How To Disappear Completely

I hope they record it, it would be one of the best CD's ever!

It's not the first time. Final Fantasy music in particular has been played in concert form for a while now. The official soundtracks (OST's) sell at normal music stores in Japan. I've been saying it for years, if movies can be considered art, so can video games. Don't like Spike TV's video game award show fool you...

Honestly, I was quite blown away by the Halo theme music...I can't imagine actually playing a game to it. I would be too distracted trying to listen to it, I think.

By the way, Jared, I was wondering if you might know something about this: is it true that video game music has been made interactive such that decisions you make during the game affect the direction the music takes?

There was a prof here at Mac who was going to write his dissertation on video game music, but instead up and left for teacher's college so he could teach Grades 1 and 2. Now that would have been an intriguing diss to read.

There are games in which the music plays and changes according to what is going on in the game. In these games the music is "scripted" to the gameplay. For example, in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion there is a simple script so that the background music changes themes when an enemy has seen you and is coming to engage you in combat. It serves as a helpful cue when you are roaming about the vast outdoor areas because you can't always see what is looming in the grass and bushes.

Other games have more complex scripting systems so that the music will actually build up or die down according to what is going on during gameplay. I was playing a demo of the newest Rainbow Six game and as I made my way towards a large battle the music built into a climax which occurred as enemies emerged from all directions. As I and my team downed them the music slowed accordingly until it was just a background theme. Some horror games use music just like horror movies with short loud bursts during a particularly spooky area in which, say, a rabid zombie dog unexpectedly jumps through window you standing near. The music, along with the breaking of the glass and the sudden snarling presence of the dog is quite successful at getting the player to startle.

Even Total Annihilation, a real-time strategy game from a few years back, switched CD tracks depending on what kind of action was going on at your base, etc.

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