Core Dump
v3.0
Open Sound
2010
Leonard J. Paul
VideoGameAudio.com
Overview

What is it?

“Play and Work”

Music

How does it “work”

Conclusion & questions
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 2 of 10
What is Core Dump 3.0?

Game Boy Advance : Core Dump v3.0

A new media artwork running on a Gameboy

It has been shown twice before:
–
V1.0 - Bathroom: Open Space, Victoria, BC
–
V2.0 – Bathroom: Cabaret Voltaire, Zürich, CH

A platform with new images and sound

“Bathroom friendly”
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 3 of 10
Play

Video games are play

But, can't play with a non-interactive game

The Game Boy Advance plays itself

Content is playful with layered meanings

We do not play in the washroom

Handheld video game audio is playful – why?c
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 4 of 10
Work

Video games are work (for me)

Game Boy is youthful and avoids work

Content also shows the working side of biking

Bathroom is work – “I need to do my business”

Archival film audio footage is serious = work

GBA difficult medium – tricky work!
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 5 of 10
Music Discussion I

Core music - Daisy Bell (1892) by Harry Dacre

1961- IBM 7094 became first computer to sing

Vocals programmed by J. Kelly & C. Lockbaum

Accompaniment by Max Mathews

Hal's Death in 2001: A Space Odyssey

Biking theme - “Bicycle built for two”
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 6 of 10
Music Discussion II

The Entertainer (1902) by Scott Joplin

One of the first Black composers

Fun to play on the piano – dance music

Ragtime music was a good fit for player pianos

Inspired Super Mario's composer Koji Kondo

Great format for making 'digital'

Commonly played by ice cream trucks – yum!
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 7 of 10
How it “works”

Custom software on the GBA SP coded in C

Uses a flash card to store cartridge information

Plays random(ish) music, sound and images

Images respond to music tempo

Alternates between preset images and “static”

Always on the edge of “crashing”

Not interactive but makes images in real-time
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 8 of 10
Conclusion

I wanted to make something that related to me

It is an interesting and tricky medium

I enjoy challenging my idea of “games”

Fun to hear peoples' reactions

Keeps the GBA SP “alive” - reuse

The bathroom is an underused gallery space :)
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 9 of 10
Questions ?
Leonard Paul
email: info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
web:VideoGameAudio.com
VideoGameAudio.com
info {at} VideoGameAudio.com
Open Sound 2010 – May 6, 2010
Surrey, BC
Slide 10 of 10