Unit 73 - game mood and atmosphere

Unit 73: Sound for computer games

P1 – Game mood and atmosphere

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWh9l8RSkPk : Halo 3 ODST ost: Track 04 – Rain

(3:10)

This piece of music is generally quite a neutral but somewhat partially sad due to the fact that it is a soundtrack which reminds me of an abandoned city with little to no hope left. In Halo 3 ODST, it is set during the events of Halo 2 in a city known as New Mombasa which is under attack by the covenant. You are deployed within the city but get scattered from your squad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svdR8_w1N0Y : Halo 2 ost: Blow me away

(3:25)

This soundtrack is played during halo 2 roughly about three quarters of the way to end as you chase down the prophet of truth as the master chief and it is played when you enter a room full of enemies, this is a piece of music which makes you feel ‘Badass’ whilst fighting as this music gives off the impression that you NEED to beat these enemies to save the human race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgq5D1IeHcI : Star wars the old republic: Main Theme

(3:17)

This theme is what I would call fighting music and the music slowly but gradually builds up and gets more intense to symbolise that the battle has started and you have to keep fighting to protect what is rightfully yours and for the republic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVjCZZWnKBA : Battlefield Bad Company: Main theme

(1:21)

Battlefield Bad Company’s main theme is both a noble theme and a heroic theme as to me it pictures soldiers fighting for the good of the world whilst tackling the fierce enemies that wish to turn it evil.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB6_phG0fuA : Metro 2033: Ending Theme

(2:16)

The Metro 2033 ending theme is quite a sad theme because to me it reminds of the sort of music you would hear within a last stand or music that means you must stay behind to save others and that there is no other way. Quite a noble piece of music with a nice smooth tone to it.

Music and sound are important within games because playing games allow us to immerse ourselves within a virtual world and the way music and sound actually sound really affects the way we play games

Waveform: Is the visual representation of piece3 of music shown in lines going up or down.

Foley: Foley is a technique used by the entertainment industry (mostly films, TV shows and games) to represent sound in a better way. For example, if the company needed a walking sound, they’d record someone walking and edit it slightly to fit the film or game.

Timbre: Timbre is essentially the quality of a sound through its independent pitch and loudness.