Why game music matters
Chas Koeneke writes: I'd also like to comment on Totilo’s reasons for turning down Red Dead Redemption when he did. Totilo's article makes it pretty clear that he had played for a decent amount of time before trying this new, quieter method. He’d probably already gotten a feel for the ambient Wild West soundtrack Red Dead Redemption offers.
On a long trip across the countryside — which he could’ve skipped if he'd wanted to — he may not have been interested in giving the game his full attention. He wasn’t in the middle of a mission, wacthing out for important dialogue, or seeing anything particularly new on his horse ride. Why not listen to a podcast or two?
I’m guilty of the same thing: When I'm messing in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit or chasing down flags in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, I'll put on an episode of the Giant Bombcast and tune out a little. But what I think Totilo fails to realize is that moments like these don't demand the player's undivided attention.
