In this blog post, you’ll discover how Black MIDI aligns with the Touhou gaming community through remixes and shared aesthetics. Read about how the challenging note structures in Black MIDI mirror the complexity of bullet hell games, and how both foster vibrant online communities dedicated to skill mastery and sharing techniques.

Even prior to the emergence of Black MIDI, it was popular within the community of Touhou games and Touhou related songs to create elaborate remixes of songs from these games. In this regard, Black MIDI aligns with the expectations of this particular community. The aesthetic of vertical scrolling 2D shooting games extends to multiple levels within the aesthetics of Black MIDI.

The following section highlights some aspects of these games in order to link them to the aesthetics of Black MIDI:

The Intense Challenge

Bullet hell games offer a high level of difficulty, with players facing overwhelming numbers of bullets and obstacles on screen. This challenge can be likened to the task of benchmarking the computer to handle an exceptionally large number of MIDI notes.

Replay Value

Bullet hell games frequently offer various difficulty levels, hidden secrets, and unlockable content, encouraging players to replay levels and enhance their skills. This correlates with the practice of continually rendering newer versions of the same song with higher note counts in Black MIDI compositions.

The Visual and Sonic Representation

Bullet hell games are renowned for their mesmerizing visual effects and intricate bullet patterns, which serve as a sonic representation. Both can be likened to the auditory image of rapid, repetitive notes and chords, as well as the visual representations generated by programs like Synthesia.

The Skill Mastery

Success in bullet hell games requires precise timing, quick reflexes, and strategic planning. Players must learn enemy patterns, memorize level layouts, and hone their skills to overcome increasingly difficult challenges. This parallels the skill of tuning and optimizing the computer for Black MIDI composition.

Online Community

Bullet hell games have a dedicated community of players who share strategies, tips, and high scores online. On online platforms such as Niconico (known before 2012 as Nico Nico Douga) and YouTube, blackers exchange details about their computer specifications and the software they use. They freely share their MIDI files for others to create new blackened scores and even request assistance from blackers with more powerful CPUs (Central Processing Units) to render MIDIs that may not function on their own systems. This illustrates how Black MIDI has developed within a digital community interconnected through specific online platforms. Escape and Relaxation Despite their demanding gameplay, bullet hell games can offer a sense of escapism and relaxation for certain players. Immersing oneself in fast-paced action and intense gameplay can provide a temporary reprieve from real-world stressors, allowing players to fully engage with the game’s immersive world. Similarly, listening to Black MIDI can evoke a comparable experience. It can be likened to an intoxicating sensation where one surrenders to the overwhelming auditory complexity, as their perception becomes incapable of processing everything.

Summarizing, one can say that the aesthetics of Black are characterized by visual complexity, musical intensity, community engagement, and shared cultural references.