Task 2 Computer Game Cut Sequence Sound Design Analysis.

Analyse the sound design of a range of computer game cut sequences. You must gather video examples and discuss how the sound design gives a sense of:

·         Setting

·         Mood

·         Game genre

·         Narrative

In addition, your analysis must explain how you think specific soundtrack assets have been produced (with reference to production process):

·         VST instruments and effects

·         Studio recording

·         Use of traditional instruments

·         Audio field recordings

Your analysis must contain clear reference to specific sections of your chosen examples.  Your sequence analysis must be uploaded to a blog post on your IG1 blog using the title Computer Game Cut Sequence Sound Design Analysis.  

Game Title

Fallout: New Vegas

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	The setting of the intro starts off with some old music which makes you think the game is set in the 40’ 50’s era. You then hear a gun shot. from only what you see is a helmet with bright red eyes which makes it seem like there is a war going on. You then begin to hear the sound of a lighter as so someone is lighting a cigarette. The music fades in and it is a cowboy/western style of music, making the clip sound like it is a western setting. You then hear someone talking about war, saying that the world has ended and people have survived in underground vaults, it then tells you what has happened after people have left them and what they have done, making civilization. It goes on to tell you that there is a place that hasn’t been touched by the war, and that there is a dam that can be turned on to give them power. It begins to tell you that there is a war going on at and around the dam between the NCR, a government tax funded alliance from the west and Caesar Legion, which a civilisation made up of slaves, farmers and criminals from the east the war has been going on for 3 years. Among all the war the New Vegas strip has stayed open controlled by an unknown entity called Mr house and patrolled by police robots. It then begins to tell you who you are and what you were doing before the intro scene.	Most recordings were taken in the Mojave desert in Nevada since that is where the game is set. From sand to bugs, this is where most sound came from.
Mood	The intro gives many different moods, at first it gives you a sort of happy feeling with music going off, you start to think what it going on when you see the ruined land and the gun shot at the beginning which gives a very curious mood. When the person begins to give a speech about war you begin to think that it is an war zone, after he tells you that the world had ended and is being rebuilt, its gives a eerie mood and makes you think that the beginning is someone shooting bandits.  The music in the background is a very sinister music making the intro seem more eerie, you then hear people talking about a deal which makes you wonder what is going on, you then here someone saying “look whose waking up”. You then begin to think that you are a hostage and is tied up, you then hear someone saying stuff about killing people then says "The truth is, it was rigged from the start" which makes you want to find out what was rigged, who are you, who are they and what started all of this? then you hear a gunshot which makes you feel shocked and then curious of why it happened.	Music helps create the mood, they use the fallout theme tune in half to other is some music from in game new to the fallout saga.
Game genre	You can tell from the very begging that it will be an exciting, adventure and alien like game since the first thing you see is a man being shot in the head from very far away. Free Roam; It shows the almost the whole map during the trailer while it travels from the city to the graveyard miles away. Role Playing; You can change your characters looks and personality anytime in same to good bad or neutral depending on how you want to be shaped much like the world around you.	Fallout uses action music while In battle, as well as shouting gunshots and wound noises for when you or the enemy are shot.
Narrative	Two people talk in the video. One known as the narrator who is in every fallout game intros and outrs, always talking about how the main character changes everything. The other person is Benny (voiced by Mathew Perry) he talks to the main character before he shoots him.	When most characters are talking there isn’t any music or sound effects since the game seem to freeze while you talk to someone. Only select characters have music or sound effects.

Game Title

Halo: Reach

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	Halo: Reach, another installment (6th) in the Halo franchise. Halo: Reach is set on the planet of Reach where the Iconic Spartan Super Soldiers & UNSC's military force resides. You play Noble 6, and meet many other Spartans including Carter (Noble 1), Kat (Noble 2), Jun (Noble 3), Emile (Noble 4) & Jorge (Noble 5). What was expected to be a medial rebel crush turned out to be the end of humanity? While you try to fight off the Covenant onslaught that lurks over Reach. If Reach falls, Earth will be next.	The 6 characters have each their own different voice actor, foot step, weapon and grunts. They would've all been created in a variety of ways.
Mood	You can tell from the very begging that it will be an exciting, adventure and alien like game since the first thing you see is the camera flying through space, to another planet.	They have you give you this sense of mood by using a different world to Earth as well as all these new sounds that you hear just in the space of a few minutes.
Game genre	Action; due to the fast paced action. FPS (First Person Shooter); due to the fact that you see through the eyes of the character. Adventure; as you are on a planet that is not Earth but a little like it fighting alien life forms. Futuristic; as it is set in the year 2552.	To help in battles the gunshots, explosions, vehicles and character, have a center of volume, looking at them or being closer to them, will make the much louder.
Narrative	There’s much dialogue until the camera reaches the planet then it gets straight into the fight. The squad leader Carter and the Admiral. Apart from Jun saying “Welcome to Reach”	The narrative and dialogue would've been created in a studio, easy and quick.

