Something I don't think I've ever encountered in AG's.

[Boneho Chane]

Licensed Music.

I've only seen original music. Don't get me wrong, I love original videogame music, but it still find this a little odd.

[bigjko]

I think the only time I've encountered licensed music in a video game was in the GTA games.

Come to think of it, I'd like to see something like Snatch, where everything feels a bit like a long music video, along with style, in an adventure. But that's wish ful thinking, and bordering on "movie-to-videogame adaption" thinking, which is dangerous.

[artwking4]

This is a scary thought, licensed music. It wouldn't surprise me though if LucasArts ever did another adventure game, they'd have Smash Mouth's "All Star" playing throughout the entirety of Monkey Island 5.

[Boneho Chane]

This is a scary thought, licensed music. It wouldn't surprise me though if LucasArts ever did another adventure game, they'd have Smash Mouth's "All Star" playing throughout the entirety of Monkey Island 5.

Um, okay?

[squarejawhero]

Farenheit features licensed music, but it isn't out yet. Adventures, like movies, are better suited to proper soundtracks written for them, imho. But it depends on the scene and context, naturally.

[insane_cobra]

Funny, that's just the thing I wrote about on Ragnar Tornquist's blog some 15 minutes ago. I definitely believe licensed music is the way to go, but it must be chosen as a part of designer's artistic vision and not just a way to bring MTV kids to play your game.

There was Peter Gabriel's music in one of the Myst games (or was it Uru? Both? I always forget) and Nomad Soul had David Bowie's tracks. I think that's about it?

[crabapple]

There was Peter Gabriel's music in one of the Myst games (or was it Uru? Both? I always forget)


It was both, and it was terrible. In Uru it was fortunately restricted to the radio Zandi was playing. I'm not sure how much of Myst IV's music was written by Peter Gabriel, but he didn't write all of it. Jack Wall wrote most of it.

Ripper had Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper," though that was just one song.

Faust had music from several sources - some new some old. At least it sounded old. I don't think any of it was specifically written for the game.

The classical music by Wagner in games like Ring and Ring 2 certainly wasn't written for the games. The music in Versailles 1685 was available on other classical music CD's.

I don't know if the music from the intro sequence to Runaway was written specifically for the game or not.

There was a thread here not so long ago about some of the music in Still Life being from Mozart's Requiem.

Generally I like it better when games have music written specifically for them. Otherwise, if I've heard the music before, I'm reminded of something outside of the game when I hear it.

[Wormsie]

Pop music with lyrics doesn't suit as background music for games. Period.

[squarejawhero]

Personally, I like Gabriels music. Although it did feel out of place in the Myst games.

[gillyruless]

What about the heavy metal tunes from Full Throttle? I always thought they sounded very farmiliar but couldn't place them. Were they all original?

[RemiO]

What about the heavy metal tunes from Full Throttle? I always thought they sounded very farmiliar but couldn't place them. Were they all original?
Yep, from The Gone Jackals's "Bone to Pick".

[Lucien21]

Licensed music would only work in cuscenes.

The slow pace of adventures would mean that you could be in the same location for a long time listening to the crazy frog song or some such annoying rubbish.

Besides it would be hideously expensive to put in your average adventure.

You just require mood music.

[insane_cobra]

Pop music with lyrics doesn't suit as background music for games. Period. It does. Period period.

EDIT: Okay, maybe it doesn't work well as BACKGROUND music (although it can be used as ambient background for when you're in a club or something), but it can be very effectively used to accentuate some scenes.

EDIT EDIT: Okay, that Squaresie's post reminded me it sometimes works well as a background, too :D

[squarejawhero]

Depends on when you use it. SSX3 or Wipeout really use pop music to their advantage, for example.

[Lucien21]

That's because it fits the short temporary nature of those games.

The laps/races are pretty short and the adrenaline rush suited the style of music.

I can't see it being anything other than annoying unless it was in a cutscene or your character was in a nightclub.

[insane_cobra]

There are also some genres where gameplay stems from the music. Licenced music (Frequency, Amplitude) or music with lyrics (Parrapa The Rapper) work great in those.

[samIamsad]

I'm currently making another Myst clone. Don't moan yet, to emphasize my artistic integrity, I'm going to include random Björk and Aphex Twin tracks. Also, there's going to be a cameo by Thom Yorke, who you will have to make suck on a lemon. It's all for surreality's sake and it's great.

Jus' kidding. :P

[artwking4]

Um, okay? What?

[Boneho Chane]

What?

Smashmouth and Monkey Island? It's just completely unthinkable. :crazy:

[KanyeWest]

Motorhead (first game ever to use licenced music i think)

Fifa series..acutally most EA sports games

GTA

cant think of more right now..but im sure i forgot some :)

[Boneho Chane]

Actually the first game to have licensed music is said to be Wipeout.

[Sage]

The easter egg in the conservatory in "Zork-Nemesis" was licensed, and I think the name of the band is mentioned in the credits.

ScottMate

[Wreck]

Well Full Throttle used the Gone Jackel's soundtrack which you were able to purchase. The band was separate from the game but hte music legalized to use in Full Throttle.

[artwking4]

Smashmouth and Monkey Island? It's just completely unthinkable. :crazy:
Yeah, I was exaggerating, based on LucasArts obvious disdain for adventure games now.:D I guess licensed music could work in some games, though. But to taint our beloved classics would be unforgiveable! Hmmmm... but maybe Bob Marley or other reggae could be made to work with Monkey Island. A very hardcore Monkey Island, that isn't as silly. At least not silly in the same way.

[Henke]

Full Throttle and The Nomad Soul are the only ones I can think of that used licensed music of the games I've played.

Music are in the game for a purpose, to enhance your emotions of what you play so to speak. It could deffinately work sometimes to use already known music but often you could get the same result (if not better) if it's written directly for your game. What kind of music depends on the context and what emotion or feeling the developer wants to express to the player.

[Burns11]

Actually the first game to have licensed music is said to be Wipeout.
Technically wouldn't that crown have to go to Journey (arcade)?