by M. Sparga

Created on: January 27, 2007   Last Updated: April 12, 2007

Perhaps you're familiar with the Super Mario Bros. or Legend of Zelda theme songs as simple tunes of limited sound quality. Now imagine those melodies transformed into something orchestral, jazzy, or techno. You name the genre, and chances are, someone in the video game remixing community has done it.

Game remixers take video game soundtracks and rework them, often adding variations to the original melody and then sharing their work with the online world in the form of mp3s. Other users can then give feedback on works in progress to strengthen the quality of remixes available.

The songs themselves vary in musical style. What used to be an orchestral background theme in a game can be transformed into part of a techno medley. Or the obscure menu select music of an older video game can become a sophisticated piece with Calypso or Middle Eastern stylings. Some video game songs, such as the Ice Cap Zone music from Sonic the Hedgehog 3, have spawned so many remixes in so many styles that their reputation precedes them, and any new remix of the song will often meet with skepticism unless it brings a fresh spin to the mix.

Two of the main online sites where video game remixes are posted and critiqued are VGMix and OverClocked ReMix. Here game remixers can submit their work to be accepted and featured on the web site. Visitors can browse the resulting works and download them to build up their own music library of game tunes. The thriving community of remixers keeps the sites busy with a steady flow of submissions as well as discussions about the latest news in the video game world.

Like any other art form, the world of video game remixing has its share of competitions and collaborations. Sometimes a game remixing site will hold a contest, such as the Dwelling of Duels. Occasionally remixers will collaborate on a song, or they might even divvy up tracks for an entire online album. These albums are usually based on a certain game or theme, such as The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time or video game villain theme songs. The album could even feature original "cover art."

Video game remixes run the gamut from heavy metal to Latin to piano pieces. No matter what your taste in music or your exposure to video games, there are sure to be some remixes out there that suit you.

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