Offworld Trading Company

Original Video Game Score

STYLE

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.

TECHNIQUE

Unlike Tin’s classical scores, where each musical phrase is carefully written out, Offworld’s score 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.

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

Stream

Downloads

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.