(4) Contracts and Deals.
When an artist (or band) agree to do a soundtrack for a game, no doubt there is always a contract involved and some clauses as part of the deal. The artist and the developer are often two separate entities.
Both parties are in the business of making money from their product.
One such clause, could be an agreement where the artist can sell the soundtrack separately.
With that in mind, it would be about a certain return ... profit.
If you check out some of these soundtracks at places like SoundCloud and Bandcamp, and add the price being asked there to the price of that game at GOG etc, you can see why the game is often available without the soundtrack, to be at a more attractive price.
Sometimes there is a time limit involved, and maybe even a clause that covers when one game publisher sells to another etc. So no doubt it is all about licensing.
So we can try and blame GOG, but I am very doubtful they have any real say. It would be down to whatever agreement the artist and game developer/publisher can come to.
And so while I don't like the situation anymore than anyone else, I can see where the price for a soundtrack is often devalued at GOG etc to buying it elsewhere, where rather than an extra to a game, it is a music product.
Sometimes you get an absolute bargain buying a soundtrack at GOG etc, other times it is a big ripoff ... hence the sense and benefit of checking a soundtrack out at youTube etc ... unless of course you already know the music inside out.
Post edited April 29, 2024 by Timboli