The History of Video Game Sound

Donkey Kong, released in 1981, featured an original soundtrack composed by Hirokazu Tanaka.

Koji Kondo is the primary composer for the Super Mario Bros. series, having composed the music for most of the mainline games.

The Sega Saturn, released in 1994, was the first console to feature a CD-ROM drive, allowing for CD-quality audio in games.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, released in 1998, was the first game to feature a fully dynamic soundtrack that changes based on the player's actions and the current situation in the game.

Akira Yamaoka is the primary composer for the Silent Hill series, having composed the music for most of the mainline games.

The ColecoVision, released in 1982, was the first console to feature built-in sound synthesis capabilities, allowing for more complex and expressive sound effects and music.

Rez, released in 2001, was the first game to introduce the concept of interactive music, allowing players to influence the music through their actions and the current situation in the game.

Yoko Shimomura is the primary composer for the Kingdom Hearts series, having composed the music for most of the mainline games.

The ColecoVision, released in 1982, was the first console to feature a dedicated sound chip, allowing for more complex and expressive sound effects and music.

No Man's Sky, released in 2016, was the first game to introduce the concept of procedural music that is generated on the fly based on the player's actions and the current situation in the game.

Nobuo Uematsu is the primary composer for the Final Fantasy series, having composed the music for most of the mainline games.

The Sega Genesis, released in 1989, was the first console to feature a built-in FM synthesizer, allowing for more complex and expressive sound effects and music.

Beyond: Two Souls, released in 2013, was the first game to introduce the concept of adaptive music that changes based on the player's emotional state.

Harry Gregson-Williams is the primary composer for the Metal Gear Solid series, having composed the music for most of the mainline games.

The PlayStation, released in 1994, was the first console to feature a built-in wavetable synthesizer, allowing for more complex and expressive sound effects and music.