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Wii U system music gets collected into unofficial nine-track album
Want to relive the labors of setting up Nintendo's new console? How about taking the aural route? DJ Cutman has cut together an unofficial greatest hits album from the Wii U's built-in soundtrack, encompassing memorable 'hits' like the firmware update and menu tunes. We've embedded one of Nintendo's decidedly relaxed tracks after the break, while there's a little bit more info (and some download links) for the unofficial project at the source below.
Video Games Live special brings orchestral game music to PBS
Are video games art? That question may still be a cause of debate for some, but there is little question that there is artistry in video games -- like the music, which often doesn't receive the attention it deserves. Game music composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall have been doing their best to change that for years now with their symphonic Video Games Live show, however, and it looks like they'll soon have what could be their largest audience yet. The group recently announced that PBS will be debuting a 90-minute Video Games Live special on July 31st, which will continue to air throughout August, and be available on DVD, Blu-ray and CD. Check with your local PBS affiliate for the exact time and air dates in your area, and head on past the break for a taste of what's in store.
Koji Kondo and GDC make beautiful music together
The Game Developers Conference has been trying to get Koji Kondo to come speak about game audio for ten years, according to an introduction by Tommy Tallarico. The wait seemed well worth it, as the famed Nintendo composer's first public appearance in the United States drew a standing ovation from the hundreds-strong assembled crowd today.Kondo, who has worked on the music for the Mario, Zelda and Star Fox series, among others, stressed three main points in making good game audio: Rhythm in game audio is not just having a catchy beat, but matching your beat to the animation and button presses in the game. "If the music doesn't reflect the rhythm of the game, it might as well be piped in from a source outside the room," Kondo said through a translator. Balance in game audio means not just balancing things like sound effect and music volume, but also bringing individual audio pieces in a game together as a single composition, with a defined introduction, bridge and ending. This is why Kondo always submits pieces to his director four or five at a time, so they won't be given equal weight but instead be balanced in the correct way. Interactivity in game music can be as overt as a faster tempo when time is running out in Super Mario Bros. or as subtle as slight phrasing changes in each trip through the overworld in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Kondo stressed that "this ability of the video game medium, which is not possible with CDs, movies etc., is a very interesting and unique feature."
Hey, Grammys, where's the video game love?
The music world is all in a tizzy at today's announcement of the 49th annual Grammy award nominations, and all the the nominated artists should be very proud. Unfortunately, music artists, producers and engineers who work in the video game industry have nothing to be excited about. Aside from an obscure video game reference in Arctic Monkey's Best-Rock-Performance-nominated-song "Chun Li's Flying Bird Kick," [thanks, avtiger27] video game music has no representation in the expansive Grammy nominees list.It would be ridiculously easy for the Recording Academy to shoehorn video game music into the Film/TV/Visual Media category -- surely the Gears of War soundtrack can hold its own against the likes of the soundtrack for Grey's Anatomy, Season 2. Better yet, the Recording Academy could create a whole new category for video game music, much like the MTV Video Music Awards did last year.It seems a shame that great soundtracks for games like Xenosaga: Episode III, Zelda: Twilight Princess and Tomb Raider: Legend don't even have a chance to be honored during the recording industry's biggest night of the year. So how about it, Recording Academy? Why not respect video games as the culturally important force that they are with a few nominations next time around?
Downloadable videogame sheet music
If you want to star in one of our Friday music posts but lack the ability to play an instrument, we can't help. But if you can play and only need sheet music to game songs, Brian Auyeung's Video Game Sheet Music site is the answer.While the site hasn't been updated recently, it lovingly hosts a few dozen direct song transcriptions and arrangements, as downloadable PDFs. So start practicing, and internet-fame may soon be yours.[Via del.icio.us]
Video Games Live seats in Indy up for sale
Tickets are now on sale for the two Video Games Live shows planned in conjunction with Gen Con Indy Friday & Saturday, August 11-12.After a stop in Philly earlier this month, the VGL tour is moving on to Houston July 14th, Chicago August 5th, and then Indianapolis the weekend after that. More on reserving seats for the Hilbert Circle Theatre can be found on the official announcement page (via the pic to the right or the Read link below).Judging by the reviews of the Philly show so far, Video Games Live sounds like it could be a lot of fun. If they keep providing public access to Guitar Hero II, they may have sold this blogger on going already. We hope Midwestern gamers not attending the Chicago show can make a pitstop in Indy to keep Tommy's show on the road. So, yeah ... rock on.See also: Official VGL report from Philly (with some local links to boot) Video Games Live ticket purchases opened a bit early The official page for Gen Con Indy PS2 impressions: Guitar Hero II
