Game Scoring for Orchestra in Aotearoa | Claire Wackrow | NZGDC 2025

Game Scoring for Orchestra in Aotearoa | Claire Wackrow | NZGDC 2025

by Claire Wackrow

Applied Sciences & Engineering Arts & Architecture AVLMusic: styles and genresAVLMMusic of film and stage
🎙 Claire Wackrow 👥 1K 📅 October 9, 2025 ⏱ 29 min 👁 59 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

orchestragame audiorecordingNZSOpricing

Summary

Claire Wackrow, from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO), presents a talk at NZGDC 2025 about the possibilities and practicalities of recording game scores with a full orchestra in New Zealand. She introduces the NZSO’s history, from its founding in 1946 to its current status, highlighting its extensive experience in film scoring, including The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as recent game scores like Titanfall 2. The talk emphasizes the NZSO’s turnkey scoring solutions, which handle everything from contracting to studio booking, and mentions the NZSO Recording Aotearoa program that provides access to the New Zealand government’s screen production rebate. Wackrow provides detailed pricing examples for different project sizes, ranging from a full 80-player orchestra over five days (NZ$300-350k) to a single-day strings-only session (NZ$30k+). She also discusses the upcoming NZSO Studios, a state-of-the-art recording facility in the Wellington Town Hall basement, scheduled to open in 2027, which will offer enhanced connectivity and flexibility. The talk concludes with a Q&A session where Wackrow and NZSO CEO Mark Feldman address questions about trailer scoring, rehearsal time, session output, and the availability of conductors and orchestrators. The overall message is that working with a professional orchestra is more accessible and affordable than many game developers might think.

209 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The talk provides valuable, concrete information for game developers considering orchestral scoring, including realistic budget ranges and technical details about recording sessions. The argumentation is persuasive, leveraging the NZSO’s prestigious reputation and successful track record to build credibility. However, the presentation is inherently promotional, and the information is presented from the perspective of the service provider, which may introduce bias. The cost examples are useful but may not be directly comparable to other regions or orchestras.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The talk is based on the speaker’s professional experience and the NZSO’s official capabilities, which lends it a degree of authority. However, no external sources are cited, and the information is not independently verifiable. The title accurately reflects the content, which is a focused presentation on game scoring with the NZSO. The talk is well-structured and informative, but it lacks critical analysis or comparison with alternative approaches.

158 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: a talk about scoring games with an orchestra in New Zealand.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The talk provides detailed, practical information from an insider at the NZSO, with concrete pricing examples and technical details. However, it is primarily a promotional presentation, and the information is not independently verified.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

  • New Zealand Symphony Orchestra — The official NZSO website provides information about the orchestra's services and history, consistent with the talk.

Contribution & Novelties

The talk offers a rare insider perspective on the practical and financial aspects of recording a game score with a professional orchestra in New Zealand, including specific cost estimates and details about the upcoming NZSO Studios. This information is particularly valuable for indie developers or studios considering orchestral scoring but lacking knowledge of the process.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Game Audio — Overview of the field of game audio, including music production.
  • Film Score — Context on orchestral scoring in film, which shares many techniques with game scoring.
  • New Zealand Screen Production Grant — Information on the government rebate mentioned in the talk, relevant for funding considerations.

108 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows a balanced performance across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in information quantity and reliability, reflecting the talk's practical and authoritative nature. The lower technical score indicates that while the content is informative, it does not delve deeply into advanced technical aspects of scoring.

Reliability 7/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.