Key learning points

1. Adaptive music in video games uses two techniques to respond to a player’s actions.
2. These are vertical layering and horizontal resequencing.
3. In horizontal resequencing, new sections of contrasting music are used to match big changes in the game.
4. Many different sections are created, so that the music can respond to any one of the possible changes.
5. A typical example is using different musical ideas to represent victory or loss in a racing game.

Keywords

• Adaptive music - music that can change by reacting to a stimulus; video game music reacts to the player's actions

• Linear loop - a repeating musical idea in a video game that can be looped indefinitely

• Horizontal resequencing - where a new section of music begins in response to a player's action

• Vertical layering - where layers of music are 'stacked' on top of each other and change in response to the player’s actions

Common misconception