I can hear the cries of disbelief now.

"Gaming Music? Really? You're talking about those blips and bleeps and heavy metal loops that don't mean anything?"

Nope, not at all. What I'm talking about is the cream of the crop. The music that like opera and and the greatest of film soundtracks, manages to create an environment and an emotion. In many ways audio is more responsible for the immersion of some of the greatest pieces of interactive fiction ever made.

Of course, any discussion on this will require an explanation of the context of the game and why exactly the music in question works so well.

First of all, I'm going to share a piece from a game called "Stubbs The Zombie" which was an attempt to create a version of a fifties inspired world, set in the modern day. They even had a medley which captured the entire feel of the game in one song... it's far too much fun and manages to capture both the nostalgia and the slightly creepy feel that seems to perfectly embody corporate visions of the past.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d11rqCXEjIs]

Next up, we'll go for something a little more esoteric. This is from a game called "Planescape: Torment" which was just re-issued (FINALLY) and is often described as "The best book you'll ever play". The music here is very much traditional cinematic, but at the same time is something a little different, being both heroic and melancholic at the same time. Mark Morgan did some excellent work here, and combined with A list quality voice actors, manages to create a piece that almost feels like a radio play.)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixv_jRI6VqY][video:https://www.youtube.c...

Moving on to the modern era, I am going to share a bit from one of my personal online friends, who is a composer named Tony Mandfredonia. I featured him a while back and while he does non-gaming music, it's in his creation of mood where he really shines. (He also does a current show on Youtube involving composition and the little things that make or break a piece.)

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWKt3SiP94o][video:https://www.youtube.c...

Finally, I'll leave you with the most bombastic of my choices, Jeremy Soule, who in my opinion is one of the absolute best composers working today as far as creating an atmosphere and a feeling of heroic mood.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA0jY2b_QpI][video:https://www.youtube.c...

Just a random topic I felt like discussing today. I need a break from the garbage of the political world, and a reminder that there is quality and integrity in the world, if we only choose to look for it.