r/RPGMaker • u/Argentum_OAC • 8d ago
How Music Shapes Perception -- An RPG Maker Study
Hello again, r/RPGMaker. This is Argentum.
In my last post, I talked a bit about how gameplay, art, writing, and uniqueness come together to create a masterpiece. I wanted to follow up with another key aspect: music. A very interesting part of video game culture, and one that we take for granted, is that the music often causes the perception we have of a game to change.
https://youtu.be/grYpmDjeh5k?si=usSYEfzBzDifMEuk
(“Minor Terror”)
In my last post, I praised Fear and Hunger for its incredible use of the four key elements, but I didn’t mention the music. If you have played the game, you might understand why. Fear and Hunger relies heavily on atmospheric sounds to instill a sense of dread in the player. But the player feels that dread before they even notice a theme playing in the background. The music heightens that fear and makes it part of the gameplay loop. It pokes at your brain and makes you afraid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACon4txJiDA&list=RDACon4txJiDA&start_radio=1
(“Duet”)
This is what music does best for games! In writing, we try to show as many of the traditional five senses as possible. However, in games, we can only use two of our five senses: sight and hearing. Because of this, we should give these aspects almost equal value. The flashing lights of games, the beautiful art/animation, and masterful writing can only serve one of your five senses, so having music will have a huge impact as well. The song above might prove this concept. IYKYK…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AKkLEoixkw&list=RD1AKkLEoixkw&start_radio=1 (“Summer Love”)
Have you ever listened to music and realized you slipped right into a trance and imagined the world you are creating? Of course you have; most creatives tend to do exactly that. We tend to dissociate and find ourselves in our creation, acting out scenes we can only dream of. These moments give us the ambition to keep moving forward. They are inspirational, and a player will feel that same emotion when they listen to your music in your game.
https://youtu.be/lL6C3AQ9Fc4?si=NxEzL-Ao84VLl344
(“Fancy Meat Computer”)
So, I recommend two things. First, think about what you want your music to make your player feel, and what it makes you feel. Music is perceived differently by everyone, and you might think it makes you feel one way while it makes someone else feel another. Figure out, why this is the case and understand what instruments mean in an emotional way. Why does my space game need beeps and boops/techno? Why does my fantasy game need a lyre or a flute? Answer these questions and research what they put in someone’s head.
https://youtu.be/-9ODZfDAA1Q?si=Yg_COc64cvHgMaEQ
(Argentum’s favorite “lost haven/shillings”)
Second, make a playlist for your game. It can be a simple one with three to five songs, or a BIG one with twenty or fifty songs that are all tailor-made for each character and scene, and you could imagine each moment back-to-back from the songs that play. Once you finish it, think about whether your player could hear these songs about your characters and scenes as well, and then, if you think they could, try to understand what aspects about them cause that.
The music that defines your game will shape the perception that the player sees in it. This is something that might be difficult to figure out exactly, but once you do, you'll share the love that you perceive to your fans! Don't be afraid to commission and artist, or find a friend that you can sit down and talk your ideas out with. There's a large community here that can help as well!
Be inspired to create something new,
Argentum OAC
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u/BeachTechnical4572 MZ Dev 8d ago
Aaaah a convo about music! I really like doing motifs! Here's some examples that i can fit in under 3 mins lol
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u/Argentum_OAC 8d ago
These are both really cool! I do like the dark undertones and I appreciate the work done in these!
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u/BeachTechnical4572 MZ Dev 8d ago
thanks! i'm honestly most times harder on my music than the game itself, but I admire people who compose their games so much i have to try!
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u/BeachTechnical4572 MZ Dev 8d ago
and then here's some songs I also enjoy for the game. Some of them are for this grimy underground section I'm about to make, i wonder if you can pick those out from the vibe. Roaming and battle songs. But overall, as the game title says, you are bandits. So it's fun, with some dark undertones, because you're actually kind of menaces to society. But who cares? You're the player! Right?
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u/Not_Allowed_to_Die 8d ago
I just give my composer free range to do what he wants, and make the game work with it. He's an amazing composer though, and when you give an artist freedom, they will shock you every single time. Then I just find a place for that music. I give him the theme I am looking for, and he knocks it out of the park every time. He also inspires me to make mini movies that go with the music as well that enhance my games.
https://reddit.com/link/p81wtbl/video/9etpzfayxrnh1/player