Music in games is ignored :(

[space boy]

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.

Yeah, what I meant were performances on tv or the radio that I stumble across. Sometimes I come cross something and i think "now that song on the piano is awesome but the singer is just ruining it". Sometimes it's the other way around and I want to listen only to the voice of the singer without anything else. It depends on the performance. Sometimes piano and voice mix well, sometimes they don't.

As far as music in games goes: George Lucas said that sound is 50% of the motion picture experience. I think the same is true for games. Maybe not all of them, but for games that are story based and rely on atmosphere the music is definitely an essential part. Like the others said you might not always conciously hear the music but you feel the mood it is creating. I would go as far as saying that you're not supposed to hear the soundtrack, you're supposed to feel it.

[CaptainBinky]

For example, I could probably name about 20 or so musicians from the C64 era and the games they worked on. I doubt I could name a single artist or programmer. If that's music getting ignored or overlooked then I'm the Pope

Obviously games are bigger nowadays so nobody's (except people like Will Wright) name features prominently any more.

[Oliwerko]

Personally, in some games, the music was really annoying. I turned it off sometimes. Like I HATE music in racing games. I want to hear the roar of the engine and shifting.

But i in games like Homeworld (both 1 and 2) the music was ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! Half of the game atmosphere made the music itself. Same by thief 1 and 2. Loved music in Morrowind, but that turned to be monothonic after a while.

Conclusion: It's hard to say if the music is good or not in a game. That's 90% personal, I think. So it's bypassed in the reviews. But it's NOT unimportant. It's maybe less important than other parts of the game, but it can significantly make the game better/worse.

For me, music (also the decision if only background music will be used, or if there is lound atmospheric music like in Homeworld or NWN) is very important. The music can make me absolutely enjoy or absolutely dislike the game.

[Stupot]

I tend to notice the music in any game I play very early on.
If it's crap, well I have been known to stop playing a game because I can't stand the music.

I used to review games for my own amusement and I always made a note of the music and other sound effects.  This part of the review got just as much column space as any other and I always listen as well as look when I'm playing... even in AGS games which rarely have sound other than the backing music.

[Ozzie]

Oh, I certainly don't ignore music.
But then, I'm a musical guy anyway.

There are some soundtracks which really stand out, and usually I remember the name of the composer.

KQ6 - Chris Brayman
Monkey Island - Michael Land
Outcast - Lennie Moore 
Gabriel Knight - Robert Holmes

Many Lucas Arts soundtracks are from Peter McConnell.
So, I don't think they get ignored.
But yes, they don't seem to get mentioned. Maybe because they're not considered important. Maybe the reviewer thinks that most people will only care about graphics and gameplay!?

Also, some games feature only ambience tracks. You shouldn't notice those, they just create the atmosphere.

[Nikolas]

But yes, they don't seem to get mentioned. Maybe because they're not considered important. Maybe the reviewer thinks that most people will only care about graphics and gameplay!?

Exactly my point!

[LimpingFish]

If the music in a game is good, I will take the time to learn who the composer is. I guess that's the best I can offer.

When a composer has a number of highly regarded soundtracks under his belt, then it's time to put his name on the box. Jesper Kyd, Akira Yamaoka, Nobuo Uematsu, etc.

Would I buy a game purely because its soundtrack is by a certain composer? I'd have to say no.

[Oliwerko]

Would I buy a game purely because its soundtrack is by a certain composer? I'd have to say no.

Exactly. I guess the music is just a thing that "come" with the game. It it important, but wheter you buy the game or not - this decision goes often absolutely away of music. I buy a game when I think I'll like it because of its genre/theme. Music is secondary. And like Fish said, I would't buy a game because of its music. Therefore, it's probably unimportant to mention the music in the review. But I often see sentences like "The sound in this game is well done. Especially the music." or "The music playing again and again drives you nuts after 15 minutes".

[Babar]

Would I buy a game purely because its soundtrack is by a certain composer? I'd have to say no.

Interesting point. But would you buy a game because it had an innovative graphics style? Or interesting gameplay?

I might. So then, what? I guess music is not that important with respect to the rest.

[Nikolas]

Yes it is actually.

I don't think that even I go out to see a movie, or get a game for the music...

So should the reviewers care about the audio part, since it doesn't change the market possibilities then?

