Introduction
Welcome to NeoGAFs first official game Soundtracks Of The Year thread! GhaleonQ and I decided to create this thread as an experiment, with GAFs annual Game Of The Year threads serving as a model. Video game soundtrack discussion is already common on GAF, and many posters highlight soundtracks as one of the most important components of the games that they play. By creating and maintaining this thread, we hope to accomplish the following:
1) Create a common point of reference for GAFs favorite soundtracks from 2010.
2) Expose people to soundtracks for games that they havent played, including those from relatively niche titles.
3) Create an extensive archive of this years soundtracks for future enjoyment and reference.
4) Give credit to the talented composers in the gaming industry.
To head off a couple of critiques early, we feel that music can be enjoyed separately from play experience in a way that other aesthetics cant. Musics abstraction prevents it from being entirely game-dictated. Composer continuity is much more noticeable among otherwise different games, too. Video game composers also tend to be much more visible and organizationally independent than visual artists and game designers. Finally, as the many new owners of Nier can attest, quality game music CAN drive purchases. Obviously, though, wed love further criticisms or support.
This thread will both conduct a poll and feature an archive.
Voting Rules
To keep things simple, we have opted to use a tiered three vote system. For your vote, pick your three favorite game soundtracks of the year and rank them in the order of your preference (listing only the games title). Your first pick will receive three points, your second pick will receive two points, and your third pick will receive one point.
If you cant think of three soundtracks, it is okay to vote for only one or two; keep in mind, however, that these points arent flexible (no selection will receive more than three points, and only one selection can receive three points), so selecting less than three soundtracks will reduce the weight of your vote. If you want, you can also provide links to any specific tracks that stand out to you, but this isn't required.
Sample Ballots
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. Game B (Will receive 2 points)
3. Game C (Will receive 1 point)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
-or-
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. Game B (Will receive 2 points)
3. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
-or-
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
3. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
Voting will end on January 6th at 11:59 PM (PST). Vote tallying will not begin until after the voting period closes, so feel free to edit your posts (if you change your mind) up until the years end.
Although only three selections can receive points, you are encouraged to mention any other soundtracks from this year that you enjoyed and want to promote. If you wish to highlight some relatively obscure soundtracks, it would be helpful if you would also list the composer(s) attached to them, but this isnt required. Any soundtracks mentioned in this thread will be added to the archive, which is explained below.
Archive
In line with the general goals set out earlier, this thread will feature an extensive archive of game soundtracks released this year. The majority of the soundtracks included will come directly from those voted for and discussed in this thread. For each soundtrack featured, there will be links to several songs for people that would like to try them out. If any soundtrack that should be there is missing, feel free to make a post (or send GhaleonQ or myself a PM) and well add it in. The general format for an entry is as follows:
U.S. title/title from country of origin (databases like VGMDb and online retailers often catalogue by native titles); composers; VGMDb or otherwise helpful link; song titles/links to YouTube, DailyMotion, Nico Nico Doga, or other APPROPRIATE websites
Here are our choices for soundtracks of the year to get you started. Our top 20 are in order (with the top three comprising our votes), followed by the rest of the archive.
Welcome to NeoGAFs first official game Soundtracks Of The Year thread! GhaleonQ and I decided to create this thread as an experiment, with GAFs annual Game Of The Year threads serving as a model. Video game soundtrack discussion is already common on GAF, and many posters highlight soundtracks as one of the most important components of the games that they play. By creating and maintaining this thread, we hope to accomplish the following:
1) Create a common point of reference for GAFs favorite soundtracks from 2010.
2) Expose people to soundtracks for games that they havent played, including those from relatively niche titles.
3) Create an extensive archive of this years soundtracks for future enjoyment and reference.
4) Give credit to the talented composers in the gaming industry.
To head off a couple of critiques early, we feel that music can be enjoyed separately from play experience in a way that other aesthetics cant. Musics abstraction prevents it from being entirely game-dictated. Composer continuity is much more noticeable among otherwise different games, too. Video game composers also tend to be much more visible and organizationally independent than visual artists and game designers. Finally, as the many new owners of Nier can attest, quality game music CAN drive purchases. Obviously, though, wed love further criticisms or support.
This thread will both conduct a poll and feature an archive.
Voting Rules
To keep things simple, we have opted to use a tiered three vote system. For your vote, pick your three favorite game soundtracks of the year and rank them in the order of your preference (listing only the games title). Your first pick will receive three points, your second pick will receive two points, and your third pick will receive one point.
If you cant think of three soundtracks, it is okay to vote for only one or two; keep in mind, however, that these points arent flexible (no selection will receive more than three points, and only one selection can receive three points), so selecting less than three soundtracks will reduce the weight of your vote. If you want, you can also provide links to any specific tracks that stand out to you, but this isn't required.
Sample Ballots
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. Game B (Will receive 2 points)
3. Game C (Will receive 1 point)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
-or-
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. Game B (Will receive 2 points)
3. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
-or-
1. Game A (Will receive 3 points)
2. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
3. (Blank, no additional points allocated)
Honorable Mentions (if any)
Voting will end on January 6th at 11:59 PM (PST). Vote tallying will not begin until after the voting period closes, so feel free to edit your posts (if you change your mind) up until the years end.
Although only three selections can receive points, you are encouraged to mention any other soundtracks from this year that you enjoyed and want to promote. If you wish to highlight some relatively obscure soundtracks, it would be helpful if you would also list the composer(s) attached to them, but this isnt required. Any soundtracks mentioned in this thread will be added to the archive, which is explained below.
Archive
In line with the general goals set out earlier, this thread will feature an extensive archive of game soundtracks released this year. The majority of the soundtracks included will come directly from those voted for and discussed in this thread. For each soundtrack featured, there will be links to several songs for people that would like to try them out. If any soundtrack that should be there is missing, feel free to make a post (or send GhaleonQ or myself a PM) and well add it in. The general format for an entry is as follows:
U.S. title/title from country of origin (databases like VGMDb and online retailers often catalogue by native titles); composers; VGMDb or otherwise helpful link; song titles/links to YouTube, DailyMotion, Nico Nico Doga, or other APPROPRIATE websites
Here are our choices for soundtracks of the year to get you started. Our top 20 are in order (with the top three comprising our votes), followed by the rest of the archive.
Almost entirely vocal soundtrack is just wonderful!
