Kingdom Hearts: See, for me Kingdom Hearts and music spells out Utada Hikaru, so instead of being a strong opening choice for the album, the first entry had me wanting to go listen to “Simple and Clean”, and then perhaps “Passion” from Kingdom Hearts II for good measure.

Warcraft Suite: So much of my life has been spent on Warcraft in various forms that this selection evokes a great deal of memories and emotions in me. That's really one of the keys to listening to this CD. If you've played the games you get the 1-2 punch of excellent music and nostalgia. Hell, that's the key to Video Games Live.

Myst Medley: I spent so much time being vexed by puzzles playing through the Myst series that I never really considered the music. This is some very powerful and majestic music. The vocals are particularly elegant and haunting.

Medal of Honor: This is the selection that loses the most during the transition from live performance to CD. During Video Games Live they present this arrangement with a series of touching wartime photos that really drive the music home. Without the photographs it is a still a lovely piece, but it lacks the impact of the full presentation.

Civilization IV Medley: Very tribal, which is fitting seeing as Civ is all about evolving your tribe into a full-fledged Civilization. It's like something out of Lion King, only on a much larger scale.

Tetris Piano Op. 1: My only problem with this rendition of the classic Tetris music performed on piano? It's way too short, though I suppose my opinion could be tempered by the fact that I would hear that music for an hour at a time as a young teenager. A minute just doesn't cut it!

God of War Montage: The music in this live recording of the God of War montage is a bit overwhelming...overpowering really. While it works really well while kicking ass in the game, as standalone music it is more likely to kick your ass.

Advent Rising Suite: Quite honestly one of the best pieces on the CD. Tommy Tallarico crafted some truly amazing music for a game that didn't turn out to be nearly as epic as the developers had hoped. Perfect accompaniment for a sweeping space opera.

Tron Montage: And suddenly I'm a little boy in a movie theater getting his first taste of CGI all over again. Tron played a huge part in getting me into the whole video game thing in the first place, and this piece is a lovely reminder as to why. Almost worth buying the CD for.

Halo Suite: One of the finest pieces of video game music produced over the last decade, arranged in a very pleasing manner, though ever Halo music performance pales in the face of this one.

Castlevania Rock: It's rock! It's live! It's Castlevania! It's been done better elsewhere! Not the strongest closer for the CD, but a pleasant change from the sweeping orchestral bits. Lovely guitar work, but then you'd better damn well bring lovely guitar work to Castlevania, or we're coming for you.

Basically, Video Games Live Volume One is a trade off. While it may not have the raw power and excitement of actually attending one of the concerts, it is much cheaper, and it's a solitary experience. Appreciating music is about interpreting it in your own way, which is hard to do with several thousands fellow gamers screaming before and after every song while a giant screen flashes music-related graphics over your head. While the concert series provides a richer experience as a whole, VGL Volume One allows you and the music to get to know one another.

“You’re going to see it in 2009,” he said. He said that by “Madden ‘10” gamers can expect some of the “broader-based” EA games (not just any music titles) to be able to “continually recommend” new music that can be downloaded to enhance a soundtrack.

That makes connected video gaming sound kind of like iTunes, huh? But I'll ask you guys the same question Totilo asks: would you pay for that? What's it worth to you?

EA: Next Year’s Non-Music Games Will Feature DLC-Enabled Soundtracks [MTV Multiplayer]

"It was a rewarding experience to score The Bourne Conspiracy video game — I have always been a fan of the series and the pace of the game is an ideal match for my musical tempo and style," said Paul Oakenfold. "I look forward to premiering the soundtrack during "The Bourne Sessions" at WMC."

Sierra Entertainment and Yahoo! to Debut Original Soundtrack by Award Winning Recording Artist Paul Oakenfold for Upcoming Video Game The Bourne Conspiracy(TM)

Live World Premiere presented by Sierra and Yahoo! will feature Oakenfold, members of the Florida Classical Symphony, with Special Guest Appearance by Cee-Lo, at Winter Music Conference 2008

LOS ANGELES, March 24 /PRNewswire/ — Sierra Entertainment and Yahoo! today announced that they will debut part of an original soundtrack by world renowned DJ, remixer and producer Paul Oakenfold for Sierra's upcoming video game Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy(TM). The companies have partnered to present the world premiere of Oakenfold's score with "The Bourne Sessions," a live concert featuring Oakenfold and members of the Florida Classical Symphony, with a special performance by Atlantic recording artist Cee-Lo Green, at the 2008 Winter Music Conference (WMC) in Miami, Florida. "The Bourne Sessions" takes place at Mansion, one of Miami's newest super clubs, on March 25, 2008, with live webcasts by Yahoo! Live and through Sierra's The Bourne Conspiracy Web site.

