Analyzing music's contributions to video games' narrative and thematic meanings, this book focuses specifically on the musical representation of three demographic diversity traits. Adopting a narratologist orientation to supplement existing ludological scholarship, these analyses apply music semiotics to crucial modern-day issues such as the representation of gender, race and religion in video games.

Containing twenty-five detailed analytical case studies of musical representation in video game music, it sets out theoretical and conceptual frameworks beneficial for interpreting musical meaning from video game soundtracks. Though players and commentators may be tempted to view a game's soundtrack as mere background music, this research demonstrates video game music's social relevance as a major factor impacting players' cultural attitudes, values and beliefs.

Some composers found their love of music at the symphony hearing Brahms or Beethoven - Thomas B. Yee discovered his from the beeps and boops of the family Super Nintendo. Blending the roles of composer and music theorist, Thomas' research explores music semiotics and representation of identity in video game music.