Fifteen years ago, we made an assumption that the music we chose for our games would be changing people’s lives.
And I think what’s changed most dramatically over time is our sense of confidence that the music we include in every game–whether it’s FIFA, Madden, Battlefront or Battlefield–will genuinely move people. Musically, we’ve always had to take huge leaps forward based on what we think gamers around the world will love. Musically, what is the biggest change this year from last year? Apart from newer songs, what distinguishes one soundtrack from another? Over email, I asked Steve Schnur, EA’s Worldwide Music Executive, about it: But what it lacks in superlatives, it makes up for in enthusiasm. Without a standout song like FIFA 04, which had the rare Radiohead sync in “Myxomatosis”, or chart clairvoyance of FIFA 14, early to Chvrches, 18 will probably not be remembered as an all timer. Critical darlings like The War on Drugs and Perfume Genius live alongside festival stalwarts Lorde and Run The Jewels. Considering the music will mostly be heard during in game menus and interstitials, the video game equivalent of elevator music, it’s fairly lush for such trim curation. The only way forward is everywhere.įIFA 18 maintains the sensibility of its predecessors, cosmopolitan ears for melody and pace. It doesn’t demand order of its songs like an album or toss off cuts like a mixtape. In fact, the music in FIFA games are only a soundtrack insofar as it colors the background. And thanks to streaming services, there’s a much greater emphasis on playlists as a means to organize music and convey ideas. The demarcation between independent and major label artists is now a vanishing point rather than a border, which actually has the effect of making certain choices with the game’s music seem less left field than they appear. In many ways, music has moved in FIFA’s direction. Which is why it helps to pay attention to the soundtrack. Most changes are cosmetic, but that’s the point. However, bar a significant overhaul (the switch over to DICE’s Frostbite Engine two years ago for example), it is unclear what differentiates one year’s title from the next. FIFA 17 was the fastest selling title in the game’s 24-year history. FIFA has managed to escape the allegation and become one of the most popular games the world over. A game that is derivative by design falters even further, especially if it happens annually. And because spectacle is the priority, an authentic replication of reality is difficult enough if even attempted. Realism is neither here nor there when it comes to a medium that is mostly interactive fictional storytelling.
HOWLER TIMER PROFESSIONAL
That said, one can be forgiven for finding video game titles that attempt to simulate professional sports trite. With its usual pomp, FIFA 18 promises to build on the previous year’s effort with additional gameplay animations, tweaks to FIFA Ultimate Team and a sequel to single player story mode “The Journey.” Hopefully by now, you’ve settled into this year’s edition of FIFA from Electronic Arts (EA). An interview with the man behind FIFA’s omnidirectional soundtrack FIFA 18 features special edition kits designed by soundtrack artists Capital Cities, Glass Animals, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Bloc Party, Grouplove, Saint Motel, Zhu, and Lemaitre.
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