Understanding Game Scoring

Mack Enns is a Research Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, specializing in music design and programming for video games and interactive media, music technology and popular music studies.

• ContentsList of Figures List of Tables Chapter 1An Introduction to Game Scoring Disasterpeace and FEZ: A Case Study of Game ScoringMusic System Overview: Sequence Context MenuMusic System Overview: Scripts BrowserMusic System Overview: Main Composition SequencerGame Scoring as an Unique Mode of Musical CompositionMethodology and Outline Chapter 2 Game Scoring’s Interactive Multimedia Context Spatial Emulation, the "Gaming Diegesis" and Game ScoringInteractivity: A New ElementAudial Responsibility in the Interactive Multimedia Text: A Case Study of the Score for The Legend of Zelda (1987)Case Study Conclusions: John Cage and Game Scoring as Aleatoric CompositionGame Scoring Taxonomy: Title MusicGame Scoring Taxonomy: Source MusicSource Music Case Study: Kondo’s "Lost Woods" Vs. Vreeland’s "Reflection"Game Scoring Taxonomy: Results MusicChapter ConclusionsChapter 3 Game Scoring and Gaming TechnologyCase Study: The Nintendo Entertainment System’s Sound Hardware ConfigurationChannel Overview: Pulse Wave ChannelsChannel Overview: Triangle Wave ChannelChannel Overview: Noise ChannelChannel Overview: Delta Modulation ChannelNES Game Scoring TechniquesNES Game Scoring Techniques: 2-Channel Echo NES Game Scoring Techniques: Single Channel EchoNES Game Scoring Techniques: Arpeggio and Psychoacoustic Block Chords NES Game Scoring Techniques: TWC Kick Drum Sounds NES Game Scoring Techniques: Melodic SamplesPutting It All Together: The APU Mixer Case Study SummaryGame Scoring Taxonomy: Logo JinglesGame Scoring Taxonomy: Loading MusicGame Scoring Taxonomy: Voice Acting and VocalsChapter ConclusionsChapter 4Game Design and Game Scoring as Software ProgrammingGame Scoring Taxonomy: Introduction Music Game Scoring Taxonomy: Demo Music Game Scoring Taxonomy: Gameplay Music Gameplay Music: Hub Music Gameplay Music: Area Music Area Music Case Study: Game Scoring as Mimetic Music Technology in Tetris (1984) and Guitar Hero (2005)Gameplay Music: Area Music, cont.Gameplay Music: Time System JinglesGameplay Music: Battle Music Gameplay Music: Rest MusicGameplay Music: Dialogue Music Dialogue Music Case Study: The Owl and Link’s Awakening (1993)Gameplay Music: Challenge Music Chapter ConclusionsChapter 5 Game Scoring: Gameplay as Performance of Aleatoric Composition Before Video Games: The Aleatoric TraditionA Note on Sound EffectsCase Study: Super Mario Bros. (World 6-2) Game Scores Vs. Game Soundtracks: Super Mario Bros. on CD Case Study ConclusionsGame Scoring Taxonomy: Menu Sound EffectsMario Menus: A Case Study of Menu Sound Effects in Two Super Mario GamesMenu Sound Effects, Cont.Game Scoring Taxonomy: Menu MusicGame Scoring Taxonomy: Status Music (Gameplay Music, Cont.)Game Scoring Taxonomy: Gameplay Sound EffectsGame Scoring Taxonomy: "Ambiences" or Ambient Sound EffectsChapter ConclusionsChapter 6 Game Scoring: Conclusion Future Directions SignificanceImplicationsConclusion Index