Grave Gamer News & Views — music

PS4’s Lack of MP3/DLNA Support: Yoshida Speaks

Nearly two weeks out from the PlayStation 4’s launch date, Sony shared with the public a gigantic FAQ composed of every known fact about the next-gen console.

A lot of the information are regurgitated tidbits we’ve been hearing over the months since the console was officially announced. But if you really sat down and poured over the list (because your time is as worthless as mine), some interesting facts stick out and slap you in the eyes.

Notably, the complete lack of MP3 and DLNA support. We’re talkin’ none. You can’t stream from your computer or a music device. You can’t even play a standard audio CD. Unlike the PS3, the PS4 doesn’t let you store music on the console’s hard drive in the very least. If you’re a custom tracks loving sort of gamer like me, that unpleasant feeling clouding your vision is rage.

What’s the ploy here? Music Unlimited is that ploy – the only way, at launch, to play background music during games… or any music at all on the PS4. And, yes, good guess; Music Unlimited does require a paid-for subscription.

Now, a lot of the folks I run into aren’t as prolific with the feature as I am. Understandable. A majority of PS3 games don’t allow for custom tracks. But enough of you out there shared your contempt for the removal of MP3 playback (you gorgeous people, you), and Sony’s Worldwide Studios president responded.

Shuhei Yoshida, taking to Twitter no less, stated, “Thanks for the feedback to the lack of MP3 and DLNA support at the launch of PS4. I’ll share with the PS4 Dev team for future consideration.”

All right, that’s… promising. It wasn’t quite “We’re fixing it” but it was a far cry from “Deal with it, jabronies.”

Then, being the man of his word he is, Shuhei took to Twitter again. “Had a very good discussion w the PS4 Dev team today.”

Hells yes. Yoshida saw our concerns, adjusted his tie, and said, “Not on my fucking watch.” Barging down the dev team’s door, I imagine he began slapping every team member there with a Dualshock 4 until it broke. Then he unboxed another one and broke it across their faces all over again. So what’d he accomplish? What’s the verdict, Shuhei?

“We’re happy & appreciative to learn so many people use and like PS3’s media feature.”

Goddamnit, he doesn’t sound like he even so much as fractured a jaw. Ah, well. At least they know what we want, and something in Yoshida referring to the MP3 lack of support as an “at launch” issue makes it sound like it’s a feature that can easily be implemented into the PS4. Eventually. Maybe. 

Industry First: Journey’s Soundtrack Nominated for a Grammy

Thatgamecompany’s critically acclaimed download-only adventure, Journey, just accrued itself even more acclaim: Journey’s soundtrack is officially the first video game score to be nominated by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for a Grammy Award.

Falling into the category “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media,” composer Austin Wintory’s work on Thatgamecompany’s unique co-op adventurer sits right alongside heavyweight nominees such as The Dark Knight Rises (Hans Zimmer) and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross).  That’s right, an online platformer that only allows you to communicate with other players through a “chirp” button is up for a Grammy.  Hear that Hollywood?  That chirping is the sound of the video game industry rolling up on your shit.

As IGN points out, there is some precedent for this event.  Previously, a single song from Civilization IV was nominated for and took home a Grammy.  Journey’s is the first  entire video game soundtrack to be nominated and, if nabbed, it will be the first game in history to win the category’s award.  The 55th Annual Grammy Awards will commence on Sunday, February 10th, 2013.

New Dates for the Symphony of the Goddesses Tour

So you’re a hardcore Legend of Zelda fan and you haven’t seen the live orchestral arrangements performed during the Symphony of the Goddesses show that has toured the country in and out since Skyward Sword’s release last year?  Well, folks, some things are truly once in a lifetime…very much unlike this tour, which has just added a slew of new dates, leaving you a few excuses short of not seeing it.

See below if a town near you is worthy to wield the power of the orchestra, and then snag your tickets here.

Sept. 15: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Sony Centre for the Performing Arts)

Sept. 22: Minneapolis, Minnesota (Orpheum Theatre)

Oct. 12: Dallas, TX (AT&T Performing Arts Center)

Oct. 18: Boston, Massachusetts (Wang Theatre)

Oct. 25: Chicago, Illinois (The Chicago Theatre)

Nov. 3: San Antonio, TX (The Majestic Theatre)

Nov. 6: Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium)

Nov. 28: New York, New York (The Theater at Madison Square Garden)

Dec. 8: West Palm Beach, Florida (Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts)

Dec. 9: Miami, Florida (Adrienne Arsht Center)

Dec.14: San Jose, California (San Jose Civic Auditorium)

And now I present to you REmake’s “Safe Haven” theme eloquently covered on guitar and…hand-flute.  Enjoy this moment of tranquility brought to you by someone steadily blowing into their hands.

Have a pleasant Sunday and please remember to always keep at least one ribbon of ink on you at all times.

Closer to CoD: Trent Reznor Composes Black Ops II Main Theme

There’s news and then there’s news that gives me a sexless, excitement-spurned rager.  Unluckily for the people around me, this news falls in the later category.  Nine Inch Nails’ frontman (and, often, only man), Trent Reznor, has been tapped by Treyarch to compose Call of Duty: Black Ops II’s main theme song.  Don’t expect a patriotic call to arms, though, according to Reznor. Spanning the duration of the very real Cold War and its fictional re-ignition in the future of 2025, Reznor hopes the aggressive, guitar-driven sound of the theme will fit comfortably with the game’s somber tone.

“There is a lot of reservation and angst and sense of loss and regret and anger bubbling under the surface. So it didn’t make sense to have a gung-ho patriotic feeling kind of theme song. It has to feel weighty.” Sounds like familiar territory for the musician whose first breakout album, Pretty Hate Machine, covered those subjects with electronic despair and pulsing, rhythmic beats.

Composing duties are nothing new to Reznor, either, having won an Academy Award for his work on the Social Network soundtrack with longtime compatriot Atticus Ross, as well as earning a Golden Globe nomination for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s score.  The gaming scene also hasn’t eluded Reznor who not only identifies as a gamer himself but has also contributed music and sound design for both id Software’s Quake and Doom 3 (although his work on Doom 3 was eventually scrapped, his music is featured prominently in Quake and ammo crates in the game are marked as “NIN” in homage to Trent’s band).  He’s even got a soft spot for Call of Duty, “I have always looked to that franchise as the cutting edge of what seemingly unlimited budgets and full-on not cutting any corners can do in the current day and age.”

The rest of Black Ops II will be scored by video game veteran Jack Wall (you may be acquainted with his brilliant Mass Effect 2 score).  As for Reznor, 2012 will see him press forward with a new How to Destroy Angels album (a collaboration with his fellow musically inclined wife, Mariqueen, and Atticus Ross) and, while early in its “gestation period,” the better part of the year will be focused on creating new music for Nine Inch Nails, which will be the first full helping of anything from the outfit since 2008.