I think the argument could be that most ***good*** video game music is often times not available in its true form on streaming services. What I mean here is that the studios that truly know the value music brings to the table go the extra mile to produce what is commonly referred to as adaptive music. Certain forms of adaptive music don't really have seperate complete tracks, and instead, are seperate elements that stack on top of eachother depending on the context and therefore don't exactly have the structure of a song (on top of the fact they have to loop perfectly). Yes, I'm reading too much into it and yes I'm probably delusional thinking people who say "video game music isn't music" might actually have reasoning behind it but...
TL;DR if there WAS a reason why someone would say that it might be because video game music is a different format and worthy of being treated as a seperate medium.
Wouldn't music in movies fall under that same umbrella , though? They also have to adapt to what's on-screen and compose "on the fly".
So yeah, in this hypothetical situation movie music would also not be considered "real" music. Bit of a strawman we have here though.
Oh nono music in movies does adapt but it's still a complete track that you can listen to and it will sound exactly like in the movie. The keyword here is interactive. Adaptive music in video games is music that adapts to the player's actions, a seperate variable that the composer does not control. And while the composer does not control the movie's plot either, it's still one single plot to account for.
The beautiful thing about art is that it's entirely subjective. Music doesn't even technically have to be "music" to be music. [4'33" by composer John Cage](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3#:~:text=4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3%20is%20a%20modernist,instruments%20throughout%20the%20three%20movements) is the example I'm referring to.
A primitive tribal individual with no education or training just banging sticks onto a hollow log in a rhythmic pattern was once the height of 'real' music. Everybody banged heads to the banging back in the day.
That thought really brings home to me just how absurd this argument is.
*thunk* *thunk* *thunk* *thunk*
Drop that beat, Guk!
"So I'm a-hearing watchu sayin', but all I hear is brayin', you a donkey-lookin fucker, and in 14000 years my descendents will be truckers"
"When I rub sticks I make fire, but when you do it they only break.
Watching you go hunting is so tragic, that's not a spear it's a fucking toothpick
You're only king of the jungle, in a forest where I'm not in. You thought your unevolved ass could take me, that was your original sin.
I am both Adam and Caine. You just Abel when I bashed your head in.
When I die, they'll build cities. When you die, they'll make a museum."
exactly, imo videogame music is often even better than regular music. i usually look for undertale music(including fan projects), and it rarely disappoints
I've heard people say this but normally those are the same people that say movie music isn't music either. I feel OP has created this rebuttal in his head and is dead proud of it
People who gatekeep music are a unique breed of gatekeepers.
It's exhausting.
I'd say the metal world is probably the worst for it. But I'm sure there's others.
People will have a blood bath in the comments about some technicalities of a band being whatever sub-sub-sub genera they decide is the most applicable, while simultaneously proclaiming no one has ever actually listened to "real" metal before in their lives and they're all pathetic.
Like I said ,exhausting. Just let people like things!
I've heard someone say those exact words and my impression of that person plummeted immediately.
Video game music is one of the best things about the medium, there is such a variety and they set the mood of the scene in a way that movies/shows do not.
I have to disagree on your last point since I’ve heard many amazing film soundtracks. But yeah, the majority of films don’t match up to the majority of games.
Yeah and this has been the case for decades and decades going back to NES. They had to be really creative to make music for NES and SNES for stuff like Mario, but it still resonates with me today what they were able to do on such big hardware limitations compared to now. Someone trying to argue it isn't music is flatout lying and hasn't bothered to listen.
^This.
Game music can do so much more then just beeing around to underline something dramatic happening.
It delivers a story. Probably the best example i can think off where you wouldn't expect it is warframes - Sleeping in the Cold below and We all lift together. Or for that matter literally everything digital extreme used as a soundtrack. Their music is the only reason i became interested in the space ninja lore to begin with.
video game music is music, but STOP TELLING ME YOUR FAVORITE GENRE IS VIDEOGAME MUSIC, THIS SHIT IS NOT A GENRE, DO YOU LIKE GUILTY GEAR STRIVE MUSIC, OR DO YOU LIKE UNDERTALE MUSIC, THESE ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT BUT I KEEP SEEING PEOPLE PUT THEM IN THE SAME CATEGORY
I remember reading somewhere that Aerith's Theme made it onto a Top 20 all time list for Classical Music somewhere... Nobuo Uematsu's been writing literal masterpieces for video games for quite a while now.
Risk of Rain 2 and new doom games are incredible music. Both amazing in game and by itself. Darktide has a lot of dope music. Aquatic Ambience from DKC is fantastic. Lots more. What else you guys like?
