Video game music refers to any of the musical pieces or soundtracks and background musics found in video games. It can range from a simple synthesizer tune to an orchestral piece, usually such that the older the game, the simpler the music. Music can also be an important gameplay element in certain types of video games (like rhythm games). Beginning in the fifth generation, video game music began to be more complex, and with the sixth generation and continuing with the seventh, video games have complex soundtracks similar to the film scores of movies, and sometimes even interactive soundtracks which change based on player input in order to create an appropriate atmosphere. The complexity of the music improved to the point where the score of a video game became almost indistinguishable from the music played in the finest concert halls. As musical capabilities of consoles increased, big names signed on with Trent Reznor composing music for Quake and Hans Zimmer for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, among many others. Conversely, game composers crossed over: Michael Giacchino made his name with the Medal of Honor series, and went on to compose the music for both the Alias and Lost television series, and the film Star Trek released in 2009. Beginning in the early 2000s, it became increasingly common for video game soundtracks to be commercially sold or performed in concerts that focus on video game music.
Read more about Video Game Music: Game Music As A Genre, Video Game Music Outside Video Games, Video Game Music Education, Awards, Fan Culture
Famous quotes containing the words video game, video, game and/or music:
“I recently learned something quite interesting about video games. Many young people have developed incredible hand, eye, and brain coordination in playing these games. The air force believes these kids will be our outstanding pilots should they fly our jets.”
—Ronald Reagan (b. 1911)
“I recently learned something quite interesting about video games. Many young people have developed incredible hand, eye, and brain coordination in playing these games. The air force believes these kids will be our outstanding pilots should they fly our jets.”
—Ronald Reagan (b. 1911)
“My first big mistake was made when, in a moment of weakness, I consented to learn the game; for a man who can frankly say “I do not play bridge” is allowed to go over in the corner and run the pianola by himself, while the poor neophyte, no matter how much he may protest that he isn’t “at all a good player, in fact I’m perfectly rotten,” is never believed, but dragged into a game where it is discovered, too late, that he spoke the truth.”
—Robert Benchley (1889–1945)
“The average educated man in America has about as much knowledge of what a political idea is as he has of the principles of counterpoint. Each is a thing used in politics or music which those fellows who practise politics or music manipulate somehow. Show him one and he will deny that it is politics at all. It must be corrupt or he will not recognize it. He has only seen dried figs. He has only thought dried thoughts. A live thought or a real idea is against the rules of his mind.”
—John Jay Chapman (1862–1933)