Offworld Trading Company


 

THE SOUNDTRACK OF CAPITALISM

Offworld Trading Company is a retro-futurist blend of analog synths, industrial sounds and minimalist orchestration. Inspired by the steady chatter of ticker tape, the score mirrors the pulse of capitalism: dispassionate, robotic, and relentless. Many of the sounds undergo heavy processing; even the orchestra itself is an unconventional ensemble of 11 brass players and 8 violins.

 


Released April 28, 2016
Tracklist
1. Red Planet Nocturne
2. Welcome to Mars
3. Martian Mining and Manufacturing
4. Sea of Sirens
5. For Happy Workers, Try Adrenaline Boosts!
6. Roboto Agitato
7. Look at All the Money
8. Thinking Machines
9. Hacker Array
10. Assembly Lines
11. Carbon Scrubbers
12. Trade War
13. Homeostasis
14. MULE
15. Bribery
16. Brave New Planet
17. Glass Furnace
18. Martian Glassworks, Inc.
19. Offworld Price Index
20. Trickle-Down Economics
21. Allegro for Hydroponic Systems
22. Sunrise on Mars
23. Sad Robot Lament
24. Sabotage
25. Magnetic Storm
26. Ares Defense Industries
27. Electronics Factory
28. EMP
29. Power Surge
30. Hostile Takeover

PROJECT
Mohawk Games’ debut title, the real-time strategy game Offworld Trading Company, presented an interesting musical challenge: how to tell a story in a game with no characters, no combat, and no moving units? Set on Mars, the player assumes the role of CEO of a corporation, outmaneuvering your opponents through nothing more than building infrastructure and buying and selling stocks.
TECHNIQUE
Unlike Tin’s classical scores, where each musical phrase is carefully written out, the score to Offworld Trading Company relies on a more programmatic approach. Using step-sequencers and arpeggiators, Tin programmed some basic musical behaviors into his computer, fed it rudimentary harmonies, and then recorded the outputs. He then surrounded this generative material with more traditionally composed musical phrases. The result is a score that is part robot, part human.

BACKGROUND
The Lost Birds was nominated for a GRAMMY at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards in the category 'Best Classical Compendium'. This was one of two nominations that Christopher received that year (the other being for his soundtrack to Old World.)
EASTER EGGS
One movement, ‘Brave New Planet’, takes its title from Aldous Huxley’s dystopian novel, but also contains a direct quote of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony #9, “From the New World”.

 

 

 

 

 

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REVIEWS

Christopher Tin’s score brings a game about numbers to life, channeling the hopeful thrum of Tangerine Dream one moment, and urgency of Philip Glass the next. It’s affecting, alien, wonderful.
PC Gamer
Though it lacks character in its story, Offworld does have terrific industrial-sounding music that hasn’t gotten old over dozens of games.
IGN
Would it be too hasty to put it alongside other iconic and haunting sci-fi soundtracks? Clint Mansell for Moon, John Murphy for Sunshine, Vangelis for Blade Runner, Hans Zimmer for Interstellar, Steven Price for Gravity, and Christopher Tin for Offworld Trading Company. Yeah, that list looks about right.
Quarter to Three