The lost music of Warcraft
by Elizabeth Harper 
Oct 12th 2006 at 10:00AM
When did I last listen to in-game music? I'm not entirely sure, but I know it's been months since I last bothered to have it on. For background noise, I tend to have the television going in the background, or maybe some music of my own choosing. But, you know, the in-game music really rounds out the Azeroth experience and makes Azeroth feel more like, well, Azeroth -- as Tuet points out in this blog post. Not sure what we're talking about? Well, next time you log on remember to turn the music on and play for a few hours. You'll get the idea.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shalkis Oct 12th 2006 11:08AM
Turning off music in-game is the result of simple mathematics. A vast majority of the themes are just a few minutes long. Some individual themes last less than a minute. The full soundtrack, which includes zone themes, PvP, Darkmoon Faire, Zul'Gurub, Ahn'Qiraj, Naxxramas and Karazhan (yes, the mp3s are already in the game files) is only an hour or two at most.
Now think about the time an average player spends on the game. Days? Weeks? Months? Years? Even if we assume that the player doesn't hear some themes more than the others, he's still listens to the whole soundtrack dozens, if not hundreds of times. Of course, you'll hear some themes more than others. Could you stand listening to the 1-minute Molten Core background music for 2-5 hours straight? Probably not.
No matter how good the soundtrack is, you'll get bored eventually.
Tim Oct 12th 2006 11:46AM
If the music looped on a longer cycle, I'd be more likely to listen to it. Just extend the length of each theme to 4-5 mins, instead of 1-2 mins, and have variations that change things up a bit. Ambient composers routinely compose 20-30 minute long pieces; why can't Blizz do the same?
PS I HATE the Stormwind crescendoing male choir theme. Thank God for my Quiet Comfort 2 headphones -- the moment it starts, I hit the off switch.
PSS Why does Everlook have its own wacky orchestral theme? You should be able to hear it in other areas.
Afroloop Oct 12th 2006 11:55AM
Hearing that same music over and over in Ironforge made me go a bit looney, I had to turn it off...
Theadrick Oct 12th 2006 12:04PM
I guess I'm weird, but I've been playing since release and only occasionally have the music turned off. Sometimes I have my MP3 player going in the background instead, but for the most part I leave the music on. I also own the soundtrack CD that came with the CE, and there are a number of tracks (some of the best ones actually) that do not even appear in the actual game.
Aaron Oct 12th 2006 12:01PM
I tend to have the music turned off in game.
However, I have been known to listen to the soundtrack as background music when working on other things.
Tsel Oct 12th 2006 12:14PM
I much prefer my own music. Listening to Bob Marley while raiding MC? That's just surreal.
Dr. Woo Oct 12th 2006 12:36PM
There's a mod out there called Soundtrack that allows you to make certain songs come on for certain events (like flying, fighting difficult mobs, walking into Orgrimmar, battling Onyxia). I used to run it.
If there's one thing I miss, it's the music from WCII. I used to listen to the music from that game while I did all kinds of things...and now I can't find it anywhere.
If anyone here has the original game CD (with the tracks on it), post here! I'd love to get an archive of all those songs on mp3.
frodo Oct 12th 2006 12:51PM
The problem is that the music is just not compelling. Listening to it over and over again does get really boring, as there aren't themes to different areas that are catchy enough for you to identify them with. I played Final Fantasy XI for about 2 years and never listened to anything but the in-game music. The soundtrack was gorgeous and immersive, and I still go back and listen to those songs and remember the times I had playing that game. That's the mark of a good soundtrack, and WoW just does not have it.
Superior gameplay on the other hand...
Larawen Oct 12th 2006 1:37PM
Anyone here remember Ragnarok Online? It had awsome music I even thought about changing out the music in WOW for it, but I fear being banned for "cheating". It would be amazing to hear the Pontera theme song when I walk into SW. ::sigh:: good memories.
Elodren Oct 12th 2006 1:39PM
I turned the music off recently. I was amazed at how it has been a lot more useful to me to be able to hear distant noises. In pvp, I can hear fights close by.
BigDan Oct 16th 2006 1:25PM
Wow! There is music there!
I've never paid attention and I have my volume turned up.
It was always playing I guess but just must have blended so well that I didn't notice it. Like that good music for some movies that you go back and watch later when someone tells you that there's music there and you're all like "Nu-uh!"
Dr. Woo Oct 12th 2006 2:59PM
I also turn it off for PVP. With my Felhunter out, sometimes the only reason I know there's a rogue nearby is because I hear the stealth noise.
slybri Oct 12th 2006 5:37PM
I've been listening to the LOTR soundtracks as my official WOW music. It fits perfectly with the fantasy theme and the visuals of WOW. It's actually a better soundtrack for WOW than the original WOW music. I queue up all three albums and it lasts about 4 hours.
Donner Nov 16th 2006 12:58PM
Yeah that music does change the game alot its strange how much it does. Like when your entering the main gate of SW and begining the ony key quest part in there, the music almost feels epic.