I wonder about one thing in STO. Why is there not more diverse music? Or - okay, I'll make it into two parts:
1) Why isn't there more existing Star Trek music in the game? You know - all those TOS themes, TNG themes (Inner Light ftw)... maybe even some movie themes. Aren't the rights to those pieces owned by CBS (prev. Paramount) too? Or are there some "special" rights, like the actor likeness, in play here?
Because lemme tell you, I'd enjoy a bit different and diverse space combat music - I actually play ST2: Battle in Mutara Nebula when I play Kerrat. It fits perfectly at some spots.
2) Why isn't there more original music? This is a bit complicated, I know. I really liked the fact that special score was added for the big worm battle. This is the way how to create atmosphere - music can make it much better, or completely ruin it when an improper piece is selected (and oh boy, opera guy is improper at almost any time). You don't need James Horner to do music for you. There are a lot of young, talented, independent music writers and musicians out there - I am pretty sure they wouldn't ask millions to write some more music for STO.
This has been one of my biggest issues with STO, ever since I started playing. I like the main music theme and its variations, but the opera guy and other odd pieces, they just don't click with me. And they play regardless of circumstances. Why isn't there more theme music? Special music would be SO great for the grand finale fight with Hakeev. Or the night stroll in the desert in Coloseum.
The answer to both of your questions is money. Concerning the existing music, my guess is that the original composers reserve rights to their work, which requires negotiations with either the composers themselves or their estates (the big one here considering how much of the TNG-era music was composed by the late Jerry Goldsmith). Cryptic's notoriously low budget, and it's cheaper to hire a guy like Kevin Manthei for everything than it is to go to all that effort getting the old movie and TV show scores.
As for the number of tracks, Cryptic paid Manthei for the amount of pieces they got and haven't been willing to pay him for more, because they've had to divert all their financial resources to other, more important aspects of development.
If I had to guess, it's a money issue. It costs money, either to license music for use or to compose fresh music. I'm guessing that STO either got some music from the franchise or was forced to make due.
I'm sorry if this answer seems like I'm selling you short, but I suspect that really is the extent of it.
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As for the number of tracks, Cryptic paid Manthei for the amount of pieces they got and haven't been willing to pay him for more, because they've had to divert all their financial resources to other, more important aspects of development.
I'm sorry if this answer seems like I'm selling you short, but I suspect that really is the extent of it.
Also...only deiscernable pure ST music I can think of in-game is the TOS music from the Weekly Episode "Coliseum"