Music in games is ignored :(

[Nikolas]

Why is that? I'm personally involved so... I am biased, but still,

I just read some reviews from various games, where the audio part, is totally bypassed. Not even a mention. I could go and mention names and links, etc, but I don't really see the point.

It's just something that I've noticed over quite a few reviews, comments, etc. Very few people notice the music. And it's not because of the quality, cause I'm also talking about commercial games, and not only AGS games.

I'm wondering if you take a silent game, how would you feel, to the lack of audio then?

Just pissed off I guess... (and selfish, yes, I know)

[ThreeOhFour]

Nikolas, its obviously something which is considered less important by most than graphics and gameplay are, but a game without music is like a sandwich with no butter - dry and kinda hard to swallow.

Music is definitely excellent for creating the mood and atmoshpere in a game, the same way it can be used in a movie. Watching movies without music would make it seem so empty, but when you watch the movie with music you don't notice it because it often fits in so well, I guess.

As much as you may think we don't appreciate the music in games, we certainly appreciate it if only for the fact that without it our games are empty and lifeless. I guess a musician becomes a sort of underdog in a game, but we really do love you music types. I guess now that I've read your post, I'll probably take more notice of music in games in the future, seeing as I've thought about how important it is. You may be depressed, but you're also raising awareness about the importance of one of the key elements in adventure gaming. Consider me enlightened.

[SSH]

Its only because we hate musicians, Nikolas 

[Nikolas]

I know, Andrew, I know...  :'(

Ben: I know what you mean, and I do agree that music is at some parts secondary... It HAS to be. But still, seeing reviews that go.
Story:
Gameplay:
Puzzles:
Graphics:
get the game/don't get the game

is a bliah review for me... 

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Nik, here's the way I see it -

Music in game is like a pianist who's accompanying a singer in a recital. The better the pianist is, the less notice you'll take of him, because he'll empashize the singer, and he'll make it so easy for the singer people will forget he's there. But they WILL notice if he screws up or tries to take more attention than he should.

And if he's good, people won't notice that directly, but his quality WILL give the whole quality. And other singers will come running for him to be in their recital.

Music in a game is really an unobtrusive thing. It can make or break a game, but it does so invisibly.

[space boy]

The better the pianist is, the less notice you'll take of him, because he'll empashize the singer, and he'll make it so easy for the singer people will forget he's there.

Actually I sometimes wanted the singer to shut the hell up so I could enjoy the sound of the piano alone.

[auriond]

Most of my favourite albums are soundtracks of games and movies, and I am forever upset that voice actors don't get the recognition that they deserve. So I'm with you there, Nikolas, even though I'm not a musician myself.

[voh]

Mostly game music is background music. This is why I hardly ever notice it. Sorry

[sharksweetheart]

Aw I notice it, but I'm a pretty musical person. I enjoy a game so much more when there's music.

[Ali]

Music may not be acknowledged but I don't think it is ignored. When a reviewer writes about an absorbing atmosphere or a frightening sequence, it's likely to be the music that made them feel the way they feel.

It's a shame that it isn't acknowledged, but a game without music would probably get reviews calling it uninvolving and lacking in atmosphere. Music may not always be noticed by players, but it is rarely ignored.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Actually I sometimes wanted the singer to shut the hell up so I could enjoy the sound of the piano alone.

Maybe if you're casually listening to the radio, or TV-zapping (if you're a casual gamer booting it up, playing for a couple of minutes with no intent to stay any longer, fiddling with the controls as you go along). But if you go to a Pavarotti recital, or a Florez, or a Bumbry, or a whatever, did you really pay all that money, maybe even go to another country for a week so you could attend it, just for the pianist?

Obviously, my example takes for granted that people actually *want* to play the game.

[auriond]

Granted, the first time I play a game (or watch a movie), I may not necessarily take notice of the music immediately (unless it made a really big impact on the game/movie's mood, or atmosphere or whatever). But afterwards - why not?

And I don't think video game music, particularly, is ignored at all actually. In my opinion, in the gaming scene, composers are honoured almost even more so than artists. Nobuo Uematsu's work for the Final Fantasy series has spawned several full orchestra performances, one of which is the international PLAY! Videogame Symphony. He's also got his own prog rock band which plays music from the FF series. I could give you another example: Fans of Silent Hill refused to accept anyone else other than Akira Yamaoka, the original composer for the game's soundtrack, to do the music for the Hollywood movie adaptation. It's the first time I've ever seen game music make it to the big screen.

But for some reason, PC games music doesn't seem to get the same kind of near cult-status recognition. And in general, music is really not often mentioned in reviews. I'm not sure why.

[R4L]

The music is always the 2nd thing to catch me, but I only ignore it if it's annoying and repetitive. I have a game thats only for Xbox (old game) and the graphics aren't the best, but the first thing that got me was the music. It's composed very nicely, and each track is epic.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

BTW, I'm a huge fan of some soundtracks. I have the GK1, GK2 and GK3 soundtracks and listen to them occasionally.

[Babar]

If a game DOESN'T have music (or it doesn't play for some reason), I notice it immediately, and gameplay seems lacking from that point on.

Otherwise, I think game music has a habit of getting into your head, so you don't consciously notice it. When I was playing Morrowind, I didn't really notice the music until someone else who wasn't watching me on the computer commented on how sad the music was.

[CaptainBinky]

I'm not sure whether it's true to say that game music is ignored. It may not always be commented on specifically, but as Ben said it'll be mentioned as part of the atmosphere.

I mean, in commercial games reviews say "graphics" and give a score. Well, if you're an animator they don't single out animation, and "graphics" encompasses engine, lighting, character modelling, environment modelling, effects, animation... that's at least 6 roles just off the top of my head - before including things like level design and concept art.

Why should they single out musicians specifically to give a score to when this isn't the case for any other role in the games industry?

Really, musicians are in a good position. I'm much more likely to remember the name of a musician on a game I like than say the Lead Artist, or Lead Programmer.

[Rui 'Trovatore' Pires]

Binky, though that makes sense, animations are included in "Graphics". Level design is included in "Gameplay". If a game isn't scored for Music/Sound Effects/Voice acting, whichever name you give to the group so you can lump 'em all together, then the review is, indeed, lacking.

[CaptainBinky]

Okay, but most decent review sites/mags will generally either have an "audio" category or they just give an overall score and audio will be mentioned alongside everything else in the review.

If we're talking about the sort of site that's going to break down "gameplay" into "puzzles", "story", etc then I agree, not including "audio" is a bit crap. But to me, that would just imply that the review site's a bit crap - rather than being some deep rooted issue of people generally ignoring music/sound.

[Tuomas]

aye, it may be hard to notice the awesome music in the back. Musicians usually do, but most people don't even write reviews, those who do are game makers, not musicians. One thing that everyone spots though is awful music, which will be pointed out most probably, so I think having your music not reviewed might be a good thing

[Blue]

I don't know why some people ignore music in a game.

I certainly don't!
In my opinion, music and graphics are equal. They emphasize eachother, and I always pay alot of attention to both when I play.