Crazy Business Proposition - VGM CDs
Jul 6, 2006 13:53:46 GMT -5
Post by Discoalucard on Jul 6, 2006 13:53:46 GMT -5
So, the idea of domestic video game music CDs always seemed enticing to me, even though past endeavors haven't exactly been successful. Still, part of me think it'd be a really cool idea to set up some kind of business to license, create and sell them.
Of the few past record labels that have tried to bring out VGM, I'll bring up Tokyopop and Mars Records. Tokyopop tried to bring out some Square soundtracks here - some were cool, like Final Fantasy IV - but others were just single disc compilations of four CD soundtracks, which weren't exactly enticing. Plus a bunch of their albums were just too niche, like Panzer Dragoon Orta. Mars Records was totally awesome and brought out Streets of Rage 2, but the rest of their releases were crap like Power Stone and Dino Crisis - stuff no one would really care about.
My idea would focus on two products - newly made compilations of soundtracks from old games, potentially ones that never got OST releases anywhere in the world - and reprints of very old Japanese CDs. Specifically, I'm thinking things like Konami's Battle albums, Nintendo's stuff like the Super Metroid, Star Fox and Zelda CDs, things that are in really high demand in the secondary market, and are likely to be popular with those outside of the VGM scene. I want to stay away from remixes like 1up Studios, because they usually don't turn out very well. I'd also want to stay away from current albums, because anyone who really wants them can already get the current Japanese release - as much as it'd be awesome to see a domestic Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack, you can get it for less than $25 off Play Asia, which isn't drastically more expensive than a domestic CD.
Anyway, my dad is really big into movie soundtracks, and one place he orders from specializes in reprinting really old movie soundtracks - or again, creating their own - and publishing them in limited quantities (around 2000, although I'd aim much lower) and selling them exclusively in their online store. This eliminates the need for retail distribution, which when it comes to VGM CDs, is all kinds of impossible. Nobody goes into record stores to find them, and brick and morter video game specialty stores have no idea where to stock them. I mean, maybe stick them in a few other online stores like Gamemusic.com or VGM World, but otherwise, keep it solely on the their own site.
The thing is - I'm not entirely sure of the scope of the market, as well as the economic feasibility. Printing CDs with packaging isn't too terribly expensive, but I have no clue about licensing issues, and I have a feeling a lot of it would be difficult, since most of the stuff would probably be from Japanese companies.
So what does everybody think of this? Would you plunk down $20 to get a reprint of Super Metroid: Sound in Action or Dracula Battle, or maybe the soundtrack to Phantasy Star 4 or the NES Ninja Gaidens?
Of the few past record labels that have tried to bring out VGM, I'll bring up Tokyopop and Mars Records. Tokyopop tried to bring out some Square soundtracks here - some were cool, like Final Fantasy IV - but others were just single disc compilations of four CD soundtracks, which weren't exactly enticing. Plus a bunch of their albums were just too niche, like Panzer Dragoon Orta. Mars Records was totally awesome and brought out Streets of Rage 2, but the rest of their releases were crap like Power Stone and Dino Crisis - stuff no one would really care about.
My idea would focus on two products - newly made compilations of soundtracks from old games, potentially ones that never got OST releases anywhere in the world - and reprints of very old Japanese CDs. Specifically, I'm thinking things like Konami's Battle albums, Nintendo's stuff like the Super Metroid, Star Fox and Zelda CDs, things that are in really high demand in the secondary market, and are likely to be popular with those outside of the VGM scene. I want to stay away from remixes like 1up Studios, because they usually don't turn out very well. I'd also want to stay away from current albums, because anyone who really wants them can already get the current Japanese release - as much as it'd be awesome to see a domestic Shadow of the Colossus soundtrack, you can get it for less than $25 off Play Asia, which isn't drastically more expensive than a domestic CD.
Anyway, my dad is really big into movie soundtracks, and one place he orders from specializes in reprinting really old movie soundtracks - or again, creating their own - and publishing them in limited quantities (around 2000, although I'd aim much lower) and selling them exclusively in their online store. This eliminates the need for retail distribution, which when it comes to VGM CDs, is all kinds of impossible. Nobody goes into record stores to find them, and brick and morter video game specialty stores have no idea where to stock them. I mean, maybe stick them in a few other online stores like Gamemusic.com or VGM World, but otherwise, keep it solely on the their own site.
The thing is - I'm not entirely sure of the scope of the market, as well as the economic feasibility. Printing CDs with packaging isn't too terribly expensive, but I have no clue about licensing issues, and I have a feeling a lot of it would be difficult, since most of the stuff would probably be from Japanese companies.
So what does everybody think of this? Would you plunk down $20 to get a reprint of Super Metroid: Sound in Action or Dracula Battle, or maybe the soundtrack to Phantasy Star 4 or the NES Ninja Gaidens?