Am I the only one? Other than VG music, I listen to metal, rock, alternative, grunge, electronica but videogame I always tend to listen alot more and gives me a more personal impact on me. Maybe it's because of the instrumentals, countless of different instruments I've never heard of before, the nostalgia, overall, videogame music I appreciate alot more in music. I feel strange that I prefer VG music over my normal music :-\

-SNIP-

The way I see things, it depends on what that music means to you. What got me into liking rock music were all the WoW PvP videos I used to watch. Now, whenever I listen to songs from back then, it brings back (mostly pleasant) memories.

Just my 2 cents.

VG music IS normal music, there's nothing 'special' about it from a composer's viewpoints. Unless of course you count experimental games like Mike Oldfield's Tr3s Lunas, but even that has proper music. I think only a few games like Rez and Everday Shooter have 'unique' music ie music that is sequenced a bit differently every time you play.

When it comes down to it, VG music can be classified into (pseudo-)genres in their own right, with earlier 8/16 bit FM-sequenced music compositions being the most elusive. The sad part here is that the mainstream isn't impacted by VGM because game composers don't try to impact upon the mainstream at all (with increasingly varied exceptions of course), and so you'll usually feel the connection only if you played the game in question, so it's personal bias. People buy scores to films they love, but there are several exceptions where soundtracks are sold on their quality alone.

I know what you mean. 90% of the time, when I turn on my iPod or computer I go straight to my vg music. :P

I think video game music is so beloved to us gamers because, like all music, it can evoke a specific time and place of when you played a game you love. I found some tracks from Master of Orion II, and it was like March of 1998 all over again on my brand new Macintosh G3. If I listen to a Castlevania 64 track, I'm back in the summer of 1999. I put on an old Sega Master System game's soundtrack and I'm in grade school again.

I don't really prefer one type over the other, though I do go through phases where I'll spend six months just listening to video game music or anything instrumental, and then another six months listening to my "regular" music, though it's all at the same level for me.

I sort of agree with what Pulsar is saying. In fact, since the PS1 era, video game music has mostly just sounded like regular music (be it classical, rock, or electronic dance music)...except in a video game. And often, when I listen to modern game music that is not from a game that I have any sentimental attachments to, it sounds quite mediocre in comparison to the better of its non-VGM counterparts. The thing that gets me the most is when I hear something that is really poppy, maybe in the credits music of a JRPG or something. A lot of VGM with female vocals makes me think, "really? People like this? This just sounds like Japanese Celine Dion." You know the kind of thing I'm talking about.

I like music from systems that rely on their actual hardware sound chip for music synthesis because I think the limitations required a lot more creativity from the composers to create something interesting. This forum is always applauding the Nobuo Uematsu's of the world, but I think Tim Follin, Alberto Gonzales, and Iku Mizutani are infinitely more interesting as songwriters.

While I agree with some that game music has become less unique, it doesn't mean that it has become shallow. There is some great game music today, on part with that of yesteryear. Is it limited to a soundchip, no, but that doesn't mean it's not great. After all, back in those days there were good soundtracks and horrid soundtracks as well. And while some soundtracks might sound 'generic' to modern music, like rock or techno or pop, there's a difference in being generic and sounding bad and being generic and sounding good. All in all, it's not what it sounds like that makes the difference, it's the composure.

As for mainstream, I won't go there. A majority of it IS garbage. Too much about the artist and not enough about the music.

Definitly agree.

I have over 1500 songs currently on my mp3 player, and easily 75% of them are video game soundtracks.

I always listen to VG music whenever I use my computer.

Same goes for me (a majority of the time). I even listen to VGM in my car alot. And I can't wait to get an ipod so I can listen to VGM while walking my dog, and everywhere else.

i agree, but i like regular music too

Who the hell is Iku Mizutani?

Who the hell is Iku Mizutani (http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,132337/)?

Notably, he composed Shadow of the Ninja and Rush n' Attack. Plus...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King (2003), THQ Inc.
WWE Road to Wrestlemania X8 (2002), THQ Inc.
Croc 2 (2001), THQ France
Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc. (2001), Buena Vista Games, Inc.
Saban's Power Rangers: Time Force (2001), THQ Inc.
WWF Wrestlemania 2000 (1999), THQ Inc.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995), Bandai America, Inc.
Pocky & Rocky 2 (1994), Natsume, Inc.
Renegade (1993), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
Chase H.Q. II: Special Criminal Investigation (1992), Taito Corporation
The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (1992), Taito Software Inc.
Sagaia (1992), Taito Corporation
Shatterhand (1991), Jaleco USA, Inc.
Spanky's Quest (1991), Natsume Co., Ltd.
Dragon Fighter (1990), Towa Chiki
Shadow of the Ninja (1990), Natsume Co., Ltd.
King's Valley 2 (1988), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.
Metal Gear (1987), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.
Rush'n Attack (1987), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.

VGM is the only music i listen to. Aside from the odd other song here and there.

I hate whiney American pop songs and silly rap music.

I listen to a lot more non-vgm than I listen to vgm, but I still love it. I like music which resonates with me. I listen to Classical, Metal, Punk, Old Country, Rock N'Roll, Stoner Metal, Viking Metal, Alternative, Film Scores, Instrumentals, Ambient, Folk Music, Blues, some Jazz. No country, pop, rap, or hip-hop really, they don't jive with me, not bad music, just not my cup of tea

Notably, he composed Shadow of the Ninja and Rush n' Attack. Plus...

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King (2003), THQ Inc.
WWE Road to Wrestlemania X8 (2002), THQ Inc.
Croc 2 (2001), THQ France
Disney/Pixar's Monsters Inc. (2001), Buena Vista Games, Inc.
Saban's Power Rangers: Time Force (2001), THQ Inc.
WWF Wrestlemania 2000 (1999), THQ Inc.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995), Bandai America, Inc.
Pocky & Rocky 2 (1994), Natsume, Inc.
Renegade (1993), SEGA Enterprises Ltd.
Chase H.Q. II: Special Criminal Investigation (1992), Taito Corporation
The Jetsons: Cogswell's Caper (1992), Taito Software Inc.
Sagaia (1992), Taito Corporation
Shatterhand (1991), Jaleco USA, Inc.
Spanky's Quest (1991), Natsume Co., Ltd.
Dragon Fighter (1990), Towa Chiki
Shadow of the Ninja (1990), Natsume Co., Ltd.
King's Valley 2 (1988), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.
Metal Gear (1987), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.
Rush'n Attack (1987), Konami Industry Co. Ltd.

uh, thank you, uh arthurgolden.


VGM is the only music i listen to. Aside from the odd other song here and there.

I hate whiney American pop songs and silly rap music.


I listen to a lot more non-vgm than I listen to vgm, but I still love it. I like music which resonates with me. I listen to Classical, Metal, Punk, Old Country, Rock N'Roll, Stoner Metal, Viking Metal, Alternative, Film Scores, Instrumentals, Ambient, Folk Music, Blues, some Jazz. No country, pop, rap, or hip-hop really, they don't jive with me, not bad music, just not my cup of tea

That's cool, a lot of white people don't like rap or hip hop.