Music video game

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Open source music video game StepMania Stemania4 Alpha4.png
Open source music video game StepMania

A music video game, also commonly known as a music game, is a video game where the gameplay is meaningfully and often almost entirely oriented around the player's interactions with a musical score or individual songs. Music video games may take a variety of forms and are often grouped with puzzle games [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] due to their common use of "rhythmically generated puzzles". [7] [8]

Contents

Music video games are distinct from purely audio games (e.g. the 1997 Sega Saturn release Real Sound: Kaze no Regret ) in that they feature a visual feedback, to lead the player through the game's soundtrack, although eidetic music games can fall under both categories.[ citation needed ]

Overview

Music video games are games where there is typically some type of interactivity of the gameplay with the game's music. This may be where the music is generated in response to the player's actions, or where the player reacts to the beats and notes of the music. [9] As the genre has gained popularity and expanded, music video games have demonstrated the ability to support a range of different styles of gameplay, making the genre itself rather diffuse. A game such as Rayman Legends features levels that are based on endless runners but where the player scores better by matching their actions to the musical cues, which could make this a music video game. [10]

Instead, it is easier to consider the sub-genres of music video games based on how the player interacts with the music in the game, of which there are four main types as described by the concepts of "matching, making, mixing, and metonymy" as described by Michael Austin, the director of the School of Music at Louisiana Tech University. [10] These ideas correlate to the subgenres as described below. Music games may feature multiple modes; for example, Frequency is primarily a scored rhythm matching game but also includes a music mixing gameplay feature for players to make their own mixes of the available songs. [9]

Rhythm-matching games

Frets on Fire, an open-source Guitar Hero clone, is an example of a rhythm-matching game. Fretsonfire4.png
Frets on Fire , an open-source Guitar Hero clone, is an example of a rhythm-matching game.

Rhythm-matching games or simply rhythm games require the player to respond in some fashion in time to music as it is played and shown via the game, all generally to emphasize the rhythm of the song being played. This may be by performing specific actions on a controller with precision timing as the note is played. Players are generally scored by not only hitting the right control but how precisely they hit it in time with the music. To improve in such games, players often begin to learn the required actions to memory as to be able to anticipate difficult sections or areas where high scoring is possible. [10]

The wide variety of possible player input has created a range of rhythm games, from Dance Dance Revolution where players input moves on a dance mat, Donkey Konga in which players beat on a conga drum-like controller, and the Guitar Hero series where players simulate the fingering and strumming on a guitar-shaped controller. This concept also extends to singing games like Karaoke Revolution , with players scored for how well they match the pitch of the vocal track. [11]

Rhythm games are the most dominant form of the music game genre. [10] The electronic game Simon is considered the earliest example of a rhythm game, [9] [10] while early games that defined the rhythm-matching aspects include Dance Aerobics (1987) and PaRappa the Rapper (1996). More recent titles include the Guitar Hero (2005) and Rock Band (2007) series, Beat Saber (2019), and Friday Night Funkin’ (2020). [12] [13]

Hybrid rhythm games

A further class of rhythm games is hybrid rhythm games or music reactive games. In comparison to the forementioned rhythm games where the rhythm matching is the primary focus and the player's action helps to generate the music that they hear, reactive games let the background music guide the player action, leaving the rhythm gameplay elements secondary to the main gameplay form. [14] Often in these hybrid rhythm games, the player plays the game as they normally would but can use the in-game music to time actions often to better their score, thus affecting the interaction between the player and the in-game dynamics as goal of the game. [15] In Rez or Free the Beat , for example, the game takes the form of a simple rail shooter; however, by integrating sound effects created by the actions of the player (as he completes the normal tasks of rail-shooting) with the soundtrack as a whole, the game is intended to permit the player's direct interaction with the soundtrack and to encourage the creation of a synaesthetic experience. [9] [16] Other similar games include Pteranodon , Rhyme Rider Kerorican , or iS – internal section . A further class of these games allow for users to provide music that is then processed dynamically by the game to create challenges for that song, so that players are not dependent on the game's developer to extend the game's library of songs. Such games include Vib-Ribbon , Audiosurf , or Dance Factory . [17]

