What is it in game music that you like so much and how could it be better?

I give it a try.

Originally Posted by Rimo

1. If you had to describe what VGM is to someone ignorant on the subject, what would you say?

VGM is music composed for video and computer games and serves a lot of different styles.

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2. Why do you listen to game music on a stand-alone basis? What elements do you like or dislike from it?

I guess I like it because it's so thematic. Most tracks describe something or support a specific topic - without any vocals (except of chorus and such)! And you can find styles which hard to find anywhere else.

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3. Do you listen to music from games you haven't played?

As I'm not that kind of gamer who plays everything he can get, yes.

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4. What percentage does VGM represent on your playlist vs. non-game music? If applicable, what kind of music do you listen to outside of VGM? If you don't listen to mainstream music (i.e. not VGM, film, or anime soundtracks), why is that so?

I don't have a playlist in which VGM and non-VGM is mixed but I would guess from all the time I listen to music 70% is VGM.
Beside VGM I'm listening to electronic stuff, Eurobeat, Neoclassical, New Age/World music.

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5. How do you feel about music that was not published as an official album? How much of a problem is it to you if you want to listen to it? Also, do you actually buy official albums or strictly download them illegally (or a mix of both)? Do you think these albums are adequately priced?

I buy albums if I have the money and if I really like the soundtrack. Currently most of my collection were downloaded but I hope I can change the ratio after earning money regularly.
No problem about Gamerips. To say the truth I don't know any ripper at GFF from who I could say the stuff he brings up is totally shit.
Prices, hah, sometimes I think publishers have a bad taste of humour but i. e. Konami Europe goes the perfect way. Most of their soundtracks at Konamistyle shop cost around ten euros and that's a more than acceptable price in my opinion.

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6. Which genres/styles do you mainly listen to? Which do you avoid?

First of all I don't avoid any style. At least no one is coming in my mind now. But I love down-tempo themes with a touch of "mystic". "Forest of Cutting Shadows" from Chrono Cross soundtrack is one of such a style.

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7. If one of these genres also exists in non-game music, do you also listen to it from that category? If not, why?

Yes, I think.

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8. Video gaming had a reputation for a long time of being a childish or geeky hobby, and a part of it persists today. Inevitably, to a certain extent, the music also fell under this denigrative categorization (especially retro chiptunes). Do you think VGM is as valid as any other music from a listener's point of view? Additionally, are you fully comfortable about mentioning you listen to VGM when you discuss with someone who isn't into gaming?

Let me say that way: If others can say without danger that they are listening to rap then I can talk about that I'm listening to VGM. Sure, chiptunes isn't everybody's taste but what's chiptunes today?

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9. How would you compare game music from the past (aka chiptunes, up to the SNES era) and modern material?

There were highlights in the past and there are highlights today. Okay, for me, I have more highlights in the SNES era than in modern consoles. In that case everybody's different I guess.

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10. During its infancy, VGM was unique in part because of its electronic sound coming from limited sound chips. Today, any kind of instruments can be used and thus this uniqueness doesn't always persist. Do you believe VGM should sound different from other music categories? If so, how could this be achieved nowadays?

Sure it shouldn't sound like any other genre. Of course, VGM has its styles but the (known) listener should sound out whether something is VGM stuff or not. How, I can't tell because I'm a looser in analyzing music.

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11. Most gamers don't particularly care about game music (or at least, to the extent we do). Thus, it's most probably not part of their playlists. Some producers believe that players would prefer to hear their favorite mainstream songs while playing rather than original music, hence the use of licensed material. What is your opinion about this?

Gnah, don't like it. It may be okay in a racer or wrestling game but it shouldn't be any kind of standard.

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12. Other producers, which aren't as radical, may still hire a composer, yet ask him/her to create something that sounds extremely close to popular music. This does not make highly unique VGM, yet it can still be very enjoyable and is a creative process. Do you see a problem in this?

That depends upon who is making what music and for what a game. I could see a Jean-Michel Jarre as co-composer for a Metroid title but not Eminem for any fantasy RPG.

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13. A popular trend these days (notably in the West) is to make games that are very cinematic in nature, mimicking Hollywood down to the use of (usually) orchestral cinematic music. How do you feel about this? Since these two media are converging when it comes to telling a story on screen, should games (and their music) be any different from films? If so, how?

Film and game are similar at most and that's how the music should be at most: similar. In my opinion, it's the biggest issue that western VGM is too much background stuff - like much (Hollywood) movie soundtracks.

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14. Certain producers and composers believe that the perfect music should not be noticeable unless it's not there. Another way to formulate this would be to say that the music shouldn't be in the forefront to avoid distracting the player. In practice, this often results in the use of an adaptative music system, playing an ambient (see "usually unmelodic") track when nothing special is going on and then loading a more dynamic cue when action kicks in. When listened to on a stand alone basis, these soundtracks often make an inconsistent experience (unless for huge ambient fans). What do you think about this?

Dynamic music can be great but there's the background topic again. Of course, sometimes simple ambient fits best but it shouldn't be huge part of complete soundtrack.

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15. VGM is inevitably linked to the games it comes from. In fact, it's created to suit them in the first place! Is there any soundtrack which you regard very lowly from a listener point of view, but that you found worked well in-game? If possible, how could it have been more enjoyable to listen to while still working as well in-game?

There's no title coming in my mind... Otherwise I'll edit this answer later.

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16. Do you think there is too much music sounding the same? If so, could this be because there are too many similar games? If the games weren't to change, how could the music become different without sounding out of place?

Similar in their composition? Hm, no.

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17. Do you notice any difference between VGM created in Japan, America and Europe? If so, what does one do better or worse than the others, and vice versa?

As I mentioned above, in most cases western VGM is more background-oriented. More composers should do it like Graeme Norgate has done with TimeSplitters series and let the players hear the fucking music!

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18. VGM is a lot more popular in Japan than it is in the West, with album releases being a good indicator. How could things get better in the West on that matter?

If their are afraid of CD releases then they should use the damn internet and if so, accessible for customers worldwide. I have nothing from a shop for which I need a Japanese address when I live in Germany, for instance. Oh, and please, no DRM (DirectSong anyone?).

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19. If you had to sum up in three words what you expect from VGM, which would you choose?

Simply just enjoyable.

How ya doing, buddy?