Video game music culture
Encyclopedia
Video game music, with the help of the internet, has developed into its own culture with many extensions beyond existence as a body of musical work.
Fans of video game music have convened on the net and in person in various capacities. Many inspired communities have flourished as a result, despite not being directly involved with video games or game production. Fans have recorded human performances of game music, both in concert and in the studio. Some have also taken a more technical approach, such as the chiptune
and mod communities that emulate the sound adapters from older computers and consoles. Other more technically focused cultures develop or use emulators to play back sound files from the original game data or archive
them for others to use.
ing" is commonly used to identify the resequencing, live performance, or general adaptation of an original piece from a video game to produce a new work. Presentations vary from straightforward orchestration of old computer-sequenced tunes to heavy-handed departures into rock
, jazz
, metal
, or any other of a number of styles.
A fan culture developed in the 1990s around the practice of transcribing video game music in MIDI files. This allowed fans lacking immediate ability in musical performance, but possessing some computer skill, to take early synthesizer-based game music and re-imagine it with the variety of sampled
instruments afforded by the General MIDI standard. More than a few archives of such works can still be found today and have even extended into other MIDI standards.
Fan performances have also gained wide visibility, ranging from concerts to recorded remixes. A rock group called Minibosses
was one of the earliest to gain traction on the Internet, hosting mp3s of performances as well as selling CDs.
Many fans are also members of remix communities, where recreational musicians, DJs, and other music talent produce re-arranged or remixed versions of tunes and then share them for download. The scale of the productions varies from artist to artist, ranging from solo pieces to massive multi-controller device soundbanks. Some of these artists have even gone on to received license from the game publisher to publish their own work. Others may simply provide a CD of their work to those who ask.
in a music studio. Many times the composer choosing this format either has a specific familiarity with the technology being used, preference for the sound qualities of a particular chip, or is looking for a challenge in making an enjoyable music experience from a comparably simple musical tool.
. Web site communities have sprung up, and archives containing the sound data of games allow fans to hear game music on their personal computers much as it sounds in its original format. Each game system that is emulated begot a specialised format such as NSF
, GBS
, SID
, HES, VGM, SPC, PSF, PSF2, and others.
Fans of video game music have convened on the net and in person in various capacities. Many inspired communities have flourished as a result, despite not being directly involved with video games or game production. Fans have recorded human performances of game music, both in concert and in the studio. Some have also taken a more technical approach, such as the chiptune
Chiptune
A chiptune, also known as chip music, is synthesized electronic music often produced with the sound chips of vintage computers and video game consoles, as well as with other methods such as emulation. In the early 1980s, personal computers became cheaper and more accessible than they had previously...
and mod communities that emulate the sound adapters from older computers and consoles. Other more technically focused cultures develop or use emulators to play back sound files from the original game data or archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
them for others to use.
Remixing
Though the term is very broad, "remixRemix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
ing" is commonly used to identify the resequencing, live performance, or general adaptation of an original piece from a video game to produce a new work. Presentations vary from straightforward orchestration of old computer-sequenced tunes to heavy-handed departures into rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
, or any other of a number of styles.
A fan culture developed in the 1990s around the practice of transcribing video game music in MIDI files. This allowed fans lacking immediate ability in musical performance, but possessing some computer skill, to take early synthesizer-based game music and re-imagine it with the variety of sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
instruments afforded by the General MIDI standard. More than a few archives of such works can still be found today and have even extended into other MIDI standards.
Fan performances have also gained wide visibility, ranging from concerts to recorded remixes. A rock group called Minibosses
Minibosses
Minibosses is an independent progressive rock/progressive metal band originally from Northampton, Massachusetts and currently located in Phoenix, Arizona. They are known for their video game music covers, which are instrumental rock variations of the theme music from classic Nintendo video games...
was one of the earliest to gain traction on the Internet, hosting mp3s of performances as well as selling CDs.
Many fans are also members of remix communities, where recreational musicians, DJs, and other music talent produce re-arranged or remixed versions of tunes and then share them for download. The scale of the productions varies from artist to artist, ranging from solo pieces to massive multi-controller device soundbanks. Some of these artists have even gone on to received license from the game publisher to publish their own work. Others may simply provide a CD of their work to those who ask.
