14 Nov 2011

Video games have music in them since I got my first Commodore 64 and Atari 2600. It would be really easy to write a post that only featured songs from music simulator style music games that flooded the markets recently. But I would feel like I’m copping out. I do have over 500 songs for Rockband on my X-box but that will be a topic of obsession for another time. My post yesterday, I Haven’t Seen Evil Dead Two Yet, I talked about a couple of directors that use music perfectly to set the mood in movies. That topic made me think of commercials but one of these videos crosses over into video games, which lead to this post.

This Is War – 30 Seconds To Mars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDwycv4rQaw
While I’m not really a fan of this band, the video as a whole really works. Epic song is greater than, or equal to, epic cut scenes from the video game. If I were 15 and 30 Seconds To Mars was a band I liked, I’d so by this game. Maybe my problem has more to do with Jared Leto and less to do with the band, but we all have our crosses to bear (And yes, I know how dreamy he was in My So Called Life!).

Shoot To Thrill – AC/DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuzaxlddWbk
I really don’t think this game needs any help from me selling copies. It broke every sales record in the book at launch last week, moving over 6 million copies in 24 hours. I don’t think any music medium, EVER, has come close to those kind of numbers. That’s kind of the point. AC/DC rocks. Stamp Call of Duty on anything and it will sell. Take an action star. Add a comedy star. Then, throw them together in a situation that quite often happens online in a way that is funny for us (gamers) to relate to. Jonah Hill has lost so much weight I barely recognized him, Kudos!

Mad World – Gary Jules

This is my favourite example by far. The ORIGINAL Gears of War trailer is perfect! Not exactly what you’d expect for such a violent game but it’s sweet. Also, this song was the cross over from my last blog post. This cover of a Tears For Fears song, was used in the movie Donnie Darko. It was used perfectly there too. All the Gears of War trailers are amazing, using songs to make you feel tranquil before a moment of desperation, panic or loss.

Just For Fun
I like video games. I don’t get to play as much as I used to, but I still play whenever I get downtime. Here is a song, made famous by Guitar Hero 3, remastered, by Mario Paint. Enjoy!