The Sound Of Gaming

The games are alive with the sound of music.
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Article written by Gastos84 in Blog, on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 15:47.

Anyone that knows me should have worked out by now that I love soundtracks. Film, TV and Videogame soundtracks are abundant in my music collection and there is more to come. Now, snigger if you want, but my favourite genre of music is classical/soundtracks, which is why I have been particularly disappointed with the lack of music hitting the dedicated part of the Playstation Store.

Yesterday evening I downloaded the Killzone 2 soundtrack from iTunes after a post on the EU Playstation Blog revealed that it was now available. This was great news and so much simpler; I had to import the God of War 2 soundtrack (at great expense), because I’m guessing not many publishers see it as a wanted or viable option. The Halo 3 soundtrack was epic and easily available depsite the fact that I’ve never even played a Halo game in my life.

I struggled to get hold of the Black soundtrack, which was even more frustrating seeing as the music was composed by one of my favourite’s – Michael Giacchino. If you don’t recognise his name, he’s the guy behind such soundtracks as Lost, Fringe, Mission Impossible 3, Star Trek (2009) and Pixar’s latest, Up…to name just a few.

Listening to Joris de Man’s score for Killzone 2, I can’t understand why devleopers and publishers would make it so difficult for fans to purchase these amazing pieces of work. One of the main reasons I was so excited about the US God of War 3 Ultimate Edition was the inclusion of all three soundtracks. Brilliant! I just pray to Zeus that we here in the EU get a similar package. Gerrard K Marino’s music is nothing short of amazing and really adds to the game.

Just as John Williams, among others, have added to a film’s popularity with some of the most iconic pieces of music in history, I feel that games are also offering stunning themes and atmospheric music that should be just as available as the soundtracks from other media. The PSN has a dedicated section which is not being utilised properly and surely it’s a good thing if it brings in more revenue. You’d think first party titles from Sony would be easy to find what with Sony having a record label too.

I can’t be the only person out there interested in these products, can I?

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  1. lewis815 | 10/11/2009 15:49
    Member
    685 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

    Michael Giacchino’s scores are legendary.


  2. lewis815 | 10/11/2009 15:50
    Member
    685 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

    Nope not at all I love soundtracks, I have quite a few tv soundtracks (Lost, Prison Break, Dexter, Chuck) and more recently I have become interested in Game soundtracks, I even brought the Uncharted soundtracks of iTunes. I also have inFamous too.


  3. a inferior race | 10/11/2009 15:52
    I'm special
    1415 TSA Points | Member since: Jul 2009

    I love some of the music Final Fantasy (one winged-angel) and the MGS theme but have never thought about buying them. I usually just play the game instead


  4. gazzagb | 10/11/2009 15:58
    Master of speling mitakse
    2388 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009

    The LBP soundtrack is amazing. I also like the main theme from Mirrors Edge.


    • Aitrus | 11/11/2009 10:22
      Member
      1253 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008

      The main theme form Mirrors Edge is actually available on the PSStore – just in case you didn’t know. And I agree, it’s pretty good.


  5. Sympozium Necropolis | 10/11/2009 15:59
    Member
    1140 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

    Well sometimes you can just *cough rapidshare cough* if devs won’t release the soundtrack :(


  6. proog | 10/11/2009 16:01
    Member
    193 TSA Points | Member since: Forever

    My favorite genre is by far video game soundtracks. I enjoy a variety of soundtracks, but some of the most notable (for me) game soundtracks are Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts… and Croc. The Halo 3 soundtrack is also amazingly epic, especially “One Final Effort”.
    It’s such a shame that this genre is rarely recognized as a “real” music genre.


  7. BadBoyBoogie | 10/11/2009 16:09
    Let There Be Rock
    2515 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009

    I can’t say that soundtracks are my favourite genre of music, but I do have a few in my collection. I also agree that a good soundtrack adds so much to films/video games. I love the Uncharted soundtrack for instance.


  8. jacklum | 10/11/2009 16:23
    Member
    890 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

    The recently released ‘Machinarium’ has a wonderful soundtrack – the robot band being one of the highlights;

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoZqdyZWJjg


  9. theshockwave | 10/11/2009 16:25
    Member
    1715 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008

    I like some game music, but it isn’t what I would choose to listen to.


    • Gastos84 | 10/11/2009 16:39
      Team TSA: Writer
      3609 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009

      It’s not the only music I listen to, but it’s my fave :)


  10. gordon_strange | 10/11/2009 18:19
    Member
    188 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2009

    i wish there was a game soundtrack by Vangellis. the bade runner soundtrack is amazing


  11. MaxJCT | 10/11/2009 18:28
    Member
    399 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009

    I do like game music which isn’t too gamey, more filmy. If that makes sense?


  12. 3shirts | 10/11/2009 19:58
    Member
    1788 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008

    Games tend to either have all original production or just use a soundtrack of ‘relavant’ music (EA tend to do the latter).
    I’d like to see a game that does a bit of both, the way big films do


  13. Deathbrin | 10/11/2009 20:08
    Member
    712 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2009

    Red Alert 3 soundtrack and DISSIDIA Final Fantasy soundtrack are the lately ones i really loved.
    Would love to hear a Bioshock one, too.


  14. Radboud | 11/11/2009 08:07
    Member
    899 TSA Points | Member since: Nov 2008

    I do check the PSN Store section on soundtracks from time to time and really hate it that it is not really being used.
    I love some good soundtracks….


  15. Aitrus | 11/11/2009 10:26
    Member
    1253 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008

    I like soundtracks though I don’t go hunting for them. I even bought the one from PixelJunk Monsters, and I don’t quite get why that option isn’t used more. The music is made and paid for, why not get the income from selling it on the PSStore? The costs of making it available there must be minimal.


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