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[Column] General: Musical Gaming
SBFord
Former Associate EditorMember LegendaryPosts: 33,129
Music is an integral part of our daily lives, both in the 'real' world and in our virtual worlds. In her latest column, Genese Davis takes a look at gaming music and its importance in the industry. Read on and then tell us your favorite in-game music title in the comments.
It is interesting then to look at why changing a video game’s stock music while gaming has also become popular. For example, while playing your favorite MMO, what do you set your sound settings to? While asking various players their routine, some said they always play with the game’s originally composed scores, while others play with their game sounds always off, and instead listen to their own iTunes playlists or play movies and TV in the background. Others answered that it depends on what’s going on in-game—if they’re exploring, they leave the game’s music on, but during a PVP match they pump up the rock. FPS players had similar answers and said that they often set their console to play their personal playlist if the music for that particular game isn’t exciting enough.
Read more of Genese Davis's Musical Gaming.
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Comments
I usually listen to the original music. However, if I find the original music uses synthesized sounds that are just "bad" or if that original music is "bad" I will replace it.
I don't really like doing that because I feel (and hope) that the composer has created a sort of "soundscape" that works with the images and experience the player will be having.
An example is Lord of the Rings Online.
I used to listen to the original score but as the game progressed I came across some simply horrible bits of music. In some cases it was the synthesized sounds used but sometimes it was just the music choice.
More and more I found myself turning the music off and just replacing it with the Lord of the Rings movie music.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
I don't tend to consciously think about music in games, but over the years I've noticed to my surprise that good soundscape that is communicating ambient emotions and foreshadowing events actually does make a big difference in my unconscious enjoyment of games.
I'm not expecting player made music to compete on quality, but possibly on relevence. It's a question of whether the music can communicate rather than simply entertain.
I don't use external music in games, at the worst case I pull down the volume... but I usually like in-game music.
Knut Haugen and Chance Thomas are great for example. Not to mention both of their companies like music, LotRO is heavily supporting player-made music with the .abc system (just check any Weatherstock video or any other in-game concerts), and Funcom even made a "get your music in the game" competition in TSW.
Actually the latter is a nice resemblance to your "What would you do if you could manipulate the original music in MMOs?" question, you can check the winners here in .mp3 format:
http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/get_your_music_in_the_game_competition_winners (or in game of course
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My blog:
http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Strayfe/
I would disagree.
Care to share why?
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Sure. I did a blog post on this very subject years ago.
http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Strayfe/052011/21719_Audio-Files-MMO-Music-Top-10
Nearly every zone in FFXI has music. Nearly every cut scene in the game's story has music, the music is all top quality from a company that has been known throughout the years for producing some of the greatest video game soundtracks ever made. The game has more than 10 battle themes that actually play, and are actually songs and not just drum/synth loops, depending on where in the game you're fighting.
There are TWELVE OST discs worth of music, with over 150 unique songs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pSw7RbcAcs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p84MwUCJtNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSJzDbAmLgM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Q3GMCPJQM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epBRiq-BK5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGxNFlOO5k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuvxcpQ-veg
This is just a small sample of the amazing music in the game. Most MMORPGs barely manage to include 30-60 second period-appropriate pieces that loop once or twice and are finished.
It's not to say that there aren't other games with some decent songs, it's just that there is no MMO with anywhere close to the audio experience that FFXI offers, that's all.
My blog:
http://www.mmorpg.com/blogs/Strayfe/
this article made me realize that although i dont like european synth techno, it works GREAT as the soundtrack to eve, and i never find myself changing the music in eve.
other games i thought got it right (mmo ofc) were ff11, as mentioned above, and an old pet game of mine, POTBS.
as for lotro, there were zones that i really thought the music took me out of immersion, but then there was the Shire. the shire has absolutely the best music for one zone in any mmo ive seen. i remember literally breaking down into tears when i heard that recorder track for the first time.
RIP Ribbitribbitt you are missed, kid.
Currently Playing EVE, ESO
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ok, I see your point.
I suppose I just don't like most of that music. Seems very dull to my taste. But thanks for the explanation.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Agreed on the Grizzly Hills music in Northrend. What a great place to explore and go fishing (even as a low level twink, since you could explore almost the entire zone without getting killed if you were careful). Sadly, a zone in Rift has very similar music and I can't but help thinking it's a cheap knockoff.
I bought the music from the original Guild Wars series. Jeremy Soule is a fantastic composer writing mood music catering to each zone.
LotRO has really great background and mood music. The inns and taverns, and especially running around in Hobbiton really make you feel like you are there. Love the music in Middle Earth.
On the other hand, I thought the music in SWTOR was just awful. They could have done so much with that game (there was many deficiencies, the music was just one of them).