Yahoo!, co-presenter of "The Bourne Sessions," will be broadcasting the event to viewers worldwide in several capacities:

— Yahoo! Live http://live.yahoo.com/ a new service from Yahoo! which
provides a social broadcasting experience, will air the event live on
March 25th from multiple perspectives so viewers can interact with each
other, in real-time. Sierra Entertainment is also partnering with
Yahoo! to broadcast live coverage of the event at
http://www.bournesessions.com/
— Yahoo! Music will air a fully produced, world broadcast premier of the
event via http://music.yahoo.com in late April
— Yahoo! will have the exclusive premier of Oakenfold's "Falling" music
video, featuring Cee-Lo
— Yahoo! Games will launch an exclusive, never-before-seen trailer of The
Bourne Conspiracy, on the day of the event

"We're thrilled to be co-sponsoring "The Bourne Sessions" event and to be able to bring the exciting content, music and action of The Bourne Conspiracy to viewers and fans all over the world," said Karin Gilford, GM of Yahoo! Entertainment. "By utilizing the different capabilities of Yahoo's programs, we can make sure that fans don't miss a beat."

"It was a rewarding experience to score The Bourne Conspiracy video game — I have always been a fan of the series and the pace of the game is an ideal match for my musical tempo and style," said Paul Oakenfold. "I look forward to premiering the soundtrack during "The Bourne Sessions" at WMC."

Oakenfold's intense soundtrack features his distinct style of up-tempo music and adds another tremendous layer to the game's cinematography techniques, presentation and pacing inspired by the Bourne films. As an added feature to the game, players will be able to unlock original tracks scored by Oakenfold and play them on demand by completing levels and achievements.

Created in collaboration with Ludlum Entertainment, and with story and character development in conjunction with Bourne screenwriter Tony Gilroy, The Bourne Conspiracy is a companion to the blockbuster series with an original story that uncovers the details of Jason Bourne's past. The third-person action game, developed by High Moon Studios, blends hunter-prey game play through a seamless mix of hand-to-hand fighting, gunplay and dramatic escapes. The action in the game is designed around Jason Bourne's signature combat style, with a combat system co-designed by renowned Hollywood stunt choreographer and Bourne fight coordinator, Jeff Imada.

"The Bourne Conspiracy takes gamers beyond the standard licensed video game and into a distinctively original world full of intense action, unprecedented music and a visceral cinematic experience," said Al Simone, senior vice president, global marketing for Sierra Entertainment. "Paul's music drives the rhythm and soul of the energetic and immersive gameplay. The result sets a new bar for action titles and gives gamers an authentic Bourne experience."

For more information on the Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy video game, including screenshots and video trailers, please visit http://www.bournethegame.com.

2007 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED BY INTL FILM MUSIC CRITICS ASSOCIATION [Film Music Magazine]

Red Steel is the first Ubisoft game soundtrack to be released online, but certainly not the last.

"We're really happy to make this possible, especially with Tom's spectacular work on Red Steel," said Didier Lord, Executive Director of Ubisoft Music. "It's an important move as it will be Ubisoft's first soundtrack released on major digital distribution channels - the first of many to come!"

Red Steel Original Soundtrack Now Available Worldwide On iTunes®, CD Album Available In Stores May 29

Tom Salta's Award-Winning Video Game Score Released as Ubisoft's First Digital Download Soundtrack

New York, May 21st, 2007 - Composer and music producer Tom Salta today announced his award-winning music soundtrack for Red Steel™ is now available at iTunes® music stores worldwide and will also be released to retail on CD by Persist Records / Sumthing Distribution on May 29. Renowned for his versatility and prolific writing styles, Salta's highly acclaimed kaleidoscopic musical score immerses gamers in the unique gunplay and swordplay actions set in modern-day Japan. The Red Steel Original Soundtrack marks the first Ubisoft video game music score to be released as a digital download.

