Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 4. Audio for Mobile
Sound design involves specifying, acquiring, manipulating, or generating audio ele-
ments. It is employed in a variety of disciplines including video game development.
Sound design generally involves modifying recorded audio, such as music and sound
effects. In some cases, it may also involve the composition or manipulation of audio
to create a desired effect or mood. A person who practices the art of sound design
is called a sound designer. For information on sound designer, visit
ht-
Sound was once an afterthought in terms of game design; now videogame music is a
legitimate industry of its own. Music is one of the many elements of the overall sound
design of videogames, where huge leaps have been made in a relatively short time.
With the advent of directional and simulated surround sound, game audio became in-
tegral to the action itself. Stealth-based games, such as the popular Assassin's Creed
series turned the art of listening and eavesdropping into a survival skill in itself. Even
early games, such as Tetris and Pac-Man (wacka wacka), earned much of their ad-
dictive appeal by getting into your head with thumping, repetitive sound schemes.
Every Tetris player will recognize its theme song in the first few bars. Well-designed
sound and graphics complement each other to produce rich and enjoyable game play.
In this chapter will will cover:
• The history of videogame music
• Recording
• Playback
• Videogame sound types
• Digital audio editors
• Issues of mobile game audio design
• The best practices of mobile game audio design
Digital sound technology
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
(
MIDI
) and digital technology helped to drive
the rapid evolution of sound design during the 1980s and 1990s. Also, the Internet is a
great resource for sound designers, allowing them to acquire source material quickly,
easily, and cheaply. Advances in digital audio editing software have enabled sound
designers to create and modify samples on their own.
