Salford City College Eccles Sixth Form Centre

BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games

Game Title Cristian Galliano Bioshock Infinite. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOBELxAoztM)

Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples of sounds that establish…

Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements

Setting

This cut sequence sounds like it is set near an ocean as we can clearly hear the sound of the waves, also we can hear that they must be on the land because we can hear the sound of the footsteps on the ground and it sounds like they are walking on hollow wood. Further into the clip we hear what sounds like someone rowing a boat and we can also hear rainfall hitting water. We also hear There is a lot of varying music which goes from very sinister music at certain points to a very calm and happy music at others, this gives us the feeling that the game changes setting a lot throughout.

I think that the sound of the ocean would’ve been made using either field recording or by using a MIDI soundboard. The footsteps would’ve been made in a studio recording area as they would’ve had to get the footsteps to be very good quality so that you would be able to hear them clearly. Finally I believe that the sounds of rainfall in the water would’ve been made using Foley artistry.

Mood

The mood varies, at one point the mood seems very calm and very casual as there is a calm music in the background however as the cut sequence continues there are different sounds such as sinister music which leads us to believe that there is something about to happen or that they have discovered something very sinister.

Know that the music would’ve either been made using electrical musical instruments or using and acoustic orchestra. I am more toward them using an acoustic orchestra though as the music is very acoustic.

Game genre

From what I can gather from the sounds shown in this video I would say that this game is an action or a puzzle game. Also they are trying to figure something out which also leads me to believe that it is a puzzle game.

The ambient sounds such as winds would’ve either been created using field recording or even could’ve been made using a MIDI soundboard.

Narrative

The narrative is very different; you can’t really understand what they are talking about unless you actually watch the cut sequence as well. It seems like they are talking about lighthouses or “doors” as they are called which lead to alternate universes. Sometimes the dialogue is very loud as if the male character is shouting however it is also calm at some points as well.

I believe that the dialogue would’ve been produced in a studio environment because it is very clear and too a very high standard.