Music: How it makes games considerably better

     There are many aspects that make up a game. The first ones we usually think of are graphics, the engine, programming, animating, playability, and even polish. There is one aspect I believe is highly overlooked: music. 

 

      Game developers will do either one of two things: they will either pay to have certain songs played in their games or they will make their own music. The ones that pay other artists to use their pre-existing songs almost feel like they get the rights to the song JUST to play that song. Even if it barely fits the moment, that song is in there. As for those who make their own music, sometimes they lack good composers. Often the music is just a short track that loops endlessly. 

 

      So what does good game music sound like? It sounds a bit like this:

 

     That was from a game known as VVVVVV (or just say “vee”). The style is chiptune and for an 8-bit graphic game, chiptune works wonders. Now imagine a game with higher end graphics. They likely require higher quality music as well. Here's another sample:

 

     That was from Dust: An Elysian Tail. It's one of the first soundtracks you hear when you start playing. What is so great about this track? It gives you this feeling of adventure and wonder. It sparks emotions you didn't even know you had! That is how you make good music. Didn't feel anything? Well then listen to this:

     This track alone almost made me cry because it's so beautiful. It fits the moment so well. Here I am running through this marsh during the daytime and I hate the place. It's foggy, monsters are trying to kill me, I can't figure out where to go, the soundtrack currently playing is “meh,” and I am starting to lose my patience. Then nightfall comes. The flora of the marsh begin to glow and shimmer with brilliant lights. The monsters go away. Then the soundtrack changes to this. It's so wonderful I can barely keep a straight face. If this doesn't invoke some form of emotion in you, then I don't know what will.

      The GDC doesn't exactly have a lot of Music majors, but it would be great if we could have their input on certain songs. If you do have an interest in music and video games, I would look into the works of Yasunori Mitsuda, Yoko Shimomura, and the legendary Nobuo Uematsu. They make excellent soundtracks for games.