Pigstep changed Minecraft music with a banger
There is something uniquely fascinating about the intersection of game design and musical composition. For Lena Raine, this intersection isn’t just a career choice; it’s a deeply personal journey rooted in nostalgic adventures, innovative testing, and a relentless pursuit of the perfect arcade experience.
Her path into the industry began with early explorations, playing games like Myst and sharing experiences with her family. This foundation led her to test games for Nintendo America before she found her true calling as a game designer at ArenaNet. There, she discovered a strange new avenue: designing game music. Her initial foray into game sound was bizarre but ultimately opened the door for a unique voice in the gaming world.
Raine’s musical talents truly blossomed as she moved into game design. She composed the score for the critically acclaimed title Celeste, demonstrating a mastery of emotional, atmospheric soundscapes. Her work extended further into the world of Minecraft, where she crafted iconic ‘Disc’ tracks like Pigstep, along with other beloved pieces like Creator and Otherside, cementing her reputation for creating tracks that feel intrinsically tied to the game’s world.
Currently, Raine is channeling her creativity into new projects, including composing music for the early access volleyball RPG Beastieball, while also diving back into game design with her own RPG project, ANOTHEREAL, an RPG built around schmup-style combat. She is working on these creations with a goal to have them released within the next decade.
When stepping into the world of gaming, Raine has always favored games that deliver pure, unadulterated fun. She finds immense joy in the ‘schmup’ genre, appreciating the timeless, endlessly replayable nature of these arcade experiences. She even noted that a great schmup soundtrack is essentially an album, highlighting her belief that music deserves to be felt as much as played.
Her gaming library tells a story of deep immersion. While she is currently enjoying ZeroRanger, she also treasures classics like Deathsmiles and Mushihimesama. Her deepest commitment to gaming history, however, revolves around Final Fantasy 11. The process of importing this game from Japan, navigating the forums to find the necessary information, and connecting with an international community years ago remains a memorable piece of her gaming history.
As for personal preferences, Raine finds solace in games that encourage discovery rather than competitive fire. She has found tremendous enjoyment in games like The Mermaid Mask, which allowed her to indulge in a relaxing, linear adventure. She also confessed to being a completionist, spending hours listening to voice dialogue and absorbing every detail of the world, whether it’s in a detective point-and-click adventure or in an MMO.
When asked about the ultimate time sink, Raine pointed toward the sheer longevity of classic epics. While her highest playtime on Steam was logged on Elden Ring at 282 hours, she pointed to Final Fantasy 14, where she clocked in 1,308 hours. This vast amount of time spent exploring worlds speaks to a love for deep, immersive narratives.
Beyond the screen, Raine’s passion extends to the tools that shape her work. As a composer, her digital workspace is centered around Bitwig Studio, a sophisticated Digital Audio Workstation. This powerful platform allows her to utilize open formats like Clap, offering unparalleled flexibility in manipulating sound. This dedication to open-source and flexible software reflects her design philosophy: creativity should be unbound.
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