Read the post argle. I was talking to flaming, so I could care less about what you think.

The point is, you want action, you want loudness, you want excitement in a game. I was trying to see what the rules are (being someone who has absolutely no idea) about using music in my game.

And for the people who say get someone else to play your music... it's not the same. It's NOT ironmaiden, and I understand I can't use Ironmaiden, so I'll have to think up something else.

Note: I'm also not one of those people that put those popular songs into a game, just because it's popular. I'd actually started a playlist about songs that you never hear on the radio, rather than the unbelievably re-occurrent "Enter Sandman" song by metallica.


But you see, that's my point. If I only needed (which I do) 30 seconds or so from each song, it would be SO doable, seeing as people base the songs on lyrics, notes, voice quality, etc. I would be using parts of the songs no one really listens to.

Whatever. Thanks everyone for giving me some insight about this topic.
And just because I'm asking questions on a forum (oxymoron?) doesn't mean I can't make a game. So think what you want, but until someone shows us his/her game on this forum, not one of us has credability for making a game, regardless if it's pong or Diablo 3.

(Immaturity? I'm talking about music piration, not coding and designing a game engine. I'm 17 year old... sorry for not being up to par with a 20 year olds' brain power.)

Gardon

"I would be using parts of the songs no one really listens to. "
Which doesnt make one bit of difference. But I realize you see the point. Basically, the whole world boils down to this: if you didnt make it yourself, from start to finish, or unless it came with a notice that said "this is copyright free/royalty free" then you cannot use it. :)

Good luck now!

Now what if one were to use a 15-30 second clip or 15-30 second midi of a copyrighted song (or to "quote" lyrics in a game)? Would this not be considered fair use if proper copyright notices were included? I could've sworn that this is fair use, which is how companies get away with using songs in commercials...

...unless those companies do pay royalties for each commercial showing, which you know, I wouldn't put past the recording industry.

I thought this was fair use, and was planning on having a bard in my game play little riffs from various songs as combat skills... perhaps playing "Disco Inferno" will cause fire to rain from the sky... it'd be like an Area of Effect Fire spell. (it's kind of a comedic game if you can't tell).

Well, again, Im not entirely clear on just how much of having a riff from a tune played in a midi you can get away with. There is a point where "sounds like" and "ripped off" converge.
As far as scrolling lyrics, they are indeed under copyright, and must be licensed.

Commercials do indeed pay to have music licensed for use. Length has nothing to do with it, it doesnt matter how long a clip is, if it can be identified as from their work(and you would be surprised), then your ass is grass. :)
See my above rule of thumb:P