Music in games, is it necessary?

[Zantos]

There are plenty of games that don't need music to build atmosphere, and many more that do. It's all about what's important for the style. Fallout is a good example of not really needing music, but then can you imagine a final fantasy game without music? Final Fantasy 9 would be ruined without that fantastically addictive soundtrack.

Like moral choice systems, motion controls and pretty much anything else you care to name, VG music goes in the "Use it but only when it's appropriate" pile.

 

[JambalayaBob]

Video Games are always moving closer to being an experience as compelling as any experience you could have in real life, and perhaps in some instances be more compelling, given the nature of fiction. Because of this, do you think that one day, music in games will be entirely unnecessary? You can already see this happening in some cases.

Look at any Fallout game for instance, whether it be the originals or the two newest games, they all have zero in-game music outside of an ambient soundtrack and a few radio stations. They don't have any proper score, I'd say that 95% of the soundscape is in-universe (including the radio stations of course), and you don't even notice the other 5% unless you pay attention. I think this works to its benefit, but it could be something unique to the universe that makes it work.

My point is that music can add to the mood and greatly improve the experience of watching a movie or play, but I'm not entirely sure that it will always be true for something as already inherently as visceral as video games. What do you think?

EDIT: Yes, I know that it's pretty much necessary at the moment, but I'm talking about the future, when video games are more like virtual reality than anything else.

I was just playing fallout 3 it DOES have ambient music, and not the radios, turn up your volume settings, its just a small atmospheric score, but it is present

DUDE! I know it does! In the very post you quoted, I mentioned how it does. ". . . and you don't even notice the other 5% unless you pay attention." That was referring to the ambient music in the Fallout games. I was using it as an example of why music might not be necessary one day, because ambient noises could just replace it.

When I was talking about in-universe soundscape, I was referring to stuff like gunshots, people talking, and the radio. I view music that isn't actually tied to a physical entity in the universe as outside of that universe. You wouldn't view the Star Wars score as part of the canon of the actual universe, but you would view the cantina music as such. Sorry if I wasn't clear enough.

 

[DarthAcerbus]

How many times have you done something in real life and wished there was background music? Or hummed your own?

 

[Falseprophet]

Speaking as a musician, yes, often music makes things better for reasons already stated yadda-yadda.

But sometimes silence is the better option. Sometimes silence or background noise is the best soundtrack for a given situation, especially when you're trying to emphasize isolation, loneliness, tension or suspense. How many supposed "horror" games of the current generation have their tension taken away by a musical sting telegraphing the appearance of monsters?

Since most AAA games are trying so hard to be Hollywood movies, they tend to ape the Hollywood formula that there must always be either dialogue or music at all times. It's not necessarily so.

 

[Jake0fTrades]

Look at any Fallout game for instance, whether it be the originals or the two newest games, they all have zero in-game music outside of an ambient soundtrack and a few radio stations.

I'm sorry, when you say "zero in-game music" I assume that includes the aforementioned soundtrack. So are you opposed or for video game soundtracks?

I, of course, support soundtracks. How can I say no when confronted with this?

Spoiler: Suicide Mission

 

[Jake0fTrades]

SNIP

Silence is in and of itself a sound effect. It's really a bit ironic isn't it?

 

[Dethenger]

Of course it's necessary. I've always found that immersion is one of the most key aspects of video games, because it's a wholly interactive medium; one of the best ways to achieve this immersion is by properly building atmosphere, often through music.

 

[Spitfire]

I strongly disagree. Personally, one of the main things that I look for in a videogame is a good soundtrack. If the soundtrack fails to to draw me in, then it's very unlikely that I'll complete the game.
That's not always true, of course. I'm a big fan of Bioshock, for instance, even though there's very little music in it. But whether it's Bioshock, or Fallout 3, these games are exceptions to the rule, not the other way around. As a good counter-example, what would Mass Effect be, in particular the first one, without that fantastic Blade Runner-esque soundtrack that it has? Sure, it would be a nice enough futuristic RPG, with an ambitious story, but the soundtrack really helps put all that in perspective. Hell, even Half-Life, a series known for its minimal use of music, has a couple of kick-ass songs playing during intense moments, and you wanna guess what moments people loved the most in those games?
So, no, I don't think that music will become irrelevant in games. From the contrary, I think that music will be crucial in the future of videogames, as it's one of the most immersive qualities a game can have.

 

[JambalayaBob]

Look at any Fallout game for instance, whether it be the originals or the two newest games, they all have zero in-game music outside of an ambient soundtrack and a few radio stations.

I'm sorry, when you say "zero in-game music" I assume that includes the aforementioned soundtrack. So are you opposed or for video game soundtracks?

I, of course, support soundtracks. How can I say no when confronted with this?

Spoiler: Suicide Mission

I was saying that all music in Fallout games is either ambient or from the radio stations. If we one day have the technology to create a perfect ambiance without the need for ambient music in games, then we really wouldn't need that ambient music in a lot of games, such as Fallout. I'm really not sure whether we will one day have no need for music in a lot of games, which is why I made this topic. I'm trying to play devil's advocate more than anything, saying that games might not need a soundtrack when the sounds of the world are enough to fill your ears, and to me, things like a radio station that plays 40's swing is part of the sounds of the world, not just the game.

