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…