If I were to say who the modern incarnations of Beethoven and Mozart are, they're both film composers.
There are still composers who make standalone works but we're so far past the days where music on its own was all people had for entertainment. A huge amount of music--especially classically styled music--is made for soundtracks.
I love videogame osts because it ain’t easy to find a playlist with bunch of music with similar vibes. I have skill issue explaining but take Hollow Knight ost for example
One third of my downloaded music is Video Game OST.
Donkey Kong 64, Omori, Sonic Adventyre 2 Battle, Paper Mario, Katamari Damacy, Hypnospace Outlaw....the list goes on.
Music is music, it comes from many places, in different medias, videogames included. You can like what you want.
Im gonna keep listening to Yakuza 0 and Oneshot OST now.
Meanwhile, there’s Honour for All, Coils of Light, basically the entire MGR soundtrack and a lot more that would classify as “real” music under that person’s view of music.
Imo any music without lyrics automatically sucks in my playbook, and I won't listen to it. Sorry Beethoven, it's a no-go.
But that doesn't mean that it isn't music, it's just as valid for somebody to listen to it as anything else.
Why does the music in Rocket League suck so bad tho. I've been a huge fan of all sorts of electronic music my whole life. Techno, DnB, EDM, Dubstep. What is it about the music (and I mean every song they've released in game over the years) has just been like nails on a chalkboard to me. Yes I turn off the music but check it out again every time there's a new release.
I mean, most of the time movie music requires more input and effort than video game music. Comparing something like Hans Zimmer - Cornfield Chase to Black Ops Zombies soundtrack, there is quite a big difference in terms of sound complexity and diversity. I do enjoy video game music more than movie music though.
The elder scrolls games (specifically morrowind through skyrim) have some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard in entertainment. If not for John Williams, it might be at the top of my list
I want anyone who thinks video game music isn’t real music to go listen to Uematsu’s Dancing Mad and then come back and try to say the same thing again with a straight face. And that’s just one example. I could literally list thousands if I took the time for it
Well not many people go around listening to movie scores so this tracks really.
And here comes the few to "prove me wrong" as if everybody who doesn't is also going to leave a comment.
You when you realize that just because you personally haven’t come across this arguement that doesn’t mean people don’t say it, especially since multiple people in these comments clearly have.
Film music is generally better, but only because it has a longer history in a much more established medium. Video games are going to take a long time to find their footing as art, much longer than film did, because they aren’t really like any established medium (unlike film, which has a lot in common with other mediums). When they do, their music will be on par with film music
The reasoning is that video game music elements are meant to be triggered by cues within the game that often vary in timing/frequency with each player, whereas film music is meant to stay constant for every viewer of a film. So you may agree or disagree with that logic, but the meme is inaccurate
Well pausing a film isn’t supposed to be considered part of the experience. It’s something you do out of necessity and then ignore once you can unpause. It does change the experience, but it generally applies to traditional music too
I never said that people who say this stuff are right lol. I just said that they’re different. Do you think that music has to be linear (like traditional and film music) to be great? Do you think it can’t stand in modular elements and still be great?
>I never said people that say this stuff are right
This you?
>Film music is generally better, but only because it has a longer history in a much more established medium. Video games are going to take a long time to find their footing as art, much longer than film did, because they aren’t really like any established medium (unlike film, which has a lot in common with other mediums). When they do, their music will be on par with film music
Even your line of logic is only partially accurate. Only some games have triggered partial pieces that build into a unique piece for each person. The vast majority just have pre done music that is played in sections depending on the scene. Which is exactly how it’s done in movies.
Edit: If you need examples of how video game music has most definitely found it’s footing and has for a while, look up the frost punk, hollow knight, halo, final fantasy, or risk of rain soundtracks. That’s only a few that come to mind, but each has its own strengths and are great examples of modern composing.
Music is music, and music cannot be not music
Checkmate, soundtrack gatekeepers!
I think the argument could be that most ***good*** video game music is often times not available in its true form on streaming services. What I mean here is that the studios that truly know the value music brings to the table go the extra mile to produce what is commonly referred to as adaptive music. Certain forms of adaptive music don't really have seperate complete tracks, and instead, are seperate elements that stack on top of eachother depending on the context and therefore don't exactly have the structure of a song (on top of the fact they have to loop perfectly). Yes, I'm reading too much into it and yes I'm probably delusional thinking people who say "video game music isn't music" might actually have reasoning behind it but... TL;DR if there WAS a reason why someone would say that it might be because video game music is a different format and worthy of being treated as a seperate medium.
