Technology has revolutionized the way we live; hardly anyone could have predicted that we would be spending a significant portion of our lives in a virtual environment. Still, modern technology has permeated every pore of our society and lives, which also has some good effects –for one, we are far less bored. People find various hobbies to keep themselves interested, and gambling seems to be a very popular option around the world. Websites offer bonus codes in UK and around the world for new members, so that you can maximize your enjoyment straight away. Of course, there are other games outside casinos, which people find very interesting. The video game industry has grown significantly in the past 20 years, and video games have become huge works of art, showcasing the artwork of hundreds and thousands of people. When it comes to music, the music in video games today is drastically different from what could be heard in the seventies and eighties. So how did video games change popular music?
What it used to be like
When we think about some video game classics, they usually featured a simple, repetitive tune, with an artificial, digital sound. However, original scores, although they exist today, share the throne with licensed music. In the90’s games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Grand Theft Auto, although quite popular because of their visual characteristics and the amusement they provided for their players, also became very well-known because of their soundtracks. They opened the way for commercialized music to be used in video games.
What it is like today
Video games not only help promote music and artists, but they also present a whole new market for artists to branch out to. Games like FIFA, for example, have become legendary in music circles, as artists that are featured on its playlists get a significant boost in rating and popularity. Stars like Avicii and the Black Keys were only some of the musicians that were featured. It is not overstating when we say that video games today are what MTV and similar stations were back in the 80s and 90s. It is hard to say what the future will look like, with music streaming becoming more and more popular, but we may even see some integration of streaming music and video games. Also, when it comes to original scores for video games, more and more famous composers are starting to work on them; making music for video games is now much more valued, and we can see names like Paul McCartney, Hans Zimmer, Skrillex, and many others who are credited for beautiful original video game music scores.
How have video games changed music?
Music has definitely evolved, and video games have some credit for it. Firstly, in the time of crisis for TV and radio, they helped music reach wider audiences and brought many artists world fame. Moreover, with video games becoming more and more complex projects, they require more sophisticated music, and it is very possible that we may soon view the category of video game music as completely equal to film music.
