Should game music be free?

[Dude_Doc]

Ok, first, does anyone here know if people really listen to game music, like others listen to real artists, in a big scale (many or not at all etc)?

Secondary, if they don't, then why isn't game music free? For example, we have the news on the front page, saying that Frank Klepaki made some Dune 2k music aviable for the juke box, and said that the old tracks, from the original Dune 2, didn't interest him. Well, why isn't that music for free/downloadable?

Besides, old games for Super Nintendo, Sega and Playstation 1, they all should be legally free. I think so because the game has already been played, there is not much they can gain on those old games, and especially not the music from them.

Similar problem with console-generators for PC. Who really play them on TV anymore? They should be free. The company won't bother, there isn't even carts left to buy, so why bother?

[gryphon]

some games even come with there own music CD. Dune I had one, Hitman II has one and thought on of the FF games has one to [ not shure about the last one ].

I have a few gametunes myself, and of those the ones from Hitman II are the ones I have listen to the most.. . although I rarely listen to them anymore.

Similar problem with console-generators for PC. Who really play them on TV anymore?

I presume you mean anything before GameCube, PS2 and XboX ? As all of them still have an active communitie up to this day.

Personally I think game music should be copyrighted.

[Caid Ivik]

Well, music is part of the game pack. When I rip into music files (not saying that i.e.Blizzard includes with its Warcraft III a map editor able to extract it directly), I just use the product by my own way, but still for myself. I think only legislative problem would be if I extract it and use it in my own game.

[Jack Leaf]

I converted Quake II CD to Mp3s and now I got Quake II soundtrack!  ;D

[ExSPlug]

I don't think that game music should be free, but the compaines should allow them to be played by your com or a discman from the game disc, instead of the need to rip them out or buy the OST.

OT:

Are there any programs that convert mp3 to midi? Also, is there any way to convert the music in SNES roms to midi? I'm trying to use them as ringtones for my mobile...

Also looking for the ending song in any format for the old SS game "Nights"...

[Jack Leaf]

Mp3 to midi? Dude, I think that's impossible...

[gryphon]

you can convert MP3 file to WAV files. . . if you should want to.