Research Information on "How Video Games Changed Popular Music"

Source: http://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/how-video-games-changed-popular-music

Importance: Very Useful

• Around the time of the Atari 2600, video game music used to be composed by the developers
• Not enough memory to hold complex soundtracks
• Many games didn't have music
• 1984- By the time Kondo worked at Nintendo, hardware capabilities evolved
• Kondo decided the sound-design in Super Mario Bros should emphasize the experience of the player
• Kondo caused video games to become both a visual and audial experience
• As technology grew to the 16-bit era, music became a way to make ones game distinct from the others
• Major game companies began hiring musicians for their games, even hiring popular musicians for their work
• Soundtracks reached outside the realm of video games
• Ex: Final Fantasy soundtrack grew popular enough to be played in concerts

This article provides some more information on how video game music grew to be of more importance to the general public, though it still lacks information on the hardware aspect. It lists how video game music was seen in different ways before today, but doesn't explain how the audio capabilities of hardware affected video game music. It's useful, but leaves areas untouched.