Game Title

Halo 4

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	Starts on a destroyed UNSC space ship floating through space. Then it starts on randomly explode making it way more destroyed than it was before, artificial gravity has failed so there are random objects flying around the ship. Some areas have lost pressure creating a dangerous atmosphere.	The explosions would've been created either by real explosion recordings or made up in a studio. The jet pack would've been made the same way. The losing pressure sound may have been created in a vacuum.
Mood	Due to it being in space adrift on no straight path making it an adventurous, suspicious and unknown feeling towards the video.	They give you this sense by yet again using strange sounds and off worldly looks.
Game genre	You can tell from the very begging that it will be an exciting, adventure and alien like game since the first thing you see is the camera flying through space, to another planet.	This genre is helped by the sound as in sci-fi is mostly aliens and yet this game is full of them, by giving the aliens there own unique sounds and gestures showing you that is it’s a sci-fi. Plus explosions.
Narrative	Two people during an interrogation. One a scientist who created humanist greatest weapon the other trying to find out why children were used for indoctrination and experimentation.	These two people talking would've been created in a studio where the two people would talk to a microphone instead of each other.

Game Title

Dying Light

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	The Game it set somewhere close to the present and in South America Brazil, after a zombie apocalypse has started and the survivors have to use their wits, traps and free-running abilities to escape death and the dark.	The wind, birds, planes, (ambiance) could have recorded outside naturally, other sounds such as the roars, screams, breathing and groans must have been recorded and made with people. Sounds such as weapon noises, footsteps, wood braking and cloth flapping must have been created by directional recordings. Explosions, special effects, gunshots, may have been created using manipulation.
Mood	The beginning in sounds of wind and lightning gives you a mysterious mood. As it moves of to a continuous single piano note and background violin gives it more of a sad and empty mood, like there is nothing.	Single light pitch instruments that are quiet but have some bass to them create a good vibe for death.
Game genre	First-person, survival, horror, post-apocalyptic, free run, free-roam.	The camera roaming the streets and the events it records shows what it may be about.
Narrative	“Kill or be killed, eat or be eaten, was the law; and this mandate, down out of the depths of time, he obeyed” is the opening screen. Then single male starts to talk about light, dark and what was before.	One man with a slight sadness in his voice can easily create an atmosphere of doom.

Game Title

Destiny

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	The game is set many years into the future after the golden years of expansion, where humans have met almost the entirety of the known universe, and then one by one solar system that humans were colonized one began to get wiped out, eventually a white mysterious orb named the Traveller saved humanity’s last city and last hope.	The music is simple yet light, create a mysterious tune. Most recordings would have been created in studios and edited so they could create futuristic noises such as, space ships, lasers, and aliens.
Mood	The mood is set simply by the music and the moon as both are light and in the background.	The mood is mostly created by the music and narrator which gives it an action type vibe.
Game genre	Fantasy, Future, Apocalyptic, action, sci-fi, mythic,	The genre of the game is pretty much set with the advert and music in the advert, but in his advert the narration and what it explains give you all of the said genres.
Narrative	One person speaks an older male, who talks about a mysterious orb and the lands outside of the last human city. It also mentioned how the enemy gets stronger each day which may create a much more challenging game. As the man talks it follows many people known as ‘guardians’ the video is mainly about how they either fight back or stay and hide.	A older male with a deep voice, give you a sense that this man has seen a lot, or perhaps he is a story teller as in another advert he is, or maybe a war veteran, the advert doesn’t explain, but making you own story to his past, may help with the sound of his voice, the way he speaks, the way he says it all.

Game Title

inFAMOUS Second Son

	Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples that establish…	Clearly state what production technique(s) you think have been used to create specific soundtrack elements
Setting	The video opens with someone spray painting a wall, and you immediately think that this person is a vandal, but as the video plays on you find out that, he is trying to send a message through this spray painting, while still a vandal he as a point. This opens the world to his man, he is good and bad but you decide.	The spray painting could’ve been recorded and edited slightly so that it is very believable, that it is real.
Mood	The mood is set instantly with the music that is a deep tone, which gives you a sense of adventure but mystery.	The mood is set by the music and the actors. Very easily and how angry they seem at each other.
Game genre	Action-adventure, action, adventure, warfare, sci-fi.	The genre is set by the video and the actors.
Narrative	It is mostly two males talking to one another, about powers and decisions.	The narrative is two males only with some background noise.

Complete atleast 3 more - Done
Add to blogger - Errors on slideshare