I don’t mean to offend anyone but I cannot respect you as a human being, let alone a sentient organism, if you enjoy video game music at any time other than whilst playing a video game.
“I like the music in doom, it’s weirdly ambient despite being so aggressive.” Perfectly fine, even respectable. “I was listening to the mortal kombat soundtrack the other day…” You are lesser than a sea cucumber.
Hell, even with the chip tunes alone, it’s amazing what people managed to squeeze out of two sines, a saw, and a square channel. Bloody Tears comes to mind. Or Willy’s theme from Megaman 2.
It’s excellent for the setting it was made for, but is lacking compared to the collected discography of generations of musicians tuned to at-home listening.
I listen to opera at the opera. I listen to symphonies at the symphony, or at home if I’m particularly nostalgic. I listen to game music when I’m playing games. Each has an environment crafted around it to maximize enjoyment. I can’t even listen to edm without dimming the lights.
Listening to a game soundtrack made to evoke specific emotions at specific times? It feels like the point was wholly missed and vast horizons entirely ignored.
This is a very narrow and limited way of seeing music. Music can be created for a purpose and a setting but once it’s out there it has no boundaries beyond what you impose upon it. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was written for the Wizard of Oz but it’s not like the only way to enjoy it is in a movie theatre. Certainly, music can be more or less appropriate for certain activities and moods, listening to EDM to fall asleep might be self defeating. However, music made for games can evoke all sorts of mental states and people are free to find appropriate settings and uses outside of them to enjoy it.
It’s a great song, but I can’t see myself choosing to play it outside game night. (I played this one to death during our desert dnd campaign, yes I’m a hypocrite)
I could sympathize with your point if VGM was still the blips and blops of cheap midi synths like it was in Doom’s hayday. Heck, I still someshat sympathize with the idea that VGM just doesn’t work as well as albums for making a pure listening experience because the game inherently restricts it’s format (though I’d say it depends on the game). But VGM by [current year] has gotten so good I must ask what VGM you have heard. Would you make the same claim for film soundtracks?
Unsolicited VGM suggestions that I think prove my point
I do feel the same way about movie soundtracks. My partner pulled the full interstellar soundtrack into their chill out playlist and I wince a little every time.
I liked the music in bioshock, shadow of the colossus, kingdom hearts 3, horizon, undertale, etc., quite a lot. But devoting time to listening to it, rather than modern music made for home listening just doesn’t appeal to me. It feels like pulling out a jigsaw when you need a dremel. Like, you can do that, certainly, but there are infinitely better options
I don’t mean to offend anyone but I cannot respect you as a human being, let alone a sentient organism, if you enjoy video game music at any time other than whilst playing a video game.
“I like the music in doom, it’s weirdly ambient despite being so aggressive.” Perfectly fine, even respectable. “I was listening to the mortal kombat soundtrack the other day…” You are lesser than a sea cucumber.
Was the last time you listened to game music when it was all chip and midi? There’s some beautiful and moving music in games.
Hell, even with the chip tunes alone, it’s amazing what people managed to squeeze out of two sines, a saw, and a square channel. Bloody Tears comes to mind. Or Willy’s theme from Megaman 2.
It’s excellent for the setting it was made for, but is lacking compared to the collected discography of generations of musicians tuned to at-home listening.
I listen to opera at the opera. I listen to symphonies at the symphony, or at home if I’m particularly nostalgic. I listen to game music when I’m playing games. Each has an environment crafted around it to maximize enjoyment. I can’t even listen to edm without dimming the lights.
Listening to a game soundtrack made to evoke specific emotions at specific times? It feels like the point was wholly missed and vast horizons entirely ignored.
This is a very narrow and limited way of seeing music. Music can be created for a purpose and a setting but once it’s out there it has no boundaries beyond what you impose upon it. Somewhere Over the Rainbow was written for the Wizard of Oz but it’s not like the only way to enjoy it is in a movie theatre. Certainly, music can be more or less appropriate for certain activities and moods, listening to EDM to fall asleep might be self defeating. However, music made for games can evoke all sorts of mental states and people are free to find appropriate settings and uses outside of them to enjoy it.
Counterpoint.
It’s a great song, but I can’t see myself choosing to play it outside game night. (I played this one to death during our desert dnd campaign, yes I’m a hypocrite)
Another counterpoint
I could sympathize with your point if VGM was still the blips and blops of cheap midi synths like it was in Doom’s hayday. Heck, I still someshat sympathize with the idea that VGM just doesn’t work as well as albums for making a pure listening experience because the game inherently restricts it’s format (though I’d say it depends on the game). But VGM by [current year] has gotten so good I must ask what VGM you have heard. Would you make the same claim for film soundtracks?
Unsolicited VGM suggestions that I think prove my point
Expedition 33, Neon White, Ultrakill, Team Fortress 2, Hyper Light Drifter
Its almost a cliche to say it at this point, but Clair Obscur’s soundtrack is incredible.
I do feel the same way about movie soundtracks. My partner pulled the full interstellar soundtrack into their chill out playlist and I wince a little every time.
I liked the music in bioshock, shadow of the colossus, kingdom hearts 3, horizon, undertale, etc., quite a lot. But devoting time to listening to it, rather than modern music made for home listening just doesn’t appeal to me. It feels like pulling out a jigsaw when you need a dremel. Like, you can do that, certainly, but there are infinitely better options