Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1538144
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 7 Welcome to the second annual edition of the MPSE Wavelength Game Audio Special Issue! This edition is packed with engaging features and insightful Q&As that dive into the artistry, technology, and evolving techniques shaping sound editing and the future of interactive audio. Our cover story features Scott Gershin, the recent recipient of the G.A.N.G. Lifetime Achievement Award. He shares his approach to designing across film, games, and immersive media, and discusses why blending artistic vision with technical fluency— along with tools like REAPER and Wwise—are essential for today's sound designers. We're also proud to celebrate Audiokinetic's 25th anniversary. For more than two decades, Audiokinetic has transformed how we create and implement interactive audio. In a special feature, Simon Ashby, Simon Pressey, and Nour Al Hammoud discuss the company's journey and the evolution of Strata, a powerful multitrack SFX platform reshaping sound design workflows across the industry. We then turn to Charles Deenen, one of the most influential voices in trailer and vehicle sound design. Fresh off his team's 10th Golden Reel win for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Charles shares how he and his team at Source Sound and TORQ approach high- impact trailer mixes, build emotionally resonant vehicle sounds, and develop scalable audio pipelines for games, film, and advertising. His reflections on craft, collaboration, and the evolving role of sound in immersive media are not to be missed. You'll also find a behind-the-scenes look at Star Wars Outlaws with Golden Reel- winning audio director Simon Koudriavtsev MPSE, who explains how his team combined iconic Star Wars motifs with fresh new themes, developed dynamic music systems in Wwise and Snowdrop, and delivered an expansive open world with a score that adapts seamlessly to player decisions A special feature on Unreal Tournament brings together Cliff Bleszinski, Sascha Dikiciyan, Lani Minella, Alexander Brandon, Michiel van den Bos, and Peter Hajba, reflecting on their experience shaping one of gaming's most iconic soundscapes—blending adrenaline-fueled music, distinctive voiceover, and inventive sound design. Eric Marks MPSE offers perspective on the series' lasting impact and the innovative approaches that helped redefine interactive audio Earl Scioneaux, III explores forward-thinking solutions for modern audio pipelines, from runtime motion Foley to granular synthesis, and considers how emerging technologies like machine learning could unlock new creative possibilities for sound editors. Audio director Mark Kilborn shares his approach to balancing creative direction with hands-on design, explaining how he builds "beautiful corners" to prototype mixes and uses tools like Wwise, REAPER, and Soundminer to keep large-scale projects both innovative and organized. Colin Andrew Grant MPSE walks us through his method for building adaptive music systems that respond to gameplay, shape emotional arcs, and sustain player engagement. Caron Weidner MPSE shares insights from her work in Foley, vehicle recording, and crafting immersive sonic worlds for titles like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Dead Space 3. And Michael Schapiro MPSE reflects on working across film, television, and games—and the creative synergies that emerge from moving between those mediums. Looking ahead, we're excited for GameSoundCon 2025, taking place October 28–29 at the Marriott Convention Center in Burbank, CA. The MPSE is proud to sponsor the GameSoundCon Mixer for the second year and will also be exhibiting at the show. MPSE members can find a discount code in their profiles at MPSE.org. Registration is now open at gamesoundcon.com/registration. Even sooner, we're thrilled to present our first-ever in-person Game Audio Fest, hosted in partnership with Riot Games on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at the Riot Games campus in West LA. This day-long celebration of sound will feature two powerhouse panels: • Game IP Adaptations for Film & TV • Live Service Game Audio Join us for engaging conversations, community-building, and connection with award-winning sound artists from across games, film, and television. Lunch and drinks will be served in Riot's beautiful campus quad. Register now at MPSE.org Let's meet. Let's learn. Let's build what's next. A sincere thank-you to the MPSE membership, our Board of Directors, the Game Audio and Wavelength committees, and all the incredible contributors who shared their perspectives for this edition. Your work continues to illuminate the craft and push the boundaries of what's possible in game audio. I hope everyone has as much fun reading this amazing edition as I did working on it. LETTER FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF GAME AUDIO GARRETT MONTGOMERY MPSE Editor in Chief I Game Audio