I love videogames and a huge part of the experience is often the soundtracks. In fact, sometimes the soundtrack can often be the only saving grace (NES Silver Surfer is the go to for this one) or can turn a good game into a great game (Nier).
Certain game music reminds of places I've been and the people I've been with; game music is the sound of my personal journey and the many worlds I've visited. The fact that videogame music can be diagetic and react to your actions also makes it seem personal and unique to your playthrough, even if it isn't really it seems personal to you.
I've attended a few concerts in my time including the Dear Esther (Barbican), Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses (Wembley Arena) and the PlayStation in Concert (Royal Albert Hall) and the sight of seeing some of the worlds most prestigious orchestras playing these iconic scores is truly amazing. I was lucky enough to see Anamanaguchi perform at Heaven, London, way back in 2014 and their chiptune inspired music and seminal Scott Pilgrim soundtrack brought videogame music to the mainstream as there was a cross-pollination of pop and chip tunes. Meanwhile, Austin Wintory's BAFTA winning score for Journey brought videogame music to the classical music aficionados, a venn diagram that doesn't often overlap. Ever since then, we have been living in a bit of a golden age of video game music with Sound of Gaming, High Score and Game Play offering radio airtime and podcasts for the formally niche genre on major radio stations like Classic FM, BBC Radio and the BBC Sounds app.
What was a cottage industry of VGM vinyl companies is now a thriving business with many companies including Black Screen Records, Data Discs and Mondo being a few amongst many. I personally buy the soundtracks to games I've played and loved or have fond memories of, thus my abundance of Sega Megadrive game soundtracks. Like my curated videogame collection, I only buy what I really want. I'm not a completist but just get what resonates and matters to me. What's wonderful is discovering arranged soundtracks where the composers are given another chance to rework their class scores with full orchestras or instruments that were unavailable due to technical limitations. It's great to see what the original composers and fans of these pieces come up with. The Grammy's seem to realise that this is a thriving scene that is here to stay and have created a new category for videogame soundtracks in 2023, whilst Kirby Super Star by the 8-bit Big Band won the Grammy this year. The statement of intent is clear; videogame soundtracks are here to stay. Add the fact that the Proms held their first ever VGM night and we can see there has been a change in attitude to VGM, no longer classified as bleeps and bloops.
I've bought a few videogame CD soundtracks in my time including Shadow of the Colossus and Ico but in England the availability of these was difficult. However, over the years, there has been a boom in video game soundtracks being sold, especially on vinyl. There is pleasure in having something so digital and ephemeral as VGM presented in vinyl, an old analogue format and I guess many people want something physical to show their fandom.
There are a couple of white whale soundtracks that I'd love to own including the Sayonara Wild Hearts and Ecco the Dolphin Sega CD soundtrack. Both ARE phenomenal yet prohibitively expensive and, whilst I played and completed Sayonara, I discovered the Ecco soundtrack whilst listening to a game music podcast.
Whilst the cost of living crisis and other adulting costs keep my hobby in check, I do pick up a vinyl here or there and have amassed quite a good collection (currently 18). My most recent buys have been the soundtracks to Sable, Astro’s Playroom and Nier Automata. I’ve loved wrapping myself in a blanket and reading a book whilst listening to this genre of music as it takes me back to simpler times. Waves of nostalgia wash over me but, importantly, the music is just amazing!
LINK- Ico and SOTC: Reflections of a Gaming Life
LINK: Japan: My Journey to the East
LINK- The Future Starts Here: An Optimistic Guide to What Comes Next- Book Review
LINK- Nintendo: My One True Gaming Constant
LINK: Let’s All Create a ‘New Normal’.
LINK- Battle Angel Alita: And So It Ends
LINK- Ulysses 31 Retro Soundtrack Review