61 Frames Per Second

Browse by Tags

• How Chicago Inadvertently Penned an Anthem for Dead Anime Fathers

  The other day, I was browsing a retail establishment when Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" came over the store speakers. Suddenly, I felt very sad. It was an interesting reaction and not one I would have had a few years ago. Having surrendered my youth to the modern day equivilent of potato mines (retail), I'm familiar with the safe music that's piped over the speakers to keep the masters and beasts complacent. I would never give Chicago another thought ever again if not for an Elite Beat Agents scenario involving an anime girl's dead father. Surely I'm not the only one who's come to associate games with certain licensed songs. The Japanese have been sneaky about it since we were kids: Mario's invincibility music is lifted straight from Jesus Christ Superstar and more than one tune in the early Mega Man games sounded like a tribute to Guns n Roses and/or Metallica. But legitimate songs being used in games (or to advertise games) is quickly becoming popular and I'm increasingly interested in the association aspect. This doesn't apply so much to games like Guitar Hero or Rock Band, which usually have you belting out tunes in a club, or possibly a fancy club. I'm referring to instances where a song is used to define a game, or an in-game scenario like the ones in Elite Beat Agents. Read More... Posted Nov 18 2008, 06:47 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: guitar hero, rock band, mega man, gears of war, elite beat agents, game music, nadia oxford, super mario, gears of war 2, music association

• Read This Fabulous (and Translated) Rockman 9 Mini-Manga

  You have probably embraced every corner and fold of Mega Man 9 by now. If you haven't, you are a bad human being and I'll speak to God about revoking your humanity. As for the rest of you, there's one last bit of Mega Man 9 love that you have been lacking...until now. The Rockman 9 arranged soundtrack came with a small manga put together by manga-ka Hitoshi Ariga. It relays Mega Man 9's story and depicts Dr Light's struggle before he's thrown into robot pound-you-in-the-output prison. It's surprisingly dark, but one hundred percent awesome. And now, it's one hundred percent translated thanks to The Mega Man Network. You can read it here. You'll likely notice right away that Ariga is pretty fantastic at what he does. He's done a great deal of Mega Man-related manga in the past, so he's in his element with this bit of loveliness. I can't immediately think of another manga-ka who has so much fun with his characters' attire. Dig Dr Wily's skeleton tie and sunglasses. Awesome. Even Dr Light looks cool in his stylish trench coat. Read and enjoy. Read More... Posted Oct 23 2008, 08:44 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 7 comment(s) Filed under: game music, mega man 9, manga, nadia oxford, hitoshi ariga, rockman 9, rockman 9 soundtrack

• You Won't Agree With This: GameTrailers' Top Ten Video Game Themes Ever

  Editors love Top Ten lists. There is so very little in this vast world that can be summed up with a Top Ten list, which is why readers go orangutan when writers try. And "readers going orangutan" is a proven traffic-booster. The thing is, nobody can resist the pull of these lists. We want to see our personal favourites up on the marquee; we want validation in an anonymous world. Lord knows that when GameTrailers/Screw Attack uploaded its list of the Top Ten Video Game Themes Ever, I loaded the hell out of the video just so I could sit back and yell at it. Not to say Screw Attack made bad choices. Most of them are pretty obvious. It's just impossible to please everyone, least of all me. For instance, I'm not so sure about choosing the Prelude for the whole Final Fantasy series (Screw Attack limited suggestions to one per franchise). The Prelude theme is very nice and it certainly represents the series as a whole, but there are other songs that are far more striking. The Opera from Final Fantasy VI, for starters. Or the Redwings' anthem from Final Fantasy IV. I can at least give Screw Attack credit for not choosing One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII. I saw that performed as a jangling mess at Video Games Live, confirming a suspicion I've long held: the song is not particularly well-written. Read More... Posted Oct 17 2008, 08:12 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: screw attack, mega man, donkey kong country, game music, controversy, nadia oxford, secret of mana, gametrailers, donkey kong country 2, indecision

• What's in my MP3 Player: Castlevania II "Castle of Tears"

  One of the things the Castlevania series is known for is its music. In fact, much like the Zelda series, there are some iconic tunes that tend to pop up again and again, songs like “Bloody Tears” which is the source of today's featured remix.  “Castle of Tears” by remixer DigiE is a fast paced in-your-face electronica mix, ready to be downloaded for your listening pleasure. Castlevania II was the first Castlevania game I ever played. I rented it and never finished it. I wandered around, collecting Dracula's body parts until I got to that point in the game where everybody got stuck. Earn yourself some Game Geek Cred and be the first person in comments to guess what point in the game stonewalled me. Damn those townsfolk and their crappy hints (and outright lies). Read More... Posted Sep 30 2008, 10:00 AM by Amber Ahlborn with | with no comments Filed under: castlevania, amber ahlborn, game music, what's in my mp3 player

