Understanding Video Game Music

Understanding Video Game Music provides methods and concepts for understanding music in video games, exploring aspects such as its practicality, critical perspectives, and its central role in the gaming experience. It covers music for various genres, activities, and scenarios, emphasizing its importance in enhancing the interactive nature of video games.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2018
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Understanding Video Game Music is a comprehensive guide that delves into the realm of video game music, offering a rich and intricate musicology that explores the unique characteristics and complexities of this medium. By employing a range of methods and concepts, this book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of music in video games.

The book begins by examining the practical aspects of investigating video games as musical sources. It discusses the techniques used by composers to create music for games, including the use of digital audio workstations, sampling, and synthesis. It also explores the challenges and opportunities that arise in creating music for interactive environments, such as the need to accommodate different play styles, narrative elements, and player actions.

From a critical perspective, the book examines the role of game music in shaping the gaming experience. It explores the ways in which music can enhance immersion, evoke emotions, and create memorable moments. It also discusses the cultural significance of game music, considering its impact on popular music, gaming culture, and the broader society.

Throughout the book, numerous examples are provided to illustrate the various aspects of game music. These examples range from iconic titles such as Final Fantasy VII, Monkey Island 2, SSX Tricky, and Silent Hill to lesser-known games that have made significant contributions to the genre. By analyzing these examples, readers gain a deeper understanding of the techniques and strategies used by composers to create music that enhances the gaming experience.

Moreover, the book offers conceptual ideas that are valuable for future analysis and research in the field of video game music. It explores the relationship between music and other textual levels of the game, such as graphics, narrative, and gameplay, and discusses the ways in which music can contribute to the overall narrative and emotional impact of a game.

In conclusion, Understanding Video Game Music is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of video game music. It provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the medium, offering practical insights, critical perspectives, and conceptual ideas that will enrich the understanding and appreciation of game music. Whether you are a composer, gamer, or music enthusiast, this book offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enhance your experience and understanding of this dynamic and evolving genre.

Weight: 526g
Dimension: 188 x 247 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108413428