Abstract

As rhythm game trends have come and gone, the “4-panel dance game” first popularized by Dance Dance Revolution (or DDR) has endured since its first release in 1998. As I will argue, this may be due in part to the elegant and effective system by which the player is given input and rhythmic information. Most 4-panel games feature a notational system based upon western rhythmic notation, and a corresponding judgement system emphasizing rhythmic accuracy. Once learned, this allows songs (or charts) to be easily sightread by a skilled player. Like sheet music to the musician, this makes charts easier to learn, easier to retain, and pleasurable to revisit even after a long time away. This enables players to enjoy an effectively infinite amount of content without the need for pre-existing knowledge of the new song or chart. This creates a smooth and ludically satisfying loop which may have allowed 4-panel to uniquely endure as game, sport, and “instrument.” This presentation explores this elegant system, its evolution, and what it offers to chart developers and players alike.

Short biography

Jenny Citarelli is a doctoral candidate in Composition at the Hartt School of Music and a scholar, music director, and collaborator with a passion for queer representation in composition and music leadership. Her most notable major work to date is “Trebles in Paradise,” an original musical highlighting struggle of queer college students with inclusion, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. At Hartt, she served as a teaching associate for the course “Composing for the Theatre.” Her musical research and interests lie in ludomusicology, musical theatre, and cognition. Jenny also works as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion assistant at Amherst College, where she supports and facilitates initiatives aimed at creating an equitable campus environment for traditionally marginalized groups.