I'm sorry for being kind of confusing in my posts, I get that I haven't been 100% clear.

 

[FaceFaceFace]

Even if games approach virtual reality, I think they should at least keep the option. If I was going around killin dudes as some sort of one-man army I would be listening to music while doing it, and I'd probably be listening to appropriate orchestral or rock music, like msot video game soundtracks. Of course if listening to music doesn't fit the setting and you are going for realism, then yeah, scrap it.

 

[Spookimitsu]

Yeah I find it necessary. And if they don't play what I like then I have an Ipod ready. most online rpgs I usually play my own music during, as well as shooters, and racing games. Always during Tiger Woods. Some adventure games I won't because oftentimes the music is part of the atmosphere.

 

[Limecake]

every game should think about their music, it's essential not only in setting the mood for the game but establishing a recognizable brand. How many songs can you remember from the original super mario? how about megaman's music? I know personally that every time I open a valve game and the splash with the music comes on I get pumped up.

I think you're thinking about this in the wrong way, fallout did have music three dog didn't just chat into a mic for 8 hours, the music that is played on that station really puts the wasteland into perspective. the wasteland is oppressive, and dieing. The music chosen for the soundtrack is all from before the bombs fell in the fallout universe, it shows that the few people still around are trying to hold onto an era that is long past. and it contrasts nicely with the environments of the game.

now does that mean every game needs top of the line music? of course not. However you need to understand that a lack of sound or music can be just as powerful (if not more powerful) than any musical score. a perfect example of this would be horror films. The music is often strange and sharp making you feel uneasy however right before the murderer jumps out from behind a corner the music is absent, making you feel even more uneasy.

sound is an extremely powerful tool when used to convey emotion, and sure there are some games good enough to stand on their own without music however proper use of music (or lack there of) is what can make a game great.

 

[JambalayaBob]

I strongly disagree. Personally, one of the main things that I look for in a videogame is a good soundtrack. If the soundtrack fails to to draw me in, then it's very unlikely that I'll complete the game.
That's not always true, of course. I'm a big fan of Bioshock, for instance, even though there's very little music in it. But whether it's Bioshock, or Fallout 3, these games are exceptions to the rule, not the other way around. As a good counter-example, what would Mass Effect be, in particular the first one, without that fantastic Blade Runner-esque soundtrack that it has? Sure, it would be a nice enough futuristic RPG, with an ambitious story, but the soundtrack really helps put all that in perspective. Hell, even Half-Life, a series known for its minimal use of music, has a couple of kick-ass songs playing during intense moments, and you wanna guess what moments people loved the most in those games?
So, no, I don't think that music will become irrelevant in games. From the contrary, I think that music will be crucial in the future of videogames, as it's one of the most immersive qualities a game can have.

What if having a soundtrack built into your skull one day ceases to be immersive though? I'm not saying that music will leave games entirely, but it might move to purely being portrayed through things like in-game bands or even an iPod that explains why you always hear music in one ear. In your day-to-day life, you don't ever have a soundtrack playing along in your head that perfectly fits the theme of your personal world, but obviously reality is immersive, since it is reality after all. The world doesn't feel any less real because it doesn't have a beautiful score, so maybe one day games will be the same.

 

[shedra]

Portal doesn't seem to miss it.
But it only works because of the setting. The character is isolated, alone with their captor. If there was a lot of background music of any kind in the torture scenes in Saw or Hostel it would throw it off wouldn't it?
Same thing.
If you were to add music as a constant companion to Portal it would have to be part of the environment. The way the radios behave, they get quieter as you move away. It would need to echo throughout the hallways and chambers. Applying music as it is in say, a Mario game then it just wouldn't make any damned sense.

But Mario picking up a radio in order to get some kinda tune wouldn't make sense either.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

Yes there are few experiences that would be better without it unless an empty atmosphere is needed.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Music kicks action scenes into high gear, can give serious emotion to sad scenes and just meld with atmosphere awesomely.

My example from the cinema world would be Back to the Future. It would have lost a ton of its impact without the music in the climatic scenes.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I'll take level/area music any day to musack(event music). And yes its needed, at least on newer games it wakes you up now and then.....

 

[Thundero13]

For games, that are trying to be realistic... no, I see your point, music is not necessary in them, but not all games are like that, many games don't try and be realistic at all so I do think that music should still be necessary in them

 

[Jake0fTrades]

SNIP

It's fine. I don't think soundtracks are going anywhere any time soon.

But, one thing you can do, download a song to your hard drive, play it, and pause it. When you have your own music going, it usually mutes the in-game music, but with yours paused, there will be no music at all.

 

[uzo]

Music is a thematic element of games as it is in movies. If you're going for a more impressionist feel, you may remove music completely. However, in colouring moods and events, it is an integral part of games.

Consider the melancholic grandeur of the Morrowind theme?

The heroic epic of the Baldur's Gate II theme?

The frantic riffs of the first level of oooooold Doom?

The Ink Spots appearances in the Fallout games?

Even the opening bars of the Mario theme add character.