Personally i think writing an actual theme is much easier. Its a lot easier to work a theme , orchestrate is and arrange it then it is to try to make loops interesting.

Pete

Maybe to a degree there is some “light” to be had when using loops, but it’s from somebody else’s bulb. Forget about developing your own style or nailing the feel of a game. I play a ton of games, all with a hyper critical ear. That’s part of the reason I started this blog. I want to help games achieve better soundtracks. That goal has little room for loop-based music.

Haha, yes I would say most games these days don’t require epic orchestral soundtracks. The last thing they need, however, is more 8bar-8bar-8bar-8bar electronic music. Let’s leave dance music to the dancers. As for there being such a thing as “loop-based composition”… I guess that’s not completely oxymoronic since I guess there could also be “fart-based composition”. Thanks for your comment!

And Dave, I agree about not all loop based music not being shallow and cliche. But most is. And it does make a game composer’s job harder in the long run.

Also I don’t see how someone writing electronic or dance type music for a video game aren’t using “the light” of their mind. I enjoyed your piece on what it takes to start composing for media because it was pretty realistic and I think would help a lot of people out but damn.. How many games do you play? If anything right now the last thing the game world needs more of is huge orchestra mock up scores with little personality. ;]

Also, it should be mentioned that not all loop-based music is shallow and cliche, but it does have the potential to be.