Is it frowned upon to use music from other videogames?

[Kraft]

I have a question about this...

I have a ton of random Video game Midi music files. From almost every game imaginable.

In FL studios, you can open up MIDI files, and change the instruments that are playing in the Midi file, and also add my own stuff to them, making them sound completally different (think Frankenspriting and recoloring for music)

I am very happy with the finished products, but I would like to know if they were okay to use them in a commercial game.

Thanks!

~Kraft

 

[Reives]

I have a question about this...

I have a ton of random Video game Midi music files. From almost every game imaginable.

In FL studios, you can open up MIDI files, and change the instruments that are playing in the Midi file, and also add my own stuff to them, making them sound completally different (think Frankenspriting and recoloring for music)

I am very happy with the finished products, but I would like to know if they were okay to use them in a commercial game.

Thanks!

~Kraft

...unless you change it to the point that it's not totally distinguishable from the original media, the creator(s) can take actions to stop you.

>>http://www.rmxp.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26091

 

[Ratty524]

I'm sure that you can just encrypt the music with a script. If that is successful can you still be sued? (I'm speaking as if the game being made wasn't commercial).

 

[Venetia]

I'm sure that you can just encrypt the music with a script. If that is successful can you still be sued? (I'm speaking as if the game being made wasn't commercial).

Nobody has really listened to me on this topic but Ratty ...

If you encrypt the music you may be slightly better off were you sued, but using music from a registered game is illegal no matter what way you slice it, folks. And you CAN be 100% liable for monetary damages if you sell the game or if anyone takes the music from your game and sells it.

By recognizable, I mean that if you listened to the registered game's song, and then listened to the song you just altered for your game, the similarities would have to be nearly nil. Different tune, different instruments, different pacing. You might be able to get away with just changing instruments and pacing but it has to be identifiably NOT the music you ripped.

Companies are serious about this. Music labels are suing regular people THOUSANDS of dollars constantly ($1500 to $50,000 per suit depending on the severity, and even some more than that) for using their stuff without royalties.

I'm just giving you fair warning.

 

[lorddonk]

I say, yes and no.

-Make sure that the music fits the cutscene/battle and you aren't just putting in a collection of your favorite songs. A huge turnoff is hearing some rap music playing while 2D sprites are walking through a peaceful mountain town.

-Don't use TONS of MP3 files. It's greatly annoying to download a game thats 500MB when it could have been 20 MB but the majority of it is MP3s.

-Don't claim the music as your own (like somebody already said).

-If possible, convert them to a format that compresses them a bit.

-Try not to use the same songs that EVERYONE will use, try to stay away from Final Fantasy music.

Otherwise, expanding the games music library from the basic RTP is a great asset to set your game apart from the rest!

 

[Lene]

Thing is, for those that don't have a music composer working for them, what else are you gonna use?

That's not a valid excuse, because there are so many sites that offer midi to use in games. Check Resource Analysis for a thread with a listing. Or you can check the download section here. There's a lot of good music out there believe it or not.

I agree with Dz on this.

 

[Diedrupo]

Thing is, for those that don't have a music composer working for them, what else are you gonna use?

The default music that comes with the game and is free to use?

 

[LightAndMagic]

The default music that comes with the game and is free to use?

True, but it's so limited. If you're serious about making a full and unique game, chances are you'll want some different music. Especially considering that while the default music is alright (especially considered to RM2K's default), it's nothing really spectacular. And music is one of the greatest ways to set a mood, so I'd consider an important thing to think about/spend time on.

 

[Diedrupo]

True, but it's so limited. If you're serious about making a full and unique game, chances are you'll want some different music. Especially considering that while the default music is alright (especially considered to RM2K's default), it's nothing really spectacular. And music is one of the greatest ways to set a mood, so I'd consider an important thing to think about/spend time on.

You bring up a good point.

The other alternative, which was pointed out by Lene, is to use the freely available music that other composers have written specifically for RMXP purposes. Many of these composers are japanese, and the links are available in the appropriate forum. I personally took a lot of music from these sites as they have a HUGE range of themes for almost every possible RPG situation.

