Game Music a valuable form of art?

[Mariusz Jasionowicz]

Hi Guys

I am writing a dissertation for the uni and I have chosen topic "Game Music a serious form of art or just a kids stuff"

And its exactly about how people perceive the game music. In my opinion as game composer is that it is more difficult to create an interactive universal piece of music for a game than a piece for a locked video image, but many people still sees it as simple beeps and bloops.

I would be happy to get some feedback from you and reading what you think about it could really help me in my dissertation.

Thanks Guys  :)

[Alex Dunn]

Hi Marius,

I've recently discovered the composer of game music Jeremy Soule. His music to me is absolutely inspirational and executed with exquisite compositional technique. As you say, it is harder for a game composer in some ways as he cannot predict exactly what the player will do. Thanks to the likes of composers like Jeremy Soule and others like Motoi Sakuraba, I have no hesitation in saying that game music has been a serious influence on my music and remains some of my very favorite music to listen to.

It's difficult though for game music to gain credibility as, in the same way as fantasy novels were originally classed as children's literature by definition, game music, for most people in their 20s and 30s, conjours up the image of a ten year old playing Tetris. However, I think it is only a matter of time before game music that is obviously serious music becomes the norm. Soon, the punters whose first impression of game music was a full orchestra or intricate electronica, will be the ones forming public opinion.

However, I have heard some parents saying how far game music has come on so maybe things are already changing. For me, personally, I think that 80s game music in its original form was great as it was. But I'm an Audiophile so pretty much any sound interests me, even a bleep!

[Jonathan Sakian]

Well, because music itself is like a character when paired with media, it has true uniqueness with whatever it's involved in. Whether it be a new broadcast intro, to commercials.

Game music has certain qualities that should be considered. While usually not all of a game is interactive, and there are periods of "locked video" that is accompanied by music. For those other parts of which are "unpredictable", the music can be demanding in the sense that it might have to not get boring, can suddenly stop or change, might have to cover over a range of "moods" for a while.

I'm sure that there are other types of characteristics possible which are not mentioned; which makes it all it's own! Sure not all GM is like this but it's not like you yourself make video game music for a game to revolve around, you mold your music around a video game which people interact with on some cases. Those, take a different kind of imagination, and ingenuity.

Video Game music is art, is music. But the beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say...

[Chris Manthey]

it kinda hurts me to read this discussion now and remember back when i told someone "yeah my goal is to do music for videogames" with a pause after it to see if they get what i mean and not just think of those bleeps and bloops or "kids stuff"

she was like "oh thats... reeeally something special!"

(though i am actually having the feeling that she really meant it that way!)

[James Semple]

I think that clearly these days some game music is considered as big as film or tv music ... bigger in some cases. As an example, 24 is scored by a guy with samples but the game used a live orchestra!

Anyway I really recommed you check out some of the books by Karen Collins and Aaron Marks to get a big picture overview of the subject.

[Mariusz Jasionowicz]

Thank you very much for your replies. I agree with all of us that game music is rather unique form of composition and n general terms definitely more difficult to score.

This will definitely help in my research and make my work easier ;P

Thanks Again

[Catherine Heckford-Dickinson]

I really like the music to the Tomb Raider games by Nathan McCree and would love to get hold of some soundtracks. I've had no luck so far!

There's not just the complete music though but also what I'd call the 'incidental' music. The bits and bobs that appear in certain parts in order to create an atmosphere. Sometimes it's not even notes just sounds. I reckon this could somethimes be harder for a game than a film due to the fact that a game is animated and it's hence harder to identifiy empathetically with the characters and events as they unfold.

I think it's certainly a form of art. There will always be new forms of art as new technology unfolds.

[Hayden Isaac]

well i also find it interesting that there is this cult following for game boy music. Some guys have worked out how to hack game boys and turn them in to synths. like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTiEm7_gTA

[Douglas Hunter Pennant]

I tend to find much of the music I enjoy through games.

However I'm less interested by the cinematic music being incorporated into AAA games (purely a taste thing), as I am the music of more niche games. One of the things that made video game music great in the past was how memorable it was. I've never even played Metal Gear Solid, but I still know "dun-dun-dundundun". Whereas I've dropped over 100 happy hours into Mass Effect 2, loved the game, and enjoyed the music...but I barely remember it. I think a lot of that is to do with the lack of repetition

For me, some of the most exciting video game music that I've heard recently (in terms of showing what video game music can do best) are the soundtracks to World of Goo (composer Kyle Gabler) and Red Alert 3 (numerous composers).

@Erik Ekholm: Hayden is right, there is still an audience for the "bleeps and bloops":

http://www.8bitpeoples.com/
http://micromusic.net/
http://www.8bitfm.com/

I had a depressing conversation with one of my Professors last year, it went like this:

Me: Have you heard of Video Games Live?
Prof: No, I haven't
Me: It's fantastic! It involves a live orchestra and choir performing music from video games.
Prof: Oh right...so they translate all the "beeps and boops" onto real instruments?
Me:...Games have been using real instruments for years.
Prof: Really?
Me: 0_o

And this is a Professor of Music...

Sorry about that.../rant

[Mariusz Jasionowicz]

thanks for you reply.
it is really sad that many people who are respected personalities in the world of music seem to be very narrow minded if it comes to game music.
there is so many great composers and music out there.
their work should be more appreciated . it is easier to score a linear image than create a score to rather unpredictable game

[Douglas Hunter Pennant]

Good luck with the dissertation!