The Functions of Music in Interactive Media

Abstract. The combination of music with interactive media enables new forms of expression, can expand the bandwidth of information flow by disencumbering and complementing the visual channel, and support the user/player in controlling and managing complex structures (e.g., in strategy games). Its associative power can be used to influence playing behaviour and decision processes. This, amongst others, educationally interesting potential lies idle! In this media theoretical and critical elaboration we intend to close the gap between music in static linear and non-linear interactive media. We will give a brief overview on media music perception, detail its historical development with regard to interactive media, elaborate and exemplify its narrative functions in order to widen the scope of the field where music meets interactivity