Annual Game Music Awards 2015 Nominations
The team at VGMO: Video Game Music Online are proud to present the nominations for the Annual Game Music Awards 2015. These panel-voted, officially-recognised awards provide a thorough and wide-reaching recognition of achievement in game music over the last year.
A panel of experienced and knowledgeable journalists have determined the nominations of these awards. The panelists have selected their choices by carefully considering the merit of the game music created this year — as art and entertainment, as part of in-game experiences and as part of stand-alone albums. All game music first released between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015 was eligible for consideration. Games that were first released in Japan before January 1, 2015, but have since been localised were only eligible in the ‘best western localisation score’ category. The long-list of nominees for each category has been reduced from ten to eight this year. The ‘best arranged album’ category was split into two and a ‘best vinyl record’ category was introduced.
The sixthawards ceremony of this kind, the AGMAs are intended to celebrate achievement across the game audio industry and give recognition to the incredibly creative people working in it. While ‘best music’ and ‘best sound’ categories are featured in other video game awards, the majority of these awards only commemorate top-selling video games and overlook other often-excellent productions (e.g. import and indie soundtracks). The winners will be announced during the week beginning February 1.
Scores of the Year
1.1. Traditional / Acoustic
Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book
Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward
Grim Fandango Remastered
Nuclear Throne
Runbow
Shadowrun: Hong Kong
The Great Ace Attorney
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power
1.2. Cinematic / Orchestral
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
Bloodborne
Cities: Skylines
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Ori and the Blind Forest
The Order: 1886
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Xenoblade Chronicles X
1.3. Rock / Electronic
7th Dragon III code VFD
Axiom Verge
Codename: S.T.E.A.M.
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
N++
Splatoon
There Came An Echo
Yakuza Zero
1.4. Chiptune / Retro
Box Boy!
Castle in the Darkness
Chroma Squad
Horizon Chase
Super Galaxy Squadron
Super Mario Maker
Touhou Kanjuden: Legacy of Lunatic Kingdom
Undertale
1.5. Rhythm / Music Game
beatmania IIDX 22 PENDUAL
Eat Beat: Dead Spike-san
Ephemerid: A Musical Adventure
IA/VT Colorful
Persona 4: Dancing All Night
Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus
Superbeat: XONiC
Theatrhythm: Dragon Quest
1.6. Western Localisation
Corpse Party: Blood Drive
Etrian Odyssey Untold 2: The Fafnir Knight
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate
Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines
Strania: The Stella Machine
The Legend of Legacy
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Yakuza 5
1.7. Score of the Year 2015
To be selected from pool of winners in above categories
Artists of the Year
2.1. Eastern Composer
Keisuke Ito (Pokemon Super Mystery Dungeon, Zettai Geikegi Wars: Metropolis Defenders)
Yasumasa Kitagawa (The Great Ace Attorney)
Yuzo Koshiro (7th Dragon III code VFD, Etrian Mystery Dungeon)
Tenpei Sato (Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance, Makai Shin Trillion)
Shohei Tsuchiya (Phantom of the Kill, Groove Coaster 3: Link Fever)
Rei Kondoh (Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi, Fire Emblem Fates)
Toru Minegishi (Splatoon)
Kazuki Yanagawa (Atelier Sophie, Nights of Azure)
2.2. Western Composer
Jessica Curry (Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture)
Jeff van Dyck (Assault Android Cactus, Submerged, Hand of Fate)
Jason Graves (The Order: 1886, Until Dawn, Evolve)
Gorby Haab (Star Wars: Battlefront)
Mark Knight (F1 2015, Overlord: Fellowship of Evil, D/Generation HD)
Marcin Przybylowicz & Mikolai Stroinski (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
Austin Wintory (Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, Sunset)
Inon Zur (Fallout 4, Sword Coast Legends)
2.3. Independent Composer
Chipzel (Interstellaria)
Chase Bethea (I Can’t Escape: Darkness)
Shaun Chasin (Hektor)
Kyohei Fujita (dreeps)
Soshi Hosoi (Otaku Circle’s Princess)
David Housden (Volume)
Jack Menhorn (Nova-111)
Keiji Yamagishi (Exile’s End)
2.4. Newcomer
Ryan Amon (Bloodborne)
Robby Duguay (Fate Tectonics)
Gareth Coker (Ori and the Blind Forest)
Ludvig Forssell (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
Toby Fox (Undertale)
Thomas Happ (Axiom Verge)
Hiroyuki Sawano (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
Tatsuya Yano (Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book)
2.5. Soloist
Aeralie Brighton (Vocals: Ori and the Blind Forest)
Donna Burke (Vocals: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
Ingrid Gerdes (Vocals: Tales of Zestiria)
Noriyuki Kamikura (Guitars: Imperial SaGa)
Tetsuya Shibata, Jun Okubo & Masahiro Aoki (Guitars: Transformers Devastation)
Tina Guo (Cello: Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate)
Malukah (Vocals: Sunset)
Kei Ohno (Violin: Nights of Azure)
2.6. Ensemble
Budapest Scoring Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra: Grey Goo)
City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra (Orchestra: Sword Coast Legends)
London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra: Star Wars: Battlefront)
Manabe Strings (String Ensemble: Tales of Zestiria)
