Scenario 4: Neon Runner: Endless Highway

Game Music Scenarios
August 30, 2024•3 min read

If you clicked on this, you were probably looking for realistic practice with game music client briefs. Here's a scenario that shows what developers need from composers - perfect for building your skills without the pressure of a real project.

Have fun :)

Game Overview

Genre: Hyper-Casual Endless Runner
Platform: Mobile (iOS/Android)
Art Style: Synthwave/80s neon aesthetic with vibrant colors
Target Audience: Ages 16-30, looking for quick gaming sessions

Game Lore:
Set in the year 2087, players control a high-tech motorcycle rider racing through the endless highways of Neo Tokyo. The city never sleeps, and neither do the highways - they stretch infinitely through neon-lit urban canyons, over towering bridges, and through holographic advertising districts.

The player character is a courier for the Underground - a network of rebels fighting against the Corporate Collective that controls the city. Each run represents a different delivery mission, dodging Corporate Security vehicles, navigating through traffic, and collecting energy cells that power the resistance's operations.

The game features simple left/right/jump controls but increasingly complex obstacle patterns. Power-ups include energy shields, speed boosts, and the ability to phase through certain obstacles. The endless nature means there's no final destination - just the eternal ride through the neon-soaked future city.

Core Mechanics: Endless running, simple controls, power-up collection, increasing speed/difficulty, score chasing.

Musical Brief

From: Alex Kim, Solo Developer
Subject: Need Synthwave Vibes for Endless Runner

"Hey! I'm a solo dev working on my first commercial game, and I need some killer synthwave music that'll get people pumped up during short play sessions.

What I need:

  • Main gameplay track (4-5 minutes, needs to loop perfectly for endless play)

  • Menu/title screen music (2 minutes, welcoming but energetic)

  • Game over sting (3-5 seconds)

  • Power-up/boost sound effect music stabs (1-2 seconds each, maybe 5 different ones)

The vibe I'm going for: You know that feeling when you're driving late at night with good music on, and everything just flows? That's what I want. High energy but smooth, retro but modern, intense but not stressful.

References that nail it:

  • Hotline Miami soundtrack (especially the driving tracks)

  • Kavinsky - "Nightcall" (but more upbeat)

  • The midnight drives in Grand Theft Auto Vice City

  • Some tracks from Geometry Dash (that perfect energy level)

Technical stuff:

  • I'm working with limited mobile storage, so file efficiency matters

  • 44.1kHz, needs to sound good on phone speakers

  • The main track will play on repeat A LOT, so it needs to not get annoying

  • OGG format preferred for Unity integration

Player context: Most people play this on the subway, waiting in line, short 2-5 minute sessions. The music needs to grab attention immediately and maintain energy throughout. It's a "one more try" kind of game, so the music should make people want to keep playing.

Timeline: I'm hoping to get the main track in 2-3 weeks so I can start testing with beta players. The other pieces can come a week or two after that.

One important thing: The energy level needs to be high but sustainable. Some synthwave tracks are so intense they're exhausting after a few minutes. I need something that energizes people but doesn't burn them out.

Thanks for considering the project!"

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