Do we really want to pay for music?

From what I can tell, there are no other discussions about the new, "Music Expansions" introduced in Fansite Friday #45 here so I figured I would start it. (At 4:20 am in the morning when I should be sleeping )

I am not for or against this yet, because its new, and it hasn't been done. But first off, I do not pay for my own normal-music, so im not sure I would ever want to pay for "game" music. (I still use radio, internet radio, satellite radio, etc)

There are a few ups and downs to this, some of the downsides worry me.

Upside: Obviously, more music. Some mmorpgs are very lacking in the music/sound department. This may give them incentive to do something more and go the extra mile.

Downside: Games will do the same thing they do with, "Patches". Release a game not so complete and just add music when they feel, and charge us for it. Also there was mention of a "special edition" of the music x-pac with 4 different songs, perhaps us who purchased the "collectors edition" of the game should receive this free of charge?

To wrap it up, I think its a very new idea and i'm willing to see where it goes. Personally I think after the first time listening to a track of music, we really just block it out from there on and concentrate on the game. Of course, we all have the choice not to purchase music. So at least it is not forced.

I am very neutral on it still, looking forward to hearing what others think.

THere's music in GW???

Just kidding.. the soundtrack stuff is great, but like Ramus said.. after a few minutes I completely tune it out anyhow. I get busy listening for enemies or nifty sounds like dye drops.

I wouldn't mind paying for it as part of the expansion, but alone, forget it.

For me... I would really need some samples... If I really like the music, yes you can have my money

I have no problems with paying for additional music... I just want to see (and hear) the details first. If the music is tied closely to the game, adds to the right mood for the various areas and is not too expensive, I'll probably buy it.

I doubt competitive PVP players would like to hear music while speaking over voice comm.

Jeremy Soule's a pretty awesome artist. Too bad most of his pieces relegate themselves to ambient background music. In the games where he goes less ambient (Total Annihilation and Dawn of War) it's the best music in the game industry.

He'll generally design a pretty decent main theme (Guild Wars, Dungeon Siege, Morrowind) but then have a lot of drab ambient pieces for the gameplay itself - I wouldn't pay for a Guild Wars music expansion since most of the tracks I hear are very ambient and get turned off quickly.

...and yeah, the competitive crowd generally won't play with music at all.

I think I'd rather see the standard expansion format used - major gameplay expansions that also include new music tracks.

I have dual monitors so I window guild wars and use the other to select and play my own music at a reasonable volume so I can still hear the game sounds. I've found it helps me focus in PvP.

False dilemma. I would definitely like to see expansions include new music tracks, and based on what's been done so far, I don't see any reason for thinking they aren't going to do that. This is in no way an argument against Direct Song, which is also a damn cool idea. I would rather have both, and there's no reason to think we won't at this point.

It's an option. If you don't want to avail yourselves of it, then don't. But how would it be in any way preferable to be denied the option? Why would you rather not have it, given that it in no way precludes the alternatives you prefer?

So far, we've seen this implemented in one game, and that game had a complete soundtrack typical of a game of its type from the get-go. So I'm a bit baffled by any assertions that this will result in games coming with less music. Yes, it's a possibility, but I'll take this fear seriously when you can point to a game that actually did skimp on the soundtrack so you could pay to have it patched in later. So far, the one example we have of a game using Direct Song runs counter to this theory, and although generalizing from one piece of evidence is pretty shaky, it's still better than generalizing from zero pieces of evidence.

purely a what if with no foundation of past games doing this


I like the support Anet has given so far and look forward to new game *options*

It's an interesting thing they're going to try and do with DirectSong, however, I'm not so sure I'm up for it. I bought the Collector's Edition, does that mean I'm going to have access to the soundtrack's extra four bonus tracks in game now? Or does it mean I have to pay for the soundtrack again to gain access to that?

Maybe use the DirectSong to allow to player to listen to "pre-release" music for the new Chapters, and allow them to buy access wth the purchase of new Chapters?

I dont like the current soundtracks in Guildwars, kinda boring, i got them turned om and listen to internet radio, drum bass or a local radio station.
So im not going to purchase any music in addition.
And like everyone sais, once my guild is going pvping than I dont want music to play in the background

If new music come along with the new expansion pack(most likely, why would they add a new chapter with new areas without new music) then yeah I'm cool with that. But if its just a stand along music expansion pack then no. I listen to my mp3s while playing GW anyways.

I've got mixed feelings about this. One hand, I love the music in Guild Wars (although it doesn't play often enough... I go too long with just dead air) and would definately like to see more of it in the game. But on the other hand, making us pay for IG music? Music that (I think) we can't even play out of game? And why not have these music expansions be part of the live updates? Granted, I know where GW is coming from; They've got to make money in the interm between expansions. This is a pretty good way to do it, frankly, becuase some people want to have everypossiblething and other just like music (like me).

But for me to really take this, they need to add an option to increase the frequency that GW tracks play IG... Becuase I'm hearing too much music dead time as it is. I don't want to pay for something I'll hardly ever hear.

I'll reserve real judgement for music expansion pack no 1 though; We'll know if it works or not then

~Firax, CoR

Well, that is why I am neutral on it. Because it is optional at least we do not have to participate in it if we choose not to, but what still worries me is what I said. If more games choose to start doing this, you will see more companies spend less time and effort on the music included with the game, and just making you pay more for it later. Which may or may not happen of course, im just looking at it from both ways.

I love quality game music. I was pondering the same question -- might this system mean that games have minimal music, and you need to buy an add-on to really get the full score? (Does anyone remember back, long ago, when you had to -- because of the clever writers -- buy the hint book to be able to finish the game? Another $10 just to finish what you'd already purchased? ) Anyway, I am leery of anything that means "you get the minimum here, and can only get the real deal if you pay more."

But I don't have the feeling that's how it's going to work. Some people like game music, some don't. Some turn it off after they've heard it a few times; some play it forever. So having a full score in the game is a good thing, and then being able to get more seems like a great option -- allowing those who want more to opt in, and those who don't care to do so to keep to the basics. Like buying a car or buying a car and opting for the sports package.

I'd like to be able to replace the game's soundtrack with my own songs. Unfortunatelly, I don't think it'd be easy to do considering the client set-up.

I think Its great, as the importance of music is rather unrespected at the moment and people fail to give it the merit it deserve. One of the first thing I noticed about guildwars was the few music tracks, and I felt the game needed more. In this matter, I think it is quite essential for a RPG that will keep expanding to have at least 2-3 hours of music to build upon.

People listen to the music in guild wars? I just throw on itunes (or winamp2 if my computer is doing something in the background and i need the resources) and listen to my various CDs.

Thank's for the reply Gaile, I feel a bit more assured now just because you didn't go all out positive, "This will be perfect". At least you were honest and even may share the same worries if it is done the wrong way. I still am neutral on it, but we will see how it goes.