ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book establishes the ground that much of the remainder of the book will tread. It extends metaphorical connecting the architecture of the game’s custom sound chip and its unusual gameplay mechanics. The book examines representations of time in Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs). It concerns ways in which role-playing game—and their music—can create intensely personal experiences for players. The book begins with a moment of gameplay that caught the author’s attention: at one particular spot in one particular level, a portentous musical cue sounded for reasons that weren’t immediately clear. It employs the practice of soundwalking through the game’s digital environment in a way that establishes a bond between herself-as-player and her in-game avatar. The book presents case studies of Nintendo Entertainment System/Super Nintendo Entertainment System JRPGs viewed through large-scale conceits.
