One of the most successful games in my career, and soundtracks I have ever created has been DragonVale. DragonVale has seen 25 million downloads, 750+ consecutive days in the Top 50 grossing charts, 600 million dragons hatched, and 38 thousand years of collective time spent in the game. 4.5 million monthly users currently participate in the dragon hatching mania! With statistics like these, millions of fans and a successful soundtrack on iTunes you would think enough was enough. Well, not for me. The major release of Dragonvale 2.0 provided an opportunity for me to take the music in the game to the next level.
The “Dragonvale Main Theme” and all the background music tracks have been remixed and performed using real instruments, not digital samples! Oh yeah! This was huge undertaking and the results were worth the effort. Originally, I composed the music by using digital instrument samples with the idea that eventually I would get them recorded with real instruments before it shipped. However, as it always seems to happen, I ran out of time as other Backflip Studios games needed my services too. I intended to rectify that for 2.0 and in the end I am really satisfied with the added value to the game. It really does feel more heartwarming and happy and the added nuance and artistry goes well with the high overall production values in the game.
Although I play many different instrument at a professional level, I have never taken on the challenge of learning to play the instruments in the woodwind family. This presented a bit of a problem for me as much of my compositions for DragonVale featured Flute, Medieval Recorder, Penny Whistle and English Horn. Clearly I needed some help but where to turn? Enter, Laura Intravia (a.k.a. Flutelink). Laura did a steller job performing the tracks and I will certainly be hiring her for recording sessions in the future. I also appreciate her deciphering my sheet music notation without too much complaint!
If you don’t already play Dragonvale, take a moment to download the free Dragonvale app today. It’s available on both iOS and Android. Not only will the soundtrack delight you but the game is a blast.
Happy Gaming!
-Aubrey
(I will be posting a before/after clip soon)
I’ve only just discovered your website here and I’m really glad I did! I’ve been playing DragonVale almost since the beginning and I have to say one of the things I love most about it is the music. I remember when the game made the shift from digital to actual instrumentals, and though it took me a little while to adjust, it was overall a vast improvement. I listen to the older versions sometimes, mostly for nostalgia, and it really just hits me all over again how much better most of the newer ones sound–so much more authentic, more detailed. Laura indeed did a stellar job.
I know this post is over a year old now, so the chances of you even noticing this comment are slim, but if you do happen to read this and you have a chance to respond, I’d love to know: Is there any place I can go to that has the full soundtrack available? I know Backflip released the first eight original tracks on Soundcloud and iTunes, but as far as I can tell that’s where it ends, and there isn’t a whole lot of information on the music that’s been released since then. I’m assuming those have also been written by you, but as I said I have very little info to go on, so I’m not even certain of that much. I have to say, I am in love with some of the newer tracks that have been released, and I’d love to be able to listen to them outside of the game–there’s one in particular that I don’t know the title of, but if I could even get to just that one I’d be happy–although I did find the sheet music for what I now know is called “Happy Meadow”, and I do love that one very much as well; in fact, I’ve been contemplating the idea of playing it, since there’s at least one flute involved (by the way, if you need someone to transcribe the other half of the duet, I’d be happy to, as long as you don’t mind it being written as a flute part–I don’t think I know how to transcribe for oboes, but the notes and rhythm would be correct, in any case). Also, you should probably know that it took me a while to figure out which song matched the sheet music for “My Little Hatchling Emerges” because it’s written in the wrong meter–the music is definitely in 3/4, not 4/4. The one I’m thinking of, though, my favorite track, on the off chance you’ll know which one I’m talking about–it’s almost exactly two minutes long (I’d say…roughly 2:05), in C major, 4/4 time, and no wind instruments–all strings, the main melody played by what I’m pretty sure is a violin. It doesn’t seem to have a title, at least not one that was released to the general public, but it’s absolutely gorgeous and you really should win some sort of award for composing it. I’d love to know what it’s called, if you’re willing to share it.
Anyway, I’m digressing quite a bit; I apologize for that. Back to my point–do you know if there’s any way to get to the newer tracks, as well as the remastered versions of the old ones? If not, do you know if Backflip has any plans to release them at some point?
And one more question–are you going to be composing any more DragonVale soundtracks in the future?
Thank you, in advance!
Thanks for the kind and supportive comment!
I will be releasing a new soundtrack with all the new versions plus some of the new tracks that I added including the Halloween and Christmas events. I will announce that on this website when that happens. It’ll be available exclusively at aubreyhodges.bandcamp.com
I plan on releasing several other soundtracks from my Backflip titles as well such as Gizmonauts and Ragdoll Blaster 2.
As far as the time signature issue…I generate the notation from my sequencer so it’s possible I sequenced in 4/4 and ended up writing in a 3/4 tempo regardless of what the time signature was set to in Logic.
I’ll have to take a listen to figure out which piece you are referring to and I’ll post the name once I do.
Lastly, Yes, more DV tracks will happen for sure.
I’ve been playing Dragonvale for almost 2 years and have never turned the music on. Today I went to play it, and somehow my settings had reset so the music was on. I was floored! It was gorgeous! So, I turned the sound effects off so I could listen to just the tracks, and I rolled the credits to find who was responsible for such ear candy, then I took to Google to see what more I could find about this person. Which, of course, brought me here. I’ll be downloading the full soundtrack from iTunes. Thanks for a job well done!
Thank you Marisa! I am so glad you enjoy my work. Check out aubreyhodges.bandcamp.com for my other albums.
I’ve just started playing Dragonvale this year and always loved the music. This year I especially love the Christmas song that is in current use. It is so peaceful and soothing–I was wondering if this Christmas music will be released any time soon.
Thanks!
Hi Aubrey,
Thanks for all the great music in Dragonvale. It’s created its own memory trigger for the time when my son first asked me to download it. Those times come straight back when I hear the music. I particularly love the music for Halloween. Is that yours too? Wonderful.
So glad to hear that you enjoy my music. Yes, everything in Dragonvale and Dragonvale World are my music tracks. Hopefully I’ll be able to do some soundtracks for Dragonvale soon and I’ll post the release here once that happens.
I’m another person who has played since the beginning. I’m always surprised by the number of people who have turned the music and other sounds off. I love the music, and it makes game play even more enjoyable. Thanks!
I started playing Dragonvale just a few months after it came out. I have always loved the music, and I even wrote a piece using the soundtrack as the inspiration. I of course bought the regular soundtrack, but I was wondering if the event soundtracks are or will be available anywhere other than the random people posting them on YouTube.
Is there any way that you could release the complete soundtrack? I’ve played DragonVale since its beginnings and the music brought back so much nostalgia. The work you put into this game has been amazing, can’t be any more grateful for it!
I plan to create a soundtrack collection for Dragonvale this summer. Stay tuned!
Omg, so are you going to post it soon? I can’t wait!
Going as fast as I can. I am hoping for an October release.
Hey Aubrey, I was wondering how the progress is going. The music is beautiful!! 🙂
It’s coming along nicely. I am doing some edits and rearrangements to add length to many of the tracks. Some are just too short to enjoy in a soundtrack listening experience. I wish things could go faster but the work is quite intricate and doesn’t lend itself to a fast turnaround.
Any updates?
Any updates? I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season!
Hello Mr. Hodges, just curious, when are you expecting Dragonvale to release right now?
any updates on the progress?
I’m curious when’s the scheduled release for Dragonvale?
Dragonvale has been around for quite a while. You can download it now if you want to. It’s on the App Store and Play Store. How this helps 😊
hi aubrey, i have been a fan of your creations for years now, i wanted to ask if you could make a playlist containing dragonvale’s event songs that youv’e made aswell. thanks!