Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Conclusion
As we have seen in this level, middleware engines can give today's
sound designer an amazing degree of control over how audio behaves
and develops within a game environment. The i rst audio middleware
programs were developed in-house and were the proprietary property
of the companies that built them for specii c uses within specii c titles.
That's still the case today, but over the years, third party companies
have come along to provide audio engines and codebases for all sorts
of platforms that did not have access to them before. Along the way the
sophistication and power of these tools has signii cantly increased.
Nowadays, middleware puts a lot of this power directly into our hands,
so we can make sure that the sound we are hearing in the game is exactly
what's intended. Currently, if you are working on big budget titles you
are much more likely to encounter audio middleware than if you are
working on social or mobile games. This may change over time, as it
always seems to, but where it will end up is anybody's guess.
Probably the best news for all of you budding game audio experts is
that most of the software discussed in this chapter can be downloaded
for free. And the free version is no dif erent from the paid version.
That makes exploring and bringing yourself up to speed on the latest
middleware programs easy. Make no mistake about it, the use and
understanding of audio middleware programs is one of the skills all
game audio professionals should have readily available in their bag
of tricks!
The Interactive
Quiz for this Level is
available in the App.
In the main Classroom,
click on the Quiz
book to test your
knowledge!
