Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Bastion sheet music now available for $0.00 through Supergiant]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/03/17/bastion-sheet-music-now-available-for-0-00-through-supergiant/#comments
Bastion's soundtrack has received almost as much praise as the game itself, which earned a spot on our list of 2011's best games, among other accolades from consumers and industry folk. Its haunting vocals, 1800s gospel-esque melody lines and character-relevant lyrics are an exceptional work on their own, as you can clearly tell from the video above featuring Bastion composer Darren Korb and vocalist Ashley Barrett.

Now you too can play the part of a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, assuming you have the ability to command a guitar and/or piano in coordination with sheet music and/or tabulature. Charts for all four songs of the Bastion soundtrack are now available for free from Supergiant's store, which we're certain will vastly improve the accuracy of YouTube cover videos the world over. Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to remind ourselves why we dropped out of music school.

JoystiqBastion sheet music now available for $0.00 through Supergiant originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ashley-BarrettbastionDarren-Korbfreeguitarguitar-tabspianosheet-musicsoundtracksupergiantsupergiant-gamestabulatureSat, 17 Mar 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choice Piano Cuts, a Super Meat Boy piano tribute album]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choice-piano-cuts-a-super-meat-boy-piano-tribute-album/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choice-piano-cuts-a-super-meat-boy-piano-tribute-album/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/choice-piano-cuts-a-super-meat-boy-piano-tribute-album/#comments Remember Brent Kennedy, the guy who created those wonderful piano arrangements of the Super Meat Boy soundtrack early last year? Well, it looks like we weren't the only people impressed by his work: Super Meat Boy's composer, Danny Baranowsky, has been working with Kennedy for nearly a year, and the two have recently released the fruits of their labors on Baranowsky's Bandcamp profile.

Super Meat Boy! - Choice Piano Cuts is a $4.99 (or more, if you're feeling generous) collection of 10 tracks from the SMB soundtrack, composed by Baranowsky and arranged/performed by Kennedy. The purchase also includes a PDF of the Kennedy's sheet music for the entire album, which in itself is well worth the price of admission for the musically inclined out there.

The soundtrack's original arrangements are great and everything, don't get us wrong, but there's a deeper level to Baranowsky's skill as a composer that's exceptionally brought to life by Kennedy's mastery of the ivory keys. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

JoystiqChoice Piano Cuts, a Super Meat Boy piano tribute album originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arrangementBrent-KennedyChoice-Piano-CutsDanny-Baranowskymacmicrosoftmusicpcpianopiano-arrangementpiano-coversplaystationps3soundtracksuper-meat-boySuper-Meat-Boy-Choice-Piano-Cutsteam-meatxboxWed, 04 Jan 2012 03:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Super Meat Boy piano arrangements are delightful]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/super-meat-boy-piano-arrangements-are-delightful/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/super-meat-boy-piano-arrangements-are-delightful/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/12/super-meat-boy-piano-arrangements-are-delightful/#comments Brent Kennedy's piano arrangements are, to put it lightly, very impressive. His latest renditions of Super Meat Boy tunes are no different, urging us to loop "Betus Blues" while charging once more through level two's Light World. It's so much more harrowing when the music sounds classical!

Continue reading Super Meat Boy piano arrangements are delightful

JoystiqSuper Meat Boy piano arrangements are delightful originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brent-kennedydanny-baranowskymusicpianopiano-arrangementsuper-meat-boyteam-meatWed, 12 Jan 2011 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Easy Piano easing into North America next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/easy-piano-easing-into-north-america-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/easy-piano-easing-into-north-america-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/04/easy-piano-easing-into-north-america-next-year/#commentsBand Hero's reign as the DS music game with the silliest peripheral in America will soon be over. Valcon Games has announced that it will release Easy Piano, the piano teaching game with the 13-key keyboard attachment, in North America. It'll join the piles and piles of other games coming out in early 2010, but then those don't have keyboards.

