Summary: The Importance Of Sound In Video Games

I disagree with the title statement because sound is one of the key elements of life. Sound can have profound effects on emotion, and adds richness and context to our surroundings. Sound is a vital channel of communication, and in art, as in life, sound plays an important role. It is just as – if not more – important than visual media. Though visual art is aesthetically pleasing, and is used as a medium of self-expression, sound is the medium through which we experience art. Art is everywhere, and covers a broad range of media such as Film, Video Games, Traditional art etc. Audio often goes unnoticed, and in many cases is subliminal, however sound is a sense that is linked intrinsically with emotion. A visual can be striking, haunting or empowering,

Like art, audio is everywhere. And one example of where audio is as important, if not more important than the visual media, is video games. According to Tom Hoggins, “Video games should be heard and not just seen.” (The Telegraph, March 2013) Sound is a part of video games that too many players never experience fully, often being turned off or ignored. Visuals in video games are only half the story. Sound design in video games is becoming more and more crucial. Good sound design can immerse you in an environment, and more importantly let you know what’s going on around you. “The audio in video games is crucial, and whilst it may play a somewhat subconscious part to the user, its effects are astounding.” (Smith , The Artistry in Games ,2014) As in film, audio in video games play a narrative role. A game without the sound, feels very different to play. High tension and suspense are lost, and the game becomes uninteresting to play. The visuals in a game are crucial, however without audio, the ambience and atmosphere of the story are lost. Having both the audio and visual media is extremely important. One popular audio technique employed in video games is the Pentatonic Scale. The major pentatonic scale is used to give players a non-verbal reward cue – a way to tell them they are on the right track. The happy upbeat tones are often very recognizable. This is particularly evident in games like Super Mario Brothers, Legend of Zelda and

Audio is often used in museums and galleries, to enhance the visual works on display. Music is a conduit that can fill empty spaces. People inherently have an emotional response to music. If used properly, audio can connect the physical sensation of what people see with the aural sensations. In museums, music should complement the works, and work in conjunction with them to convey the right message. It should immerse the public in the message the artist is trying to convey with the visual piece. It can frame the atmosphere for the intended experience. It can elevate a viewing experience beyond more than just observance. If chosen to suit the exhibition, the music can plunge the viewer into the world of the art piece, and can enhance their understanding and experience of the piece. Soundscapes for individual exhibitions can manipulate the mood of the viewer to suit the piece, and can begin to make them feel the way the artist intended when creating the visual art. It links emotion and the visual and can help create the right atmosphere in the