Gaming and game-inspired music: Why the rift?

Dark Arcanine | September 13, 2008 | Blog | Gaming Tech/Hardware

Gaming inspired music has always been around. From genres such as "Nintendocore" to bands like DragonForce, games are becoming a more influential part of the music world.

Is it more popular in certain places? As this blog would suggest, the Western World has not taken to video game music like other countries such as Japan. Is this really true? Or is it just the shops not stocking what we as the consumer really want?

It can be a strange feeling walking into a Virgin Megastore in Los Angeles and finding only a handful of videogame soundtracks. By contrast, today in Tokyo the staff of Tsutaya Shibuya recommends Echochrome Original Soundtrack, Tower is calling attention to the score for Siren New Translation, and Rockman 9 OST has just hit the shelves.

4 comments | go to source (www.siliconera.com) | Add to favorites!

favourite this article |

send to friend |

add alt source

110	Musaic Box - New Game For PC that Lets You Compose Music (3) October 13, 2008
54	Is the game industry becoming as bad as the music industry? (3) November 11, 2008
196	Recession Gaming. Get more game for your money. (17) October 16, 2008
104	Wii Music Review - "It's hard to recommend Wii Music for anyone" (7) October 22, 2008
55	1up: Motorstorm Pacific Rift Review- A- (3) October 21, 2008

Comments

0 thumbs!
BANDITO ATTACK | September 14, 2008

"the Western World has not taken to video game music like other countries such as Japan."

because we're not japan. nothing they do makes any *bleep*ing sense.

not everybody wants to sit and listen to video game background music like its something to do. and custom soundtracks was the best invention ever.
0 thumbs!
RabidChinaGirl | September 14, 2008

To be fair, nobody at your local music store here (I live in LA) is going to recommend any of music to you -- it might be presumptuous of them to just waltz up and make suggestions while you're browsing. And if you did ask, I don't think the staff is gonna suggest a soundtrack of any kind.

The Silent Hill games provided some nice music that I actually listen to on a regular basis, with plenty of guitar love. Jeremy Soule of Elder Scrolls and Guild Wars fame does good work. But most game music just isn't something I can tap my foot to; there are those who use actual songs from established artists, which tend to be more appealing (the Japanese version of Elite Beat Agents has a good soundtrack). As for the people who are adapting game music into something else, well that's pretty cool.

There may be a market for video game music, and there are stores and online retailers that Westerners can use to buy soundtracks. But imports (unless regional or pirated) can get pricey, especially if they're from Japan. Hell, buying a CD IN Japan is ridiculous (most things are overpriced there). As such, the price most stores would need to charge to make any profit would probably put the majority of would-be consumers off. There's a market for it, just not enough of one -- even for domestic developers to start licensing and churning out discs.

Take note that the Western World also hasn't taken to tentacle-pedo-rape as well as countries such as Japan, either.
0 thumbs!
kik36 | September 15, 2008

If they keep releasing the sound tracks on itunes like The World Ends With You, and handing them out as pre-order gifts like Yggdra Union I think people will be more receptive to them. Atlus seems more aggressive about giving people game soundtracks than anyone else.
0 thumbs!
Avalith | September 16, 2008

Dragonforce is hardly influential.