Interactive Music—Music That Adds to the Gaming Experience

Excellent soundtracks are just one of many factors that make video games so addictive. While it’s easy to reminisce over the great soundtrack composed by Koji Kondo for Super Mario Bros., (don’t you just love the jingle when Mario dies?) we also realize that gaming soundtracks have come a long way over the last two decades. Now, thanks to the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360 and to some extent, the Nintendo Wii, gamers are treated to full soundtracks with singers, original scores and thrash-quality guitars and drums. Who could forget the expansive (and hilarious) soundtrack of the Grand Theft Auto series?

Video game music is called interactive music. Interactive music refers to music and songs that play according to the action taking place in the game. The soundtrack actually adapts as the game progresses. Adaptive music is another term commonly used in the industry. This refers to the “new age” of interactive music (video game music). The difference is that traditional interactive music implies that there is direct user interaction with the music, as observed with games like Guitar Hero or even PaRappa the Rapper. In contrast, adaptive music is complementing the game action, and though “interactive” in a sense, it is not supposed to distract the user from enjoying the game itself.

The major difference between interactive game music and film music is that film scoring requires the composter to complement the imagery of the film with the notes. It’s a “linear” style of music. In contrast, game music is non-linear because too many indeterminate scenes and variations occur in a normal session of game play.

How does one go about creating an excellent video game soundtrack? While film scoring and interactive scoring remain different entities, composers should have similar ambitions. Remember that video games can stir up emotion just the same as movies. It can reinforce onscreen action (think GTA), create tension (Silent Hill, anyone?) or even bring on emotional catharsis (Final Fantasy).

While ambition is important, technical expertise cannot be ignored—in both composition and game design. Timing, pacing, contexts, and computer-generated outcomes are constantly in flux in video games. So interactive music should be rather open-ended, in that it complements practically any action taking place. Like film scoring, the composer has an obligation to highlight the action by subtly creating music that matches the themes of the game.

If you are designing a game then don’t underestimate the importance of an interactive soundtrack. Gamers today are picky, demanding and downright aggressive when it comes to creating a fantasy.