Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Looping background music
A very annoying problem that may arise when creating audio for mobile games is
with looping background music. When an uncompressed file is converted into an
MP3, the algorithm generally adds samples that can make it impossible to create
seamless looping music backgrounds. Game engines provide solutions to this issue.
As an audio designer, you'd better be ready to face such problems.
To learn more
Further details on the development of audio and sounds for iOS mobile games can
be found in this very good article on Gamasutra:
Final advice
We mentioned several times that adding audio to a game only in the final steps of
the development process is a bias of mobile game development and we stressed the
importance of considering audio and sounds for as part of the general design of a
game. We would like to say more on this topic.
Since game developers and sound experts don't share very much common know-
ledge and hardly possess a common terminology, if the game designer and audio
expert don't discuss their opinions on what kind of audio and sounds are required for
a game, a lot of confusion may arise, with the consequence that time and money can
be wasted.
Communication is crucial in this matter. Always take your time to instruct your audio
designer on what exactly is expected from him/her and make every effort to be sure
that you two share a common vision on the audio and sounds desired for your title.
Provide your sound designer with a full list of the audio and sounds for your game
early on during the development process and also send him examples and referen-
ces of what you have in mind. This will reduce the number of iterations the sound
expert has to go through before creating the perfect sound asset and will help him to
fulfill his tasks while meeting the deadlines, thus saving time and money.
