‘It’s a-me, Mario!’ Exploring dynamic changes and similarities in the composition of early Nintendo video game music

As with films, a thoughtfully composed video game soundtrack has the ability to dramatically enhance and elevate the experience for the audience or player. This article explores the potential issues and difficulties of composing for video game systems by studying the sound-producing hardware and music for two popular systems from one manufacturer. By comparing two of Nintendo’s Super Mario titles, which appeared on both 8-bit and 16-bit systems, through an analysis of the technology, audio, visual (audiovisual), music, and gameplay elements, it is shown that the musical composition was affected by the limitations of processing power. The discussion shows how the composer, Koji Kondo, overcame the issues of limited computing power by using layers of repetition while applying various functions of music for film to enhance player immersion. Kondo composed theme music that has become engrained in popular culture and is synonymous with one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises (Greening, 2014). By attempting to understand the method or approach behind the composition for earlier systems, it is possible to investigate and discuss the evolution of video game music while acknowledging and contributing to the study of music for games. A musical analysis of the Castle and Underwater themes on each system allows for a direct comparison of the compositional approach, while an audiovisual analysis reveals the presence of existing cinematic tropes and identifies potential influences on the creation of effective musical soundtracks for video games. Applying audiovisual theory to games will require the use of existing literature from Lissa (1965), Gorbman (1987), Chion (1994) and Tagg (2004), along with the work of Collins (2005; 2007a; 2007b; 2008a; 2008b), which adapts and applies audiovisual analysis to video games

Prevalence of Obesity Among Mentally Retarded Adults

The prevalence of obesity was determined for 1,152 mentally retarded subjects from four settings. The findings confirmed that obesity was a prevalent condition, with more females than males obese and more mildly to moderately retarded individuals than severely to profoundly retarded persons obese. The prevalence of obesity was also observed to increase generally with age in this sample, although not in a direct linear fashion

Enhancing the Incidental Learning of EMR Children

Type I incidental learning of mentally retarded children was investigated. Four orienting-instruction conditions and two tasks (two and three dimensions) were used. One orienting-instruction condition was found to be superior for enhancing incidental learning. This task-specific strategy continued to produce the best incidental learning during a 24-hour follow-up session. The results were discussed in terms of recent memory models. Directions for future research were delineated

Appropriate Classification of Obesity in Mentally Retarded Adults

Triceps skinfold thickness and body weight measures were obtained for 44 female and 40 male mentally retarded adults participating in a sheltered workshop setting. Subiects\u27 relative weights and skinfold thicknesses were found to correlate reasonably well for females and males, rs = .88 and .59, respectively. Use of only height and weight tables for determining the presence of obesity, however, resulted in 22.5 percent of the males and 13 .7 percent of the females being misclassified as nonobese. The distinction between overweight and obesity was discussed. Clinical/research implications of the findings were delineated

Behavioral Weight Reduction Procedures for Obese Mentally Retarded Individuals: A Review

Behavioral approaches to the treatment of obese mentally retarded individuals are reviewed. Studies are examined regarding the level of mental retardation, age group, techniques employed and weight lost at the end of treatment. Conclusions relate implications for practitioners as well as future research concerns

Behavioral Treatment Approaches to Obesity: Successes with the Nonretarded and Retarded

This article discusses the successful use of behavioral approaches, which have been adopted from research with non-retarded individuals, to the treatment of obese retarded individuals. The first section delineates a variety of approaches with non-retarded obese individuals whereas the second section summarizes the efficacy of these approaches with the obese retarded. The last section discusses practical and future research implications

Multicomponent Behavioral Program for Achieving Weight Loss in Adult Mentally Retarded Persons

Only minimal attention has been directed towards demonstrating the effectiveness of behavioral approaches to weight control with mentally retarded individuals (Foreyt & Parks, 1975; Foxx, 1972; Staugatis, 1978). The paucity of research in this area is unfortunate because the association between intelligence and obesity is high and negative (Krege, Zelina, Juhas & Garbara, 1947). The purpose of the present study was to assess whether a multicomponent behavioral weight reduction treatment program could produce and maintain weight loss overweight formerly institutionalized adult retarded individuals residing in a community-living facility

Eating Behavior of Obese and Nonobese Retarded Adults

An obese group and a nonobese group of moderately mentally retarded adults were identified through use of body weight and tricep skinfold thickness measures. Subjects were observed individually in a sheltered workshop cafeteria during their normal lunch period. A variety of eating behavior measureswere obtained. Results indicated that the obese retarded subjects did not differ from their nonobese peers in eating rate, total meal time, or caloric intake. Large variability was observed in the measures for both groups. Implications of these data for behavioral treatments of obesity and the need for alternative explanations of an obese condition were discussed

Obesity of Mentally Retarded Individuals: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Intervention

Research on the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of obesity of mentally retarded individuals within the context of research findings with the obese nonretarded population was selectively reviewed. According to the available literature, obesity is a prevalent problem in the retarded population, and there is a greater incidence among females than males. The literature also suggests that obese retarded subjects as a group can be distinguished from their nonobese peers by their physical condition, but not by their eating style or personality characteristics. Behavioral self-control strategies have been found to be effective in producing weight loss in obese retarded children and adults. Further research is needed to reduce the high interindividual variability observed in treatment outcome studies and to address problems of long-term maintenance of weight loss