Musicality and Video Games

During the Ted Talks Conference in Manchester, video game producer and musician, Johnny Tallerico titled video games “art in disguise”. After that informative press conference, my mind started to drift into my own sub-conscience as I experienced a major epiphany. Coincidently, I crafted a structured set of questions to get a clearer answer to music dilemma and whether music was important in video games to core gamers. With bleak predictions in mind, I jinxed the operation. 

Operation “Musique”

Many answers were similar in nature. 83% of those who participated actively in the survey usually mute their speakers. They disagreed whole-heartedly. Music didn’t invoke any emotion or reactions from those surveyed. Roger Ebert, movie critic/superstar labelled video games as psuedo-art; it was a sham in his opinion.

I couldn’t disagree more. Calling video games avant garde or a tour de’ france is definitely overcompensation, but elements that work together as a closed system can be works of art. FumitaUeda’s Shadow of the Colossus incorporated visual elements of water paintings of stretched landscapes. Even the alert soundtrack in Metal Gear Solid became a cult hit, kick starting the video game-art phenomenon.

Music enhances the atmosphere, giving a added layer of depth and emotion that visuals and narrative couldn’t single-handedly create. Brusquely speaking, video games that are driven solely on narrative would be nothing without music. Music is an atmospheric used to create the escapist reality which we adore. Like films, music is a needed element that unlike visuals, is utilitarian to bringing the end goal (emotion etc.) forward in quick succession. People don’t know what they’re missing out on. Music chosen or hand-picked by the video game producer (Hideo Kojima etc.) also makes it auteur, allowing him to make the video game more substantial, properly fleshing it out.

In conclusion,

To truly enjoy video games the way it was intended, I sincerely encourage gamers out there to crank the volume up and play that video game with blistered thumbs.