Author Topic: Why are game osts so short now?  (Read 2065 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Himu

  • Senior Member
Why are game osts so short now?
« on: January 26, 2008, 07:43:09 PM »
This is starting to annoy me. It seems every single time I get a game soundtrack, the tracks are one to two minutes long in length. Remember the days when Uematsu churned out 4 disc soundtracks out of his ass and they had the decency to loop the song at least once? Well, the Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon soundtracks are both only 2 discs long and are full of 1-2 minute long songs.

This is beyond annoying. It doesn't give you much time to appreciate the song, they just end right when you're feeling it.

When did this practice become common place and why do game soundtrack makers think this is a good idea at all? Yeah, the soundtracks themselves become longer because the songs aren't so short, but the quality of the soundtrack goes into the stratosphere.

Another problem with modern game soundtracks. What the hell is this "play the same song but with different notes 5-7 times on the same soundtrack" crap that most osts have now? Did Final Fantasy X start this?
IYKYK

treythemovie

  • Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2008, 08:01:24 PM »
Money and Time

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2008, 08:05:40 PM »
No More Heroes ost :)
IYKYK

MCD

  • Fastest selling shit
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2008, 08:15:40 PM »
set loop/repeat track in your mp3 player.

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2008, 08:16:38 PM »
No, that's stupid.
IYKYK

demi

  • cooler than willco
  • Administrator
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2008, 08:29:53 PM »
So is choosing a religion :lol
fat

recursivelyenumerable

  • you might think that; I couldn't possibly comment
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2008, 06:03:53 AM »
Quote
Another problem with modern game soundtracks. What the hell is this "play the same song but with different notes 5-7 times on the same soundtrack" crap that most osts have now? Did Final Fantasy X start this?

almost any film, TV or game soundtrack will feature themes that are reused multiple times with different arrangements.  It should make the soundtrack as a whole more cohesive.  For that matter, in classical music pieces generally repeat the same motifs and themes with different treatments, it's called development.  Half of the first movement of Beethoven's 5th is taken up by development one four-note motif!

and FF games did it well before X.
QED

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2008, 11:57:20 AM »
Quote
Another problem with modern game soundtracks. What the hell is this "play the same song but with different notes 5-7 times on the same soundtrack" crap that most osts have now? Did Final Fantasy X start this?

almost any film, TV or game soundtrack will feature themes that are reused multiple times with different arrangements.  It should make the soundtrack as a whole more cohesive.  For that matter, in classical music pieces generally repeat the same motifs and themes with different treatments, it's called development.  Half of the first movement of Beethoven's 5th is taken up by development one four-note motif!

and FF games did it well before X.

yes. it started with 8. but with 8 and 9 they didn't go overboard
IYKYK

recursivelyenumerable

  • you might think that; I couldn't possibly comment
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2008, 12:13:57 PM »
Quote
yes. it started with 8. but with 8 and 9 they didn't go overboard

Well before 8, try 4.  I actually did a count of the tracks that incorporate shared themes in all the FFs from 4 to 10.  Use of the main theme stays almost constant at 10-15%, it really hasn't changed much over time.
QED

muckson

  • Sha'en M'taal
  • Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2008, 12:52:50 PM »
i was gonna post what recursive posted because i agree with him.  (is that a wierd sentence?)

you like game OSTs, but do you listen to a lot of classical music?  if not maybe you should move on.  there is plenty of great classical music that isn't on constant repeat, nor does it have only two minute songs, and you could pick up these cds for very cheap all over the place.
wat

recursivelyenumerable

  • you might think that; I couldn't possibly comment
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2008, 12:55:54 PM »
Quote
you like game OSTs, but do you listen to a lot of classical music?  if not maybe you should move on.  there is plenty of great classical music that isn't on constant repeat, nor does it have only two minute songs, and you could pick up these cds for very cheap all over the place.

!
QED

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2008, 02:05:42 PM »
!!

I know it's supposed to make the music more cohesive but when you have a soundtrack that has 5-10 tracks which have the same theme it gets annoying. I have no problem with Beethoven doing it because he actually made sound good. With game soundtracks they just put song after song with the same theme and it's annoying. I kinda wish they'd put the songs that all have a similar theme on one track.

Also: not all game music is orchestrated.  :-\
« Last Edit: January 27, 2008, 02:10:04 PM by Himuro »
IYKYK

recursivelyenumerable

  • you might think that; I couldn't possibly comment
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2008, 03:35:37 PM »
Game soundtracks are written primarily to be heard in-game.  Soundtrack releases are secondary, so you hereby have my permission to skip any tracks you find redundant or tedious
QED

MrAngryFace

  • I have the most sensible car on The Bore
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2008, 03:39:28 PM »
The mario galaxy one is floating around, is it good?
o_0

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #14 on: January 27, 2008, 03:51:25 PM »
Game soundtracks are written primarily to be heard in-game.  Soundtrack releases are secondary, so you hereby have my permission to skip any tracks you find redundant or tedious

True!
IYKYK

Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #15 on: January 27, 2008, 05:10:11 PM »
Himumu, next time you actually pay for a soundtrack, you might have room to complain.

Yep.
野球

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #16 on: January 27, 2008, 05:20:03 PM »
Last soundtrack I bought was uhhhh final fantasy X ost!
IYKYK

Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #17 on: January 27, 2008, 05:50:55 PM »
I don't own very many games OSTs: Shenmue Orchestral, Eternal Arcadia, Space Channel 5, Ico, and Shadow of the Colossus.
野球

Himu

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #18 on: January 27, 2008, 05:59:10 PM »
Shenmue ost :bow I wish there was an ost for Shenmue II :(
IYKYK

Rman

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #19 on: January 27, 2008, 06:01:12 PM »
Yeah, I don't own much.  But I love the ones I own.  

Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger OSTs, along with the jazz fusion remix CT CD.
Final Fantasy VI and Tactics OSTs
Nights OST
Ridge Racer Type 4: Direct Audio

I would love to get the Katamari soundtracks, the SOTC Soundtrack, Symphony of the Night, and the Black Mages discs.

Oblivion

  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #20 on: January 27, 2008, 06:18:45 PM »
The mario galaxy one is floating around, is it good?

Fuck yes! Buy it, pls.

Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #21 on: January 27, 2008, 07:14:29 PM »
I would love to get the Katamari soundtracks, the SOTC Soundtrack, Symphony of the Night, and the Black Mages discs.


Oh yeah, I've got the Katamari and We Love Katamari OSTs, too. My wife got those for me for Christmas and my birthday over the years.
野球

MCD

  • Fastest selling shit
  • Senior Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #22 on: January 27, 2008, 10:23:11 PM »
Fuck yes! Buy it, pls.

You can't... it's a freebie from Club Nintendo  ???
Or are skanks like Play-Asia selling it? Maybe I should get a load from Club Nintendo and sell them...
http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-na-77-9-49-en-15-mario+galaxy-70-2f4e.html

muckson

  • Sha'en M'taal
  • Member
Re: Why are game osts so short now?
« Reply #23 on: January 28, 2008, 10:01:57 AM »
you guys know about galbadia hotel, right?

http://gh.ffshrine.org/
wat