Music-making games

Music-making freeform music games are those in which the creation of music takes predominance over gameplay and as such these games are often more similar to non-game music synthesizers such as the Tenori-on. Players are given the ability to create their own music from a variety of sounds, instruments or voices, typically with no goal or objective. Free form music games occupy a position somewhere between generative hybrid music games and non-game utilities dependent upon the degree to which their gameplay relies upon a driving underlying plotline. This form of music game is closely analogous to sandbox games in the realm of non-musical games and the term "sandbox" has been used to describe this form of gameplay. [18] Examples of such games include SimTunes or the music composition tool in Mario Paint . [10]

Music-mixing games

Music-mixing games are those in which players take premade sounds, music, or other audio tracks and interact with them in the game to create new works. These games are similarly sandbox in nature a music-making games, though by creation of certain combination of sounds, the player may be awarded points or unlock additional features. Such games include Incredibox and Fuser . [10]

Music-themed games

The fourth subgenre of music games are those that are related to the metonymy of music, where the game may feature narration about the creation of music but not feature gameplay related to music. For example, Michael Jackson's Moonwalker would be a considered a music-themed game as it is based on the musical works of Michael Jackson, but as a beat'em up, has none of the typical mechanics associated with the other subgenres of music games. [10] One of the first examples of this type of subgenre, and of music games in general, is the 1983 arcade game Journey , named after band of the same name, which featured some of the group's music and digitized versions of the band members. [19]

Music games for live performance

Players performing at a PAX event while playing Rock Band 2 RockBand2PAX.jpg
Players performing at a PAX event while playing Rock Band 2

Some music video games, regardless of their fundamental gameplay, may offer modes to allow players to use the game for creating live performances, typically using freeform or non-scoring modes with multiple local players. Games like Guitar Hero and Singstar offer such modes that also give the player the opportunity for physical presence as part of their performance for others. [9] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Space Channel 5</i> 1999 video game

Space Channel 5 is a music video game developed and published by Sega. Originally released for the Dreamcast, it was later ported to the PlayStation 2. A version for the Game Boy Advance (GBA) was published in 2003 as a Western exclusive. Following space-faring reporter Ulala as she investigates an alien invasion, players engage in rhythm-based combat where Ulala mimics the actions of rivals in time to musical tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetsuya Mizuguchi</span> Japanese video game designer, producer and businessman

Tetsuya Mizuguchi is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and businessman. Along with ex-Sega developers he is one of the co-founders of the video game development firm Q Entertainment. He formerly worked for Sega as a producer in their Sega AM3 'arcade machines' team, developing games like Sega Rally Championship and Sega Touring Car Championship, before moving on to become the head of Sega's United Game Artists division, the team responsible for Rez and Space Channel 5. Mizuguchi is better known for creating video games that incorporate interactive synesthesia into his game design, regardless of genre, evidenced by Rez, Lumines, Child of Eden, and Tetris Effect.

<i>Rez</i> (video game) 2001 rail shooter video game

Rez is a musical rail shooter game developed by United Game Artists and published by Sega for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2. It was released in Japan in 2001, followed by releases to the United States and Europe in 2002. The game was ported to Xbox 360 as Rez HD by Q Entertainment and HexaDrive in 2008. A virtual reality-compatible expanded version dubbed Rez Infinite was co-developed and released through 2016 to 2023 by Enhance Games, Resonair and Monstars for PlayStation 4, Windows, Android, Oculus Quest and PlayStation 5.