Chiptune
Segments even more specialized to the culture are the fan communities that base themselves around writing remixed or even new music using the very same sound hardware of the classic game systems themselves. Though this also can be considered remixing, it uses such a specific medium that it bears separate distinction. Sometimes an emulator is used to generate the chip's sounds when the actual chip is not present. This is widely known as Chip Tune and is a very comparable to the use of an analog synthesizerAnalog synthesizer
An analog or analogue synthesizer is a synthesizer that uses analog circuits and analog computer techniques to generate sound electronically. The earliest analog synthesizers in the 1920s and 1930s such as the Trautonium were built with a variety of vacuum-tube and electro-mechanical technologies...
in a music studio. Many times the composer choosing this format either has a specific familiarity with the technology being used, preference for the sound qualities of a particular chip, or is looking for a challenge in making an enjoyable music experience from a comparably simple musical tool.
Sound file and emulation
Sound chip emulators, usually inspired by game system emulators, developed both as standalone media players and as plugins for popular media players like WinampWinamp
Winamp is a media player for Windows-based PCs and Android devices, written by Nullsoft, now a subsidiary of AOL. It is proprietary freeware/shareware, multi-format, extensible with plug-ins and skins, and is noted for its graphical sound visualization, playlist, and media library features.Winamp...
. Web site communities have sprung up, and archives containing the sound data of games allow fans to hear game music on their personal computers much as it sounds in its original format. Each game system that is emulated begot a specialised format such as NSF
NES Sound Format
NSF is the DOS 8.3 filename Filename extension of the audio file format originally designated as NESM by the inventor Kevin Horton. This format was originally designed for playback in a custom hardware device named HardNES by the inventor...
, GBS
Game Boy Sound System
The Game Boy Sound System for the Game Boy is akin to the sound system of the Nintendo Entertainment System , the difference being that GBS has a higher pitch than NES sound format...
, SID
MOS Technology SID
The MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID is the built-in Programmable Sound Generator chip of Commodore's CBM-II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore MAX Machine home computers...
, HES, VGM, SPC, PSF, PSF2, and others.
Performers
- 8 Bit Weapon8 Bit Weapon8 Bit Weapon is a chiptune music band created by Seth Sternberger. The instrument set of 8 Bit Weapon consists primarily of old 8-bit and 16-bit computers such as the Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 128, Commodore Amiga 500, and the Apple II, as well as game consoles such as the Nintendo...
- The AdvantageThe AdvantageThe Advantage is an American rock band from Sacramento, California that formed in 1998 and specializes in doing covers of music from old NES games...
- brentalflossBrentalflossbrentalfloss is an American songwriter, lyricist, and singer, who has achieved some notoriety mainly on YouTube.-Early life:...
- Machinae SupremacyMachinae SupremacyMachinae Supremacy is a Swedish band that combines modern heavy metal and alternative rock with chiptunes. Self-defined as "SID metal", many of their songs use a SidStation that features the SID chip of the Commodore 64...
- Man FactoryMan FactoryMan Factory is an American Indie Rock band from Arlington, Texas established in 2002. The band has achieved regional success and is best known for its Street Fight! Rock Opera based on Capcom's Street Fighter video game series....
- MegaDriverMegaDriverMegaDriver is a Brazilian heavy metal and video game music cover band formed in 2003 by Antonio "Nino" Francisco Tornisiello, who uses the stage name "Nino Megadriver".-History:...
- The MegasThe Megas (band)The Megas is a Los Angeles based independent video game cover band based on the Capcom franchise, Mega Man. They differentiate themselves from artists who have played Mega Man music in the past by adding original lyrics and composing new sections which blend seamlessly with the original compositions...
- MinibossesMinibossesMinibosses is an independent progressive rock/progressive metal band originally from Northampton, Massachusetts and currently located in Phoenix, Arizona. They are known for their video game music covers, which are instrumental rock variations of the theme music from classic Nintendo video games...
