A critical part of the gaming experience, yet one that doesn't get discussed very often, is sound. I'm willing to bet the vast majority of people reading this right now have an mp3 library full of video game music and remixes, and I'd even go so far as to say most of you probably have something video game themed as your ringtone & text message alert.
Yet, even though the sounds of gaming are, to many of us, immediately more recognizable than whatever is currently popular on the radio, it rarely comes up in any significant form when we talk about games. Reviewers (myself included) usually just briefly mention sound design when reviewing a game -- a paragraph at most. When asking friends for game recommendations, I've yet to have anyone suggest a game to me for the sole reason that the sound/music is stunning. Sound, sadly, is often ignored, or at the very least marginalized in the overall gaming discussion.
Let's change that. For this month's Musing, you're to write a blog that discusses the role sound plays in the gaming experience. Instead of giving you a list of ideas like I've done the last couple months, I'm going to leave this one completely open and see what you guys come up with -- talk about sound and/or music in games, and be creative.
To participate, just click "Post A Blog" up there in the upper right of the screen, title your post "More than just noise: WhateverYourTitleIs", make sure you pick the "Monthly Musing" from the tag list (this is important!), write it up, and set it live. If your article is particularly well-written or sparks interesting discussion, we'll stick it up on the front page.
Contest:
1:00 PM on 09.01.2010
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As long as we're talking about appreciating game music, BIONIC COMMANDO: REARMED. I just played the demo the other day and was absolutely blown away.
I'm completely tabula rasa at this moment, but that won't last.
However, I'm regularly peeved that my sister will immediately turn the sound off, usually because she's "watching" reruns on Disney Channel (or some alternative) while playing. From Pokémon to Plain Sight, just "UP! GOTTA TURN THE SOUND OFF!". Drives me batty, that she doesn't recognise sound/music as part of the experience (particularly during battle).
I mean, if you're just grinding, or running around, then sure, turn the sound off, 'cause it'll be repetitive and you've heard it all before, but as a norm for playing through a game? Atrocious.
Just a thought.
I love video game music to death (and yes, my ringtone and text alert are indeed gaming related: Mute City Theme and Zelda's Item Acquired jingle), so this seems like the perfect topic to start. We'll see what comes of it :)
Also: in some rare cases I've seen games that were recommended for their music. Or that had more than a few short words on it. Muramasa: The Demon Blade comes to mind.
Oh wait, there it is... To the Write-O-Dome!
@Metallion: agreed, this is pretty much tailored for her but don't forget Alphadeus, Xzyliac and the guys from stereotoid.
Seriously!?
Jesus, it's like I've been studying for this blog all summer. Dammit, where do I start?