Music Beyond Gameplay: Motivators in the Consumption of Videogame Soundtracks Author Diaz-Gasca, Juan Sebastian Published 2015 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School Queensland Conservatorium of Music DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/2973 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/367483 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au Music Beyond Gameplay: Motivators In The Consumption Of Videogame Soundtracks i Music Beyond Gameplay: Motivators in the Consumption of Videogame Soundtracks Juan Sebastián Díaz Gasca Bachelor of Popular Music Bachelor of Popular Music with Honours Queensland Conservatorium of Music Griffith University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy January 2013 Music Beyond Gameplay: Motivators In The Consumption Of Videogame Soundtracks ii Table of Contents Table of Contents ................................................................................................................... ii Table of Figures ....................................................................................................................... v Table of Tables ...................................................................................................................... vi Abstract ................................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ix Statement of Authenticity .................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Rationale ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 Research Problem ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Research Questions ................................................................................................................................... 4 Objectives ...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Survey Method Rationale ........................................................................................................................ 7 Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Background ........................................................................................................................................ 9 The Importance of Studying Videogames ...................................................................................... 11 Videogame Studies................................................................................................................................... 12 Notes on anecdotes and autoethnography. ................................................................................... 17 Chapter Overview ..........................................................................................................................18 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................................20 Chapter 2: The Videogame Soundtrack ....................................................................... 22 Leaps of Musical Development in Videogames ...................................................................24 Games with Music .................................................................................................................................... 24 Music Licensing and Popular Music.................................................................................................. 26 Interactive Music ...................................................................................................................................... 29 The Role of Soundtracks .............................................................................................................32 Incidental and Thematic Music........................................................................................................... 33 Diegesis ......................................................................................................................................................... 35 The OST and its Consumption ...................................................................................................36 Brief Origins of OST Publication......................................................................................................... 37 The Publication of Soundtracks ......................................................................................................... 38 The Consumption of Soundtracks ..................................................................................................... 44 Music Beyond Gameplay: Motivators In The Consumption Of Videogame Soundtracks iii Conclusion: Game Music Today ................................................................................................47 Chapter 3: Experiential Motivators and the Consumption of Soundtracks .... 48 Further Definitions and Notes on the Consumption of Soundtracks .................................. 51 The Experiential Approach to OST Consumption ..............................................................58 Experiential Associations ...................................................................................................................... 60 Experiential Association Summary ................................................................................................... 91 Nostalgic Associations ............................................................................................................................ 91 Experiential Motivator Summary ................................................................................................... 101 Chapter 4: Sociocultural Motivators and the Consumption of Soundtracks 103 Sociocultural Imperatives on the Consumption of OSTs .............................................. 106 Fandom, Participatory Culture, and Cultural Capital ............................................................. 108 Singularity ................................................................................................................................................ 113 Following .................................................................................................................................................. 121 Conclusions on Sociocultural Motivators .................................................................................... 127 Chapter 5: Marketing Imperatives and the Consumption of Game Soundtracks ........................................................................................................................ 129 Economic Imperatives .............................................................................................................. 131 Commodification ................................................................................................................................... 134 Branding and Marketing..................................................................................................................... 141 Conclusions on Economic Imperatives ........................................................................................ 145 Summary: The Interaction Between Three Motivators ................................................ 146 Chapter 6: Data Analysis ................................................................................................ 149 Survey Rationale Reprise ................................................................................................................... 150 Method ....................................................................................................................................................... 151 Survey Responses ....................................................................................................................... 153 Demographics ......................................................................................................................................... 153 Musical Memory Associations through Gameplay .................................................................. 159 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................... 162 Discussion of Experiential Motivators .......................................................................................... 163 Discussion of Sociocultural Motivators ........................................................................................ 177 Discussion on Marketing Motivators ............................................................................................ 186 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 190 Chapter 7: Conclusion ....................................................................................................