Circuit Bending - Galaga Remix Performance (2007)

Video performance using a hacked Jakks Pacific's Namco TV Games - Ms. Pac-Man Collection unit and a custom controller to perform with.

Galaga Remix is an installation comprised of performance video/documentation, as well as the hacked instrument for viewers to play with.

Introduced in 1981, the Galaga arcade game became a classic alien invasion game for the company Namco. Twenty-five years into the future, GalagaRemix appropriates a recent game pack circuit to create an audio-visual instrument that allows the performer or participant to play with a hacked version of the classic Galaga video game. By manipulating a simple interface, audio-visual artifacts are created over a continuous drone, exploring tonalities of audio-visual noise art.

Hardware hacking or "circuit bending" can refer to the inverting or "bending" of low voltage electronic circuits in order to create musical noise instruments from toys by short circuiting them. GalagaRemix explores the glitchy errors that happen when you invert or short-circuit a retro video game in order to create a noisy audio-visual performance extravaganza. With references to circuit bending, hacking and glitching used to create "alien sound effects," video game antics, experimental sound performance, VJ culture and early gaming, GalagaRemix colonizes the corporate product and contaminates an arcade game classic.

Images of interface, etc-
http://organicode.net/galaga.html

EXPLORING THE AUDIOVISUALITY OF NOISE...

N_DREW (aka Andrew Bucksbarg)

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Hacking
• Bending
• Circuit
• Bent
• Electronics
• Performance
• Noise
• Sound
• VJ
• Galaga
• Game

[CrassZorro]

There's an impressive balance of theatricality in both the image and the sound here. I've never been that excited about either image or sound with bent video games but you've really mined it. I especially like seeing a human silhouette against the game graphics. Maybe the hundred or so bands that use projected images, to little or no effect, behind their performances could learn something. Great work!

[audiovisuality]

@CrassZorro

Thanks alot!! I have worked a live version with two players/screens. Hope to put some footage up.

[audiovisuality]

Thanks alot!! I have worked a live version with two players/screens. Hope to put some footage up.

[Niohimself]

How can you torture the game like that D:

[audiovisuality]

I spoke to the game and it told me that it liked to try new things and experiment every so often.

[aloufin]

this is amazing, great idea!

Could you maybe implement a drum/beat feature alongside the original sounds?

[audiovisuality]

yes, I think it would be great to collaborate with someone doing percussion.

[nosevideoarte]

Time to glitch!

[waitinforasuperman]

I'm currently bending the Namco TV Games thing as well, and I was just wondering where some of your starting points were. I found one bend point that just glitched the visual and audio a bit, but besides that I was having trouble finding other glitch spots like that. Any suggestions? I really like your result by the way.

[tsho74]

i was there, i even played galaxian before there was galaga. this performance was weak, uninspired, original but otherwise a resounding "MEH"

[5k3ll3t0n45h]

this would be cool in person with a deafening sound system, also a great concert opening or middle scene between performances.

[StrongHeartLives]

I can't help but think of some alternate universe where Steve Jobs and Bill Gates did a lot of acid and modified video games, then went on the road touring with NIN....