Easy Piano includes a piano teaching system -- a mini Miracle Keyboard, essentially -- but also allows players to record four three-minute long performances, and includes a piano-based rhythm game. What it doesn't include, for obvious reasons, is DSi compatibility. Maybe the company will make a version for the DSi XL that connects wirelessly to one of those floor pianos from Big.

Also, we've changed our minds -- Band Hero is still the silliest.

JoystiqEasy Piano easing into North America next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>easy-pianogame-lifemusicpianovalcon-gamesWed, 04 Nov 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Easy Piano brings keyboard peripheral to DS Lite]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/easy-piano-brings-keyboard-peripheral-to-ds-lite/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/easy-piano-brings-keyboard-peripheral-to-ds-lite/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/31/easy-piano-brings-keyboard-peripheral-to-ds-lite/#comments
Almost two years ago, Ubisoft dropped a virtual guitar simulator on the DS, titled "Jam Sessions" -- and that's just great, if you picked up the six-stringed instrument during your collegiate career in an attempt to woo Damien Rice-obsessed co-eds. Some of us, however, prefer the ivories. And by "prefer", we mean "we were forced to spend our childhood summers hunched over a beaten-up Steinway, pursuing our parents' feverish artistic dreams as our peers actually enjoyed their lives."

Fortunately for us, a Namco Bandai press release just revealed a Jam Sessions-esque title for the DS titled -- what else -- Easy Piano. The game comes with the keyboard peripheral you see above, so we hope interested parties have held onto their GBA slot-equipped DS Lites. With a lesson mode, a play-along mode and even a song creaion mode, it sounds like a neat offering for piano enthusiasts. We won't be sure until we try out that tiny, tiny keyboard, though.

JoystiqEasy Piano brings keyboard peripheral to DS Lite originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSeasy-pianokeyboardmusicnamco-bandaiNintendoperipheralpianorhythmFri, 31 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[You can play piano on your DSi, kinda]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/you-can-play-piano-on-your-dsi-kinda/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/you-can-play-piano-on-your-dsi-kinda/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/13/you-can-play-piano-on-your-dsi-kinda/#comments
Has your long-held habit of carrying a baby grand piano with you everywhere you go begun to cause irreversible damage to your easily pliable spinal cord? The Monday Night Crew gang discovered an easier way to tickle ivories touchscreens on the go by using a neat trick in the "Graffiti Mode" on your DSi. Basically, the music note stamp in graffiti mode makes a sound that changes pitch depending on where you place it on the screen. By placing these stamps over a cleverly crafted grid, you can wow your friends with MIDI renditions of your favorite songs. It's a neat trick, and far less damaging on the ol' sacroiliac. Check out a video demonstration after the jump!

Continue reading You can play piano on your DSi, kinda

JoystiqYou can play piano on your DSi, kinda originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameraDSdsigraffitimonday-night-crewmusicNintendopianoMon, 13 Apr 2009 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Music offers new opportunities for 'This one time, at band camp' stories]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/wii-music-offers-new-opportunities-for-this-one-time-at-band-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/wii-music-offers-new-opportunities-for-this-one-time-at-band-c/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/01/wii-music-offers-new-opportunities-for-this-one-time-at-band-c/#commentsFiled under:


Wii Music won't only help you re-imagine yourself in a rock band; it will also enable you to live out your dream of playing in a marching band! Remember how you used to envy all the geeks performing during half-time shows at high school football games? Now you, too, can be one of them!

Nintendo also introduced two instruments with demonstration videos over the holiday weekend -- the violin, piano, and guitar. Unfortunately, it's hard to relate any of those music devices to band camp. Still, you can check out videos for them past the post break!

See also: Nintendo introduces Wii Music's instruments one at a time

Continue reading Wii Music offers new opportunities for 'This one time, at band camp' stories

JoystiqWii Music offers new opportunities for 'This one time, at band camp' stories originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>marching-drumpianorhythmwii-musicMon, 01 Sep 2008 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Game Melody Oratorio Volume Two: More music to our ears]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/30/game-melody-oratorio-volume-two-more-music-to-our-ears/#commentsFiled under:


Fresh off his success placing fourth in Neoflash's Spring Coding Competition, homebrew developer Multiple: Option has followed up his Game Melody Oratorio software with a second volume, packing ten songs and new features into the virtual piano update.