• Growl, Snarl, Bark: Screw Attack's Top 10 Genesis Games

  Nothing instigates Holy Forum Wars like Top Ten Lists. I've seen them all; I've smelled the blood as it flowed across the text. Top Ten Toothpicks. Top Ten Clothes Pin Brands. Top Ten Dog Breeds (From one to ten: German Shepherd, Newfoundland, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Pharaoh Hound, Corgi, American bulldog, Redbone Coon Hound, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Scottish Terrier, thine Mother, Ha ha ha). Video game-related Top Tens generate the most fun through flaming bitchslaps and the subsequent weeping. Screw Attack, a site that normally never seeks cheap attention through tits and swears has put together a video collection of the Top Ten Genesis Games with the aid of tits and swears. Read More... Posted Sep 26 2008, 04:30 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: screw attack, genesis, game music, strider, game trailers, nadia oxford, top ten genesis games, sonic 3, sonic 2, top ten lists

• Whatcha Listening To: The Protomen (And So Should You)

  [The Protomen] have just released a demo off of their upcoming album, a song called "Breaking Out," and it's so incredibly high concept that it should collapse: Mega Man as viewed through the lens of Rock Americana? How could they possibly have succeeded in this? And, having succeeded, what task could possibly thwart them? --Tycho, Penny Arcade Overclocked Game Remixes and other video game covers take up a significant amount of real estate in my iPod. Some Remix artists have even tried adding lyrics to their songs, and to be honest, I feel kind of embarrassed when I listen to them, even if they're done in the name of self-parody. Even when I was Disney-aged, I never liked it when characters burst into song. Having my video game heroes serenade me makes me flush. It's a little different with Hyadain's stuff, since it's so silly and over the top to begin with, but English language attempts at character exploration through song just...never reaches me. Then I heard there existed a Mega Man rock opera. A serious business Mega Man rock opera. And when a good friend of mine recommended it, I thought, "Oh God, this is going to be death." Read More... Posted Sep 15 2008, 04:38 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: penny arcade, mega man, game music, nadia oxford, demo, the protomen, rock opera, overclocked remix

• What's in my MP3 Player: “Bowser is Pissed”

  Ahh, three day weekends are great, unless you spend them cleaning house. I'm not big on dusting so I tend to let things go for longer than I should.  When I do clean it's a big job. Thankfully, I have a large collection of MP3s to toss into a play list and listen to as I scrub away. This always leads to me becoming reacquainted with many older songs buried in my music folder. One such is a fun little remix from the original Super Mario Bros. that I thought I'd share with you: “Bowser is Pissed” . Read More... Posted Sep 02 2008, 12:00 PM by Amber Ahlborn with | with no comments Filed under: amber ahlborn, super mario bros, game music

• Ne, Rokkuman! Yaranaika?: The World of Hayadain

  Yesterday afternoon, our hero John Constantine became frightened and confused when he inadvertently discovered Mario and the Western Show. In this jaunty showtune, which is set to music from Super Mario World, Super Mario and his nemesis Bowser haggle back and forth over which one of them loves Princess Peach more (and Bowser picks his nose hard enough to make it bleed). Both seem oblivious to the fact that Peach wants neither of them. In fact, she sounds like she's on the verge of initiating that sexual harassment lawsuit that should have been filed years ago. Mario and the Western Show is written by a Japanese remixer named Hyadain. Whereas America treats its video game remixes with the awe and dignity you'd expect with a revered hobby, Japan's remixes tend to be a bit more silly. Hyadin has become especially famous for cutting loose and giving us beauties like The World Warrior. The World Warrior features the cast of Street Fighter. Each fighter sings about what motivates them to get their face stepped on by M Bison. True to the series, Honda says, ”Sumo is the greatest fighting style in the world!” When is someone going to conjure up the stones to tell the dude that he's the #1 choice of n00bs? Nobody who doesn't want to be sat on, I guess. Other delights by Hyadin include Appearance of Golbez's Four Lords of the Elements and (oh God) CRASH! Let's Do It!, which is Crashman's love song to Mega Man. Don't act disgusted, you only wish you could make love to your hero while Airman fans you gently. Read More... Posted Aug 28 2008, 03:16 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: street fighter, japan, mega man, final fantasy vi, game music, final fantasy iv, fandom, nadia oxford, hyadain, my first friend, crashman, mario and the western show, rockman, remix

• Whatcha Listening To: The Earthbound Soundtrack

  I'm in an Earthbound frame of mind these days, which is a good place to be. With the release of the Mother 3 fan translation inching closer and some very pleasant message board conversations that remind me why I actually sacrificed precious naps to play through Itoi's masterpiece, I've taken to thinking about what makes Earthbound special. I could sit here for hours relaying all the reasons (okay, twenty minutes--I type fast), but one of the main reasons warrants its own entry: the music. Earthbound is probably the most underappreciated title in video gaming's short but passionate history. Everything was overlooked: the expressive graphics, the innovative battle system, the emotional story that perfectly balances bizarre fun with a deep, subtle story about growing up and leaving home...and, of course, the music. Earthbound is not a game that can be appreciated with a glance ("God, what baby graphics. Who made them, Crayola?") or a quick listen ("This music is too cutesy"). You're required to experience it from beginning to end. Admittedly, the music took a while to grow on me, but when it did, it hit me like a Mr Saturn to the face. Read More... Posted Aug 25 2008, 07:01 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: snes, earthbound, game music, super nintendo, 16-bit, nostalgia, nadia oxford, whatcha listening to, soundtrack

