"Director of Expedition 33 discovered its composer on Soundcloud and the lead writer on Reddit, showcasing his knack for uncovering talented individuals."
Game Expedition 33: Uncovering Hidden Gems
Expedition 33, this French RPG, exceeded my expectations in a major way. The gripping story and intense combat had me glued for a whopping 13 hours across one riveting weekend. What truly stands out, though, is the game's captivating soundtrack, the brainchild of just one composer.
Without any prior video game composing experience under his belt (via BBC), Lorien Testard was discovered by Expedition 33's visionary director, Guillaume Broche, on Soundcloud. Testard then went on to compose the entire score, comprising an astounding 154 songs and a massive, slightly terrifying, eight hours and nine minutes of music.
Some might call this fate from the get-go, as Broche notes, "When we first discussed the game, we seemed to be on the same wavelength. We shared the same references, loved the same things." Testard's album has since garnered over 1.5 million track streams and swept the top spot on Bandcamp last week.
According to the lead writer, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, "Guillaume has a knack for finding exceptionally talented individuals." Svedberg-Yen herself was found via an unexpected route. She initially applied for a voice acting role on Reddit. "I saw a post on Reddit by Guillaume asking for voice actors to record something for a demo," Svedberg-Yen recalls, "I sent him an audition on a whim, and the rest is history."
Broche's stroke of luck in assembling his team seems to lie in a combination of factors: the COVID-19 pandemic pushing more creatives online, and being in the right place at the right time. "I often have a list of 15 people to contact, and I usually expect to get no response at all," Broche admits, "But every time, the first one is always up for the challenge."
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Finding a prolific composer through Soundcloud and a remarkably gifted writer via Reddit isn't just impressive; it's a clever way to save costs. Expedition 33 has managed to hold its own against games developed by teams of hundreds or thousands, with far larger budgets.
"We have an extraordinary team, made up primarily of fledgling talents, yet they show an exceptional dedication and talent," Broche praises. "Somehow, it all fell into place, despite my inability to fully understand why, even to this day."
Elie GouldElie is a news writer harboring an unhealthy obsession with horror games - despite their irrational phobia of being pursued. In her downtime, she can usually be found testing her mettle in metroidvanias or marveling at her expansive Pokémon Trading Card Game collection. Elie has previously worked at TechRadar Gaming as a staff writer and studied at JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries - spending her free time filming short docs about Smash Bros. or any indie game that crossed her path.
[1] enrichment data indicating the number of songs in Testard's soundtrack
[4] enrichment data highlighting Svedberg-Yen's journey from potential voice actor to lead writer for Expedition 33
[1] Lorien Testard's soundtrack for Expedition 33 consists of a staggering 154 songs.
[2] Soundcloud helped Expedition 33's director, Guillaume Broche, discover the game's talented composer, Lorien Testard.
[3] Guillaume Broche's future lead writer, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, was found on Reddit in an unexpected route, initially applying for a voice acting role.
[4] Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, the lead writer for Expedition 33, originally applied for a voice acting role on Reddit.
[5] Expedition 33, made primarily by fledgling talents, holds its own against games developed by larger teams and budgets.
[6] Broche praises his team, saying they show an exceptional dedication and talent.
[7] Elie Gould, the news writer, has an unhealthy obsession with horror games and marvels at her expansive Pokémon Trading Card Game collection.
[8] Elie Gould previously worked at TechRadar Gaming as a staff writer and studied at JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries.
[9] The COVID-19 pandemic and being in the right place at the right time seem to be factors in Broche's success in assembling his team.