Here's your chance to learn classic melodies from a diverse set of games:
  • Double Dragon
  • Dr. Mario
  • Duck Tales (a woo woo)
  • Final Fantasy VII
  • Halo
  • Leisure Suit Larry
  • Metal Gear Solid
  • Outrun
  • Streets of Rage 2
  • Super Castlevania VI
Game Melody Oratorio Volume 2's new features include an extra piano key (C3), a new Practice Stage with hidden notes, a new Recital Challenge mode, improved flashcart support, and the ability to preview melodies on the song selection screen. Wow! All that for free!

[Via DCEmu]

JoystiqGame Melody Oratorio Volume Two: More music to our ears originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>castlevaniadouble-dragondr-marioduck-talesfinal-fantasyfinal-fantasy-viigame-melody-oratoriohaloleisure-suit-larrymultiple-optionmusicoutrunpianostreets-of-rageWed, 30 Apr 2008 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Play video game music on a piano -- just like the pros!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/play-video-game-music-on-a-piano-just-like-the-pros/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/play-video-game-music-on-a-piano-just-like-the-pros/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/20/play-video-game-music-on-a-piano-just-like-the-pros/#commentsFiled under:

Taking a break from porting visual novel demos like Fate/hollow ataraxia Prologue and Snatcher Pilot, developer Multiple: Option has posted its first original project, a neat homebrew application that teaches you how to play simple video game melodies with a virtual piano. If only there was a similar program for 90s gangsta rap songs -- we would love to learn 2Pac's "I Ain't Mad at Cha!"

Multiple: Option's software, Game Melody Oratorio, includes lessons for songs Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, Tetris, Bubble Bobble, and The Legend of Zelda. Each melody has two modes, one for practicing the tune with visual cues, the other for playing the melody without any help once you've mastered it. Don't see your favorite video game song on the list? There's also a "Free Play" mode that allows you to experiment and play whatever you want.

[Via NEO Compo 2008]

JoystiqPlay video game music on a piano -- just like the pros! originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bubble-bobblegame-melody-oratoriolegend-of-zeldalessonsmultiple-optionneoflashpianosonicsuper-mario-brostetrisThu, 20 Mar 2008 22:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy Final Fantasy music day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/happy-final-fantasy-music-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/happy-final-fantasy-music-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/22/happy-final-fantasy-music-day/#commentsWhy do we play games? To escape, of course -- to free ourselves from our earthly shackles and enjoy a world of pure fantasy, if just for a moment. To that end, please enjoy this quick escape through the music of the Final Fantasy series on guitar, piano and, er, recorder.

Check out our previous Friday music features.

Continue reading Happy Final Fantasy music day

JoystiqHappy Final Fantasy music day originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>FFfinal fantasyFinalFantasyguitarmusicdaypianorecorderFri, 22 Sep 2006 12:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy video game piano medley day]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/happy-video-game-piano-medley-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/happy-video-game-piano-medley-day/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/08/happy-video-game-piano-medley-day/#commentsFiled under: ,

Some days here at Joystiq, we just can't decide what we want. We'll feel like a little Mega Man, only to stop and go searching for Chrono Trigger, then Tetris, then Zelda, Final Fantasy, Mario ... nothing seems to satisfy.

Luckily, we're always in the mood for the piano, and YouTube is happy to oblige our digital wanderlust with a variety of video game medleys on the ebony and ivory. Continue reading for some exquisite piano interpretations from the above series and more.

Previously: Happy Castlevania rock out day, Happy retro-techno music day, Happy Zelda music day... again, Happy Zelda music day

Continue reading Happy video game piano medley day

JoystiqHappy video game piano medley day originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Sep 2006 12:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>final fantasyFinalFantasymariomedleymega manMegaManmusicmusicdaypianozeldaFri, 08 Sep 2006 12:25:00 EST