Digital

Game Music

Community Question: If they released [GAME SOUNDTRACK] on LP, would you make the jump to vinyl?

November 21, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | 8 Comments Share this

If you’ve ever read any of my posts on OSV you’ll know that I am Compact Disc (CD) man, in my opinion it is the definitive physical media. However, with the abundance of titles coming out on vinyl in gorgeous packages I am starting to wonder what I would do if my favorite game album did come out on LP?

So simple question, if you’re a CD or digital music fan. Is there an album that, if it was release on LP would make you consider getting a record player?

For me there’s two possibly scenarios that would push me over the edge.

Scenario 1: AZEL: Panzer Dragoon RPG (Panzer Dragoon Saga) by Saori Kobayashi and Mariko Nanba got an official LP release. The above image is something I threw together quickly, but I think it would be a pretty sweet album cover.

Scenario 2: Tengen makes 45 releases of their black cart game soundtracks on 45s. The package must include Fantasy Zone, and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Heck, if they even sold a portable turntable that looked like a bootleg cartridge, I would surrender to vinyl.

As I don’t think either of the above options will happen any time soon, what are the dream albums that would make you jump to vinyl? Let us know!
Television

Lakeshore Records to release MR. ROBOT Soundtrack in Digital, on CD and Vinyl LP in June

May 25, 2016 | Ryan Paquet | Comments Off on Lakeshore Records to release MR. ROBOT Soundtrack in Digital, on CD and Vinyl LP in June Share this

Lakeshore Records has finally confirmed the official release date of the soundtrack to the phenomenal USA Network TV series Mr. Robot. The shows music was composed by Mac Quayle and features a unique use of electronic sounds to bring the score to life. For me personally I consider it to be the best electronic score produced for television since Joseph Trapanese’s work on Tron: Uprising. Lakeshore Records revealed the CD album designs this morning which is a clear nod to classic Atari game boxes.

Lakeshore Records will release a two-volume soundtrack for the Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning USA Network series Mr. Robot, digitally on June 3, and on CD June 24. A special LP package will be released later this year. The albums feature original music by series EMMY®-nominated composer Mac Quayle (“The People v. O.J. Simpson”, “American Horror Story”, “Scream Queens”). The second season of MR. ROBOT premieres on USA Network Wednesday, July 13 at 10/9c.

You can preview the first track from the soundtrack in the Youtube video below:

You can pre-order the albums on Amazon. Did you watch Mr. Robot? What did you think of the music in the series?
Japanese

HearJapan To Go Unheard

June 18, 2012 | Patrick Gann | 1 Comment Share this HearJapan To Go Unheard

We received some sad news over the weekend.

HearJapan, a digital music distribution service with a lot of Japanese pop/rock, as well as some interesting game and anime soundtrack selections, is closing down on June 30, 2012. In a statement on their website, they explain that one of the reasons they have to close down is that they invested a lot of money into a “2.0” site redesign (which launched back in February), and they’ve been unable to recover the costs for that update.

On a personal level, I’m saddened about this. They’ve released some good albums to the English-speaking market, including some we’ve reviewed over the last couple years.

Again, however, we’d like to note alongside the folks at HearJapan that there are still two weeks left. So be sure to scour the site and purchase anything you think you might want before the site shuts down!
Game Music, Reviews

Meet Masashi Hamauzu’s Latest Experiment: IMERUAT (Review)

August 10, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 11 Comments Share this

Masashi Hamauzu garnered quite a fan following during his time at Square Enix. Working in the background on the SaGa franchise and other peripheral Square Enix properties, he made a name for himself by developing his own distinct sound. Contributing to Final Fantasy X and later scoring the entire Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack, however, brought his name to the forefront of game music, and shortly after completing his work on the game, fans were surprised to hear about his departure from Square Enix.

While he’s focused mostly on arrangement work since that time, working on Thomas Boecker’s concerts as well as with Square Enix on the Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection and the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII-2, he’s recently found a creative outlet for his original works. Teaming up with vocalist Mina at MONOMUSIK, the duo has performed several times in Japan and Europe, and has put together a small EP that is now available to fans on iTunes.

Does IMERUAT retain Hamauzu’s distinctive sound, and is their EP worth your attention? Find out after the jump. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

A Gift to Japan: Basiscape’s ‘Oto Gift’ Charity Album (Review)

April 22, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 5 Comments Share this

We’ve been hearing a lot about ways to help out the people in Japan who have suffered so greatly after the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami in March. There have been auctions, concerts, and albums among others, and Basiscape has joined the fray with a small album of original music to raise funds for the Red Cross in Japan.

What does the team have to offer in this online-only digital release? Find out in our review after the jump. (more…)
Game Music, Reviews

Soulcaster I & II Original Soundtracks (Review)

April 4, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

We’ve featured this “tower defense action adventure RPG” a few times on the site, but I thought I’d go back and provide an official review after the original Soulcaster won our OSVOSTOTY 2011 first-runner up award in the Best Indie Game Soundtrack category.

What we have here are the soundtracks to both the original Soulcaster and Soulcaster II, both composed by game designer, artist, and programmer Ian Stocker. Not only is it incredible that he was able to do this all on his own, but the fact that all the elements come together so well is astonishing.

Hit the jump for our impressions of the dual soundtrack release. (more…)
Game Music, Indie Music

SoulCaster II and Both Games’ Remastered Soundtracks Released

January 4, 2011 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

Remember that indie game we raved about nearly a year ago? Yeah, well, Ian Stocker recently released a follow-up to his tower-defense-meets-Gauntlet title, and if the reviews around the Internet are any indication, SoulCaster II improves upon its predecessor in every way imaginable, although I firmly believe the original SoulCaster is still worth your time. I recommend checking out both games.

Also of note is the fact that Stocker has released both games’ soundtracks on the MagicalTimeBean website. The music in the original SoulCaster was one of my favorite elements of the game (you can download samples in our review), and from what I’ve heard of SoulCaster II’s soundtrack, it follows the same retro RPG/fantasy theme as the original. Both soundtracks are available bundled together for $5 USD, totaling around 35 minutes of music combined, and even featuring an 8-bit remix by former OSV editor Surasshu. The album artwork above (complete with obi) should convince you that Stocker knows a thing or two about game music from Japan.

Check out the samples here, and let us know what you think of the games and their soundtracks.