These videos are a survey of the star system Naguxoisanorca (aka “Nagu”). The whole survey was quite long and I broke it up into 2 videos. As part of making these videos, I composed 7 songs. They are

Farewell to Nagu
Manti-gervay
Firewolf
Rosperigosa — Aquatic Interlude
Rosperigosa — Extreme Radiation
Noelgervay 1
Noelgervay 2

I am particularly pleased with “Farewell to Nagu” because this is the first time I have done any singing on my own music compositions. I wrote harmony, sang all the harmony parts, and recorded each part 5 or 6 times. Then I blended them together and used lots and lots of reverb. To me it sounds like an alien angel choir!

The Noelgervay songs were based on the music that was playing in-game while I was recording video. For the second, slower version I simply played along with the in-game music. For the first, faster version I took the same melody and chords, modified them, and picked up the tempo.

Note: the No Man’s Sky soundtrack is composed by the group 65daysofstatic. Here is an article about them

This is a silly episode where I assembled video segments that were left over. I especially enjoy the times when the graphics phenomenon called “clipping” caused entities to pop into my ship. The first time this happened I really did let out a yelp. What a great jumpscare! After that it just made me laugh hysterically. I think it’s great that bugs in a game can have unintended entertainment value.

This episode is especially poignant now that No Man’s Sky had the August 2017 update. Although the game now has more depth and complexity, the universe was “re-written”. A few planets are as before, some are the same but have lost their names, and some have lost both their names and their distinctive traits. “Dawnseas” no longer has seas, and “Summerhome” is no longer the sort of place you would want to spend the summer. Worst of all, my home planet Neochadwickia has turned into a charred cinder. It’s as if the planet moved to an orbit closer to the sun.

Whenever I returned from an adventure, I would hop up onto the roof of my base and look out on the landscape near my home. I can see in my mind’s eye the sunset colors, the silvery-green grass, and the strange craggy hill that looked down into the southern valley. I have to admit, when I came back to No Man’s Sky and saw that my home planet was irrevocably changed, I cried for a few minutes. I’m very glad that I had taken lots of photos and videos.

Maybe this loss affected me so much because it’s a difficult time. My parents are in their 80s and my father especially is in precarious health. The loss of Neochadwicka is just one more reminder that nothing / no one is forever — and a reminder that I can take the time to engrave these memories on my heart and mind.

Goodbye Neochadwicka