If you aren't listening to the game's own music, what do you like listening to when playing? In BG2 the music actually serves a purpose, so I usually leave it on, but in BG1 I prefer turning that off and listening to a cd. Try something with Miles Davis, you'll never look at BG1 the same way again :cool:

well, it depends what i am playing, when playing theif, then you need to listen to hear if someone approaches, if playing civilization 2, then something conquery, ie wagner, bach, djorak. BG1 i listen to jazz, BG2 i just listen to BG2

What the heck? You guys don't listen to the music in BG1?!?!?! I think it's better than the music in BG2, (although ToB gets back to the level of goodness that was started by BG1). Why don't you like BG1 music? It's good stuff.

I always listen to the games music, why would I listen to anything else?

Uh, I always listen to the game music when I'm playing. If it's total crap, then the game is right next to total crap, so I wouldn't be playing it in the first place.

Atmosphere is 50% of a game. If you're not into the game, where the hell are you?

Well I don't know.. the music in bg1 gets.. umm, dull. It's never dramatic, it's just somewhere in the background where you don't notice it too much. Muzac almost. So, in such a game, where the music, imho, doesn't really add to the atmosphere, listening to a cd can be great... I wouldn't listen to the radio while playing, obviously, but if you choose cd carefully, you can often do way better atmosphere wise than the designers.

I'm always picking on my friend because he's listening to his silly mp3s instead of the game music. You have to listen to the game music when you're playing the game! There is no other way you can live yourself into the game. No other music fits better than the original.

When I'm playing BG1 I usual just leave the sound on some what then listen to it's usual Linkin Park. It kinda goes with BG1 some how...

I almost always listen to the game's music. IMO, it sets the mood of the game, and is used effectively. The only game I don't listen ot the ingame music for is UT, because the music is that gets irritating after hearing it many many times.

P.S., the music for ToB was amazing. :D

Me? I just listen to whatever is on my mp3 list. But I like to listen to music when it's raining... And the BG2 main music.

I listen to the game music. If it is lame, then I shut it off. Playing other music when roleplaying interferes with the atmosphere. Would you wear a cd player to the movies?
Great game music:
Ultima Underworld, the Sygian Abyss (reused in Master of Magic). When I played Master of Magic and heard this music, my skin crawled.
X-COM (1 and 2), especially night missions. Freaked me out.

I usually listen to the game music when playing, but every so often, it simply does not fit the mood. When this happens, I usually load up the Braveheart or Batman Returns soundtrack and that usually does the trick.

On another note, whenever I run a D&D or Starwars roleplay session I usually play CDs that echo the mood of that session. If its an action packed event I usually put on tracks that go with it: Braveheart battle music, Carl Orff, Rogue Spear tracks, etc.

Hammerfall, Rhapsody, Nightwish, Blind Guardian... Or the Warcraft 2 game-music that I have on cd.

Headbanger, you know good music!

Nightwish rules! I saw them in a music festival last summer... the people went crazy and the athmospere was amazing...

On the note of game music. It's the game music for me. Int BG2, the music is really good. I rember playing X-Wing Alliance and having broken sound card. So I dug up my SW soundtrack and listened to it...

Game music should be gaming music.

Ara
(Music critic when she feels like it...)

You are right. I always try to let the style of the game and the music match. So for fantasy-games I listen to music with fantasy-lyrics or fantasy-style, like the bands I mentioned. Nightwish is indeed great and from your country, you are lucky to have seen them live :)

Actually, I replace bard's "harp acord" with music I like. In fact, you can replace all music in games made on Infinity Engine with ordinary wavs you like. But in Planescape:Torment I never touched the music. It is IMHO the best music in all of the games SP covers.

But if you ask me what game had the best music in my whole "gamer" career, my vote is on Sea Dogs. Please, don't buy that game, it has too much bugs so majority of quests are hardly finishable. If someone's interested in the music I'll mail them a score or two from that game. Anyway, the music is played by Moscow Orchestra (russian yes). So Shralp :p :p

Nay, I still choose for Warcraft II as best game music. The music just fits so well in the game.

I love Russia.

Ok, so I think Russian Orthodox Patriach Alexy I is a weirdo for appearing in Lukoil commercials, but Russia is one of the countries I want to visit.

I'm actually involved in raising money for the Roman Catholic Church in Russia.

So listen on, Extremist, m'boy. Just don't switch to French. Yuck.