"Play for Japan: The Album" is on iTunes Today!

[brodiger]

Penka Kouneva is my Aunt

[Olivievie]

fav composers Akira yamaoka, yasunori mitsuda and yuki kajiura ^^ favorite soundtrack xenosga all 3 episodes!!

[warrenw17]

you and PVZ!!!

[omgthegamer]

wow, Mitsuda and Chrono Cross are my favorites too. no lie!

[bluebomberx]

I just got Play For Japan a few days. My favorite track on the album happens to be "Jump". I haven't stopped listened to it yet.

As for favorite composers, I like Uematsu, Kondo, Shoji Meguro (Persona Series, Catherine), Mitsuda and Yoko Shimomura.

My favorite albums are Final Fantasy VI and VIII, Persona 3 and 4, Chrono Trigger, Super Smash Bros Brawl and King of Fighters 98.

[Lite619]

all are great but Nobuo Uematsu is my favorite. Final Fantasy IX favorite OST :O

[jorgito21st]

Favorite composer Yuzo Koshiro favorite album of all time The Super Shinobi works.

[Iz69]

you have a cute voice.

[SamuelWinters]

It's a challenge for me to choose between Yoko Shimomura and Yasunori Mitsuda, but I think over the last couple months I've really leaned towards Mitsuda's work. His music for Trigger and Cross are just about the closest I've heard to "perfect" soundtracks. There's virtually no tracks I don't like, and there's just something unique sounding about his compositional style. 

[SamuelWinters]

@SamuelWinters

But even saying all that, I will always appreciate the breadth and scope of the work Shimomura did on Kingdom Hearts...what an undertaking it must've been to write that.

[Mysticsage19]

Wonderful music by creative composers, especially Laura! Good Luck on the album, & best wishes for those hurt by devastating Tsunami.

[vertigoelectric]

Finally! I have been waiting for this album anxiously. Now I've got it! I'm really annoyed that I had to download/install iTunes and create a stupid iTunes account just to buy it, though. I HATE iTunes. If I hadn't heard the preview for "Jump", I wouldn't have even bothered at all... but that song was worth it... and it is easily the best song on the album.

[jc215flip]

My preferences for music change all the time. Last year I would've told you my favorite game composer was Uematsu-san but for some reason, I've been listening to way more Mitsuda as of late. Fave soundtrack? Breath of Fire III. The sound chips were so outdated then but an all-jazz soundtrack? Such a refreshing new approach at the time.

[Renji1]

Can't really name any video name composers (I don't really pay enough attention to the names). I really like the soundtrack for Outcast, a game from way back in the "big cardboard box" era of PC gaming. The track "Heaven on Adelpha" always brings a lump to my throat. Epic but mournful...

[darryltheglen]

My fave is Nobuo Uematsu, though Yasunori Mitsuda would be a close second. FF6, FF7 & FF8 are sort of tied for my favourites (the games and the soundtracks) but Chrono Trigger is a close fourth.

I recently saw Video Games Live for the second time and was VERY excited when they closed the night with a Chrono Trigger/Chrono Cross medley. SO GOOD.

[lneh]

Would be nice if you could remind us(me) when it's released on amazon. I tend to forget these things.

[WeEatBrainz]

Hi do you know if they will release a physical version?

[Triradiates]

Your song "Jump" is one of my favorites from the Play for Japan album! I love it! Also, I wanted to mention, for anyone waiting on the Amazon release, it seems as though the track by Koji Kondo, "Super Mario Medley On Two Pianos", will only be available on iTunes! Just a heads up!

[Zeouterlimits]

My favourite VG composer is Marty O'Donnell & his best work is the Halo ODST OST, which is incredibly different to all the other (great) Bungie Halo OSTs. Wonderfully moody, and so evocative of the dark rainy noir detective story they were going for.

Love 'Jump' btw, probably my favourite track on the album.

[arczero]

My favorite is definitely Nobuo Uematsu! I like a lot of video game music too but Uematsu-san made the songs I enjoyed the most!

Of course, my latest addition to my favorite video game composers is you, supershigi!!! :D

[Kicks42]

Hitoshi Sakamoto is one of my big favs but Yuki Iwai and street fighter 3 might take the cake for me.