An action game is a video game genre that emphasizes physical challenges, including hand–eye coordination and reaction time. The genre includes a large variety of sub-genres, such as fighting games, beat 'em ups, shooter games, rhythm games and platform games. Multiplayer online battle arena and some real-time strategy games are also considered action games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhythm game</span> Genre of music-themed action video game

Rhythm game or rhythm action is a genre of music-themed action video game that challenges a player's sense of rhythm. Games in the genre typically focus on dance or the simulated performance of musical instruments, and require players to press buttons in a sequence dictated on the screen. Many rhythm games include multiplayer modes in which players compete for the highest score or cooperate as a simulated musical ensemble. Rhythm games often feature novel game controllers shaped like musical instruments such as guitars and drums to match notes while playing songs. Certain dance-based games require the player to physically dance on a mat, with pressure-sensitive pads acting as the input device.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to video games:

<i>Lumines: Puzzle Fusion</i> 2004 puzzle video game

Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is a 2004 puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). During the game, players must strategically arrange falling 2×2 blocks comprising two colors to form single-color 2×2 squares. A vertical "time line" sweeps across the field, erases completed squares, and awards points. Each stage features a unique skin that influences the background, block colors, accompanying music, and the time line's speed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonlinear gameplay</span> Gameplay involving unordered sequences

A video game with nonlinear gameplay presents players with challenges that can be completed in a number of different sequences. Each player may take on only some of the challenges possible, and the same challenges may be played in a different order. Conversely, a video game with linear gameplay will confront a player with a fixed sequence of challenges: every player faces every challenge and has to overcome them in the same order.

<i>Grand Theft Auto</i> clone Video game subgenre

A Grand Theft Auto clone belongs to a subgenre of open world action-adventure video games, characterized by their likeness to the Grand Theft Auto series in either gameplay, or overall design. In these types of open world games, players may find and use a variety of vehicles and weapons while roaming freely in an open world setting. The objective of Grand Theft Auto clones is to complete a sequence of core missions involving driving and shooting, but often side-missions and minigames are added to improve replay value. The storylines of games in this subgenre typically have strong themes of crime, violence and other controversial elements such as drugs and sexually explicit content.

<i>Space Channel 5: Part 2</i> 2002 video game

Space Channel 5: Part 2 is a music video game developed by United Game Artists. A direct sequel to the 1999 game Space Channel 5, the game was published for Dreamcast and PlayStation 2 in Japan in February 2002 by Sega. The PS2 version released worldwide in 2003 by SCEE and Agetec. The game later received a high-definition port to Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2011 from Sega.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandbox game</span> Type of video game encouraging creativity

A sandbox game is a video game with a gameplay element that provides players a great degree of creativity to interact with, usually without any predetermined goal, or alternatively with a goal that the players set for themselves. Such games may lack any objective, and are sometimes referred to as non-games or software toys. More often, sandbox games result from these creative elements being incorporated into other genres and allowing for emergent gameplay. Sandbox games are often associated with an open world concept which gives the players freedom of movement and progression in the game's world. The term "sandbox" derives from the nature of a sandbox that lets people create nearly anything they want within it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Open world</span> Type of video game design

In video games, an open world is a virtual world in which the player can approach objectives freely, as opposed to a world with more linear and structured gameplay. Notable games in this category include The Legend of Zelda (1986), Grand Theft Auto V (2013) and Minecraft (2011).

In video games, adaptive music is background music whose volume, rhythm or tune changes in response to specific events in the game.

<i>DJ Hero 2</i> 2010 video game

DJ Hero 2 is a 2010 rhythm game developed by FreeStyleGames and published by Activision. It is the sequel to DJ Hero (2009), a spin-off of the Guitar Hero series. The game was released worldwide in October 2010 for PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360. DJ Hero 2 uses a special turntable-controller, the same as introduced in DJ Hero, to simulate turntablism, the act of creating a new musical work from one or more previously recorded songs using record players and sound effect generators.

