A game designed around it's soundtrack
by Vitreous Humor · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 02/01/2007 (2:18 pm) · 3 replies
I don't know how many of you are familiar with IDM (Intelligent Dance Music). The genre includes Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and quite a few others, who often debate whether they're actually part of that genre.
Anyhow, I have been trying to imagine a game with a soundtrack entirely of IDM, focusing less on the ambient songs and more along the lines of Aphex Twin's "Come to daddy" or "windowlicker". (Check out the music videos on YouTube).
I realize this isn't the usual or 'right' way to go about coming up with a game idea, but as a big fan of music videos, and as someone who has no reason to do things the 'right' way, I was wondering how fruitful it would be to come up with an idea based solely on the soundtrack.
Were you to make a game based around IDM, I imagine it would be very fragmented and unexplained. It would have to be very, very fast paced and leave you with no time to think. I doubt very strongly that you'd have time to tell any sort of story, or even explain why you're doing what you're doing. The images in my head of characters and places are disturbing and confusing and amusing and figments of things that don't exist. For an idea of what the heck I'm babbling about, check out Chris Cunningham's famed short film "rubber johnny".
Two questions were my ultimate goal with this thread:
1. What sort of game would YOU make with an IDM soundtrack?
2. Would it ever be a good idea to base gameplay around soundtrack?
(Once again, I realize this would not work in most cases. The game would end up weak and slow and senseless. Still, it's worth a thought.)
Anyhow, I have been trying to imagine a game with a soundtrack entirely of IDM, focusing less on the ambient songs and more along the lines of Aphex Twin's "Come to daddy" or "windowlicker". (Check out the music videos on YouTube).
I realize this isn't the usual or 'right' way to go about coming up with a game idea, but as a big fan of music videos, and as someone who has no reason to do things the 'right' way, I was wondering how fruitful it would be to come up with an idea based solely on the soundtrack.
Were you to make a game based around IDM, I imagine it would be very fragmented and unexplained. It would have to be very, very fast paced and leave you with no time to think. I doubt very strongly that you'd have time to tell any sort of story, or even explain why you're doing what you're doing. The images in my head of characters and places are disturbing and confusing and amusing and figments of things that don't exist. For an idea of what the heck I'm babbling about, check out Chris Cunningham's famed short film "rubber johnny".
Two questions were my ultimate goal with this thread:
1. What sort of game would YOU make with an IDM soundtrack?
2. Would it ever be a good idea to base gameplay around soundtrack?
(Once again, I realize this would not work in most cases. The game would end up weak and slow and senseless. Still, it's worth a thought.)
#2
But seriously, I love Aphex Twin, and a lot of Squarepusher's older stuff. I always wanted to make a video for Nannou (track 3 on Windowlicker CD), but haven't had time yet.
As far as the game goes, as long as you try to make it more of an experience than really a salient story, then I think it could be successful. Of course, getting the rights to all the music would be a pain and a half, but I think it's ok to dream. Not everyone would like it I'm sure, but hey, you can't please everyone all the time.
PS I would suggest some Autechre too.
02/08/2007 (9:29 am)
Is it called IDM because only people with an IQ of 150+ can find a way to dance to it? Heh.But seriously, I love Aphex Twin, and a lot of Squarepusher's older stuff. I always wanted to make a video for Nannou (track 3 on Windowlicker CD), but haven't had time yet.
As far as the game goes, as long as you try to make it more of an experience than really a salient story, then I think it could be successful. Of course, getting the rights to all the music would be a pain and a half, but I think it's ok to dream. Not everyone would like it I'm sure, but hey, you can't please everyone all the time.
PS I would suggest some Autechre too.
#3
(It's nice to hear from someone who knows what I'm talking about.)
if you could build the game around the sounds, so that characters entered or interacted with a change in beat or sound or something like that, it would be nifty.
I can't even pretend to know how something like that would be done, and I don't imagine it will be, but it's interesting to think about at least.
02/08/2007 (4:11 pm)
Yeah. I'd stay away from any sort of story too. I think I'd go with something totally insane.(It's nice to hear from someone who knows what I'm talking about.)
if you could build the game around the sounds, so that characters entered or interacted with a change in beat or sound or something like that, it would be nifty.
I can't even pretend to know how something like that would be done, and I don't imagine it will be, but it's interesting to think about at least.
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