[MultigamerLygre]

My favorite soundtrack is FF VII, by far. It's also my fav game. Also like the music from Halo, Banjo-Kazooie, Tetris, SMB 2 and PvZ of course =)

[etccrontab]

First:

Yasunori Mitsuda - Chrono Trigger (though Chrono Cross may actually be a better music album, I enjoyed the memories of Chrono Trigger as a game, and subsequently it's soundtrack before Chrono Cross existed)

Second:

Akira Yamaoka - Silent Hill 2 (I like 1, 3, and 4 as well)

[kalasad]

Oh, and how could Kow Otani's epic orchestra music for Shadow of the Colossus!

[kalasad]

Nobuo Uematsu! When I was growing up all I ever listened to was the Final Fantasy soundtracks and piano collections. I am particularly fond of VI, IX, and X. :)

However the Chrono Cross music was very beautiful too! As for catchy tunes, Banjo-Kazooie and Pokemon were always at the back of my head. :)

[pathduck]

Best VG soundtracks (imo) are:

Grim Fandango (Peter McConnell)

Neotokyo (Ed Harrison)

Machinarium (Tomáš Dvořák)

Samorost 2 (Tomáš Dvořák)

PPPPPP - The VVVVVV Soundtrack

World of Goo!

[pathduck]

@pathduck and Plants vs Zombies! ;)

[Rockstar110Percent]

aww its not on Australian iTunes =[

Nobuo Uematsu is my all time fav composer

[markiduval]

@Rockstar110Percent Yeah I'm in Australia too and I tried looking on my ipod but couldn't see it listed :(

[Vash987]

Nobuo Uematsu is my favorite.

[yamisofine]

Bayonetta ost <3 quite a few composers on it, the tracks by rei kondo are exeptional.

[exninja]

kingdom hearts 2, donkey kong country 2, and streets of rage 2 OSTs

[WWWGravityGamesCom]

FF8 OST will always be my favourite!

[Minimanx55]

Favorite composer is Laura Shigihara!! I mean come on guys!! ^_^

[seasonreaper]

Akira Yamaoka, Bear McCreary, Sean Murray, Nobuo Uematsu and Laura Shigihara on one album? I am so getting this.

[Nephian]

I'm just gonna go ahead and say all of NES/SNES/PSX-era Squaresoft, Konami, Sunsoft, Capcom, SEGA, Westone/Hudsonsoft, TECMO, Technōs and single out Mr Nobuo Uematsu and Mr Koji Kondo. Matt Uelmen (Diablo/Torchlight) and The God of War people are all awesome composers as well. Simply impossible to pick just one composer, company or franchise.

[gizelbelcoot]

And Shadow of the colossus Album, Koh otani, very spiritual.

[gizelbelcoot]

Thanks for update on album, fav composers

Masafumi takada, Yuzo koshiro, Jesper kyd,Masami Ueda

Fav game Soundtrack

Streets of rage series, still gem and prolific

[dekionplexis]

Hmm I'd have to say

Ocarina of Time

Final Fantasy VII

and Ridge Racer Type IV also some of the MGS music

Also, will definitely get this album

xxxxx

[dekionplexis]

Yes, you are super hot today

^__________^

[Reminiscable]

Videogame composers? My favourite topic!

My favourite videogame composer is ZUN (of course), and my favourite soundtrack is... Ode To Joy. Because I can listen to it no matter what mood I'm in!

[Ray0ki]

Yasunori Mitsuda, Koji Kondo and Laura Shigihara are my favorite composers

[ankan2k4]

If visual novels count then I'd have to say 車輪の国、向日葵の少女 (Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo) has some pretty good music.

I don't really check who does the music I like in games, so favorite composer I dunno..

[AnimeOtaku2]

In the interest of fairness I'm gonna discount the PvZ soundtrack (not that I don't love it, just don't want to sound like too much of a suck up :P) and say The World Ends With You is my favourite. Jet Set Radio was really good too.

[chipp06]

same here -- yasunori mitsuda. :]

[TyrantLubu]

its. not.available.in.australia D: I've been looking forward to this for a while now too :( bummer

[omastar444]

Fav composers would be Akira Yamaoka and Nobuo Uematsu. Fav soundtrack would be Final Fantasy 9.

[SwRRt3]

Yuki Kajiura - Xenosaga series~

[smsff7]

You are cute, but your voice does not carry over very well on my notebook speakers :( Still I guess I got a use for that $10 iTunes GC I have sitting on my account for who knows how long :)

[rekcahdam]

That's a hard question. But , Mitsuhiko Takano is definitely ONE of my favorites . I love the Marvel VS Capcom 2 soundtrack (which he did) ! He also did the Zelda Minish Cap soundtrack which I also loved.

