No Show 2012 - Holly Tatnall - The Importance of Game Audio (and How to Make Yours Better)

(and How to Make Yours Better)

The Importance of Game Audio

Who Is This Chiquita? What Is Her Background?

Credits

Audio Crash Course

• character sound effects

• world ambience

• object sound effects

• user interface (UI) / menu sounds

Sound Design

• theme music

• menu music

• background / world music

• cinematic scoring

Music / Soundtrack

• on-screen characters

• narrative lines

• cinematic script

Voice-Overs

Angry Birds

For teh

Winz

* all content captured

from You Tubezzz

Asteroids

Space Invaders

Pac-Man

Frogger

Super Mario Bros

Little Big Planet 2

Super Meat Boy

Sword & Sworcery

For teh

Failz

* all content captured

from You Tubezzz

The Attention Disparity Between

Good Visuals and Good Audio

You’ve Only Got 2/5 Senses

X X X

• Detracts from uniqueness of your awesome game

• If it’s good, other developers are using it, too

• Potential revenue loss on custom audio

Stock Sound Effects

or Music Tracks

Audio Magic

Doesn't Happen

Overnight

• Make audio part of

your budget

• Set on art style?

Time to plan audio.

• Not sure how to

plan/budget for audio?

• Research, research, research

• Good, expensive tools ≠ great audio

• It takes time3 to learn to use your tools well

• Audio pros have more experience

The Pitfalls of

Doing Audio Yourself

• Less return

• Need to fix screwups

= wasted time (and energy!)

Cutting Corners Can Cost Cash

Etty-Quette

With Your Audio Ex-pert

• Do hire a consultant if you need help

• Don’t expect free consulting

• Do your research

• Do have an idea about what you need

• Do budget and Do plan ahead

• Do put your agreement in writing

• Do expect to pay for revisions

• Don’t be vague about compensation

• Do be upfront with the type of budget

you’re working with

• Do be specific about the pay rate

o per deliverable (amount of work)

o per time (amount of hours)

Dollah Dollah Billz Y'all

• A sample is worth a bazillion words

• Be very specific about needs n' deadlines

• Have your materials ready

Gettin' Them Deliverables Delivered

•Budget your time and money wisely to put out the best product possible

•Don’t forget that having good audio is a huge part of putting out a professional, polished game

•Have reference materials ready for your contractor when you sign an agreement

www.hollytatnall.com

holly.tatnall@gmail.com