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[mattx5]

I'm sitting here listening to the Metroid Prime 1 soundtrack, and I can't get over just how beautiful and inspiring some of the tracks are (Downed Frigate and Ice Valley in particular).

While some are pushing for videogames to become more mainstream, others tout it as an art form.

Should these videogame music creators receive more recognition for their work? How can we make sure they get the respect and acclaim they deserve with a general audience as well?

 

[pestul]

I'm sitting here listening to the Metroid Prime 1 soundtrack, and I can't get over just how beautiful and inspiring some of the tracks are (Downed Frigate and Ice Valley in particular).

While some are pushing for videogames to become more mainstream, others tout it as an art form.

Should these videogame music creators receive more recognition for their work? How can we make sure they get the respect and acclaim they deserve with a general audience as well?

Well.. can you really do this to videogame music?

 

[TheDiave]

Well, I enjoy the soundtrack of many games I own, but I wouldn't drive down the street listening to it in my car. It serves its purpose when I play, I appreciate it then, and that's where it stays.

 

[suikodan]

This is where a group like The Advantage comes in. That would be great to see them in concert.

As for the subject, I agree that I like game music more than traditionnal music but that's just me.

 

[Sanjuro]

I would listen to it in the car if I had a CD player. When I was younger I never listened to music much (and still dont). But I grew up on the NES midi and loved it ever since. Thats why I enjoy bands like the NESkimos very highly. I need to get my hands on some music from MGS3 as well.

 

[mumu]

I like game music, but to be honest there is not so much really great game music out there. Most BGM tracks are totally generic, or very often inspired by already existing classical or other music. I'm more of a fan of arranged game music anyway, like the FF Piano Collections or other stuff that involves either vocals or an orchestra. Or old stuff, like NES and C64.

Game tracks are composed for the sole purpose to enrich the atmosphere or mood or whatever in a game, and that's what they do. They are not really meant to be played outside of that games universe. Like i said IMO the only thing that can make some of those tracks compatible with the world outside of the game is being arranged.

There are quite a few songs though that actually incorporate game music, one that i was just reminded of is Stoned on Monkey Island by some scandinavian artist. I forgot the name but i got it somewhere here. A few artists incorporate the SID (C64) into their songs as well. One of my favourites is Dr.Robotnik!

 

[Mejilan]

I've got a an iPod filled almost exclusively with VGM, and lots of it is from games that aren't yet available here, or never will be.

 

[SiegfriedFM]

Same here. Many vocal tracks (arranged or original) are just as good as any ballad/musical stuff. Of course, you need to like that to begin with.

And while often generic, the orchestral pieces are just as good for easy listening as "real" classical music, with the added bonus of familiarity.

I listen to game music at least as much as "normal" music.

 

[Bizarro Sun Yat-sen]

Well, there are some creators of videogame music who don't get the recognition they deserve (e.g. Masashi Hamauzu) but that's hardly unique to videogame music. I'm not sure it's especially underrecognized anymore - a lot of people these days seem to overrecognize it (especially the more pseudo-classical stuff), but my perspective is probably skewed by spending too much time on game sites.

 

[COCKLES]

Nuff said really.

Videogame music won't get the recognition it deserves until it goes back to being videogame music, instead of crap movie soundtrack.

 

[bobbyconover]

Videogame music won't get the recognition it deserves until it goes back to being videogame music, instead of crap movie soundtrack.

Much as I agree with this view at times (and believe me, when I'm playing a game like Burnout 3 I agree), it's a kinda lazy and typical argument these days. Sure, crap like EA Trax and wannabe-symphonic "movie" scores aren't so great, but they don't negate the presence of all the great game soundtracks that've been composed in recent years. Few of them are found in massive AAA games, so you might have to do a little digging, but truly "gamey" game music is out there and kicks as much ass as it did in the glory days.

 

[jett]

I listen to a freaking lot of video game music. Video games are just getting "mainstream", VGM will probably never get there.

*listens to MGS3 soundtrack*

 

[Mejilan]

but truly "gamey" game music is out there and kicks as much ass as it did in the glory days.

Gradius V!!

 

[firex]

yes, it does, which is to say it deserves the lack of attention it gets.

I can only think of a few games where the soundtracks are actually worth listening to on their own (basically both of the jet set radio games, space channel 5 and katamari damacy), even though I think a lot of game music is good. It's just that game music doesn't get a lot of credit on its own because a lot of it isn't so great on its own.

 

[Lakitu]

It does deserve alot of recognition IMO, I'm listening to "High Charity" off the Halo 2 OST, I can't get over how good that track is, very underrated, I hope Marty creates more similar tracks for Halo 3, damn impressive.