- The NESkimosThe NESkimosThe NESkimos are an independent American video game music cover band from St. Augustine, Florida. They are known for their songs based on video game music, as well as covers of songs from popular television shows and movies...
- The OneUpsThe OneUpsThe OneUps is an independent video game music cover band from Fayetteville, Arkansas, US, formed in 2000. They play arrangements of game music from companies such as Nintendo, Square Enix and Sega, with a style of funk, jazz and rock.- Current members :...
- The ProtomenThe ProtomenThe Protomen is an American rock band best known for composing original concept albums loosely based on the popular video game series Mega Man...
- PowerglovePowerglove (band)Powerglove is an American power metal band. They are known to play metal versions of classic video game themes. The band is named after the Power Glove, a NES controller accessory.-Early years, Total Pwnage and Metal Kombat :...
- Random EncounterRandom Encounter (band)Random Encounter is an energetic independent Russian-American video game music cover/inspired band from Orlando, Florida that features an accordion as the lead instrument...
- VomitronVomitronVomitron is a heavy metal/experimental band based in Lowell, Massachusetts USA. Their music first circulated in 2002 on mp3.com.-Releases:On January 8, 2007, Vomitron announced on its MySpace that its first, self-titled CD was available for purchase...
Popular sound formats by system
- Apple Macintosh, Macintosh IIMacintosh IIThe Apple Macintosh II was the first personal computer model of the Macintosh II series in the Apple Macintosh line and the first Macintosh to support a color display.- History :...
, Macintosh QuadraMacintosh QuadraThe Macintosh Quadra series was Apple Computer's product family of professional high-end Apple Macintosh personal computers built using the Motorola 68040 CPU. The first two models in the Quadra line were introduced in 1991, and the name was used until the Power Mac was introduced in 1994...
, PowerPCPowerPCPowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
: Studio SessionJam session (Software)Studio Session is a 1986 software program for Macintosh computers, for music creation and playback. It was created by Macintosh and Newton pioneer Steve Capps and musician Ed Bogas...
, MODMOD (file format)MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
(The Sound Tracker, The Player Pro, etc.) - 8-bit Atari : SAPAtari SAP music formatAtari SAP music format is a format that stores music data from Atari 8-bit computers that uses the famous Atari POKEY sound chip.Most popular tunes for Atari 8 bits were written between 1981-1987....
- Atari STAtari STThe Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was released by Atari Corporation in 1985 and commercially available from that summer into the early 1990s. The "ST" officially stands for "Sixteen/Thirty-two", which referred to the Motorola 68000's 16-bit external bus and 32-bit internals...
: SNDHSNDHThe most common music format used on the Atari ST series of home computers. Although supporting all methods of sound generation on the Atari ST, most music in the SNDH format is Yamaha YM2149 chip music.*...
, SC68, YM, MODMOD (file format)MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”... - Commodore 64Commodore 64The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
: SIDMOS Technology SIDThe MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID is the built-in Programmable Sound Generator chip of Commodore's CBM-II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore MAX Machine home computers... - Commodore Amiga: MODMOD (file format)MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
, OctaMEDOctaMEDOctaMED is a popular sound tracker for the Commodore Amiga, written by Teijo Kinnunen. The first version, 1.12, was released in 1989 under the name MED, which stands for Music EDitor. In April 1990, version 2.00 was released with MIDI support as the main improvement...
(MED), Oktalyzer (OKT) - Game BoyGame BoyThe , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
: GBSGame Boy Sound SystemThe Game Boy Sound System for the Game Boy is akin to the sound system of the Nintendo Entertainment System , the difference being that GBS has a higher pitch than NES sound format... - Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
: GSF - IBM PCIBM PCThe IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
Clone (with Sound BlasterSound BlasterThe Sound Blaster family of sound cards was the de facto standard for consumer audio on the IBM PC compatible system platform, until the widespread transition to Microsoft Windows 95, which standardized the programming interface at application level , and the evolution in PC design led to onboard...
or other sound cardSound cardA sound card is an internal computer expansion card that facilitates the input and output of audio signals to and from a computer under control of computer programs. The term sound card is also applied to external audio interfaces that use software to generate sound, as opposed to using hardware...
