Music and video games: a very peculiar evolution

Music and video games: a very peculiar evolution

Without a doubt, music is one of the most important elements of an audiovisual medium. In addition to bringing the tone of a scene, it can be used to subtly complement the emotions of the characters.

This includes the world of videogames which have some of the most spectacular soundtracks they can hear:

link:

However, thanks to the intrinsic interactivity of this platform, music can be replaced with anything else. How many of us don't mute on TV while we let a playlist run?

Even so, the production houses do not skimp on expenses and seek to create a musical environment as good as the same game mode.

But before, making music for video games was an art in itself, since due to the limitations of the consoles of yesteryear, the music had to be created from the sound chip, making it impossible to record the music in a studio and put it later The game is over.

In fact, at first they didn't even have music, leaving us with just a few "blip" in the background.

link:

This expanded even to the little machines, but over time it became common that all games will feature at least one song, even if it is repeated all the time.

It would not be until the arrival of the Nintendo Entertainment System, when video game music began to be noticed

link:

Creating a sound format, the NES has some of the most memorable soundtracks in the world of video games, which are still used as the basis for the creation of new music.

Of course, the little machines also had their own music, which had more elements and sounds.

link:

However, the consoles found their champion with one of Nintendo's most legendary machines. Thanks to its SPC700 sound chip, the Super Nintendo is considered the console with the best music ever:

Even their computer and computer game ports sounded better than the originals. If you don't believe me, listen to the soundtrack of the Doom version of the Super Nintendo (of course, it's a little slower):

link:

With its 8 channels, the Super Nintendo was able to create incredible 16-bit symphonies, which were as complex as a real one:

link:

But those who really stood out in this field, were the Capcom boys, who not only reigned with their games, but also; they had the best composers in the industry:

link:

Interestingly, Capcom, a Japanese company, created two of the most characteristic themes of an American character. The first and obvious is the theme of the "American Falcon" Guile, which can be used for any situation:

link:

And what is better (or ironic), is that neither Marvel and Disney have given a worthy theme to one of the greatest American idols, Captain America:

link:

So good were the composers of those times, who could create very complex pieces using only the resources of the software and hardware of the consoles and recreational.

But, with the evolution of consoles and storage formats, music created from “bits” was left behind to give way to studio music (at least until PSX):

link:

With this, the composers saved the task of having to know the uses and operations of a console, being able to record in a conventional way the soundtrack for the game.

This gave life to impressive soundtracks, which asked nothing of Hollywood movies at all.

However, this marked the clear difference between video game music and video game music.

Now, music is created apart from the original development and as in the case of movies, it is recorded separately.

Before, music was created alongside the game, since as we said before, the resources of the console had to be used to create the music.

link:

Do not misunderstand me, I am not criticizing the musical production of today's games, because thanks to this we have had.