A Video Game Symphony

During spring break, my friend installed World of Warcraft (WoW) on my new mac. For those of you who don't know, WoW is a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) where players come together and battle against the world and each other. The game is set in the Warcraft Universe, an epic fantasy setting which includes orcs, trolls, elves and the undead. WoW happens to be the world's leading subscription-based MMORPG with 8.5 million players worldwide! (People must have too much time on their hands these days)...

The music of WoW along with many other popular video games has a rather impressive score. It is fantasy-like music and it contributes to the tense, mysterious, suspense-filled aura while you are playing. The music in the game coordinates with the storyline to effectively deliver the impact of the situation to the player. As you delve further into the rich and detailed game experience, the music covers you in feelings of mystery, action, and suspense! It's perfectly tuned to the atmosphere of the game.

Many video games today are performed by a full symphony
orchestra and choir, thus bringing the sounds of these games to life. It's no secret among game lovers and connoisseurs of orchestral music that some of today's most thrilling scores are coming out of the video game genre. I read online that the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra, in a series of nationwide concerts to an audience of more than 10,000, performed the music from the world's most popular video games against a backdrop of images and lights. These included sci-fi epic Halo, Tomb Raider, the Mario games, plus a medley of classic favorites like Pong, Space Invaders and Pacman.

In the early days, technology was a limiting factor in the area of game soundtracks. Today, advances in technology mean music can now drive in-game action and stir players’ emotions, much like the score of a Hollywood blockbuster. For gamers, not only does the music help set the mood of the game, but it also tells a story and reminds them of epic battles fought and love won and lost on the computer screen. Gamers see their games come to life in a whole different way as sound and music becomes a fundamental part of the gaming experience. The use of sound and music in multimedia can therefore create a more immersive entertainment experience and have a powerful effect on us.