) : MODMOD (file format)MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
, Composer 669 (669), MultiModuleEdit (MTM), Grave Composer (WOW), UltraTracker (ULT), Scream TrackerScream TrackerScream Tracker is a tracker . It was created by Psi of Finland's Future Crew It was coded in C and assembly language. The first popular version of Scream Tracker, version 2.2, was published in 1990...
(S3M), Fast TrackerFast TrackerFastTracker 2 is a tracker created by Fredrik "Mr. H" Huss and Magnus "Vogue" Högdahl, two members of the demogroup Triton which set about releasing their own tracker after breaking into the scene in 1992 and winning several demo competitions. The source code of FastTracker 2 is written in Pascal...
(XMXM (file format)XM, standing for "extended module", is an audio file type introduced by Triton's Fast Tracker 2. XM introduced multisampling-capable instruments with volume and panning envelopes, and basic pattern compression...
), Impulse TrackerImpulse TrackerImpulse Tracker is a multi-track digital sound tracker . It was one of the last tracker programs for the DOS platform. It was authored by Jeffrey "Pulse" Lim, and example music was provided by Jeffrey Lim and Chris Jarvis...
(IT) - NESNintendo Entertainment SystemThe Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
: NSFNES Sound FormatNSF is the DOS 8.3 filename Filename extension of the audio file format originally designated as NESM by the inventor Kevin Horton. This format was originally designed for playback in a custom hardware device named HardNES by the inventor... - Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
: USF - PC EngineTurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
: HESPcengine HES sound formatHES files are music rips of PC Engine / TurboGrafx games. They are comparable to NSF files from the Nintendo Entertainment System. The HES sound format was devised by in 1999.... - PlayStationPlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, PlayStation 2PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
: PSF and PSF2, XA Audio - Sega Genesis: VGM, GYMGYMGYM is a sound format for the Sega Mega Drive/Sega Genesis.The name stands for Genesis YM2612, since the file contains the data stream sent to the Yamaha YM2612 sound chip in the console. The data is logged to a file through the use of emulators running a ROM image.The GYM format first appeared on...
, GSRGens Sound RecordGens Sound Record is a new file format for the storage of Sega Genesis\Mega Drive music. It is more efficient than GYM in that the format stores DAC samples on an indexed table so they can be reused during the playback, avoiding redundancy and saving a lot of space... - Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
: VGM - Sega Master SystemSega Master SystemThe is a third-generation video game console that was manufactured and released by Sega in 1985 in Japan , 1986 in North America and 1987 in Europe....
& Sega Game GearSega Game GearThe was Sega's first handheld game console. It was the third commercially available color handheld console, after the Atari Lynx and the TurboExpress....
: VGM - Sega SaturnSega SaturnThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
: SSF, XA audio - SNESSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
: SPCSPC700 sound formatAn SPC700 sound file is a video game music file consisting of scores and music data from RAM used by the SPC700 sound chip on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System or Super Famicom...
(named for the SPC700 sound chip used in the SNES) - Multiple Platform : MIDI, SCUMMSCUMMScript Creation Utility for Maniac Mansion is a scripting language developed at LucasArts to ease development of the graphical adventure game Maniac Mansion....
, MODMOD (file format)MOD is a computer file format used primarily to represent music, and was the first module file format. MOD files use the “.MOD” file extension, except on the Amiga where the original trackers instead use a “mod.” prefix scheme, e.g. “mod.echoing”...
Articles and essays about video game music
- "Changing Our Tune" - an essay on the unique role and function of music in games.
- Whalen, Zach. "Play Along - An Approach to Videogame Music". GameStudies, the international journal of computer game research. Vol. 4, issue 1. November 2004
- "Video game music: not just kid stuff" – Matthew Belinkie, 15 December 1999 - an essay about game music.
- GamesSound.com - site with studies and resources for educators all dealing with game audio.
- "Levels of Sound" - Eric Pidkameny, Vassar College 15 May 2002
- "Quality Video Game Music Scores, Considering the Standards Set, and Personal Reflections" – Daniel DeCastro, New York University 14 May 2007