Comments on: Videogame music: Why do we listen?

By: Kenley

Kenley — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:39:07 +0000

I’m glad to see that most comments here advocate the quality and artistry of video game music – nice work!

I host a podcast that is solely devoted to the academic study of video game music – studying it like an art form, like scholars would study Beethoven or Mahler. It speaks to exactly what you are all talking about: Getting exposed to new styles of music, reliving memories, creating emotional moments in gaming… all that stuff.

Please check it out at http://www.intothescore.com!

By: Ironix

Ironix — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:31:53 +0000

This has inspired me to take another stab at trying to define video game music and its characteristics =D (Thanks!)

Like GladiadorBR, I listen to video game music to re-live my experiences. I also like how video game music can introduce me to so many different genres, since video game music can encompass every music genre out there.

Of the games I’ve recently played, I’d say Odin Sphere and Rogue Galaxy (the track for the Kuje Desert is sooooooooo good and soothing) had great music.

By: Ninjeff

Ninjeff — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:19:02 +0000

I have to agree GladiadorBR: As a fan of VGMusic, the best type is that which recalls moments from the game that you enjoyed. Recently, I bought the Orange Box soundtrack (i.e. music from Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life: Episode 2), and one of the tracks does exactly what GladiadorBR describes. A mission late in Episode 2 was really giving me trouble, and there’s one point near the end when an ambush occurs and the music changes. Whenever I hear that track, I get the same rush I felt as when I was racing around in-game.

VG music of older games for this same reason (i.e. nostalgia).

Finally, I’d like to say that (despite the idiots at X-Play), Persona 3 & FES have one of the best and most original soundtracks in recent years. It’s not a sweeping orchestra, like we’ve grown used to in modern games, but it’s modern-sounding music for a game in a modern setting. I assume The World Ends With You is similar (which would explain the soundtrack bashing I’ve heard for that title as well).

By: fallen

fallen — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:50:03 +0000

GladiadorBR: You nailed my take on all this. Way to put my thoughts into words for me.

By: seiya19

seiya19 — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 00:08:31 +0000

Well, I think IÂ´m a weird case when it comes to music, at least from the average western people. Most of my music taste comes from anime and japanese videogames (aside some “mainstream” Rock/Pop music from US/Europe, but not much), which is even more uncommon in a spanish-speaking country like mine (which is Uruguay, by the way). I donÂ´t have a reason for that…other than personal preference, which those hobbies helped me discover.

For me, videogame music has always been important because of itÂ´s huge part in setting the mood for the game. It has the potential to enhance the experience of it (combined with the story, graphics, etc) or break it if not used properly, or if itÂ´s not of my personal taste. Of course, some games depend more on it than others (usually the ones that rely more on itÂ´s enviroment and/or story rather than just itÂ´s gameplay), but itÂ´s always a relevant factor to me.

This is also why I almost never play games without itÂ´s music, and why I always prefer original soundtracks over customised ones (as in being able to choose your own, or from popular artists). And it seems to me that the Japanese have always cared more about this aspect in games than in the West.

By the way, IÂ´m also a fan of Guilty Gear music, specially the one from XX, which is one of my favorite game soundtracks. I also like Megaman (original and X) osts (specially the first 2 X), Zelda games (specially Ocarina), Super Metroid, Final Fantasy games, Street Fighter 2 (great Capcom era…), Ninja Gaiden (original ones) and Chrono Trigger/Cross to name a few. Somnus from Yoko Shinomura is also a wonderful song…IÂ´m looking forward to hearing more from both FF XIII games.

PS: I have to disagree with Joe Grim in that I liked Pokemon Puzzle League (N64) music…although itÂ´s not among my favorites. And I apologize if my post was too long…

By: OtakuBlue

OtakuBlue — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:53:43 +0000

I’m gonna have to say that the “Somnus” theme from the Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailers is a really nice piece of music. Thumbs up to that one ^ ^ Hehe

By: kyohusanagi

kyohusanagi — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:04:47 +0000

i listen to video game music cause its good music. and i feel they take more chance with sound then mainstream music does. its funny i saw this article today cause i was just a the free video game live concert in Toronto last night in the v.i.p section

By: Kataztrophy

Kataztrophy — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 14:59:10 +0000

The lack of quality in mainstream music, I find myself listening to more and more game music now.

By: KidKC

KidKC — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:22:37 +0000

Truthfully I would have to say that video game music is a very importatn essence of video gaming, not to say I can’t pop in a atari game ad have just as much fun (which incidentally I still listen to music when I do that), but having been albe to play games from that time on I’ve seen how video game compositions have changed. for the most part they gotten better, but back in the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, there was actual limitations to the hardware. Even back then I was amazed and the sounds and textures that were emanating from these machines. Don’t get me wrong there are tons of worthwhile arrangements now, but most are from the people who once used these very same machines back then, no matter how complex the sound composition is, the simple melody is still there. Bands like Powerglove have done a great thing by taking tracks that don’t necessarily fit into the context they’re pulled from but it’s amazing, and if you listen to electronic music at all you’d know for sure that most artists were influenced by the early games. For that matter that’s why I make music today……

By: GladiadorBR

GladiadorBR — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:05:58 +0000

For me its pretty simple: When I listen to a particular game song, I remember the feelings I had while playing that game. For instance recently I’ve been listening to Phoenix Wright Orquestra: whenever I get to the ending of a court suite I start to remember things like “damn that von karma”, or “now I got ya with this evidence” or “Maya, why are you so clueless”. Whenever a game has a good impact on me, its music usually will bring the same feeling (unless its, like, very bad). Of course this holds better when the music is good (many games had an impact but had forgettable sound tracks, thus I never bought them). I don’t know for other people, but for me soundtracks have the additional flavor that you already have an emotional attachment to them because of the events that happened on the game while you were listening