"We're really happy to make this possible, especially with Tom's spectacular work on Red Steel," said Didier Lord, Executive Director of Ubisoft Music. "It's an important move as it will be Ubisoft's first soundtrack released on major digital distribution channels - the first of many to come!"

To ensure the authenticity of the game's soundtrack, Salta arranged and recorded traditional live Japanese instrumentation such as Koto, Shamisen, Shakuhachi and Taiko performed by expert Japanese musicians including the specialist percussion group Taikoza. The score also features performances from conservatory-trained Japanese opera singers and renowned violinist Lili Haydn. In order to reflect the diverse and Western-influenced soundtrack of fashionable Tokyo, Salta further embellished the soundtrack with a wide spectrum of music styles - such as orchestral, electronic, rock, hip hop, dance, easy listening, jazz, lounge and Japanese pop - that truly embrace the game's cinematic story and vibrant locations.

The Red Steel soundtrack received numerous accolades for its unique approach and vibrant musical palette, including 2006 Best Original Score from IGN, who commented, "The selection not only has a richness and definition often lacking in video games, but the compositions are catchy and memorable too." In this Wii exclusive game, players master both the ancient art of the Katana and the sophisticated technology of modern firearms, taking advantage of the emotion and innovative gameplay possible only with the remarkable Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers.

Tom Salta's other video game credits include the original score for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter® 2, which features a dynamic, emotional music soundtrack recorded with the Hollywood Studio Symphony and Choir. He also penned the score for the first game, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter®, which was nominated for Best Video Game Score at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. Recording under the artist name Atlas Plug (www.atlasplug.com), Salta is currently working on the follow-up to his highly acclaimed debut solo album, 2 Days or Die. For more information on Tom Salta, visit www.tomsalta.com.

For more information on Red Steel, please visit the official website at www.redsteelgame.com.

If you end up attending, let me know how that went. I loves me some video game music, especially when Nobuo Uematsu is concerned, I'm not sure how to get there and can't see to ask directions without bursting into song, which is in direct conflict with my parole agreement. Michael Fahey

Lost Odyssey to premiere at game symphony [CVG]

Joystiq announced Monkey Island Music Day, which of course put an obligatory warmth in me scurvy little heart.

They hosted a slew of videos, all of which I believe have been previously posted here, so instead I offer you the bounty of the downloads section of Scumm Bar, the Monkey Island mega fansite.

A vast trove of MP3s and MIDIs from all four games.

I will also take this opportunity to reflect upon an episode from the Video Games Live performance I attended at the Hollywood Bowl.

Somewhere in the middle of the concert, seemingly out of the blue, it was announced that for the first time in many years, LucasArts composing legends from the old days, including my favorites Michael Z. Land and Clint Bajakian, were teaming up onstage to wail on the old glories of game music. And yes, they performed the Monkey Island theme.

Leading up to the actual music, I was so excited I actually drew blood from some stranger I gripped hysterically, but once the middle-aged, plaid-clad gentlemen took their places at their keyboards and guitars, the magic quickly faded. These boys had obviously not practiced a lick in the decade since these games came out, and it showed. They looked small and jaded in the glare from the giant screens, and the respectful but uncomprehending orchestra. And they just sounded messy.

Chastened and regretful, I went home and queued up my mp3s. I hope someday to see those themes done justice on as massive a scale as the other games in the lineup, but with the age and obscurity of the titles only increasing, I doubt I ever will. Eliza Gauger

Happy Monkey Island Music Day [Joystiq]

We at Kotaku seem obsessed with the infinitely varied renditions of game themes produced by our fellow nerds. We seem this way because we are this way. Wanna make something of it? Huh?

This here is the University of Wisconsin's Redefined, and unlike most acapella attempts, these fine people actually have tone and key on their side. They do not, unfortunately, have stage presence. Just let the music play and do not look at the screen. It will only embarass and sadden you. Eliza "Sweet Adeleine" Gauger

Thanks Elrando! Although this was originally posted in response to this atrocity: http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/music/acapella-super-mario-bros-164590.php

This is one of those times I wish my parents hadn't raised me bereft of music appreciation and training. While performing Legend of Zelda melodies from various games on the cello might not be the noblest of musical pursuits, it's still pretty damn easy on the ears. From the titular cellist:

For my Senior Cello Recital at James Madison University this past March, I decided that my recital needed something extra. This is the encore of my recital. If you can name all of the zelda themes used in this medley, you are as cool as me.

