The Game Composer’s Blog

Today’s post will take a look at a piece of equipment that I’m sure all of you have in your studio, the most valuable composition assistant you can have… your cat.

My composition assistant Charlie making sure I don't write something stupid.

If you’ve ever heard cats wailing outside your window at 3 in the morning, you know what genius insights they can bring to your music. They understand it all… dynamics, mood, flow… and of course they understand how to craft your music to fit perfectly in your games, having had all those hours on your lap observing you playing game after game. You thought they were bored? No, they were soaking in every detail of every game.

Don’t shut them out of the process. Seek their advice. Not sure you should use an F or an F# in your melody? Ask them, they’ll know. Not sure in which direction to take your music? Watch them as you play through it. It will soon be quite clear.

Where does their expert knowledge come from exactly? The latest felino-musical research indicates that cats always have music in their heads. That music forms their personalities, in fact. Their meows are simply times when a note or two escapes their heads. It’s no coincidence that they meow more when food is present, by the way. The only thing cats love more than music is food, so naturally when the food shows up they lose concentration and lose meow control until they begin feeding and their heads fill with songs of feast and joy.

Different music can call for different cats, of course. Ragdoll cats tend to be more helpful with large scale, slower, elegant pieces. Siamese cats are usually specialists in popular music types… rock, R&B, that sort of thing. Burmese cats enjoy helping with jazz. The typical domestic shorthair has a great balanced knowledge of music which I usually prefer.

If your studio currently lacks cat technology, you should consider getting one. In these uncertain times, with environmental and economic problems all around us, you can be happy in your choice to obtain a cat. They are an inexpensive investment while also being a wonderful green technology. They run on tuna power and pollute minimally. Take a trip to the cat corner of your local music store and sit down with a cat or two to see if they match up with your musical philosophies. You’ll be glad you did.

(This post is dedicated to the memory of our cat Charlie who lost his 7 month battle with lymphoma early Monday morning. Thanks for reading, and please go give your cat a scratch on their head for us.)