ON AND OFF-MUSIC IN THE VIDEO GAME SERIES THE LEGEND OF ZELDA, PARTICULARLY IN OCARINA OF TIME

Thomas Wagner

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Academic paper from 2009 in the field of Music – Miscellaneous, grade: 1.3, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Institute of Musicology), course: Music and Sound in Video Games, language: German.

Abstract: This paper examines the sound design of the video game series The Legend of Zelda, with the aim of identifying the concept of “series composers,” as exemplified by Koji Kondo, through comparisons and an exemplary analysis of Ocarina of Time. First, however, some basic definitions must be established in order to provide a consistent understanding of the terminology. Particular emphasis is placed on the various forms of “dynamic sound” in video games.

This is followed by a brief overview of the chronology of the Zelda series, as well as an overview of the game elements that have been used consistently throughout the series. The paper then demonstrates that Kondo systematically introduced and further developed, from the beginning of the series onward, all the forms of game music and sound effects described in the literature. It subsequently argues that the Zelda series has produced several distinctive hybrid forms that are not fully accounted for by existing definitions.

The analysis aims to show that Ocarina of Time represents a provisional culmination in the development of the series; only with the introduction of the Nintendo Wii and its associated new control possibilities could genuinely new elements once again be incorporated. The main focuses of this examination are “interactive background music” and the integration of music as a gameplay-relevant element, particularly through the actual, albeit rudimentary, use of an instrument via the controller buttons.

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PUBLICATION DETAILS

LANGUAGE	BINDING	EDITION	ISBN	YEAR	PAGES
German	Paperback		9783640723201	2010	60
German	eBook		9783640722853	2010	32

OTHER NAMES

On and Off-Music in the Video Game Series The Legend of Zelda, Particularly in Ocarina of Time: An Exemplary Examination of Koji Kondo’s Series Concepts for Nintendo

On und Off-Musik in der Videospielserie "The Legend of Zelda", insbesondere in "Ocarina of Time": Eine exemplarische Betrachtung der Serienkonzepte von Koji Kondo für Nintendo

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TAGS

Authors: #ThomarWagner

Publishers: #Grin (Grin Verlag)

Languages: #German

Format: #eBook #Paperback

Accessibility: N/A

Year: #Year2010

Genres: #Music

Companies:

#Nintendo (Nintendo)

Public Figures:

#KojiKondo (Koji Kondo)

Games:

#Zelda (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

Misc:

N/A