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Gameboyzz Orchestra by Kunstbande SLA

Themed „lowtech music for hightech people” GameBoy consoles are used as musical instruments: The opening up of new tonal spaces, generated live on the basis of “archaic” technological parameters. Kunstbande SLA are fascinated by old cult games and the archaic sound of electronic music.

“We are not an orthodox group and we utilize the latest technologies along with the retro ones used by musicians associated in the MICROMUSIC society”, says Kunstbande SLA about its work.

The reason for creating the 'gameboyzz orchestra' was the total lack of any artistic initiatives and activities connected with the cult GameBoy console. The GameBoy console is an 8-bit handheld computer. Its unusually weak (archaic) technical parameters were a challenge and became the reason for creating the 'gameboyzz orchestra'. The employed software is written specifically for the GameBoy console [trackers, sequencers, drum machines, etc.; sounds generated live and games]. The sound is accompanied by video projections, lights, smoke, etc.

The first GameBoy console had its premiere on 21 April 1989. It was created by Gumpei Yokoi from Japan. Since that day the world of players has been overwhelmed by that inconspicuous grey box. Over 70 million consoles have been sold all over the world so far. The Nintendo idea was a success. The company has been a leader in the portable consoles market lately. Its prevailing position has never been shaken. Even competitive products from Atari (Lynx) or Sega (Game Gear) could not threaten GB. Fine parameters and a multitude of available games constitute the unquestionable advantages of GameBoy.

In 1996 the successor—GameBoy Pocket—was created. Its enclosure was smaller and a better display was built in. Yet the real revolution was still to come. At the end of 1998 an entirely new console named 'GameBoy Color' was presented to the world. The most significant modification was its colour display. Since compatibility with previously released models was preserved, the use of games developed for older versions of the console was possible. Apart from that completely new titles have appeared which make the Color perform in a way its constructors had never dreamt of. It looks as though the GameBoy era is not over yet—continually developed software, a wide variety of appliances, etc.

It can be said that the GBC console is nowadays an expression of fashion in retro computers. That is also where its 'cult' arises from.

Ars Electronica 2002 will present the Gameboyzz Orchestra on September 11, 2002, at 11:30pm at the Ars Electronica Center.
In cooperation with 'Polnisches Jahr in Österreich 2002'.






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