A video game’s soundtrack is integral to its enjoyment and replay value. If you enjoy listening to it, you may be more likely to revisit games from your childhood and tackle new challenges. The earliest video games used chiptune or 8-bit music to generate the songs you hear, with Super Mario Bros. being an excellent example, as its theme song is instantly recognizable to fans. Despite being made with primitive technology, the impact of the games’ music has lasted for generations.
In the past, developers created music using frequency modulation (FM) synth boards. Instead of simplistic beeping, computers and home consoles took advantage of varying sounds to add depth to their games. Soundstream then produced the first-ever 16-bit PCM recording in 1976 and the gaming industry was quick to follow suit. 8-bit music led to 16-bit, and would eventually lead to the video game music we know today.
However, chiptune productions still have a place in video games. Some indie titles use 8-bit music in their games to tap into nostalgia and enhance the atmosphere.
A recent example is Celeste, an award-winning indie game from 2018. The title uses modernized chiptune music as you navigate Celeste Mountain with Madeline. With heavily synthesized sequences, you’ve taken a time machine back to classic NES and SNES games.
Modern indie games may have an easier time using chiptune music because of their low budgets and long creative leashes. This is especially noticeable in indie platformers, with 8-bit tunes being found in beloved modern platform games like Shovel Knight. This game truly takes you back to the 1980s with its chiptune-inspired music and gameplay.
Chiptune music isn’t exclusive to video games. You may see overlap with popular music, whether it’s songs you like or the ones your parents listened to. One of the most prominent examples is Anamanaguchi.
This New York-based rock band produces songs you’d expect to hear from a Game Boy or an NES. Since 2004, Anamanaguchi music producers have combined 8-bit music with pop, rock, and similar subgenres. While video games inspire their music, they also credit the Beach Boys and Janet Jackson for their records.
Another modern chiptune artist with a following is Disasterpeace. Also based in New York, he started creating music as a teenager and has released seven studio albums. Additionally, he has found work in creating soundtracks for video games.
In the last few years, Disasterpeace has produced soundtracks for Solar Ash, Paradise Marsh, and Soundodger 2. Older works include Hyper Light Drifter, Reigns, and Mini Metro. His work on video games has included strategy, role-playing, and puzzle-based titles.
Why do 21st-century music producers continue to implement chiptune into their production? Part of the appeal is nostalgia. The bandmates may have played classic video games in their childhood or seen their parents using old production equipment.
Some artists record music on old equipment to connect with past decades. For instance, you could use an Alesis Digital Audio Tape to record tracks onto a S-VHS videotape. With this technology, you could combine 16 ADAT machines for a 128-track recording for a video game.
You might not see chiptune music as much with the most mainstream artists. However, some musicians take advantage of it in unique ways. For example, game designer Richie Branson created an 8-bit video game with a chiptune version of Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us.” While primitive, it shows how 8-bit music still has a place with prominent musicians.
Trends come and go with video games and pop culture, but 8-bit music will likely retain its role for the foreseeable future. This musical production style is what people grew up listening to in the late 20th century, so nostalgia is a significant factor.
With indie games and modern musicians continuing to use chiptune, expect to hear more of it in future decades.
