Poll: Is music important in games

[Spiner909]

*slap*
Duh. Of course. Even a lack of music is important, which makes music important.

 

[wooty]

Definately, a good soundtrack can make a game, it can also make it more memorable in the future.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Just as long as it's not a cute game with Marilyn Manson playing in the game. or the dark game has something cute and fluffy. Unless the cute in fluffy twists into a dark and evil mass and chokes you when you sleep.

...I'm sorry, I lost my train of thought, what was the question again?

You seem a bit bamboozled but you make an excellent point.
The music has become more important as it's become more sophisticated. It used to just be midi tracks and while a few stood out and even got covered by bands but it wasn't a big consideration.
Now that it's actual music, they have to pay more attention to the relevance, mood, and the programming of the soundtrack. Some are intrusive, awkward, or just distracting like Dragon Age and Infamous. But in those cases the soundtrack doesn't take away as much as a really great soundtrack adds like the licensed soundtracks for Fallout 3 and the GTA games.

One of my main problems with the ps3 is that it only allows the custom soundtrack option with a few games. I think this should be an option for all games. I hate to hear of someone missing a good game because they hated the soundtrack and I know a couple of people who couldn't get through one playthrough of Infamous because of the kooky soundtrack.

 

[Flamezdudes]

Music is very important to me in games, it helps to create atmosphere and to encourage you to keep playing like Final Fantasy games battle music etc.

 

[Crayzor]

Yes. I can't really explain why though. When my copy of Spyro 2 got damaged and all the music cut out, I found it to be unplayable.

 

[imnot]

I already know the answer myself and that is yes but i wanted to hear other peoples opinion. It is important because it sets the atmosphere

I agree completely except sometimes lack of music sets atmosphere too i.e. bioshock

i agree, no music makes you feel less immersed in the game

 

[Gigaguy64]

Absolutely.
Would you rather fight an Giant Plant Monster that fires lasers with "the sounds of nature" or

Spoiler: This?

Music is one of the most important aspects in a Game IMO.

I would rather not have to listen to that for any reason what so ever.

Awwww, it fits with the games style pretty well though.

Music sets the mood in a game so yes its very important in many many games. Most open world games need music to distract you from the large open world and prevent it from being boring. Others like wow I find the music useless and just turn on my stereo. In games like GTA and fallout 3 the soundtrack both adds to the game and keeps you interested on those long hikes/drives to your next mission point or during random explorations.

Other games like nazi zombies in waw once you got to a certain point you could tell by the way the music changed you were completely fucked. Other games do this as well and it fits into them. In other games a lack of music also does this fairly well.

I understand what you mean.
Though i haven't played very many games that worked well without the music.
It can add so much to the experience.

They usually have to do an Amazing job of setting the atmosphere with the Environment alone to make up for not having music to help it along.

 

[Dfskelleton]

Let's look at Silent Hill. Would we care as much about everything if the sad piano music wasn't in the background, or crap yourself as much if there wasn't the loud horrific percussion accopanied by a horrible rusty squealing sound when you were being chased down a rusty hallway by disturbing monsters?
Left 4 Dead wouldn't be as good either. If you were vomited on by a boomer or were being dragged up the side of a building helplessly being strangled, didn't the panic inspiring music make it much more interesting?

 

[Angus565]

I think music is used well in Left 4 Dead, before a hoard comes, getting puked on by a boomer, and of course the music in the finale all add to the intensity of the game.

 

[DustyDrB]

68 yes, 1 no. I love it.
It really is that obvious.

 

[veloper]

A good score can do more for a game than good graphics, but if the music is bad, you usually have the option to turn it off completely (unlike bad graphics) and listening to your own collection while gaming is a good alternative.

 

[TheHermit]

I wouldn't say important, it's defiantly nice when music is good, but isn't a complete game breaker if it isn't.

 

[Warped_Ghost]

Ask yourself this first.
What would Mario be like without music?

 

[Rusman]

I would post the essay I did on Audio in Video games for one of my Uni modules but I won't.
For the record it is a resounding yes. Potentially the most important thing in games.

 

[TheGreenManalishi]

I struggle to play a game with bad music

 

[Julianking93]

Sometimes, but other times, the lack of music is even more effective.

Take Demon's Souls for example.

That game had almost no music whatsoever and it was highly effective at scaring the shit out of me.

 

[DeASplode]

Before my 360 died I always played the Metal Gear Solid (1, 2, 3 and 4) while playing BC2 online.
Made me enjoy the game so much more.

 

[JUMBO PALACE]

Music is incredibly important. It affects the player's emotions, increases immersion, and can provide clues to what's going to happen.

 

[veloper]

I would post the essay I did on Audio in Video games for one of my Uni modules but I won't.
For the record it is a resounding yes. Potentially the most important thing in games.

The TS asked if it's important, not the *most* important.

There's basicly two camps at the Escapist:
1 the storyfs, who say they play games for the story and
2 gamers for gameplay.

I even know some hardware enthousiasts who view games as glorified tech demos, but I've never heared of anyone who plays games just to listen to music.