Sound for Games

 Video game music refers to the soundtrack or background music in games. This type of sound has adopted the same complexity associated with TV and film soundtracks. Video game music has grown a lot in recent years and now even includes full orchestra pieces for example London Philharmonic Orchestra did pieces for Halo and Battlefield. Another well-known Italian composer named Michael Giacchino composed music for both Film and Video games such as The Incredibles, Cloverfield, UP, Medal of Honour and Call of Duty.

 

 Video games generate sound or alter their soundtrack in accordance with what the player’s current action or situation is for example an intense action scene would incorporate loud up-beat and dramatic sounds, compared to a stealthy creeping scene would use low tones with a small rpm. This technique hasn't changed entirely in the past 15 years but the music and soundtracks used definitely have. Originally limited to simple melodies and synthesiser technology the industry now use licensed musicians and orchestras.

 Some of the key composers currently working in games include Christopher Lennertz. Much like Michael Giacchino he started composing for films such as Meet the Spartans, Dr. Dolittle, Horrible Bosses and decided to compose for games as well. He successfully won several awards for his soundtrack on Medal of Honour series and also worked on Mass Effect 2&3, The Godfather 2 and Quantum on Solace. A very influential German composer and music producer named Hans Zimmer, famous for his pieces in The Lion King, Inception, and The Dark Knight has also recently been working on video games like Call of Duty and collaborated with Borislav Slavov to create the score for Crysis 2.

 

 One of my personal favourite soundtracks belongs to Devil May Cry 3. The hash and slash beat’em up game has provided me with hours of entertainment with an amazing soundtrack produced by Tetsuya Shibata. He worked on the whole DMC series but number 3 is unforgettable because he decided to change electronic music with vocal sounds which meant various battle and ending scenes became more memorable and recognisable. He talk about his scores on DMC 3 and new innovations for DMC 4 in this interview : http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/tetsuyashibata.shtml
My favourite song would have to be ‘Out of Darkness’ sung by one of the main characters the power and vocals of the song fit so well into the core of the game and its story.

  The Chic, regarded themselves as a rock band for this disco movement, formed in 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and Bassist Benard Edwards. They were successfully known for their commercial disco songs such as Everybody Dance, Le Freak and Good Times. In 1979 the group released the album Risqué and the lead track ‘Good times’ in which I agree with publications such as the Guardian upon this being one of the most influential songs of that era. The song was sampled many times including being the basis for ‘Rappers Delight’ by The Sugarhill Gang, this helped initiate the Hip Hop music format we know today. I think the band revolutionised the late seventies disco music and without this there would be no Destiny’s Child.