Favorite Element of A Game? The Soundtrack

About a year ago, I decided to stop playing FIFA online. It was a decision that I believe needed to happen in order for me to expand my gaming experience. I could go on and mention why exactly I did this but, that's an article for a different time. For now, I would just like to say that not playing FIFA as much made me miss the game. The gameplay, the competitiveness, even the silly physics, I missed it all. However, there was one element that I missed the most. That element was the absolutely superb soundtrack.

Any gamer can tell you that the soundtrack is one of the most crucial elements in a game. A lot of times we tend to remember games based on the music we listen to when we're not near a controller. Personally, every time I would hear my friend's brother play Goldfinger's "Superman," the first thing that would come to my mind would be Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. Whenever I listened to Godsmack's "I Stand Alone," I couldn't help but think of the PoP: Warrior Within. Even in the radio when a local R&B station played Leona Lewis's "My Hands," I was reminded of Final Fantasy XII. Games and music often times have a strong relation to each other and this allows us to experience games even when we're not playing them.

The soundtrack's purpose isn't necessarily to just be background noise either. These sounds are meant to add emotion to the overall gaming experience. I can recall playing Persona 3 Portable and absolutely loving every battle in Tartarus. It almost seemed like every time a battle sequence would start it would suddenly be a party! In the same way, who could forget the classical tunes from Shadow of the Colossus? The added music made fighting a Colossi more monumental. Game developers I would say are focusing more than ever on making deeper soundtracks, and for us as gamers that is a phenomenal thing. Think about the game Journey for example, imagine if it hada soundtrack filled with dubstep. We would certainly feel something different about the game than what we feel now.

This is why I felt as though I lost something when I stopped playing FIFA. I missed the soundtrack that made the online experience my favorite part of the game.  Luckily, there is always an official soundtrack with each new game release, so even though I don't play the game as often anymore I never miss a great tune.  

All in all, my favorite element of a game is the soundtrack and I have already built a great video game music library on my computer. With this in mind, I can't help but feel that others the same way. So how about you?

What are some of your favorite game soundtracks or tunes?

Use A Headphones or Ear Plugs Case to Store Extra Cables

Every time I purchase a new gadget it usually comes with a charging cable. A Kindle, MP3 player, console controller, cell phone, you name it, there's always a cable. The funny thing is, is that most of these devices can actually use the same cable so I am always left with a spare.

Rather than throw them away I decided to store them in a headphones case and an ear plugs case for easy storage and mobility. I can use the small headphone case to store cables on the go without having to wrap them up. As for the cables in the ear plugs case, I use those at home if I ever need an extra.

The durability of the cases is actually pretty great. The hard plastics allow for a tough shelling that protect the cables. Plus, the extra space prevents the cables from getting tangled or bent. You can actually store plenty of items in these cases but I just happened to store cables in mine. Do you have any tough disposable cases that you use for your items? I'd love to hear everyone's ideas.