[Babar]

I didn't say that. Neither did I say it was unimportant. I guess its just less important wrt some of the other stuff.

[Nikolas]

I answered your question, not said you said it.

I also mentioned what I do myself. I don't remember myself going to see a movie (for example) because it had music by Zimmer. So I don't go out for the music. Should the reviews mention the music is good then?

[Becky]

Good music will not make a bad game with unclear graphics, poor setting and atmosphere and clumsy gameplay into a good game.  Good music will only make make an already good game better.  Game music is meant to complement and enhance the atmosphere of a game, not divert attention from it.  Music will always be part of the scenery in games, partly because being able to play the game is going to be more important.  If a more central role for music is desired, then really it's probably best to write an album, rather than make a game in my opinion.

[Oliwerko]

I think there should be a mention if the music is good or bad, but I wouldn't expect any big deals with it. It wouldn't affect anything except changing the "feel" of the game.

Most reviews I have read have had music mentioned. I didn't expect that it's ignored most of the time.

[lo_res_man]

I think music can really make or break my interest, and I think its very important in adventure games. In an adventure game you are going to be looking at the same sorry schmuk for HOURS, sure there might be occasional animation but walking back and forth gets a tad repetitive.music adds so much to negate that tedium. Best example, Pleurgburg, the music was what (to me) made that game the ags classic it is. and made up for its rather simple graphics.
and as far as the pros I think we are forgetting Robyn Miller even if you HATE myst and riven, you got to admit they had killer soundtracks

[space boy]

If a more central role for music is desired, then really it's probably best to write an album, rather than make a game in my opinion.

Or make something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip7wpGkAQgE

[Nikolas]

Just to make my point clearer (to Becky for example): It's not about the importance of music in games for me (in this thread at least). I know that music is secondary, and should be so, otherwise I would be making pop records (unsuccessfully but anyhow). It's on why reviewers don't care about it.

I saw 1 review for "Blackwell Unbound" and 2 for "Tale of Two kingdoms" (well... I am self centered I said so in the begining), which had no mentioning on music. And it's not that I mind really. Blackwell is not my work, but Thomases, and ATOTK is a work from 4-5 different composers, so I can hardly take credit... But it did strike me as odd...

but I will admit that since no one goes in the market for a game with good music, there are lesser points in including music in a review, thus I did get an answer (that didn't think off, initially).

The correct usage of music (for me) in games is to be there, not noticed, unless a cutscene, or the gameplay requires it. Nothing else. Unless you do go the extra mile (like spaceboy linked) and which case... yay!

[Becky]

Reviewers don't care about it because it's not as important.  It's very simple   They're reviewing a game, so will focus on the things most important to a game.  Though most reviews of commerical games I've read mention music/sound somewhere.

[ManicMatt]

Jesper Kyd did the music for Freedom fighters, and maybe the Hitman series, right? That's some good music there!

If someone asks me if, for example, Dragon Quest on the ps2 (the UK's only one) was any good, I wouldnt reply with "The music is top notch!" as it doesnt answer their question. It's not a good enough reason to base purchasing a game for. Just like this guy who told me he didnt like Shadow Hearts 3 'cos the voice actors had changed for some of the low key characters. Why would that be enough reason to hate a game?

I remember music from the C64 days more so, not because it was better, but because the whole game would have about 3 songs that loop after 4 minutes.

I am currently playing Rogue Galaxy, and after about 2 hours on a level I was starting to get bored of the music on that level. I got like that on Kingdom Hearts 2 once. The music is great, but it will grate after hearing the same part over and over. And you cant turn it off without using the master volume.

As for magazines, they sometimes mention the music, but rarely. They usually mention it if it really impressed them, or they moaned about the emo/hip hop radio station in the latest EA sports title.

[m0ds]

Most reviews I've ever read have included at least one line about music, and that for me is plenty. I really doubt it's ignored. Sound is half the picture, and it'll be the music that really drives the journey. If music is forgotten in a review I find it's simply because the reviewer thinks the people reading need more information on the technical aspects of a game, though i'm sure that reviewer still has an opinion on the music - just an unprovoked one unless it really stood out as good or bad.

Personally that to me is a bit crappy, kinda says the reviewer is only considerate of the technical side and they forget the parts that are really taking them on a journey through a "game". But hey, after reading game reviews for 10 years you kinda get used to it!