Polk State grad combines two loves by creating music for video games

A Polk State College alumnus and recent graduate from Florida State University, Wood Simon has been making music for video games since he was in high school. His gaming list, however, continues to grow.

Simon first developed music for a soundtrack for the game “Toontown Rewritten” when he was in 10th grade at Haines City High School. He had taken the initiative to reach out to the company, which resulted in the opportunity to gain experience as a volunteer on the project. When he arrived at Polk State in 2019, however, Simon thought it made the most sense to pursue the medical field.

“When I first came to Polk State, I only had nursing on my mind,” Simon recalled. “I didn’t think music composition was stable. I got into the Nursing Program, but I felt out of place – like a fish out of water. I really felt passionate about music.”

Simon changed his major and graduated from Polk State in 2021 with an Associate in Arts with an Art transfer intent.

“The Music Program here at Polk State was really great,” Simon added. “When I first started music theory courses, I was a bit intimidated because I wasn’t well versed in the music theory words and vocabulary. My teachers helped me greatly.”

Simon said the switch was made easy, thanks to Polk State’s team of advisors, particularly Warren Brown, now Coordinator for Career Services.

“Warren Brown helped me all the way throughout my time at Polk State,” Simon explained. “Any time I needed an advisor, I went to him. He was the man for the job and helped me with what I needed every time.”

In May, Simon graduated from Florida State with his bachelor’s degree in music composition. Brown is proud of Simon’s accomplishments.

“He was always on top of things as a student,” Brown reflected. “When he switched to music composition, you could really tell that’s where his heart was. He was always ambitious and a great student. It’s great to see where he is today. It makes you feel like you played a small part in that.”

Since his first opportunity as a high school sophomore, Simon has produced soundtracks for four other games: “Cosmic Coop,” “Spug,” “Scramble Star Crossing,” and “A Gamble with Death.” As he continues to compose music for video games, Simon has watched his skill and confidence grow.

“I was overwhelmed in 10th grade,” he said. “It felt like imposter syndrome. I was excited but scared about my quality of work. I’ve worked really hard; I’ve listened to other soundtracks. I’ve always looked up to composers.”

Following 10th grade, Simon saved up his money to buy digital instruments to work on his craft. Before producing a soundtrack, Wood tries to learn as much as he can about the game.

“I look at the concept art to try to get a grip for what the game is,” he explained. “I really focus on the characters and what their quest is in the game. After a lot of practice, it’s become easy. It’s still time consuming, but I’ve really come to know my craft.”

Now working for the developer Omnivorian, producing soundtracks has been a way for Simon to combine two passions – music and video games.

“Music taps into an emotion that not all types of art can,” he added. “I’ve played a lot of video games. Playing (Super Mario Bros.) tapped into an emotion that made me feel nostalgic. When I’m able to do the same thing for other people, it brings this intense emotion that I enjoy. The positive feedback I’ve gotten has kept me motivated.”

Most of Simon’s worth thus far has been an individual effort. As he continues to perfect his craft, Simon hopes to work on bigger projects with multiple artists.

“Composing for smaller-budget games can be a solo adventure,” Simon concluded. “One of my long-term goals is to work in a collaborative environment and to be part of a team. For people interested in music composition or making music for video games, it would be helpful to have a background in music and a primary instrument. The advice I’d have (for Polk State students) is to really spend time thinking about what you want to do and don’t be so hard on yourself.”