• What's in my MP3 Player: Kindred

  I do not usually like music with vocals. There are exceptions. “Kindred”, a Super Metroid remix over at Overclocked Remix is truly a lovely, hauntingly atmospheric piece. The source music is the Maridia 1 theme and it suits the arrangement by remixers Pixietricks (vocals) and Zircon perfectly. I have a real soft spot for, well, pretty much anything related to the Metroid series but “Kindred” would have grabbed my attention even if it had been from something truly repugnant like Halo. I kid. Read More... Posted Aug 20 2008, 10:00 AM by Amber Ahlborn with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: metroid, amber ahlborn, game music

• Through the Fire and Flames on Mariopaint

  I've never been able to tell if I'm supposed to take Dragonforce seriously. I guess the fact that their fame comes from being the creators of Guitar Hero III's most insane song should be an indication--I mean, you have to guitar-battle Satan while these guys babble on about evil wizards or something. I guess I'm not going to take them seriously no matter what. Anyway, the music compser for Mario Paint really suits Dragonforce's flagship song, Through the Fire and Flames. I love listening to song adaptations over Mario Paint, even if I can't tolerate them for long. I remember attempting to compose music on the SNES classic and winding up with a bunch of jingly-jangly noise. Anecdote: when I was younger, I went over to the house of a friend of mine who had Mario Paint. When we walked in the apartment, the SNES was on and there was a flashing message on the television telling us both--by name--to eff off. The greeting was courtesy of my friend's brother, who didn't count on the fact that plans had changed and we'd be getting picked up and let into the apartment by the astonished matriarch of the brood. Read More... Posted Jul 17 2008, 10:40 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: guitar hero, game music, through the fire and flames, mario paint, dragonforce, satan, guitar hero 3, metal

• What's in my MP3 Player: Endless Skies

  Who here has over a gig of music stored on your computer? I want to see a show of hands. I'm a big fan of instrumental music in most genres. Most of my music is of game remixes and I have so many files and so many folders that I forget what I have. I'm sure we all do this, collect a pile of songs but only listen to a fraction of them regularly. It can't be helped really, you listen to what fits your mood or activity. For example, I've been working in Photoshop a lot at home for the past couple of months. While working, I either prefer silence or a song with a good beat that doesn't insist on my full attention. Something energetic to groove to without it being hyperactive. At the moment “Endless Skies”, a Final Fantasy X remix by Overclocked Remix newcomer “PrototypeRaptor” really hits the spot. It's a smooth trance piece that incorporates Auron's Theme into it and is well worth checking out. Take a break from E3 news and click on over. What's in my MP3 Player: Yellow Valkyrie Video Games Live Read More... Posted Jul 15 2008, 11:00 AM by Amber Ahlborn with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: amber ahlborn, game music, final fantasy x

• Listen to Video Games Live in your Car

  Tommy Tallarico isn't everyone's bestest friend, but his project, Video Games Live, is certainly worth seeing (listening to?) if it comes to your town. Video Games Live combines orchestrated versions of classic gaming tunes with recorded footage from the respective games. It's a relaxing, memorable way to spend an evening. It might not be possible to attend Video Games Live if you live out in the middle of yemesvelt with coyotes for companions; the show tends to stick to larger cities in North and South America as well as Europe and Asia. Well, hang on to your opossum pelts: this summer, EMI Classics will be distributing a Video Games Live collection over iTunes and on CD. If there's one weakness Video Games Live can be faulted for, it's the lack of retro remixes. Sure, mainstays like the Super Mario Bros theme and the famous Tetris jingles are present, but for all the leaping and yelping Tallarico does about being oldskool, you won't hear much from the pre-Playstation era at his show. At the show I attended, Tallarico mentioned he got a lot of requests for Chrono Trigger music. He finally obliged...with Chrono Cross. Ergo, don't be surprised when you look at the playlist and notice a lot of material from the current and last generation. Read More... Posted Jul 07 2008, 03:10 PM by Nadia Oxford with | with no comments Filed under: game music, retro, video games live, itunes, cd, tommy tallarico, ipod, retail

• What's in my MP3 Player: Yellow Valkyrie

  I love video game music. Specifically, I like game music remixes. Naturally this means I check sites like Overclocked Remix daily to see if something new has been uploaded. I do not have a singularly favorite song but “Yellow Valkyrie”, a Metroid Prime 3 remix by “DarkeSword” has been looping in my MP3 player for a while now. Click on over and have a listen. Oh, and to the remixers at OCR, give me my Metroid Prime 3 Rundas Battle Theme remix! Please? Read More... Posted Jun 12 2008, 11:00 AM by Amber Ahlborn with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: amber ahlborn, game music, metroid prime