the first computer game you heard using orchestral

just out of curiosity..

for it was baldur's gate 1 upon reaching(well at least the remembered one) the gates of baldur's gate city.

what was your game?

Star Craft I think... :-/

Star Fox 64

Total Annihilation. I was told the game music for it was actually recorded by the London Philharmonic. I'm not sure that's true, but at the time it sounded nothing like computer-generated music typically sounded, so I believe it. This was "in-game" music too, no cut scene or title menu stuff... and it made the game play absolutely incredible.

I love TA, do you know Spring?

Halo :D

Kingdom Hearts had a wonderful orchestral score (using an orchestra that Square Enix hired specifically for the game), though it unfortunately still used a midi soundtrack in a few places.

That was probably the first real orchestral score I heard in a game.

Mmm... are you sure that they didnt just use an orchestra for the credits track and such? I'm pretty sure that all of the in game stuff is MIDI.

For me it was probably FFVIII for the opening FMV and the credits. I wouldnt be surprised if it was the first console game to use a live orchestra...

just remembered warcraft 2 came out in 96-98?95?? anyway it had a GREAT orchestral tracks

Mmm... are you sure that they didnt just use an orchestra for the credits track and such? I'm pretty sure that all of the in game stuff is MIDI.

For me it was probably FFVIII for the opening FMV and the credits. I wouldnt be surprised if it was the first console game to use a live orchestra...

The opening and credits were done by a Japanese Pop Singer, though they did orchestrate the song and use it for trailers and promotional stuff.

It is possible that they used midi for the in game themes... but if it was, I couldn't tell the difference most of the time.

I know for a fact that the first game using "real" orchestral music was Diablo II by Blizzard Entertainment. Still one of my favorite games, and soundtracks. Depicts the mood of the game perfectly.

The opening and credits were done by a Japanese Pop Singer, though they did orchestrate the song and use it for trailers and promotional stuff.

It is possible that they used midi for the in game themes... but if it was, I couldn't tell the difference most of the time.

By the time you get to PS2 games, I think they were capable of utilizing sample libraries in the PSF2 files, so they sound real even if they're not recorded by a live orchestra.

Quite interesting. Both the first named games, Starcraft and Baldur's Gate are from 1998. The first game I remember playing that had an orchestral soundtrack (the second computer game I owned - I got into them rather late) is from 1998 too, Caesar III. Not a terribly good soundtrack, mind you…

Diablo II for Pc, great music and the first real game I played.

The first PC game I remember playing that used recordings of a live orchestra was probably Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight (I'm guessing the previous game pulled from John Williams' score as well). The first console game I played with orchestra was the original Medal of Honor for PlayStation.