Bits and Pieces

"McAlpine's adroit navigation of the development and evolution of chipmusic over the past half century establishes a method of inquiry that future game music research would do well to heed: an intimate partnering of technical knowledge and cultural context. Bits and Pieces: A History of Chiptunes exemplifies the ever-expanding scholarship of the field and will establish itself as a foundational text for chiptune research, to which all others should refer." -- Peter Smucker, Journal of Sound and Music in Games "Through his deep understanding of the evolution and history of computer and video game consoles, Kenneth McAlpine has produced a comprehensive and technical book covering all aspects of the early development of computer and video game 8-bit audio hardware. With the help of the leading composers of the day and through hours of interviews, the book provides insight into how the limitations of the primitive hardware were maximized to their full potential. McAlpine also gives unique insight into the origin and development of the resurgence and interest in 8-bit hardware and the evolution of what is now known as chiptunes." --Rob Hubbard, composer for Kentilla, WAR and Sanxion "A fascinating discovery of everything you didn't think you needed to know about chiptune lies here within. I was introduced to chiptune through the brilliant work of PixelH8 when he supported me in Brighton. I had no idea how much of a scene there was and this explains it all." --Imogen Heap