How do you see Video Game Music?

How do you see Video Game Music? Do you think it's beautiful because it's part of the game or it could stand alone at their own?

Let's say for example, Mitsuda released an album which doesnt have any connection to games. Do you still want to buy it? do you think VGM is separable from their game? or game is necessary to make VGM good?

Honestly I want to discuss this topic for long time. I see that VGM composers dont sell well outside the game field. Nobuo Uematsu for example, has been hailed by million vgm lovers for his beautiful compositions on FF series. But when I listened to his new-age album "phantasmogria", I'm deeply disappointed. The album doesnt bring nuisance he had in the VGM field. :doh:

I dont know whether other vgm composer has ever released their stand alone album alone before, so I took Uematsu's as example.

Discuss.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by lightgem

THat's true. Even some video gamers don't have any appreciate for VGM as well. I talked to a guy who called himself a RPGer. THe conversation led to VGM, and he said how much he love FF soundtrack. He asked if I own any of the FF soundtrack so he could borrow it, well, I ripped the whole 10 series's soundtrack into a DVD and gave it to him. The next day, he told me "I just need the soundtrack, I don't need background music, they're boring." I found out it was Eyes on me, Melodies of life and Suteki da ne he was talking about, and apperantly I've never talked to him about VGM anymore.

Many of my friends also said the same. It's pity that in their mind "soundtrack" means "song sung by a lead artist in the game" which I think is totally wrong because background music is the essence of VGM:doh:

Just lately I offer my friend to copy my entire final fantasy soundtracks just like what you did and to my surprise, he was only looking for the vocal ones and didnt seem to have any interest listening the background music. In the end he only copied several tracks from mahoroba which I think is a pity because he doesnt respect other instrumental albums. He also underrate most of my vgm album which mainly instrumental, including Dragon Quest and Legend of Zelda. Final fantasy vocal tracks took all the hype.

Well of course it's all return to taste and subjectivity, but I could conclude that VGM music dont get the respect they deserve.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Bishop743

Yes, that is very strange!! :P Nah man, I'm just messin'. Like I said, I used to be the exact same way. But since I've become a great lover of vgm over the last couple years, and have developed a joy of just listening to the music, I don't need the game environments to develop an enjoyment. Sure, having played the game first allows one to make a connection and to create nostalgia down the road, but I'm not really concerned about that. That's mainly because I don't play games as much as I used to.

To be honest, I dont play anymore games (PSX was my last console) but I began to love VGM after listening to Dragon quest and said goodbye to my life as gamer.

Similar to Bishop, I'm also a proof that people dont need to play the games to enjoy the music. I havent played any of Dragon Quest series, Shadow of Colossus, Myst, Final Fantasy XI and forth, Legend of Zelda Ocarina of time and thousand more. I always listen to the music first before playing the game (especially Zelda, I play the game because the music was damn beautiful)

And thanks to the community here, I love VGM even more.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.