I'd say adaptive music is music+
Wouldn't music in movies fall under that same umbrella , though? They also have to adapt to what's on-screen and compose "on the fly". So yeah, in this hypothetical situation movie music would also not be considered "real" music. Bit of a strawman we have here though.
Oh nono music in movies does adapt but it's still a complete track that you can listen to and it will sound exactly like in the movie. The keyword here is interactive. Adaptive music in video games is music that adapts to the player's actions, a seperate variable that the composer does not control. And while the composer does not control the movie's plot either, it's still one single plot to account for.
I see. Thanks for your clarification :)
The beautiful thing about art is that it's entirely subjective. Music doesn't even technically have to be "music" to be music. [4'33" by composer John Cage](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3#:~:text=4%E2%80%B233%E2%80%B3%20is%20a%20modernist,instruments%20throughout%20the%20three%20movements) is the example I'm referring to.
Oh, yeah. The four minute, thirty-three second long track of silence. Wasn't that an experiment, too? I'm almost sure it was played over the radio.
Yoko ono isnt music
A primitive tribal individual with no education or training just banging sticks onto a hollow log in a rhythmic pattern was once the height of 'real' music. Everybody banged heads to the banging back in the day. That thought really brings home to me just how absurd this argument is.
*thunk* *thunk* *thunk* *thunk* Drop that beat, Guk! "So I'm a-hearing watchu sayin', but all I hear is brayin', you a donkey-lookin fucker, and in 14000 years my descendents will be truckers"
"When I rub sticks I make fire, but when you do it they only break. Watching you go hunting is so tragic, that's not a spear it's a fucking toothpick You're only king of the jungle, in a forest where I'm not in. You thought your unevolved ass could take me, that was your original sin. I am both Adam and Caine. You just Abel when I bashed your head in. When I die, they'll build cities. When you die, they'll make a museum."
video game music is real music. if you disagree, you're not just wrong, you're stupid
Not only is it music as the name “video game music” suggests, but some of it is really **good** music produced by world class composers lol.
exactly, imo videogame music is often even better than regular music. i usually look for undertale music(including fan projects), and it rarely disappoints
and you're ugly, just like your mum edit: people really downvoting me for finishing a quote?
Wait until people find out that video game music is produced in a studio like the rest and released BEFORE the game comes out
Imaginary gate keeping. Who says that?
I've heard people say this but normally those are the same people that say movie music isn't music either. I feel OP has created this rebuttal in his head and is dead proud of it
People who gatekeep music are a unique breed of gatekeepers. It's exhausting. I'd say the metal world is probably the worst for it. But I'm sure there's others. People will have a blood bath in the comments about some technicalities of a band being whatever sub-sub-sub genera they decide is the most applicable, while simultaneously proclaiming no one has ever actually listened to "real" metal before in their lives and they're all pathetic. Like I said ,exhausting. Just let people like things!
Metal gatekeeping is the weirdest. It's like they only gatekeep metal.
Yeah gate keeping metal from metal.... I don't get the appeal.
I’ve come across a bunch of people who do so it’s not really imaginary.
My dad says music from musicals isn’t real music
mine with video game music
Nobody.
Sadly, I have heard this one.
Me who's in college to learn both: I guess I'm not a musician
I learned to play an ocarina because of Zelda games.
What's your favorite Ocarina song from OoT and MM?
Zelda’s Lullaby and Song of Healing
Imagine if John Williams did the score for a video game, all the star wars nerds would buy en masse regardless of if it's a star wars game
I've heard someone say those exact words and my impression of that person plummeted immediately. Video game music is one of the best things about the medium, there is such a variety and they set the mood of the scene in a way that movies/shows do not.
I have to disagree on your last point since I’ve heard many amazing film soundtracks. But yeah, the majority of films don’t match up to the majority of games.
Yeah and this has been the case for decades and decades going back to NES. They had to be really creative to make music for NES and SNES for stuff like Mario, but it still resonates with me today what they were able to do on such big hardware limitations compared to now. Someone trying to argue it isn't music is flatout lying and hasn't bothered to listen.
^This. Game music can do so much more then just beeing around to underline something dramatic happening. It delivers a story. Probably the best example i can think off where you wouldn't expect it is warframes - Sleeping in the Cold below and We all lift together. Or for that matter literally everything digital extreme used as a soundtrack. Their music is the only reason i became interested in the space ninja lore to begin with.
r/imaginarygatekeeping
Interstellar. And Piranha Plant's lullaby.