The only problem is that your game may sound like everyone else's, but at least it won't sound like the various video games that many people have played. Hearing FF or music from X game in an RMXP game can be very distracting/annoying for most players, so it really is something that should be taken into consideration.

Using music from non-games (like classical music or music from tv shows) usually works much better as players won't be expecting it.

 

[Ratty524]

Nobody has really listened to me on this topic but Ratty ...

If you encrypt the music you may be slightly better off were you sued, but using music from a registered game is illegal no matter what way you slice it, folks. And you CAN be 100% liable for monetary damages if you sell the game or if anyone takes the music from your game and sells it.

By recognizable, I mean that if you listened to the registered game's song, and then listened to the song you just altered for your game, the similarities would have to be nearly nil. Different tune, different instruments, different pacing. You might be able to get away with just changing instruments and pacing but it has to be identifiably NOT the music you ripped.

Companies are serious about this. Music labels are suing regular people THOUSANDS of dollars constantly ($1500 to $50,000 per suit depending on the severity, and even some more than that) for using their stuff without royalties.

I'm just giving you fair warning.

The only thing that kind of makes me want to totally reject your warning about music is the fact that:
1. Not everyone here can compose music.
2. Those people who are currently unable to compose their own music would most likely not want to wait and learn before making a game that may not even take a long time to develop.
3. Not everyone here has a team or any help whatsoever, these people are mostly common-folk who enjoy making games as a hobby. Just because it's a hobby for them, though, doesn't mean that they will never strive to make their games unique and enjoyable to others, and the music of the RTP pretty much blows.

Using music already made in videogames and such pretty much provide a resource for the inept such as myself. I don't want to attack you, I know you are simply stating the facts about the law, but... What other options can "the rest of us" really have?

Also, even though there are sites that provide original midis, not all of the offered tracks on the net may appeal to one's taste.

 

[Kraft]

yeah, the music files that I "remake" are totally different sounding from the original media.

And I am not stupid enough to use the zelda tunes. ^_^

I put a bunch of different MIDI instruments together, and change their instruments. I also add/subtract a bunch of stuff to them. (add my own instruments and roles, etc...)

I also get some of them (not all, about 15% from VG music...) which is free.

~Kraft

 

[Venetia]

The only thing that kind of makes me want to totally reject your warning about music is the fact that:
1. Not everyone here can compose music.
2. Those people who are currently unable to compose their own music would most likely not want to wait and learn before making a game that may not even take a long time to develop.
3. Not everyone here has a team or any help whatsoever, these people are mostly common-folk who enjoy making games as a hobby. Just because it's a hobby for them, though, doesn't mean that they will never strive to make their games unique and enjoyable to others, and the music of the RTP pretty much blows.

Using music already made in videogames and such pretty much provide a resource for the inept such as myself. I don't want to attack you, I know you are simply stating the facts about the law, but... What other options can "the rest of us" really have?

Also, even though there are sites that provide original midis, not all of the offered tracks on the net may appeal to one's taste.

You don't think I know? Believe me, I know. I know nada about making music, and I'm tone-deaf in one ear from an eardrum accident so there's no point in learning. There are lots of alternatives. Try searching for acoustic or non-lyric music on Download.com.

Doing a very quick Google search I found:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Realm/4173/sounds/sounds.html
http://en.midipedia.net/
http://derekaudette.ottawaarts.com/music.php
http://www.archive.org/details/audio

There are plenty of others, and have you ever been to Illustrationism's site? He makes AMAZING mp3's.
http://www.sakari-infinity.net/

To get you started on your pursuit of finding legal Japanese music, try this, translated through Google Translator or Babelfish or something:
http://www.tekepon.net/fsm/modules/imgbb/viewforum.php?forum=10

It's a First Seed Material site, and there's a good amount of very well-done music there.

You just really have to be determined about searching, because sometimes it's a little hard to find what you want, but it's definitely possible.

Besides, the main question was "Is it frowned upon to use music from other videogames?". And yeah, in the eyes of copyright law, it is frowned upon.

I hope that helps!