Poll: Retro Game Music Vs. Modern Game Soundtracks.

[lorrdmatt]

Hello! I'm currently writing my final project for university on video game music and I need your help! Some of you might remember I made this thread (http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.399020-Poll-Video-Game-Soundtracks) a few weeks ago, and I was very pleased with all the responses I got. I have a different question today however.

Do you find video game music immersive? I would like to know if you feel there is any difference between older game soundtracks (we're talking 8-bit and 16-bit games and that kind of era) and modern game soundtracks, in terms of how immersed they make you feel? Do you need an orchestra or a recorded piece of music to feel immersed or will some chiptune draw you into the experience you are having? Perhaps both or neither? I would like to hear your answer and I would also like you to tell me why you feel the way you do.

Please go ahead and vote in the poll and comment in the thread; I'll be very happy to read and reply to what you have to say. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to seeing the responses!

 

[alphamalet]

"Immersive" is such a broad and overused term that I have no idea what the hell you mean by it.

In terms of whether or not I like older or newer music, it really doesn't make a difference to me. If the music is good, then I'll listen to it, be it 8 bit music or from an entire symphony. I sort of view it like playing the same song on two different instruments; if the music sounds good in 16-bit, then it's going to sound good orchestrated and visa versa. After all, you could have the best instruments in the world, but if a crappy song is played on them, then it really isn't going to make much of a difference.

 

[lorrdmatt]

"Immersive" is such a broad and overused term that I have no idea what the hell you mean by it.

In terms of whether or not I like older or newer music, it really doesn't make a difference to me. If the music is good, then I'll listen to it, be it 8 bit music or from an entire symphony. I sort of view it like playing the same song on two different instruments; if the music sounds good in 16-bit, then it's going to sound good orchestrated and visa versa. After all, you could have the best instruments in the world, but if a crappy song is played on them, then it really isn't going to make much of a difference.

Alright, I'll try and be a bit more specific about what I mean when I say immersion, without going too far into the technical terms that I'm using in my project. I am hoping to find out to what extent music can draw you into the world of the game. Be that emotionally, in the sense that you begin to care about the characters, the world and how you actions may affect them. Or perceptually, for example music in a horror game scaring you and your pulse racing and you feel yourself getting physically tense.

What I am asking in this thread is if people here at The Escapist think there is any difference in the way that 'retro' game music or modern game music affect either of those things. For example, do modern scores make you feel more emotionally invested in the game, whereas chiptune makes you perceptually engaged in the game and your reactions get a little faster and your eyes become very focused on the screen.

I perhaps could have made that a little clearer in my first post, but I was trying not to have a big block of text in the first post!

 

[Pink Gregory]

Depends on what's done with the scores; there are homogenous 16-bit and orchestral scores that pop up everywhere, and then there are the exceptions, which are the ones everyone remembers.

I don't know if most modern soundtracks use recorded music or midi-synthesised instrumentation, but there's a certain depth of articulation possible in the former that's not in the latter (alright so that's not true, it can still be simulated), but that then again depends on what it's playing through when the game is being played. Certainly there was a thread here a few months ago bemoaning sound-quality in modern games.

It's all music, I'm not sure that many people make such a serious distinction, it's not usually like there's a choice between the two in-game.

 

[aguspal]

Both.


Really, if I MUST choose then I will go with 8-16 bit era but Nostalgia is a strong bias.


Fortunally I am not blind enough to not see (more like hear) how epic and nice modern soundtracks can be.


Also, REVIVAL, I guess?

 

[Thedutchjelle]

It depends on the music, and the game, and how the music is used within the game.

For example, a roaring orchestra would not work in some 8-bit videogames. In others, it does (the "epic" over-the-top Solgryn theme in I wanna be the Boshy fits the game idiotic impossible boss design even though it looks like something of the SNES era).
The reverse is also true - an 8 bit soundtrack in a hyperrealistic graphical game such as Battlefield 3 or Crysis 3 would just not work.

So, older, not "real" music ( the 8 and 16 bit things) can still sound fantastic and set the mood for a game, depending on it's context and how it's used. You don't necessarily need a real orchestra for that.



Also, what the fuck is Expedia? Do I really have to google the Captchas now?

 

[DeadlyYellow]

Music is very important as it can vastly change the mood in a game. Memorability tends to go more towards the retro side of things, as a limited set of available sounds made melody far more important.

 

[Full]

I'm a fan of Orchestra music on it's own, so I may be biased here, but I like Orchestral pieces in games. That's mainly because I love it as listening music more than 8 or 16-bit music, however I still like those.

Also obligatory "depends on the game".

 

[The Wykydtron]

As long as the music fits the game it's usually going to be pretty immersive but personally I LOVE good character themes, like the BlazBlue character specific tracks for perfect examples. It's like pouring the essence of a character into musical form and it's totally awesome.

Oh look I can post my new favourite song again


"The Earth! The Heavens! And a MILLION squirrels call to me!"

[sub]Wait what? They don't? >.<[/sub]