A short history of interactive music videos and other playthings


I was asked by my colleague Jesse Stiles to give a talk about video games, interactive music videos and other playthings specifically created to promote music. What follows is an incomplete list of projects I found, thematically sorted. Thank you tweeple for all the recommendations, let me know if I missed any good ones.

Historical


Journey (Midway), 1983


Chris Sievey – Camouflage 1983
Indie, to be played in sync with the cassette.


Thompson twins – The Thompson Twins Adventure (1984)
First (and only?) game released as vinyl for Spectrum.


Frankie goes to Hollywood (C64) – 1985
Actually decent game

Contemporary Games-as-music-videos


The quest for the rest Polyphonic spree + Amanita Design


Inside a Dead Skyscraper – Jesse Stiles + Molleindutria


Sun God – Bennett Foddy + Cut Copy
Part of Pitchfork/Killscreen/Intel’s initiative Soundplay currently offline.


Keyboard drumset fucking werewolf – Cactus


Who’s That? Brooown! – Das Racist


http://cass.itch.io/end-of-light” target=”_blank”>End of Light – Cassie McQuater + Jono Mi Lo

Playthings


Arcade Fire – Neon Bible


Pale Machine – bo en + Ben Esposito

Channel/layer switching


Bob Dylan – Like A Rolling Stone


MGMT – Electric Feel


Tanlines – Not The Same


Ty Segall – Manipulator


Cold War Kids – I’ve Seen Enough


Same song performed at different stages of drunkenness


Chairlift – We met before
Semi linear CYOA video


Taylor Swift – Blank space
Accelerometer responsive 360 video + Easter eggs


VR/360 web haunted house + mild branches

Beyond video


Wilderness Downtown – Arcade Fire + Chris Milk + Google
Google Chrome Tech demo/browser war weapon


FKi, Iggy Azalea, & Diplo – I Think She Ready
Clickable & shoppable product placement (!!!)


Rome (Danger Mouse etc) + Chris Milk + Google Chrome cross promotion


Biophilia – Bjork
Album as Suite of apps – soundtoys & visualizers


http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/140211/PolyFauna
Polyfauna – Radiohead/Universal Everything


Yong Jake e.m-bed.de/d/ self-referential net.art browser artwork


Crowdsourced, mouse pointed recorded.