the arrangement, mixing, and mastering.

   • Collaborative albums are allowed (i.e. two or more primary arrangers).

Additional InfO:

• There will be six check-ins throughout the year.

• At each check-in, artists can choose to receive feedback from a VGM veteran (to be announced).

• Tracks can be from more than one game or game series.

• Artists can submit their work before the current check-in deadline.

• Artists should not submit their work for subsequent check-ins (i.e. artists should not submit arrangements before Feb. 28th).

If an artist completes all 6 check-ins, GameGrooves will cover the costs of licensing ($0.99 a track; ~$5 per person) and will assist with marketing.

Submissions

Submissions are closed, but feel free to use the articles and resources!

Final Thoughts

Best of luck to everyone, and feel free to join the 2022 Album Challenge Discord channels!