<i>Child of Eden</i> 2011 video game

Child of Eden is a 2011 musical rail shooter game developed by Q Entertainment and published by Ubisoft for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Following the player's journey to purge a far-future internet of viruses, the gameplay features shooting numerous enemies from a first-person perspective, with scores based on performance and bonuses awarded for syncing groups of shots with each stage's musical track. In addition to standard controllers, each version has the option to use motion controls through the Kinect and PlayStation Move respectively. It is a spiritual successor to the 2001 title Rez, carrying over the aim of producing a feeling of synesthesia in players.

<i>We Sing Pop!</i> 2012 video game

We Sing Pop! is a 2012 karaoke game part of the We Sing family of games, developed by French studio Le Cortex. The game features songs from the pop genre of music, covering popular songs from decades of music. The game was announced along with We Sing UK Hits and We Sing Rock! at E3 2011.

<i>Fantasia: Music Evolved</i> 2014 video game

Fantasia: Music Evolved is a 2014 motion-controlled rhythm game developed by Harmonix and published by Disney Interactive Studios for the Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Kinect. The game is the interactive successor to Walt Disney Animation Studios' 1940 animated film Fantasia and its 1999 sequel Fantasia 2000, both of which it is based upon.

This is a non-comprehensive list that includes terms used in video games and the video game industry, as well as slang used by players.

References

  1. ↑ "GameSpot's Best of 2005 - Genre Awards". Gamespot.com. Archived from the original on 2013-03-19. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  2. ↑ "The Best Videogames of 2005". Metacritic.com. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  3. ↑ "Mizuguchi on Lumines Interview // PSP /// Eurogamer". Eurogamer.net. 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  4. ↑ "GameSpy.com - Reviews: Frequency (PS2)". 2006-02-11. Archived from the original on 2006-02-11. Retrieved 2012-09-11.
  5. ↑ "Games and gear - Rhythm - ZDNet Reviews". Zdnet.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-09. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  6. ↑ "Music Rhythm | Games and gear - Puzzle - CNET Reviews". Reviews.cnet.com. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  7. ↑ "TenSpot: Top Ten Rhythm Games". GameSpot. 2006-03-22. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  8. ↑ Gudmundsen, Jinny (2007-08-24). "Songs from 'High School Musical' showcased in rhythm game". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Pichlmair, Martin; Kayali, Fares (2007). "Levels of Sound: On the Principles of Interactivity in Music Video Games". Situated Play, Proceedings of DiGRA 2007 Conference: 424–430.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Austin, Michael (2016). "Introduction". In Austin, Michael (ed.). Music Video Games: Performance, Politics, and Play. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1501308505.
  11. ↑ Adams, Ernest (2013). Fundamentals of Game Design. New Riders Press. p. 325. ISBN   9780133435719.
  12. ↑ Webster, Andrew (2009-03-04). "Roots of rhythm: a brief history of the music game genre". Ars Technica . Retrieved 2014-07-05.
  13. ↑ Reilly, Luke (October 9, 2020). "How Rhythm Games Blew Up (And Then Burned Out)". IGN . Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Otocky". Siliconera. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  15. ↑ "Hz #9 - "The Composition-Instrument: Musical Emergence and Interaction "". Hz-journal.org. Retrieved 2011-06-30.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. ↑ Krotoski, Aleks (2007-02-07). "Interview with Tetsuya Mizuguchi". The Guardian . London. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  17. ↑ Arrasvuori, Juha; Holm, Jukka (January 2010). "Background music reactive games". Proceedings of the 14th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments. pp. 135–142. doi:10.1145/1930488.1930517. ISBN   9781450300117. S2CID   31150829.
  18. ↑ "Salon 21st: This Note's For You". Salon.com . 1997-04-03. Archived from the original on February 17, 2002. Retrieved 2011-06-30.
  19. ↑ Machkovech, Sam (March 7, 2021). "A music video you can play: Indie rock inside the Unity engine". Ars Technica . Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  20. ↑ Lieberman, David 2006. Game Enhanced Music Manuscript. In GRAPHITE '06: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Australasia and South East Asia, ACM Press, Melbourne, Australia, 245 - 250.

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