In the theoretical framework, I covered various concepts beneficial for understanding and analyzing sound’s function in video games from a ludological and narratological point of view. The theoretical framework is by no means exhaustive. It depends on what you want to analyze. Fx, I don’t include musical notation, which is necessary in many cases for … Continue Reading
In many computer games, the music changes when danger is imminent, even if the enemy is not yet visible. The enemy music warns the player, who can react and prepare their avatar for battle. The music is extra-diegetic and not part of the avatar’s diegesis. Nevertheless, the music influences the avatar’s continued role and survival … Continue Reading
In my last article, I established the concept of the sonic game space, which is the space of sound that emerges through gameplay, when you play a video game. Because sound needs time and space to unfold and be perceived as coherent and meaningful, the sonic game space goes beyond the screen space and plays … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad In my last article, I examined the basis for video game theory as it has sprung from narratology and ludology. Narratology is the basis for understanding video games as fiction, whereas ludology … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad This is part IX of my article series on video game sound. If you haven’t already, I recommend you start with Part I: Video Game Audio 101. Fiction or Interface. An Introduction. Up … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad As I wrote in my last article, the Commodore 64 home computer, and the Nintendo NES/Famicon home gaming console have become massive hits worldwide. The C64 had sold over 12.5 million units. … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad As I wrote in my last article, the 1980s saw the rise of home computers – aka Personal Computers (PC) – simultaneously with the rise of the popular 8-bit home consoles like … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad The 1980s and 1990s saw the rise of 8-bit and 16-bit home computers and game consoles. Examples of popular 8-bit machines include the Commodore 64 (1982) home computer, the Nintendo NES (1985) … Continue Reading
What is a bit anyway? And how does it relate to sound in these machines? A bit (short for binary digit) is the small unit of information a computer understands. A bit is often represented as either a 1 or 0, where one means “ON” and zero means “OFF.” When a manufacturer writes about bits … Continue Reading
DISCLOSURE: AS AN AMAZON ASSOCIATE I EARN FROM QUALIFYING PURCHASES. READ THE FULL DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO. ALL AFFILIATE LINKS ARE MARKED #ad In the last article, I covered how sound and melodies became important in arcade video games in the 1980s. In this article, I’ll cover the simultaneous evolution of sound and music in … Continue Reading