Video Game Music and the Grammys

The transcript discusses the evolution of video game music, highlighting its journey from simple tunes like the Super Mario Brothers theme to complex orchestral scores. It covers the growing recognition of game music, including a new Grammy category for video game soundtracks. The Utah Symphony's game music concert and insights from composers like Jeanine Cowen and Garry Schyman illustrate the challenges and creativity involved in composing for games. The transcript also celebrates the achievements of composers like Christopher Tin, who have gained recognition through awards and exposure to new audiences.

What new category was introduced at the Grammy Awards?

• Best Soundtrack for Video Games

• Best Animated Film Soundtrack

• Best Classical Album

• Best Pop Solo Performance

Which video game has one of the most recognizable songs from the 1980s?

• Pac-Man

• Super Mario Brothers

• The Legend of Zelda

• Donkey Kong

What type of music do today's video games feature?

• Simple tunes

• Electronic beats

• Complex orchestral scores

• Jazz compositions

Who is Jeanine Cowen?

• A Grammy Award winner

• A professional gamer

• A video game designer

• Chair of USC's Department of Screen Scoring

What technology allowed game designers to create more complex music?

• Digital audio

• CD-ROM technology

• MIDI files

• Vinyl records

What is a challenge when composing music for video games?

• Recording in a studio

• Writing lyrics for songs

• Creating music that can loop and layer dynamically

• Matching music to exact actions

What is significant about the new Grammy category for video game music?

• It includes all types of media

• It is only for indie games

• It is the most prestigious Grammy category

• It is the first time video game music is recognized

Who made history as the first composer to win a Grammy for a piece of music originally written for a video game?

• Nobuo Uematsu

• Garry Schyman

• Christopher Tin

• Jeanine Cowen

Which game featured Christopher Tin's Grammy-winning song 'Baba Yetu'?

• Halo

• Final Fantasy

• Civilization IV

• The Legend of Zelda

Approximately how many people play some form of video game worldwide?

• 2 billion

• 3 billion

• 4 billion

• 1 billion