Metro Voices (Choir: Bloodborne)
Percival (Band: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
Random Encounter (Band: Super Galaxy Squadron)
Tripod (Band: Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate)
2.7. Artist of the Year 2015
To be selected from pool of winners in above categories
Audio of the Year
3.1. Cinematic Music
Batman: Arkham Knight
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Halo 5: Guardians
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Mad Max
Ori and the Blind Forest
StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3.2. In-Game Music
Axiom Verge
Bloodborne
Etrian Mystery Dungeon
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
Transformers Devastation
Ori and the Blind Forest
Super Mario Maker
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3.3. Music Production
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Galactic Civilizations III
Ori and the Blind Forest
Star Wars: Battlefront
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3.4. Music Licensing
Fallout 4
Life is Strange
Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number
LEGO Dimensions
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Need For Speed
OlliOlli 2
Rocket League
3.5. Sound Design
Bloodborne
Fallout 4
Halo 5: Guardians
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Project CARS
Splatoon
Star Wars: Battlefront
Xenoblade Chronicles X
3.6. Voice Dialogue
Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate
Batman: Arkham Knight
LEGO Dimensions
Life is Strange
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Minecraft: Story Mode
Pewdiepie: Legend of the Brofist
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
3.7. Main Theme
Main Theme -Wilderness Ark- (Metal Saga: Wilderness Ark)
Main Theme (Ori and the Blind Forest)
Metempsychosis (Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi)
Miami Theme (Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number)
Prelude of an Adventure (The Great Ace Attorney)
SOMA Main Theme (SOMA)
Theme X (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
The Axiom (Axiom Verge)
3.8. Vocal Theme
Dragonsong (Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward)
I’m Back (to Rise) (Killer Instinct: Season 2)
Last Song (Bravely Second: End Layer)
Quiet’s Theme (Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain)
Signs (There Came An Echo)
The Path of Destiny (Sword Coast Legends)
The Way (Xenoblade Chronicles X)
Tree of Life (God Eater 2: Rage Burst)
3.9. Audio of the Year 2015
To be selected from pool of winners in above categories
Albums of the Year
4.1. Soundtrack CD
Broken Age Original Soundtrack
God Eater 2 & God Eater 2 Rage Burst Original Soundtrack
Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- Original Soundtrack
Hotline Miami 2 -Wrong Number- Original Soundtrack
Muramasa Rebirth -Genroku Legends- Original Soundtrack
Splatoon Original Soundtrack -Splatune-
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS/Wii U A Smashing Soundtrack
Xenoblade X Original Soundtrack
4.2. Arranged Album
Angel Beasts 1st Beat Piano Arrange Album -Holy-
Chris Huelsbeck: The Piano Collection
Final Symphony: music from Final Fantasy VI, VII and X
Legacy Sessions: Game Generation 5
To Far Away Times: Chrono Trigger & Chrono Cross Arrangement Album
Okami Arrangement Collection Vol.2 -Jazz-
Prescription for Sleep: Game Music Lullabies Volume II
Seiken Densetsu Legend of Mana Arrange Album -Promise-
4.3. Band / Remix Album
2 Nights 2 Remember
Aria’s Ascent: Crypt of the Necrodancer Metal Soundtrack
Hiro 30th Anniversary Album -Thank You for Listening-
Gamadelic -Rebooot!!-
Okami Arrangement Collection Vol. 3 -Lounge-
Re:Birth II Ren -SaGa Battle Arrange-
Rockman Dystopia
The Spectrum Works
4.4. Fan-Arranged Album
Determination (Ace Waters & RichaadEB)
Fair Judgment (Taka)
Fate’s Delusion (Knights of the Round)
Final Fantasy IX: Worlds Apart (OverClocked ReMix)
Seven Songs for Seventh Saga (Sebastian Freij)
SquareLove (The World is Square)
Volume III (DJ Cutman)
Kijin Shokuaku ~Evil People as the True Object of Salvation~ (Demetori)
4.5. Compilation Album
Commando & Bionic Commando Original Sound Collection
Gust 20th Anniversary CD Box
Final Fantasy XI: Priceless Remembrance
Masaya Game Music Collection Vol. 1 -Langrisser I II III-
Mouryou Senki Madara 1 & 2 Soundtrack Returns
Nekketsu High School Sound Club SFC Compilation
Street Fighter II The Definitive Soundtrack
Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune 10th Anniversary Box
4.6. Vinyl Record
Battletoads Original Soundtrack
Bit.Trip’s Greatest Chips
Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture
Fallout 3 Original Game Soundtrack
FEZ Original Soundtrack
Hotline Miami 2 -Wrong Number- Original Soundtrack
MOTHER
The Last of Us
4.7. Chiptune Album
Chiptunes = WIN Volume 4 (Various Artists)
Clay Memory (fluidvolt)
Force de Frappe (Dubmood)
Midinize II (Various Artists)
Höllental (Zweihänder)
Retro-Active Pt. 1 (Keiji Yamagishi)
The Blossoming Years (MmcM)
Velocity (Stig)
4.8. Original Album
Doomsday (Sascha Dikiciyan)
follow slowly (Naoyuki Sato)
Memory of the Green (TENMON)
The Owl and I (Maki Kirioka)
The Woman Astronaut (Penka Kouneva)
one (C418)
Phantasm (Junya Nakano)
Tomorrow is the Name of the Continuing World (Takahiro Eguchi)
4.9. Album of the Year 2014
To be selected from pool of winners in above categories
Organisations of the Year
5.1. Game Developer
Atlus
Capcom
CD Projekt RED
Falcom
FromSoftware
Gust
Nintendo
Telltale Games
5.2. Game Publisher
Capcom
Electronic Arts
Nintendo
Microsoft Studios
SEGA
Sony Computer Entertainment
Square Enix
Ubisoft
5.3. Music Studio
ATTIC Inc.
