How to choose the right music for your game

Mira

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Like any movie/play/game fan knows the difference between a regular show and a masterpiece can be in the soundtrack. Is because of that we must be very careful about the music we choose in this particular matter; it can be a tool as powerful (or even more) as the graphics itself.


In this day we can see it on games like Pokemon, whose music created an urban legend (the lavender town theory) when they decided to change it on a very specific part of the map.  And we are talking about a machine that with very limited sound options changed in an instant the complete atmosphere of the game.


First of all, to choose the right music one must think how we want the player feel; do we want to make him feel uncomfortable while playing our survival horror? Or we want to make him feel happy and comfy while saving the princess? Answer that question and you have half of the work done. But there is more.


We also must think if our music is going to be background music or we will only be using it on special occasions like a final boss or a battle. If it is the first option then I recommended some chill music, calm and with not too much changes of tempo or rhythm, but enough to not to bored the player. But, if it is the second option then, we can choose something more thrilling and more rocking. Something that match with the player’s current situation.


Also don’t forget to make sure that background music doesn’t interfere with other sound like battles, charms, deaths, etc. We are not making a music video.


The game’s soundtrack can become as popular as the game itself and even if we don’t have the talent or the time to create a new song we can look for other people to do it. There is plenty webs that offer music from artist all around the world for a very reasonable price or even for free (and with no copyright infringement). Here are some of my favorites but there are many more. Just look for it.


http://incompetech.com/music/


http://dig.ccmixter.org/


https://vimeo.com/musicstore
 
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taarna23

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I've moved this thread to General Discussion. Please be sure to post your threads in the correct forum next time. Thank you.


This is less a tutorial and more general tips, so I'm moving it there.
 

Kes

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Furthermore, as this is a discussion forum, you will need to be a bit more explicit about what it is you actually want to discuss.  At the moment, this is just a general sort of tip.
 

kaukusaki

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All my games have soundtracks. I create them once I settle on a theme. Though the majority of my music tend to be disco-inspired, I wanted to get away from the 'typical' sound you normally hear in games (like fantasy has a cinematic string-heavy sound, or futuristic with techno, etc). I know, playing a fantasy setting would be weird since you're hearing disco, but i'm all for something completely different. I got the idea watching films from the 70s and hearing their soundtracks, depending on the genre (fantasy, drama, action, thriller, comedy, etc). I'm a big disco fan, and have collected disco from all over to see how different they are (euro disco is different from italio disco, vs disco from usa.)  then there's different sounds depending on the period ( such as what's popular in 77 sounds different in 81)  and sub genres such as post disco or nu-disco.
 

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