Ru
EnV. Chuvilkin
Rhythm-musical video games: models of player interaction with musical material
The article examines the problem of player participation in the organization of musical material in video games. The study aims to identify and systematize the ways in which users interact with video game music and to determine the criteria for their differentiation. The material of the study comprises the video games PaRappa the Rapper, Guitar Hero, Maestro, Otocky, Tetris Effect, Metal: Hellsinger, and Hi-Fi Rush, in which musical rhythm is directly linked to game actions. The article analyzes how commands given by the player correlate with musical form and texture. The principal criterion for systematization is the degree to which those user actions that are directly related to the reproduction of music are predetermined. As a result, three models of interaction are identified: compositional, improvisational, and hybrid. In the compositional model, the sequence of actions is largely predetermined, and the player is directed toward reproducing the intended musical material. In the improvisational model, the order of musical actions is determined to a greater extent by the player’s choices, while the sound elements may be prepared in advance by the developers. The hybrid model combines pre-structured musical material with variability in its realization, depending on the player’s actions. The identified models make it possible to differentiate various ways in which the player participates in the construction of sound and to show how game mechanics can be linked to musical form. The resulting typology clarifies the ways in which developers immerse the player in the creative process and demonstrates that interaction with music in a video game can be considered a special form of performing participation, in which the player acts not only as a consumer but also as a co-author of the music.
Key words
musical rhythm, video game, rhythm game, video game music, interactive music, improvisation.
For citation
Chuvilkin V. Rhythm-musical video games: models of player interaction with musical material. In: South-Russian Musical Anthology. 2026. No. 3. Pp. 119–128.