Basiscape
Dynamedion
FilmScore
noisycroak
T’s Music
Unique Note
ZIZZ Studio
5.4. Record Label
Brave Wave
City Connection
EGG Music Records
iam8bit
Square Enix Music
Sweep Record
Suleputer
Sumthing Else
5.5. Best Publication, Broadcast, or Documentary
Adaptive Audio for Mobile (Rob Bridgett, Gamasutra)
Big in Japan: Game Music Connect Special (Karen Collins)
Game Audio Implementation: A Practical Guide Using the Unreal Engine (Richard Stevens & Dave Raybould, Focal Press)
Koji Kondo’s Super Mario Bros. Soundtrack (Andrew Schartmann, Bloomsbury)
GameFuel (Kyle Crouse, Podcast)
Level (Emily Reese, Podcast)
From Mixtapes to Multiplayers: Sharing Musical Taste through Video Games (Michael Austin, The Soundtrack)
The Music System 15 years in the Making (Stephan Schutze, Gamasutra)
5.6. Organisation of the Year 2014
To be selected from pool of winners in above categories
Special Achievement Awards
6.1. Western Artist
To Be Announced
6.2. Eastern Artist
To Be Announced
6.3. Unsung Hero
To Be Announced
6.4. Organisation
To Be Announced
6.5. Site Contributor
To Be Announced
Posted on January 3, 2016 by Chris Greening. Last modified on April 24, 2016.
About the Author
Chris Greening I've contributed to websites related to game audio since 2002. In this time, I've reviewed over a thousand albums and interviewed hundreds of musicians across the world. As the founder and webmaster of VGMO -Video Game Music Online-, I hope to create a cutting-edge, journalistic resource for all those soundtrack enthusiasts out there. In the process, I would love to further cultivate my passion for music, writing, and generally building things. Please enjoy the site and don't hesitate to say hello!
Related Posts
Annual Game Music Awards 2020 – Scores of the Year →
Annual Game Music Awards 2020 – Artists of the Year →
Annual Game Music Awards 2020 – Audio of the Year →
Note that, as Crypt of the Necrodancer won ‘best rhythm game score’ last year based on its Steam Greenlight release, it was ineligible to be nominated this year. See here: http://www.vgmonline.net/awards2014scores/
Wow, just wow. Great nominees! I hope Ludvig Forsell and Donna Burke get an award. Sins of the Father is SO good!
I certainly wouldn’t call Touhou 15’s soundtrack ‘chiptune/retro’.
They’ve been ‘orchestral’-style for 10 games now, but using an iconic synthesised soundfont. The last game to be ‘chiptune’ was 5 on the PC-98. That was a while ago and only due to the limitations of the system.
Is it considered ‘retro’ because of the obvious use of synthesisers?
Thanks AMGZant. As for Touhou 15, agreed that the categorisation isn’t perfect here, but we thought it worked better here than traditional/acoustic. It still has a retro vibe due to the soundfont used as you say. Same applies in many ways to Horizon Chase from this year or Tropical Freeze from last year.
Great nominees like usual, but do you know the Chrono Cinematica album from Sam Dillard? It’s such an astonishing work that I would name it “Best album 2015”
The way he orchestrated one of the best soundtracks of all time and made it sound like an contribution from hollywood is mind blowing. It can be heard via Spotify for free
Thanks Andreas. I will check it out.
This is probably the only game awards I’ve seen that features such niche titles.
I hope Gust or their composers win something, Atelier Sophie’s OST was too awesome, I’ve been listening to it non-stop.