17/03/2009

A Tune you can melt to....

another new one ive found thats just heavenly....

12/03/2009

Game Music

They say everything is made of sinewaves.. or sound frequencies, and this has been prooven over and over. Therefore sound is all around us and an essential part of life!

So, what happens when music and sound is used alongside anything? For me, sound enhances ANY experience. Things become bigger and more enjoyable... I can feel more is theres a bluddy' good tune or noise in the background.

I match up my music to scenes as I walk along or sit on the bus. and it just makes everything special in another way. there is always noise.

My favourite soundtracks for games have always been of the tekken series, zone of the enders, rock raiders, MGS, Streets of Rage and sonic 1. Even 16-bit music could do magic. I remember loving 16-bit music on other megadrive games. I recently bought Lego Rock Raiders ps1 game, just for the soundtrack.

Because sound is such a big part of life, I think that you really cant make anything epic without it. Even when looking at a photo I can imagine some sort of tune to go along with it. is that just me?

The way MGS would shriek at you if you were seen by an enemy, or the way the beautiful labyrinth music of sonic 1, would be rudely interupted with a 10 second countdown to drowning riff... those were moments that made you panic. and in your rush to save the day, you'd end up dying. Then in teh back of your head, you dont want to hear that noise EVER again, for you know poor sonic is going to drown!!

The beauty of the ZOE music, is the way it perfectly matches the futuristic scenery of the game. I've always loved japanese trance, and that game just made it better for me!

Even the sound of wind (through your hair) in shadow of the colossus, the galloping horse, the water, just those natural sounds, all make towards that slightly more realistic gaming experience.

Of course, as games get better, so will sound and effects. I havent been dissapointed yet!!

01/03/2009

Games Culture

This sounds like an interesting subject. I would consider myself part of the 'online' games culture, as I havent had fun with an offline game for a while. I find these days I really dont enjoy all these 'later' titles, even if I do enjoy online play, just for playing competitivley.

Today compared to when I was young, this culture has become rather humourous. Many 'Net Speak' or 'Leet talk' phrases/memes have popped up, and only because of the digital world that many people now have as a part of their lives. Whats great is that, because alot of people enjoy gaming these days, most of these people undertsand these phrases, derived from elements of gameplay, simply because its like a common language between everyone. In a world full of hate and war (still would you believe :( ) gaming, and online gaming is a form of unity between anyone who plays. You may get the odd t*** who refuses to get along, but mostly online competitors play with a friendly outlook, and through the gore and killing and blood gushing and violence that may occur in an online game, the game usualy ends with a 'nice game' 'well played' 'you owned us, nice one' attitude. The slang and gaming jargon that comes from the digi world, is understood in the real world too, and can make for funny conversation sometimes!!

The internet brings people together, which Is what i think the world needs. We are all human after all. I wasnt expecting such warm reception from the different parts of the world on socom. But in general people play together nicely. And yes you will always get the one who will try and start a fight, but the better always overcomes the bad.

I think the internet is becoming an essential these days. More and more people are seeing its benefits, and having fun with it. As well as this though there is always a bad side. You will get gamers who really dont have anything else to do, and live on their PC's, and in their PC world only, that dont know what other joys in life there are. WOW players for e.g. I have never known a WoW player who wasnt playing it 99% of the time... i sometimes feel games promote 'living in your digital world' so as to keep you blinded from what is actualy happening in the world. like the TV itself.

I certainly dont play games as much as i used to. I just feel they arent as good as they used to be, and the more realistic they become the more undesirable they get for me. like ive said before, i dont like violent games, they make me sad, that you would want to kill some-one and look at what their brain looked like if it was blown to bits. This is why I love fantasy games, but I havent come across any good ones for years.