Author | Lightnews

Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

loudloudloudloudloudloudloudloudloud... (also 0:09😂)

Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

All said, my biggest advice: focus on slow genuine connections, be interested, ask how you can help, and have fun! Also, hand-san & earplugs are a must, the GDC plague is real and afterparties are LOUD!🤧🔊 8/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

While it can be tempting to plan GDC to death, I wouldn’t over-plan at the expense of embracing serendipity and going with the flow. The best events I went to often resulted after randomly vibing with someone and tagging along! It felt like entering a networking flow state haha. 7/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

GDC networking is an ultra-marathon, and while burnout/imposter syndrome are possible, I’d suggest a little self-gaslighting can help to push through. My suggestion: reenergizing doesn’t necessitate time alone—seeking your tribe (eg audio peops) can provide all the energy and reframing you need. 6/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

I’ll also note, attending without a pass is possible! (though can be a turnoff socially). Nevertheless, there are plenty of happenings beyond the official event, and many locals swing by w/o passes during off-hours! 5/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

Regarding passes, next time I’ll likely opt for the friday-only option (~US$200 less than the full week). IMO, aside from the SUPER COOL alt.ctrl.GDC section, the expo floor was more about marketing/entertainment than building connections. 4/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

Personally, I found the best places to meet people were at side-events and afterparties (as listed on the attendee-curated GDC Parties webapp—the best tool for planning out days. Most side-events favoured night-owls, but despite late nights I surprisingly managed to sleep in most days! 3/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

First off, A LOT of people attend GDC (30,000+), and it’s not unrealistic to be standing 12+ hours a day socializing. GDC is a week-long party, with events and meetups running from 8AM until just past midnight. 2/8

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Apr 23

🎮It’s officially one month since GDC 2025!!! If you’re considering going (or have been before), I'd like to share some thoughts you may find helpful about my first time attending such an insane event with so many cool people! … 1/8

#gdc #gdc2025 #gamedev #indiedev #gameaudio #composer #gamemusic

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Mar 13

was on the fence about packing my shoes but I'll def be out for these!!

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Mar 12

Always love a new score follow video from @chriscerrone.bsky.social 🤩😍

youtu.be/SDixPd89HZo?...

#composer #scorefollow

Christopher Cerrone: "Don't Look Down" (Score-Follow) ft. Sandbox Percussion & Conor Hanick

YouTube video by Christopher Cerrone

youtu.be

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Mar 8

hi Martha thanksss😇

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 9

what are composers fav piano libraries for scoring? I bought hammers + waves by skybox recently… but for some reason I keep going back to Orchestral Tools’ free felt 🙃🎹 #composer #vst #samplelibraries

Reposted by Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC

Chief Goblin Officer 🇨🇦 @mcdichael.bsky.social · Feb 6

Yeah!!! Achieved life goal of hitting Steam's front page :D
#indiedev #gamedev #indiegames

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 6

(VHorns Brass & Berlin harps’ true pedal are also great for their UIs. Unfortunately, most developers place little emphasis on such interfaces).

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 6

This is why I love sample developers such as Ample. Their fretboard UI not only helps non-guitarist composers avoid impossible hand positions, but also functions as a reference/learning tool without requiring an actual guitar. ...

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 6

While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this (and it’s certainly thrilling to push virtual instruments to extremes sometimes), it’s a tad disheartening to hear piano parts copy-pasted onto other instruments—especially when they’re unplayable. ...

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 6

Most media composers write their parts through the lens of the piano keyboard. Thus, when writing for other instruments, it’s often tempting to forgo idiomatic writing in favour of pianistic convenience. ...

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 6

“How are your tools shaping creative decisions?” As a #composer in the #gameaudio #vgm space, I ponder this often, especially regarding UIs. ...

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Reposted by Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC

Alex Moukala @alexmoukala.bsky.social · Feb 5

In life, nothing is impossible.
Except for @awintory.bsky.social writing a bad melody. Probably never gonna happen.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu6z...

Eternal Strands | Weaving a new fantasy - Music by Austin Wintory

YouTube video by Austin Wintory

www.youtube.com

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 5

Would be remiss not to shoutout @amplesoundtech.bsky.social for developing such a fantastic instrument 👏!

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 5

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it haha 😊

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 5

Fantastic video by @davidbrucecomposer.bsky.social! Really gives a great rundown of the intricacies of Jacob's audience choir. Modulating an entire audience must be thrilling!

David Bruce @davidbrucecomposer.bsky.social · Feb 4

Jacob Collier's Audience Choir is a unique experiment in turning a crowd into an instrument. I break down how it works, and look at far its come - how to make cluster chords and modulations, just by waving your hands! www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpCN... @jacobcollier

The INGENUITY of Jacob Collier's Audience Choir

YouTube video by David Bruce Composer

www.youtube.com

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Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 5

Wrote for guitar using Ample's free Guitar M Lite VST for its outstanding UI. This way, composing a natural feeling part and transcribing off the animated visual was a piece of cake! The hardest part was simply learning to play it haha—been nearly 10 years since my Sungha Jung/Tommy Emmanuel phase.

Jonathan Alexander (蔣智海) 🔙 GDC @jonalex.io · Feb 5

Some music I wrote inspired by a cat game 😺

The game’s aesthetic felt perfect for fingerstyle guitar and elements of folk music—mandolins, lute, banjo, and dulcimers all singing above the pulse of an Irish Bodhrán (frame drum) 🪕🥁

#vgm #bgm #indiegame #gamedev #gameaudio #composer

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