The Glade 4.0 :: View topic - Background Music in Video Games

Author:

Numbuk [ Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:33 am ]

Post subject:

Re: Background Music in Video Games

I'll give most video game music a chance. When done/composed well, a game's music is half of the experience. Red Dead Redemption is a great example of this.

The entire score of RDR was composed at 130 beats per minute (similar to a horse's gallop), so that it all flowed together perfectly depending on what the player was doing. It could go from a slow, peaceful, relaxing harmonica to a pounding horse chase without being jarring. And then add the fact that every single instrument was period to the game, it adds even more flavor. The first time I got into Mexico the music was even more powerful (if you've played it, you'll know what I'm talking about if not, maybe I'll spoiler it below). It was the first time I've seen game feel truly cinematic

I'll only start to mute the music (or turn it down really low) when I've heard it to the point of being sick of it. Though I will admit that threshold is difficult to achieve (Warcraft did it, not many others have). I'll also turn it down when it affects me understanding dialogue, especially outside of cutscenes.

Oddly enough I must have played EQ without the music on. None of that music sounds familiar to me, and my brain remembers music pretty well. I remember the login screen music, but that's it. I do remember listening to my own music while playing that game. Probably due to how ungodly boring camping was and how even worse all the downtime between fights were. Even worse when you had to stare at your inventory screen (ie: can't see ANY of the game world) while regenerating mana. Boy that sure was a brilliant mechanic. Kudos to the man who came up with it.

Spoiler:

Author:	RangerDave [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:43 pm ]
Post subject:	Background Music in Video Games
Just curious what you folks prefer with respect to background music in games. Note that I'm talking about background music that's built into the game design itself, not music you might choose to listen to from your own collection/playlist while playing a game.

Author:	Shelgeyr [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:03 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Ulfynn wrote: I will start out most games with the music on, but at some point (after hearing everything enough times) I will mute it from there on out. +1

Author:	Vladimirr [ Wed Oct 02, 2013 1:48 pm ]
Post subject:	Re:
Vladimirr wrote: Even now, video game music is about all I'll play on the piano. I'll just leave this here:

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Background Music in Video Games https://gladerebooted.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10248	Page 1 of 1

Author:	Raltar [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:52 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
The only time I use background music is when I am playing an MMO during dailies, dungeons and raids. I never use music outside of those times and will use what is included in the game.

Author:	Lenas [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 2:06 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
Didn't vote, missing option for game-specific music. Normally I turn music/sfx down, dialogue up. If it's an MMO with combat music I always turn that off because it's so repetitive.

Author:	Ulfynn [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 4:25 pm ]
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I will start out most games with the music on, but at some point (after hearing everything enough times) I will mute it from there on out.

Author:	Kaffis Mark V [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:04 pm ]
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If a game features constant music, I crank that down to maybe 20% of its default volume. Low enough that I don't focus on it or notice it, so I won't get utterly sick of it. If a game features music that cues off places, people, or other contextual events in an interesting way, I'll leave it up, though. That gets repetitive much less quickly.

Author:	Midgen [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:35 pm ]
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Similar to Kaffis, if music is part of the game experience (ala Everquest), I tend to turn it down a tad, so it blends into the background. For repetitious things like running dailies, or reputation grinding, I'll just play real music over the top of it.

Author:	Rorinthas [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:48 pm ]
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Music is an iconic part of video game heritage and the experience. I normally leave it alone.. sometimes I'll turn the dialog on if I'm watching tv or listening to something else in the background. I like area/scene specific music though. Combat music does get repetitive sometimes. I can also understand the dislike of some music in non-narrative games like MMOs

Author:	FarSky [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:50 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
EverQuest is one of the few times I turned off music, because it was so horribly implemented (seriously, play a rogue and experience the sonic dissonance of action-triggered combat music). Otherwise, I hate not having the music on, or replacing it with external stuff.

Author:	Lenas [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:04 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
FarSky wrote: EverQuest is one of the few times I turned off music, because it was so horribly implemented EQ combat music is terrible, but the environment music was amazing. How dare you sir. Spoiler:

Author:	FarSky [ Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:11 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
Oh, I don't mean the music was bad. It was very well done, and in many cases downright beautiful. But the mechanics of implementing it were atrocious.

Author:	Talya [ Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:01 am ]
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Everquest's combat music sucked, but Everquest's location music absolutely rocked more than anything, right from the introduction screen and onward, even in all it's synthesized, crap-MIDI glory. 989's composers were spectacular. I still remember those songs and they still give my chills. The Docks Kelethin Sailing The Karanas

Author:	Dalantia [ Sat Oct 05, 2013 9:44 am ]
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Most of my music is video game soundtracks. Ar Tonelico 4 lyfe

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Author:	Screeling [ Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:46 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
Lenas wrote: Didn't vote, missing option for game-specific music. Normally I turn music/sfx down, dialogue up. If it's an MMO with combat music I always turn that off because it's so repetitive. +1

Author:	Lenas [ Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
Mechanic was fine, interface sucked. Once the XML interface was created and you could open your spell book without it being fullscreen, there was no problem.

Author:	Numbuk [ Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
Lenas wrote: Mechanic was fine, interface sucked. Once the XML interface was created and you could open your spell book without it being fullscreen, there was no problem. It was marginally better. At least you could see the world around you while you twiddled your thumbs for five f-ing minutes. I used to practice my guitar while getting mana back. That's how much downtime there was.

Author:	Vladimirr [ Wed Jul 31, 2013 7:08 am ]
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This is something I get really nerdy over. I'm a huge fan of video game music, and have been since they started putting music into video games. As a kid, I spent most of my time (when I wasn't programming) arranging and performing music from video games into various formats (.MID and tracker music, pre-MP3 days). My first job at the age of 12 was composing some music for a small Windows 3.1 gaming company. Even now, video game music is about all I'll play on the piano. Found through BBS friends of BBS friends. Also did some coding on one of the games. They never sent me a check, and never went to production as far as I know.

Author:	Numbuk [ Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
I admit to having an account on Overclocked Remix that is over 13 years old.

Author:	Sam [ Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:35 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Background Music in Video Games
In EQ I really liked the music, and even put up with the combat music. This was before the use of vent or some other voice service, and we were typing to communicate. In WoW, I generally listen to the background location music if playing solo. Especially for the first time in an area. Other than that, I turn it all off because I use ventrilo to communicate with others. I seemed to enjoy EQ's music best of the two. Of course, EQ was a magical time as my first real gaming experience.