// Exhibition computer games with music at the core of their gameplay.
 
// .HBC
// Opening 29/01 > 18:00
// 30/01 – 06/02  > 15 – 21:00
 
The exhibition is comprised of computer games with music at the core of their gameplay. The chosen exhibits were all published as consumer products, establishing both a contrast and reference to the artistic strategies applied in many of the other works shown within the A MAZE. program at CTM.10. The growing success of the music-games genre includes historical landmarks such as 'Moondust' from 1983, 'Otocky' from 1987 as well as 2009 block-busters like 'Rockband' or 'Brütal Legend'. Links to specific music scenes – e.g. Beatles-mania, heavy metal, DJ-culture or simply pop – are aesthetically prominent or define the game’s narratives. In order to facilitate a better understanding of their specialties, the exhibition is open for play and participation.
 
Computer games and music – in particular electronic music – have much in common. Technology, interaction and performance all provide surprising parallels. Nevertheless, the processes and results of the experiences are quite different. On the process side, playing a computer game means to experiment with predefined rules and structures. These include goals, points, competitions and the like, as well as the demands of the varying interfaces. The result is an empirical measurement of performance, emerging acoustics and concrete input-output relations. Although there are games that allow for intuitive music composing, the contrast with spontaneous, free and improvised forms of using musical instruments is huge. But this does not make them less exciting or valuable. They are prototypes of the generally ambivalent nature of rules: although rules act restrictively on the possibilities of action, they produce new forms of interacting with music which were not possible before.
 
Designed by students of the seminar 'Participation in Cultural Projects' convened by Katrin Werner, / _blank external-link-new-window "Opens external link in new window">European Media Studies program of the University of Potsdam and the University of Applied Studies Potsdam.
 
> See also > A MAZE. INTERACT
 
FEATURED GAMES
 
Space Channel 5
United Game Artists, SEGA, 1999, Playstation 2
 
PaRappa the Rapper
NaNaNon-Sha, SCEE, 1996, Playstation
 
Rock Band: Beatles
Harmonix, EA, 2009, XBOX 360
 
Sing Star Series
SCEE, SCEE, 2004, Playstation Series
 
Vib-Ribbon
NaNaNon-Sha, SCEE, 2000, Playstation
 
Moondust
Creative Software, Creative Software, 1983, C64
 
Otocky
Sedic, Ascii Corporation, 1987, FAMICOM
 
Rez HD
United Game Artists, SEGA, 2008, XBOX 360
 
Loom
Lucasfilm Games, Lucasfilm Games, 1990, PC
 
Brütal Legend
Double Fine Productions, EA, 2009, XBOX 360
 
Grand Theft Auto IV
Rockstar Games, Take 2, 2008, XBOX 360
 
Electroplankton
Indies Zero, Nintendo, 2005, Nintendo DS
 
Patapon
Pyramid/Japan Studios, SCEE, 2008, Playstation Portable
 
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!
iNiS, Nintendo, 2005, Nintendo DS
 
Rhythm Paradise
Nintendo, Nintendo, 2009, Nintendo DS
 
Dance Dance Revolution
Konami, Konami, 1998, Arcade
 
DJ Hero
FreeStyle Games, Activision-Blizzard, 2009, XBOX 360