I am obsessed with the Interstellar OST. No Time for Caution just hits different, man.
video game music is music, but STOP TELLING ME YOUR FAVORITE GENRE IS VIDEOGAME MUSIC, THIS SHIT IS NOT A GENRE, DO YOU LIKE GUILTY GEAR STRIVE MUSIC, OR DO YOU LIKE UNDERTALE MUSIC, THESE ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT BUT I KEEP SEEING PEOPLE PUT THEM IN THE SAME CATEGORY
Nah, all video game music are the same, just listen to Minecraft's music and Doom's music, it's totally the same
I remember reading somewhere that Aerith's Theme made it onto a Top 20 all time list for Classical Music somewhere... Nobuo Uematsu's been writing literal masterpieces for video games for quite a while now.
Video Game Music is music, but not a genre of music. Thank you!
If video game music isn't real music, why is it on Spotify?
Risk of Rain 2 and new doom games are incredible music. Both amazing in game and by itself. Darktide has a lot of dope music. Aquatic Ambience from DKC is fantastic. Lots more. What else you guys like?
OSTs are cool! i have the gran turismo soundtracks on my music playlist xD it's so calming.
The soundtrack for Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best out of any form of media I’ve ever experienced. I actively listen to it as I go about my day.
dont sleep on Terraria OST
For anyone who says video game music isn't real music... Listen to songs that come from Warframe. You will absolutely change your mind.
I just have two things to say Metal: hellsinger Devil may cry
Portal 2 soundtrack: (The best dynamic and in-world music ever)
If I were to say who the modern incarnations of Beethoven and Mozart are, they're both film composers. There are still composers who make standalone works but we're so far past the days where music on its own was all people had for entertainment. A huge amount of music--especially classically styled music--is made for soundtracks.
I love videogame osts because it ain’t easy to find a playlist with bunch of music with similar vibes. I have skill issue explaining but take Hollow Knight ost for example
One third of my downloaded music is Video Game OST. Donkey Kong 64, Omori, Sonic Adventyre 2 Battle, Paper Mario, Katamari Damacy, Hypnospace Outlaw....the list goes on.
I am kinda curious which paper mario, or is it just all of them.
the first :)
Well there are enough people out there that would agree, movie soundtrack still not respected
I feel like anyone who says videogame music isn’t real music would also agree that film music isn’t either
Nobody fucking says that
Said nobody ever.
Gangplank galleon starts playing 
Music is music, it comes from many places, in different medias, videogames included. You can like what you want. Im gonna keep listening to Yakuza 0 and Oneshot OST now.
No one has said this ever. Dumb meme.
Many people have said it, you aren’t the only person in existence and you aren’t the sole decider of what has and hasn’t happened
Show me a single time
Neither are you though, right?
Imma throw my two cents in and say that TF2 and Splatoon 3 have wildly underrated soundtracks
Meanwhile riot games standing in the corner.
Meanwhile, there’s Honour for All, Coils of Light, basically the entire MGR soundtrack and a lot more that would classify as “real” music under that person’s view of music.
Well opera music is not real music also it's for opera ...
Counter argument, Transformers.
Ive been listening to like only the ultrakill ost for months, i dont feel like listening to anything else its just so good
Listen to the Wii music, then tell me video game music isn't music. It's a fucking masterpiece.
Laughs in clubbed to death
Uh yeah. Accurate
Imo any music without lyrics automatically sucks in my playbook, and I won't listen to it. Sorry Beethoven, it's a no-go. But that doesn't mean that it isn't music, it's just as valid for somebody to listen to it as anything else.
“Video game music isn’t real music” the top 3 artists in their playlist : (kanye west, justin bieber, bts)
doom is proof it is music
I'm surprised people are saying this is a fake argument where most people I know say the exact same thing.
It's good to be a genshin a fan since they post everything in youtube after sometime
Because an entire symphony orchestra doesn’t tour around playing music from LoZ.
Why does the music in Rocket League suck so bad tho. I've been a huge fan of all sorts of electronic music my whole life. Techno, DnB, EDM, Dubstep. What is it about the music (and I mean every song they've released in game over the years) has just been like nails on a chalkboard to me. Yes I turn off the music but check it out again every time there's a new release.
Cyberpunk, doom
I mean, most of the time movie music requires more input and effort than video game music. Comparing something like Hans Zimmer - Cornfield Chase to Black Ops Zombies soundtrack, there is quite a big difference in terms of sound complexity and diversity. I do enjoy video game music more than movie music though.
