we are witnessing a true renaissance of video game music. More than ever VGM is being recognized as an art in its own right. Symphonic game concerts are being sold out within days.
we are witnessing a true renaissance of video game music. More than ever VGM is being recognized as an art in its own right. Symphonic game concerts are being sold out within days.
This headline is hilarious. It directly contradicts itself. Renaissance means rebirth. Video game music needs to have been very popular and then fallen out of popularity for that claim to be true. And then it says now more than ever it is being appreciated. Meaning it never had this much popularity. Meaning a renaissance is literally not what is happening. Good for composers though! Well earned appreciation for sure. I'm not mad at it or anything, just wanted to point out how stupid the headline is lol
I think this may actually be the case though? Think back to the early 2000's where video game symphonic concerts were getting played on G4, and Tommy Tallarico made claims of the largest audience for a symphony.
Video game symphonies just weren't popular after that from the end of 2009, honestly even 2008 maybe, all the way through just a couple years ago. The numbers for symphonies are starting to grow again, but far beyond and in much wider breadth of what it once was because of how much good music games have now.
I think it may actually be quite accurate, it's just an already niche subject. If you didn't know about them in the early 2000's then it's easy to think this is the first time they're getting recognized, but that's not the case. It's just been a couple decades.
Edit: to clarify - I do think video game music has mostly been popular, I more mean specifically about video game concerts/symphony performances. They were big, really big (for the relatively new medium of video games). Then they died for 15 years. Now they're coming back.
Well, maybe it is "literally" what is happening, if you use one of the many modern meanings of "literally" used today instead of its actual definitions. I mean, I get language drift, but some words are just being ground into meaninglessness.
I wonder if this translates into increased listenership of "real" classical music. It isn't a big leap from VGM to the romantic composers, for example, or even to opera.
Classical musician here. VGM was my gateway drug. So it definitely happens!
The theme from civ 4 won a grammy in 2011.... VGM has very much been in mainstream consciousness for a long time
Say what you will about Hogwarts Legacy, but the music was absolutely on point and enhanced the experience immensely.
Game itself is really good and all sorts of 'inclusive'. I feel bad for the devs that have nothing to do with that crazy bitch
eh, i found the game to be hollow and boring past the first handful of hours... but I didn't get much out of the "explore the castle" experience. like, there wasn't really anything to find. just the same boxes and puzzles but in different spots. like, imagine if instead of a little card to read about the whomping willow, instead you just get pulled into a fight if you wander too close.
the flying, one of the most important aspects of a harry potter open world game imo, wasn't just bad, it had no thought or effort put into it at all. i made exactly as complex of a flight mechanic in 7th grade using a teaching program called Alice in like 2009.
like, every tool and mechanic in the game felt lazy or unfinished. bad puzzles lifted out of other games, all of the school rules get handwaved away because a rule and punishment system would've been actual gameplay and they didn't want to spend time on that when they had models to build and marketing to do.
that's really my issue. it feels like a game that spent 40% on building an environment, 50% on marketing, and the 10% that was left went into slapping a game into it. it's really frustrating too, because no one is willing to talk about the game beyond the Rowling controversy. it felt like a blatant low effort cash grab to me, but everyone else either "didn't care cause fuck rowling" or "idk, i liked it" is the most they've given it thought.
They named the trans girl character Ryan. You know how in Harry Potter books everyone's referred to by their last name? Well she's Ryan. That's not inclusive. That's a writing decision and it doesn't look good.
Which makes sense, given that the lead developer for most of development was a member of fucking gamergate.
One of the earlier games to have an actual soundtrack was Grim Fandango. A quarter century later, the music and game still hold up amazingly well.
Worth listening to. And playing.
Still awaiting the day that hoyomix will be recognized for their work
The Tunic soundtrack is absolutely amazing and doesn't get the attention it deserves.