Dancefloor-friendly video game remixes?

October 7, 2006 6:25 PM

I'm DJing a rave in a month or so, and the crowd I'll be playing to is much more of a gamer crowd than the average rave-going-crowd is. I'm going to throw in some game music remixes at some point, and I thought I'd ask for suggestions.

For the most part, the DJs will all be playing industrial/techno/psy, so a 12-minute jazz-fusion rendition of Dr. Wily's Stage 1 from MM2 won't go over terribly well. Something straightforward would be great, that way I can actually mix it under something else.

If I can't find anything, I'll probably just rip apart some SPC files for something to burn to CD, but I figure someone knows a remix that would be perfect. I'm familiar with ocremix, but there are too many tracks to pour through randomly.

I'll be playing industrial-techno/hardcore for the most part. As for the actual game, my only real criteria is that people will recognize it. Something from Ecco or Shadowgate won't go over as well as FF/Sonic/Zelda/Metroid/etc. It doesn't need to be industrial-y, as long as it's not too busy to mix under something else.

posted by Jairus to Computers & Internet (27 answers total)

Are you looking for already-done remixes, or something you can remix yourself?

If it's the first, I'm fond of "Closer to Super Mario," I think by NINtendo. Fun stuff.
posted by Andrhia at 6:42 PM on October 7, 2006

Response by poster: Andrhia, either is good. Although if I played that mario/closer mashup I would likely be dragged out of the DJ booth and beaten to death on the dancefloor.
posted by Jairus at 7:02 PM on October 7, 2006

Himuro – Button of Reset
Hrvatski - Marbles
Roan - Lullabee

Those songs all sound like they're from videogames, but ain't.
posted by heylight at 7:03 PM on October 7, 2006

put in some stuff from the 8-bit peoples. That gameboy chipset music is good stuff.
posted by cosmicbandito at 7:22 PM on October 7, 2006

Response by poster: I'll take a listen, cosmicbandito. Any suggestions from the 60-odd CDs listed?
posted by Jairus at 7:25 PM on October 7, 2006

Go old skool. Powerpill Pacman from Aphex Twin. It's from before most of them were born, but the munching has been resampled so many times it's spread through electronica like a virus.
posted by meehawl at 7:56 PM on October 7, 2006

hmm don't know if this place might help you if it's a help cool if not apologies just saw game music and need so i reacted with out to much actual comprehension just got through with a 3 night djing week myself
have a good gig!
posted by RecordBrother at 7:57 PM on October 7, 2006

Jairus, as far as 8 bit peoples' stuff goes, I'm pretty partial to Bitshifter. Seems like it might be what you're looking for...
posted by dersins at 8:09 PM on October 7, 2006

check Nullsleep at 8-bit peoples. His 80's remixes are a big hit, and might provide a way to lighten the mood occasionally.
the depeche mode megamix is a personal favorite
posted by cosmicbandito at 8:17 PM on October 7, 2006

First of all, it's all about OCRemix. Grab the Bittorrent of the last 500 tracks that have gone to it, and see what fits with your style.

Here's a couple artists that come to mind, with their MP3's at OCRemix:

AmIEvil
Disco Dan
McVaffe
djpretzel
Symphonic Chronicles
Fuzznek

In terms of mix quality, I've noticed good stuff made from Castlevania, Metroid, Final Fantasy, Mega Man (2 in particular), and Zelda. There's some "OK" stuff made from Ninja Gaiden, Contra, and Street Fighter 2. Tetris is hilarious in that EVERYONE recognizes it, though. I haven't heard anything good made from Sonic.
posted by effugas at 9:13 PM on October 7, 2006

er, I have a remix of metroid by a local guy that was on an album I produced, you are welcome to listen/use it, if interested drop me a note, emails in profile
posted by edgeways at 9:15 PM on October 7, 2006

Ah, you already know about OCRemix. OK fine, I'll pick some out for you...going through the collection for stuff that's either trance or mixable.

Metroid_Space_Orchestra_OC_ReMix.mp3
CastleVania4_Prologue_Painmix_OC_ReMix.mp3
Mega_Man_2_Metalman_Goes_Clubbing_OC_ReMix.mp3
Tetris_McVaffeQuasi_Ultimix_OC_ReMix.mp3
Actraiser_Freestyle_OC_ReMix.mp3
Batman_MusicofFunk_OC_ReMix.mp3 (nobody will recognize it though)
FF6_DevilsLab_Acid_OC_ReMix.mp3
FF7_Temple_OC_ReMix.mp3
SuperMario2_Insomnic_OC_ReMix.mp3 (meh)
Fzero_JDMuteCity_OC_ReMix.mp3
SuperMarioWorld_TheDarkReachesofSMW_OC_ReMix.mp3
BlasterMaster_Amphibian_OC_ReMix.mp3
FF9_PlaceOfReturn_OC_ReMix.mp3
NinjaGaiden_DevilsMask_OC_ReMix.mp3
Castlevania4_HouseParty_OC_ReMix.mp3 (goofy)
Megaman2_MetalmanStainlessSteel_OC_ReMix.mp3
BlasterMaster_DancerMaster_OC_ReMix.mp3
FF8_ManWithTheTranceMachine_OC_ReMix.mp3
Final_Fantasy_4_SNES_Battle_Medley_OC_ReMix.mp3 (not trance, but if you can mix this in people will TOTALLY recognize it)
Final_Fantasy_6_Enchanted_Esper_OC_ReMix.mp3 (probably mixable)
Final_Fantasy_6_LetUsDanceInTheDarkPhantomPhorest_OC_ReMix.mp3
Final_Fantasy_7_GalvanizedBoss_OC_ReMix.mp3
Zelda_2_TheTempleRevisited_OC_ReMix.mp3
Zelda_3_Fragments_of_Gold_OC_ReMix.mp3
Castlevania_CastleMania_OC_ReMix.mp3
Final_Fantasy_6_MorningAfter(Hangover)_OC_ReMix.mp3
Final_Fantasy_7_Suffering_Planet_OC_ReMix.mp3
Jurassic_Park_Mountains_NewAgeGipsyDanceMix_OC_ReMix.mp3 (obscure as hell)
Mega_Man_2_Wily_Meets_Flashman_OC_ReMix.mp3
Secret_of_Mana_Aphrodite_Oceanus_OC_ReMix.mp3
Super_Metroid_Dimstar_OC_ReMix.mp3
Super_Metroid_FourLittleMetroids_OC_ReMix.mp3
Super_Metroid_MegaDance_Mix_2002_OC_ReMix.mp3
Zelda_2_Temple_Trance_OC_ReMix.mp3
Final_Fantasy_7_Sector7_Hath_Wrought_the_Angel_OC_ReMix.mp3 (particularly cool, though dunno how it'd mix)
Final_Fantasy_9_You_Are_Not_Confined_OC_ReMix.mp3
Ninja_Gaiden_Ninjitsu_Groove_OC_ReMix.mp3
Koudelka_Requiem(ElectricFlamesMix)_OC_ReMix.mp3 (obscure but cool)

