Game Theory is our latest audio visual mashup performed live on re-wired video game controllers.
2013 marks 35 years of video game music (Space Invaders, released in 1978, was the first game to feature a continuous soundtrack). So we took the opportunity to take a look back at some of our favourite examples of video game music and build a 19 track mashup, combining them with some other tracks we love.
The tracks used vary from some of the original 8-bit tracks from the Atari, GameBoy, through to 1990s N64 and PS1 classics, right up to modern day symphonic epics that accompany some of todays blockbuster games…
Grab a free mp3 download of the track via our facebook page.
Tracks used:
- Tetris Music A (Game Boy)
- Abba - Mamma Mia
- Doctor Who Theme
- Super Mario Bros
- Street Fighter II Turbo
- Arkanoid
- Goldeneye - Chemical Warfare
- SBTRKT - Wildfire
- Lana Del Rey - Video Games
- Michael Jackson - Beat it
- Grand Theft Auto IV Theme
- Final Fantasty VIII Theme
- Time Crisis
- David Bowie - Let’s Dance
- Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 - Main Theme
- Sonic
- Basement Jaxx - Where’s your head at
- Run DMC - It’s Tricky
- Super Mario Bros - Game Over (..and a bit of GLaDOS)
The set-up
We needed to convert the controllers so that they could send midi data to Ableton Live. This was a two step process involving converting the controllers to HID compliant USB devices (you purchase simple kits online to rewire the controllers or alternatively, USB adapters to plug the controllers into into). Once the Contollers were outputting a HID signal through USB to the laptop all that was left was to convert this to midi.
We created a Max/MSP patch, which converted the HID data into MIDI note on/off signals
HID to MIDI MAX/MSP Patch
You can download the Max/MSP patch here. You will need the free Max/MSP runtime application available here.
Instructions
This patch can control 1x N64 controller and 4x NES controllers (or possibly other game pads) converted to HID compliant USB devices. The first dropdown box is for the N64 the others for the NES controllers.
- Select any N64 controllers from the first dropdown box from the left
- Select any NES controllers from the other dropdown boxes
- Noteout 1 sends the N64 buttons out as MIDI, Noteout 2,3,4,5 send the NES buttons out as MIDI. ctlout 1 sends the N64 joystick out as controller data for controlling variable parameters such as volume, filter cuttoff etc. If you are using a Mac then setup an IAC bus if you are on PC then setup midi yoke (these will enable you to send MIDI data from MAX/MSP to another application.
- Click on noteout 1,2,3,4,5 and ctlout and select either your IAC Bus (mac) or your midi yoke output (PC).
- If using Ableton live, in Live->Preferences toggle ‘Remote’ input on for IAC Driver (mac) or Midi Yoke input (PC).
- Click the small MIDI button in the top right hand corner of Ableton and when highlighting clips or parameters, press any of the controller buttons to assign the controller.