Video game music gains recognition

Dyre Straits · Dec 31, 2003, 01:56 PM

Once an afterthought in the production process, video game soundtracks increasingly use original music to reach new listeners who blur traditional entertainment boundaries.

"Record companies are realizing that this is the new radio," says Greg O'Connor-Read, founder of Music4Games.com and an agent for video game composers.

In addition to licensing existing tunes, record companies also are commissioning new works for games. Big names have written music for games now on the shelves for the holiday season. Hip-hop performer Snoop Dogg created three original songs for "True Crime: Streets of L.A." Rock icon Peter Gabriel contributed a track for "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst," released Nov. 11, and will write an original composition for the next, as-yet-untitled, "Myst" puzzle game.

By Eric Gwinn Tribune staff reporter

More here

Dyre Straits · Jan 1, 2004, 06:14 AM

I actually thought this would generate some replies and/or comments.

So, is there a game you've played that the music was something that you really liked? I've actually had a few people make music CDs from their favorite games.

Distroyed · Jan 1, 2004, 07:49 AM

Heroes of Might and Magic2 had an incredible soundtrack (that came with both an opera vocals and without redbook) that was a huge part of the series. Heroes3 implemented music in mp3's that was both accessible and changeable, and had equally stimulating music for the game. It's unfortunate that the latest edition in the series, along with most other games who now seem concerned for some reason about people who own the game ripping and listening to the music outside of playing the game, and have zipped the music up in their own propreitary compressed files, making them inaccessible to most of us. One can only hope that an increasing recognition of the quality of game soundtracks will return the ost's to a more available state.

Dec 31, 2003, 01:56 PM	#1
Dyre Straits HH Old Fuddy Duddy Join Date: May 2002 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 14,205 Rep Power: 216 System Specs	Video game music gains recognition Once an afterthought in the production process, video game soundtracks increasingly use original music to reach new listeners who blur traditional entertainment boundaries. "Record companies are realizing that this is the new radio," says Greg O'Connor-Read, founder of Music4Games.com and an agent for video game composers. In addition to licensing existing tunes, record companies also are commissioning new works for games. Big names have written music for games now on the shelves for the holiday season. Hip-hop performer Snoop Dogg created three original songs for "True Crime: Streets of L.A." Rock icon Peter Gabriel contributed a track for "Uru: Ages Beyond Myst," released Nov. 11, and will write an original composition for the next, as-yet-untitled, "Myst" puzzle game. By Eric Gwinn Tribune staff reporter More here

Jan 1, 2004, 07:49 AM	#3
Distroyed DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 170 Rep Power: 0	Heroes of Might and Magic2 had an incredible soundtrack (that came with both an opera vocals and without redbook) that was a huge part of the series. Heroes3 implemented music in mp3's that was both accessible and changeable, and had equally stimulating music for the game. It's unfortunate that the latest edition in the series, along with most other games who now seem concerned for some reason about people who own the game ripping and listening to the music outside of playing the game, and have zipped the music up in their own propreitary compressed files, making them inaccessible to most of us. One can only hope that an increasing recognition of the quality of game soundtracks will return the ost's to a more available state.