Cool might not be the exact word I was thinking of, but... oh, alright. It's pretty damn cool. Michael McWhertor

This one was sent in by Peter, who was immediately sent his Kotaku Scout Starter Kit and "game music" merit badge. The YCMK Magical 8bit Plug is an apparently mind-blowing plugin for all sorts of programs that lets you rock out, NES power ballad style. Says Create Digital Music:

Totally free, totally cross-platform (Windows VST, Mac AU). Via Adrian Anders and the CDM forums, where we're trying to figure out why it's crashing someone's installation of Ableton Live. Not Universal: Note that this plug-in is not Intel-native (nor any of the other examples listed here, as far as I know), so you'll need to go elsewhere for 8-bit sounds on an Intel Mac, ironically enough. Also, as several readers note over on TUAW, GarageBand has its own Atari Sings patch, though I don't think it clips as realistically as this does for a true NES sound. (Makes sense that it doesn't, since those patches are built with Logic's synths.)

CDM is hosting an extensive tutorial on how to get the best beeps and bloops from this here doohicky, and I wish I could fondle it a little myself, but I'm on one of those newfangled Intel Macs. Give it a shot (it's free) and let me know how it goes. Ten points and an autographed headshot to whoever composes the rousing theme to "Captain Gauger's Flying Monkey Moshpit". Eliza gauger

Article and tutorials here [Create Digital Music]

Think you have the sack to listen to tunes from possibly obscure games, guess the titles, and get graded on it? I warn you, this guy is a hardass as well as a Werewolf: the Apocalypse LARPer:

I've noticed a lot of people getting incorrect answers lately because they are not giving complete answers. Mario does not count as a correct answer for any game that features Mario, and the same goes with any other series. Please read the About VGMQ section for details.

See? This site serves both as a geek litmus and a game music archive, with the catch being that none of the tracks are titled so you're just downloading blind. I predict Mr. DarkWolf's servers are going to take a pounding after this goes up; he's hosting all the files in mp3 format instead of MIDI. Be gentle, it's his first time. Eliza Gauger

Video Game Music Quiz [Garoux, via Buttonmashing]

No, you haven't errantly landed on sister site Fleshbot. This is, however, a hot, man-on-pipe organ solo performance video of one game music lovin' altar boy doing the ten-finger shuffle to some of gaming's greatest hits. From Koji Kondo's Super Mario World castle theme, to The Legend of Zelda's dungeon tunes, even wandering into dreaded anime territory, he runs the gamut of nerd tunes. There's really nothing to see here, so just listen.

Thanks to everyone for the heads up! Michael McWhertor

This page seems to be for the Omelette fellow (I assume this person is male, but I have my doubts) to post his terrifying furry cartoons, the style of which seems to have remained exactly the same since he was ten years old. I am deeply mystified by this, as well as strangely compelled by his flowing, golden-brown mullet.

No matter. The reason I bring him up at all is that he's posted a big fat steaming pile of downloadable game music in the form of "Flying Omelette's Top 50 Favorite Game Ending Songs". Here's what he has to say about his #1 choice, the end theme from Final Fantasy 6 (after the jump).

It was a really difficult decision, but in the end, I just had to give the edge to Nobuo Uematsu's bombastic ending theme for Final Fantasy 6. I really love how it incorporates a lot of the game's songs, including every main character's theme in the first part, and Terra and Setzer's themes in the second part. I'll also remember thinking how awesome it was at the very moment I first heard the Final Fantasy Prologue kick in. The ending is the only place in Final Fantasy 6 where that song is heard. An epic masterpiece, this song really goes out with a bang.

The vast majority of his choices were 2D RPGs, so the selection is extremely limited. But it's all very well-organized, with mp3 and MIDI downloads of each theme.

...the longer I look at this site the more uncomfortable it seems. You let me know if this person shows up on any Have You Seen Me flyers in your mailbox, yeah? Spooky. Eliza Gauger

Top 50 Game Ending Songs [FlyingOmelette, via Digg]

Filmed in 2003, this video was included on a DVD for Nintendo Dream magazine readers. Now, some kind Google Video uploaders bring this gem to everyone. Anyone interested in buying the CD, might look here.

Mario & Zelda Big Band Live [Google Video]
Mario & Zelda Big Band Live Details [The Mushroom Kingdom]

Video Game Music Links Generation [Columbia Missourian]