Music in AGS games

[Dooped]

Hey, just a quick question (Sorry if this is in the wrong place) - I was just wondering if I am allowed to have music from other games in my AGS game. Is this illegal? Even if I say what company the music is from in the credits or something? Thanks in advance for any replies.

[PsychicHeart]

For something like this, I'd say contact the authors/composers.
If they give you the thumbs-up, go ahead.

[m0ds]

I'd prefer that you didn't use my music in other games, as it is written especially for each game & for that author. Re-using it would also lose its original meaning & I generally just wouldn't like you after that This probably applies to other composers - whether they're from AGS or further afield. It's always worth emailing them and asking though - on occasion they won't mind. I'm a bit of a hypocrit really, because I've used some film music in some of my short films, but I wouldn't dare use other games music in my games.

However, I do offer some free midi music (see the link below) and I'm sure other composers do, and would be happy to give you some music.

http://www.screen7.co.uk/music/midi/scores/free.rar

At the end of the day, if your game is free - you won't be breaking any laws, only disrespecting some of the composers - I'd imagine.

[Radiant]

Using google, you can find quite a bit of MIDIs that are in the public domain (meaning you can use them freely for anything) or under the Creative Commons license (meaning basically the same if you're not going to edit them)

[SilverWizard_OTF]

Another good idea is to dedicate your game to the composer whose music you have "borrowed"!

[Smigler]

I dont like the idea!
I agree with m0ds on this one...
Being a musician & composer, the idea of skimming over the feature of immersive music by utilizing some old work is both unartisitic and old

[Flashback]

I'm no musician but I have tried to compose some music and it's not very good, but even still I wouldn't like it if someone used that music without my permission so I can only imagine how a real musician would feel if you used their music that they worked long and hard to compose. I've just realised that I almost sound like scolding you, no offense meant by it it's just my nature. 

[Kharn]

I've seen it in a few ags games. One im playing now has resident evil 2 music fom the typewriter safe rooms. others seem to use music from other adventure makers. you may be able to ask some people to compose stuff for you if they have spare time or as mentioned earlier some people have spare free to all midi's.

[Ghost]

I think if you want to be on the safe side you really must restrict yourself to royalty-free stuff only.

But to extend the question a bit, here's a puzzler: I have a HUGE collection of midi files included in that "Dancing Baby Screensaver" that was all the rage a couple of years ago, among those file some midis I THINK are rips from games- Tracks from 7th Guest is in there, and the complete Doom 1/2 tracks, plus a lot of midis from contemporary pop/rock/trance songs. I was wondering for ages if it would be okay to use these files in AGS games because none of them had a copyright included in the file tab, apart from two Vanessa Mae midis. If they are included in a low-budget screensaver, they must indeed be free, because no-one would buy the license for almost 1000 midis?