
Game Sound
An Introduction to the History, Theory, and Practice of Video Game Music and Sound Design
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Game Sound
An Introduction to the History, Theory, and Practice of Video Game Music and Sound Design
About this book
A distinguishing feature of video games is their interactivity, and sound plays an important role in this: a player's actions can trigger dialogue, sound effects, ambient sound, and music. And yet game sound has been neglected in the growing literature on game studies. This book fills that gap, introducing readers to the many complex aspects of game audio, from its development in early games to theoretical discussions of immersion and realism. In Game Sound, KC Collins draws on a range of sourcesāincluding composers, sound designers, voice-over actors and other industry professionals, Internet articles, fan sites, industry conferences, magazines, patent documents, and, of course, the games themselvesāto offer a broad overview of the history, theory, and production practice of video game audio. Game Sound has two underlying themes: how and why games are different from or similar to film or other linear audiovisual media; and technology and the constraints it has placed on the production of game audio.
Collins focuses first on the historical development of game audio, from penny arcades through the rise of home games and the recent rapid developments in the industry. She then examines the production process for a contemporary game at a large game company, discussing the roles of composers, sound designers, voice talent, and audio programmers; considers the growing presence of licensed intellectual property (particularly popular music and films) in games; and explores the function of audio in games in theoretical terms. Finally, she discusses the difficulties posed by nonlinearity and interactivity for the composer of game music.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Copyright
- Contents
- Preface
- CHAPTER 1 Introduction
- CHAPTER 2 Push Start Button: The Rise of Video Games
- CHAPTER 3 Insert Quarter to Continue: 16-Bit and the Death of the Arcade
- CHAPTER 4 Press Reset: Video Game Music Comes of Age
- CHAPTER 5 Game Audio Today: Technology, Process, and Aesthetic
- CHAPTER 6 Synergy in Game Audio: Film, Popular Music, and Intellectual Property
- CHAPTER 7 Gameplay, Genre, and the Functions of Game Audio
- CHAPTER 8 Compositional Approaches to Dynamic Game Music
- CHAPTER 9 Conclusion
- Notes
- Glossary
- References
- Index