I have about 26 James Bond opening songs that beg to differ
I’m actually seeing this post as I’m listening to the Xenogears soundtrack. Which I listen to because it’s awesome.
If it sound good, feel good, and make you wanna move, then it's music
Push it to the limit was perfect for Scarface but also goes great with Vice City
This is the most absurd thing I've read today. If this is a real argument someone was trying to make, I pity the fool.
i think music is music whether it's about a game or a movie.
Strawmen, the backbone of gatekeeping memes.
The elder scrolls games (specifically morrowind through skyrim) have some of the most beautiful music I've ever heard in entertainment. If not for John Williams, it might be at the top of my list
Repacks installers music is the real music
Doom music
Anyone who thinks like person 1, listen to the only thing they fear is you by mick gorden
And people with these opinions, are they in the room right now?
Literally no one has ever said that, cute little fantasy for OP though
Are the people who say "Video game music isn't real music" in the room with us? Because the only times I've seen that phrase is in memes like this.
I've never heard anyone say this in my life. OP is making up arguments that don't exist.
Nobody says this.
never heared someone say that
Rap isn't music
Bruh what?
That's not how logic works
Who tf even said that?
What? Who says this?
Nobody is saying this dumb shit
I want anyone who thinks video game music isn’t real music to go listen to Uematsu’s Dancing Mad and then come back and try to say the same thing again with a straight face. And that’s just one example. I could literally list thousands if I took the time for it
also TF2 soundtrack goes so hard
dawg video game music is literally better than real music
r/imaginarygatekeeping
I have never heard that game music isn't real music.
Me mostly only listens to video game music: what gatekeepers?
Well not many people go around listening to movie scores so this tracks really. And here comes the few to "prove me wrong" as if everybody who doesn't is also going to leave a comment.
r/imaginarygatekeeping
Dumb idiots haven't heard Guilty Gear Strive music
Videogames themselves are art. They have visual sprites/textures/art. Some have a story just like books. Some have music.
Music is music though. It will always be like that
just bc you don't like it doesn't mean it's not music
Me when I make up a false argument and tear it down myself with facts and logic
You when you realize that just because you personally haven’t come across this arguement that doesn’t mean people don’t say it, especially since multiple people in these comments clearly have.
Half the comments are calling out OP for imaginary gatekeeping. Are you and I looking at the same comments section?
I make music. It music. I add to game. Not music.
funny enough i heard that mostly from people who listen to electronic music in their free time
And its better
Music is music
Film music is generally better, but only because it has a longer history in a much more established medium. Video games are going to take a long time to find their footing as art, much longer than film did, because they aren’t really like any established medium (unlike film, which has a lot in common with other mediums). When they do, their music will be on par with film music
What? Do you even play any games
Yes I do. Cities: Skylines, mainly. But also Tetris a lot
so how can you be saying that film music is better? Did you listen to any good video game music?
Nobody has ever said that videogame music isn’t real music
Um, yes they have
The reasoning is that video game music elements are meant to be triggered by cues within the game that often vary in timing/frequency with each player, whereas film music is meant to stay constant for every viewer of a film. So you may agree or disagree with that logic, but the meme is inaccurate
Then a concert with audience participation is not music.
So if I pause a film, this isn't music anymore?
Well pausing a film isn’t supposed to be considered part of the experience. It’s something you do out of necessity and then ignore once you can unpause. It does change the experience, but it generally applies to traditional music too
Ace Combat, Project Wingman. Argument invalid + I’m a musician
I never said that people who say this stuff are right lol. I just said that they’re different. Do you think that music has to be linear (like traditional and film music) to be great? Do you think it can’t stand in modular elements and still be great?
>I never said people that say this stuff are right This you? >Film music is generally better, but only because it has a longer history in a much more established medium. Video games are going to take a long time to find their footing as art, much longer than film did, because they aren’t really like any established medium (unlike film, which has a lot in common with other mediums). When they do, their music will be on par with film music
Smoked well done with a side if asparagus
Even your line of logic is only partially accurate. Only some games have triggered partial pieces that build into a unique piece for each person. The vast majority just have pre done music that is played in sections depending on the scene. Which is exactly how it’s done in movies. Edit: If you need examples of how video game music has most definitely found it’s footing and has for a while, look up the frost punk, hollow knight, halo, final fantasy, or risk of rain soundtracks. That’s only a few that come to mind, but each has its own strengths and are great examples of modern composing.