Game Audio 1 - Audio for games and immersive environments
Instructor: Jean-Luc Cohen-Sinclair
Email: [email protected]
Objective/Description:
This course investigates aesthetic and technical aspects of sound for video games and interactive 3-D environments. Artistic implications of the technology are also explored, from the perspective of the electronic composer and performer. Students will work with a game engine to create and design an immersive interactive sonic environment. Other relevant technologies will also be discussed.Completion of a final project, class presentation, as well as several homework assignments is required.
Texts:
Andy Farnell, Designing Sound, MIT Press.
Schedule (subject to change):
Week 1: Introduction
Historical background, from Pong to mods
Tools of the trade: Unity, Unreal, Fmod, Wwise , a comparative analysis
Sound in games: present and future directions – State of the art
Challenges in Game Audio – The Role of Sound in Games
Assignment 1:
• Download the latest version of Unity
• Get the books “The Essential Guide to Game Audio” and “Designing Sounds”.
• Start going through the Unity Tutorials on Unity3D's website and Lynda.com
• Pick your favourite sound effect from a movie. Bring it to class and analyze it.
• Final project proposals due class 3
Week 2: Game Fundamentals
The Level editor: Shapes, textures, terrains, meshes…