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.