Google for paths. (And yes, I did just manually check through the entire shortlist collection. Sorry for missing your original comment in there.)
posted by effugas at 9:46 PM on October 7, 2006 [1 favorite]

If many of the ravers are in their mid-late twenties, the Doom2 music will be part of their souls :)

You might also want to check out the "Mortal Kombat" movie soundtrack - it's pretty popular and easy to find.

I think the occaisional definitive soundbite would be popular too.
posted by -harlequin- at 9:54 PM on October 7, 2006

1. skip rogers is classic
2. galaxy defenders
posted by rhizome at 10:05 PM on October 7, 2006

Venetian Snares, "Pwntendo"
posted by neckro23 at 11:19 PM on October 7, 2006

i have a chiptunes/video game type music show on college radio. A lot of artists at 8bitpeoples basically play that type of music. i recommend bitshifter, nullsleep, little nero, rushjet1 (little nero not on 8bitpeoples, but can be found at this link; if you visit their websites some of them offer free downloads in mp3 or nsf/mod type formats. 8bitpeoples releases all of their stuff on mp3s. Finally, for nullsleep specifically, you'll need to browse around, some of his songs are slow. Bitshifter has a lot of fast songs, as does rushjet1...i highly recommend little nero, he has composed some epic cracktro/c64 style music that is fast and energetic.
posted by EvilKenji at 11:51 PM on October 7, 2006

oh i forgot to mention for little nero, pursuer parts 2-4 are little nero's most awesome songs. However, part 2 isnt on that link above...i dont even know where i got it from, and i have never seen part 1.

OC remix is nice, but it's just that...remixed. I've browsed there a bit, and i think if you want the actual 8-bit sounding music and not remixes of well known theme songs, 8bitpeoples, and various other chiptunes sites will have what you're looking for.
posted by EvilKenji at 11:59 PM on October 7, 2006

Remix64 has some good Amiga and C64 remixes - I like the following:

- Gods
- Lotus Turbo Challenge
posted by greycap at 12:12 AM on October 8, 2006

8BitPeoples is what you need.
posted by phrontist at 12:24 AM on October 8, 2006

There's actually a branching in the remix scene -- one prefers still keeping the old chip instruments, the other moves the old melodies onto modern gear. Both have value -- but they're different forms of moving the old into the new.
posted by effugas at 2:49 AM on October 8, 2006

Amon Tobin provided the soundtrack for Splinter Cell Chaos Theory. May be too busy for your mix, though.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 3:42 AM on October 8, 2006

Did anyone mention virt from MuFi fame?
posted by MetaMonkey at 8:44 AM on October 8, 2006

The student radio station in Madison has a show that specializes in "Nintendo music and computer music". Unfortunately, the site is all flash, so I can't link you directly to it, but if you do a search for the DJ's name - Nick Turco - under the "Schedule" tab, you can get a list of music he's played lately.
posted by wandering steve at 9:37 AM on October 8, 2006

Deus Ex soundtrack.

System Shock sountrack.

You could probably remix stuff from the Grim Fandango soundtrack.
posted by porpoise at 12:00 PM on October 8, 2006

Definitely pick up Mortal Kombat: The Album.

Hell, you won't even have to DJ. Just slap it in and go out for a beer.
posted by tkolar at 12:32 PM on October 8, 2006 [1 favorite]

As someone who has DJ'd at probably a similar party (Otakon in Baltimore), my advice to you re: video game music is don't bother. I was told over and over that I should play anime music, but I didn't have any, and wouldn't play it if I did. I just took the age and technophile/futurist attitude of the crowd into account (16-20 year old kids for the most part) and played really cheesy rave trance with lots of vocals and they absolutely loved it-- literally a room full of kids jumping up and down and screaming at the appropriate moments.

Most of those people don't know any better anyway. Just play what you love and don't stop the beat.

That said: I really love the opening theme to Kingdom Hearts II and it's got a great, danceable breakbeat.
posted by empath at 1:05 PM on October 9, 2006

Also:

Zombie Nation - Kerkraft 400 (uses the theme from an old C64 game called Lazy Jones and a sure-fire dancefloor killer.
posted by empath at 1:06 PM on October 9, 2006