I have no idea who did the soundtrack for Sonic Adventure 2 but that has to be one of my most memorable soundtracks next FF7 lol. Guh I can talk about this all day........

[Grubnar]

Here are some of my favorite composers and an exanple of their soundtracks: Frank Klepacki - Command & Conquer Jeremy Soule - Total Annihilation Knut Avenstroup Haugen - Age of Conan Hyborian Adventures Paul Ruskay - Homeworld Lennie Moore - Outcast Laura Shigihara - Plants vs. Zombies Nine Inch Nails - QUAKE Sonic Mayhem - QUAKE II Mark Morgan - Planescape: Torment Try looking them up here on YouTube. You might find something you like!

[darkgodofdeath]

Nobou Uematsu Dancing Mad.

[Alberto309]

Hey Laura! I think you MUST listen some of the songs in the game "Castlevania: Simphony of the Night"! I think you might enjoy them! That game has amazing background music in my really honest opinion! Check one of them here (my favourite one):

/watch?v=jL0UoyFS7Ww

Tell me if you like it! :D

Bye Sunflower. <3

[rinkuhero]

my favorite is yasunori mitsuda too. but i think i mentioned that on tigsource... others would be hiroki kikuta and jeremy soule and you and yuzo koshiro and probably lots more i'm forgetting

[PuchiCentral]

my favorit soundtrack for a game i say... either legend of zelda twilight princess or spirit tracks and for composer i say you

[HelPup]

Akira Yamaoka's music from Silent Hill has always been some of my favorite music. Also any .hack music. E_E

[LindemanProductions]

Hrm my favorite soundtrack will have to be the World of Warcraft soundtrack with Glenn Stafford, Jason Hayes, Russel Brower, and David Arkenstone as composers. The pieces they've done are masterfully done and capture the theme and substance of the game very well. I do aslo like Martin O'Donnel with the Halo soundtracks and though I don't know the composer I love the Battlefield 1942 Title song.

[LindemanProductions]

@LindemanProductions I Forgot Derek Duke as well for the WoW soundtrack.

[CommanderZx2]

I will wait for it to appear on Amazon.

[gbritaney]

I just bought the album on itunes!

[ArcaneCH]

Martin O'Donnell - Halo Sound Track

I really feel that he is able to capture the moment, and the story is built with his music in mind. Nothing feels better than when you hear his epic music by your side while fighting back the hordes of flood.

[absolutf0b]

Hi Laura,

I bought the album and had the pleasure of listening to your song. It is absolutely beautiful and really hit a soft spot in my heart. I think it is very appropriate for the album and hope you continue producing such phenomenal and emotional works. Cheers.

[ScottFree37]

YOU!

[postgoodism]

All-Around Favorite (exluding Uematsu and Mitsuda, since of course that goes without saying; specifically the Chrono/Xeno series):

Hitoshi Sakimoto - Final Fantasy Tactics / Vagrant Story / Valkyria Chronicles

Also notable:

Christophe Heral - Beyond Good and Evil

Evan LE NY - SpaceChem

Jerry Martin - SimCity 4: Rush Hour

Jim Guthrie - Sword & Sworcery

nervous_testpilot - Frozen Synapse

[Jamjamthelegend]

I will definitely buy this when it comes out from Amazon!

[korusi]

I bought it just because of you and your song jump and Yasunori Mitsuda's Dimension Break.

[volound]

paul ruskay, jarrid mendelson, jesper kyd (the hitman stuff), jeremy soule, frank klepacki.

favourite is probably the homeworld soundtrack. love the elder scrolls too though.

[MiniRagnarok]

Composers- Nobuo Uematsu, Yasunori Mitsuda, and Laura Shigihara

Soundtracks- Early "Final Fantasy"s and Chrono Trigger

[ferdk16]

awesome!!! about the question, my favorite composer is Nobuo Uematsu and Final Fantasy VIII would be my favorite soundtrack =D

Laura you're amazing!! how do you feel about being part of this release with so many legendary composers? :)

[Arkanis81]

Composer - Nobuo Uematsu

Soundtracks - Final Fantasy IV and VI

[mario4ever1000]

what is jump i dont remember seeing/ hearing music titled that from PvZ? :?

[supershigi]

@mario4ever1000 You are correct, it's not from PvZ... it is an original song that was created specifically for the album ^_^ Most of the songs on the album are new as well.

[Bozeman42]

Purchased.

[MecxyLuke]

:D :D :D : )

[Bozeman42]

Ah!  I have been waiting for that!