Music To My Ears

Lets throw a few names around:

- Koji Kondo
- Akira Yamaoka
- Jesper Kyd
- Yoko Shimamura
- Harry Gregson-Williams

If you listen to gaming music or know a bit about it, you will know at least a few of the names on this list. These people are video game composers and they play a more vital role than you might imagine.

One thing that can make or break a game is the music. Would a horror game really be as scary without some great music to accompany it? Or would an balls to the wall action game seem as epic without the fitting soundtrack? No. In fact music slips into the background and people remember it even though they don't make a conscious note of it. So you're still telling me you don't make a note of the music? Okay then.

Let's do a little test:

STEP 1

Hum the Mario theme...Spot on.

STEP 2

Hum the Zelda theme...Again, you've got it.

STEP 3

Hum the theme of your favourite game.

Instantly recogniseable am I right? You can recall it and re-create it quicker than any visual part of the game. Even sound effects are ingrained into our brain. Hell for some the Acheievement Unlocked sound effect is more important than a doorbell!

Well I'm a little different. I often like to pick out a game's soundtrack. It is something which is often worked on just as hard as the game itself. I often find that I can listen to game soundtracks on their own. Even the old 8-bit soundtracks are fun to listen to. Usually because they're so well written or just so catchy, you can't help but love them. Sometimes videogames are slightly spoiled by their soundtrack or a feeling is lacking because of it. Sometimes the reverse is true. You get a well made soundtrack and not such a well made game. If you ever get both. Then it's pure magic.

One great example of how a soundtrack makes a game is the Silent Hill series where the music is composed by Akira Yamaoka. Some fans identify his music as being one of the scariest parts of the experience! But with him having left konami who knows what he will score next?!

Live performances of game music involving whole orchestras even take place. Although they used to most commonly happen in Japan, other fans composers and collections of musical people put are spreading it around the globe. There is even Video Games Live (a touring production that performs a range of some of gaming's best musical numbers to everywhere around the world) Next time they're in London I suggest you go!

Visit the site:
http://www.videogameslive.com/index.php?s=home


Even Beethoven would be proud of gaming's finest composers!

From time to time I will put up some great gaming songs from a variety of soundtracks. Eventually I will do through whole soundtracks and even do a top 20 list.

Here is a song from a slightly dissapointing game with a varied soundtrack. Some of it great, some of it not so. The game is Tekken 6. While though I enjoy the arcade mode to a point. It doesn't make me scream with excitement. But there is one song on the soundtrack that is amazing and is hardly used (Only during a small section of near the end of the horrible Scenario Campaign Mode!).



If Tekken could capture the power and energy that this song had and put it into the arcade mode without the extra crap. Then it could have been challenged Tekken 2 for my favourite series. Don't agree with me? Watch this trailer that used it! That is what the game should have felt like and this trailer should have been the opening for the game in my humble opinion!



But nevertheless I salute you composers for you have made some truly beautiful music. Thanks again and keep up the good work!