We’ve come a long way in a relatively short period of time when it comes to our appetite for video games and the quality of what is on offer in 2023. Technological leaps taken since the burgeoning gaming era of the 80s to where we are today mean that when compared against each other, what you see on your screens now is a world away from what came before.
Much of the technological development has, of course, been in relation to the graphical quality of our favorite games, but clearly, that’s not the only part of what makes for a great gaming experience.
Gameplay must always come before everything. There’s no point in having a game that looks astounding, in some cases frighteningly lifelike (where relevant), but has no heart to it, and gamers are the most discernible bunch out there, more than happy to vote with their dollars if a game doesn’t offer it all.
The video game market is expected to be worth as much as $520 billion by 2027, and that’s not an idle claim as there appears to be no stopping the popularity of the field, not least because of the abundant creativity that is at play, which is perhaps in marked contrast to the film and tv markets which have become decidedly predictable, stale and repetitive.
However, one aspect of the video gaming world that does need to be respected above all else is the sound design. It’s an area that is vital and one that requires a great deal of work and effort to get just right.
Why Sound Effects and Soundtracks in Gaming are so Important?
The way sound, and visuals mix is key in all creative fields, but arguably in the video gaming world, it’s more important than anywhere else.
If we take it as a given that the expert addition of suitable music and sound effects adds a vital layer to the visuals in any medium, then we must also then take things a step further and consider just how much more important this aspect is when it comes to video games and gaming.
A key part of just about every video game is the importance of building a world that is either believable, from a simulatory point of view, or in keeping with a fantastical reality that a player is immersed in.
Now, in the case of a feature film or a TV show, the visuals are (in most cases) real, they exist, and a production harnesses this and adds to it as they see fit in order to better cater to their viewers and audiences.
A video game creates it all from scratch. This means a world is being offered to a gamer, and in order for the player to get sufficient buy-in, they need to be convinced of its validity, either within the scope of the game or if it’s an attempt to re-create reality.
As an example. If you take a game series like Call of Duty. An entire world has been developed and created, as opposed to a film or TV show that will seek to recreate it in the real world.
Now, in order for any video game to be successful, the sound that is paired with the visuals must work. As we said before, gamers are a fickle group, and they know when something is not quite right, therefore making the task all that more difficult for those in the video gaming industry to hit the spot.
Types of Sound in Video Gaming
Generally speaking, the soundscape that exists within a video game can be split into three categories, so let’s dig deeper.
1. Ambient Sound
This portion of a soundscape is the type of aspect you might not even notice unless it’s created poorly. It’s basically all the ‘incidental’ sound that exists in order to give a game a three-dimensional feel.
It might be rain dripping on a window, waves on a beach, or wind blowing behind the lead protagonist’s back. These little details help to connect a player with their artificial environment, in a way fooling them into thinking they are in the ‘real’ world.
2. Sound Effects (SFX)
This is perhaps what you might most commonly think about when considering sound that appears within a video game. This covers things that occur within the world that need to either be ultra-realistic; the sound of a reloaded gun, the eerie creak of a floorboard, or the explosion following a game’s hero lobbing a hand grenade.
The SFX is also there to make fantasy elements come to life, a dragon breathing fire, a wizard casting a spell, and a spaceship zooming into hyperdrive. Additionally, there are other uses of SFX, such as the sound of Mario collecting a coin, that may appear like a mere afterthought but require a great deal of thought.
You might consider this the meaty portion of the soundscape, and it is crucial, but no more or less so than the other parts of the audio jigsaw puzzle.
3. Music
The music within a video game itself is an area that is always improving, and this can range from a video game’s theme music to actual mainstream songs that are associated with it, for this think maybe of music that plays within the FIFA game series.
There is also the use of a musical score that helps to really give a game a heart and soul; this might include repeated chords and sounds used in different ways to provide something of an auditory backbone to the piece as a whole.
In order for a video gaming experience to really nail it, all of these facets must be covered, and nothing can be overlooked.
Also read: Optimizing Esports Experiences: How Website Developers Enhance User Engagement
