The importance of sound (not music)

[Starwars]

Something that I think is highly important in games, but which is seldom discussed, is the use of sound besides the musical soundtrack. Especially in an isometric title, a good and thick "soundscape" is absolutely key to selling the atmosphere of the areas. In fact, I'd say that the combination of isometric with a strong soundscape is very potent in tickling your imagination.

Hence, you believed that something like Athkatla or Sigil were real, busy cities. Or that the Smoldering Corpse Tavern was an actual tavern, with some strange and shady characters in it.

 

I'm not too worried about this as I think Obsidian's later offerings has been very good in this regard. New Vegas in particular was fantastic, Alpha Protocol and Dungeon Siege 3 were also good sound-wise.

 

So Obsidian, don't skimp on this please!

[Karranthain]

Agreed, I'd even argue that it's way more important than the music.

[Pangur]

Totally agree. Sounds can be so much more powerful than graphics. They really make cities and landscapes and smaller locations 'alive'.

[LordCrash]

Keep sounds as they were in BG 2 (music and fx) or even try to improve them. Sound is very important for the atmosphere of a game and not to forget everyone can enjoy it in nearly the same manner compared to graphics.

[Nakia]

Sound is important.

[Syraxis]

Ambiance sounds are a huge role in what brings a game world to life.

[Entropious]

...Especially when one recalls Planescape: Torment, where all those eerie, weird and sometimes quirky sounds made for a great atmosphere. I want to hear half-discernable dialogues of the townsfolk, mixed with the hammerings coming from the forge and the chanting of nearby monks...yummy.

 

By the way, I may be the only person who would prefer Mark Morgan or Inon Zur to compose the soundtrack rather than Jeremy Soule.

[drgonzo]

all of the above QFT

[searinox]

Aye, Planescape and Icewind Dale 2 especially had some of the best atmospheres due to sound ever.

[Shadenuat]

Repeating myself: chanting for spells please.

[C2B]

Agreed. Sound should play a bigger role in games in general. In a lot of games there is quite a disconnect between the soundscape and gameplay. That shouldn't be so.

[Karranthain]

Repeating myself: chanting for spells please.

 

Vita Mortis Cario! Or something like that...

[LordCrash]

Repeating myself: chanting for spells please.

Hell, please NO! Only in children's books spells are really chanted. In most stories/fantasy novels with a little bit more "complex" magical background there is no certain chant or riddle for spells because magic is more a question of mind (and soul) and not a question of words which could be learned from books. So please give us some "mature" and complex magic!

[Entropious]

Well, actually, I can't recall one "mature" book of any importance where magic isn't chanted.

[Shadenuat]

Hell, please NO! Only in children's books spells are really chanted.

 

The reason why spells are almost always chanted is because magic itself has its roots in priesthood, including very ancient ones stretching thousands of years back into time - it was praying to forces (Gods), thus for them to hear and understand, you have to talk with them. People called on forces beyond material realm using speech.

 

And that was "mature" and "complex", at least more than just throwing fire arrows for 50 damage.

[Justin Bell]

I'm not too worried about this as I think Obsidian's later offerings has been very good in this regard. New Vegas in particular was fantastic, Alpha Protocol and Dungeon Siege 3 were also good sound-wise.

 

So Obsidian, don't skimp on this please!

 

I hope I don't sound too overconfident when I say that, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed here. Those of us in the audio department are relentless in our pursuit of creating living breathing worlds through sound. We rarely settle for second best. PE is one of those dream projects that just begs for a rich, lush, and immersive soundscape. We can't wait to dig in...

 

Ambiance sounds are a huge role in what brings a game world to life.

 

I couldn't agree with this statement more, Syraxis!

[WDeranged]

Something that I think is highly important in games, but which is seldom discussed, is the use of sound besides the musical soundtrack. Especially in an isometric title, a good and thick "soundscape" is absolutely key to selling the atmosphere of the areas. In fact, I'd say that the combination of isometric with a strong soundscape is very potent in tickling your imagination.

Hence, you believed that something like Athkatla or Sigil were real, busy cities. Or that the Smoldering Corpse Tavern was an actual tavern, with some strange and shady characters in it.

 

I'm not too worried about this as I think Obsidian's later offerings has been very good in this regard. New Vegas in particular was fantastic, Alpha Protocol and Dungeon Siege 3 were also good sound-wise.

 

So Obsidian, don't skimp on this please!

 

I totally agree about New Vegas and PS:T, both games had excellent audio.

 

I'm not too worried about this as I think Obsidian's later offerings has been very good in this regard. New Vegas in particular was fantastic, Alpha Protocol and Dungeon Siege 3 were also good sound-wise.

 

So Obsidian, don't skimp on this please!

 

I hope I don't sound too overconfident when I say that, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed here. Those of us in the audio department are relentless in our pursuit of creating living breathing worlds through sound. We rarely settle for second best. PE is one of those dream projects that just begs for a rich, lush, and immersive soundscape. We can't wait to dig in...

 

Ambiance sounds are a huge role in what brings a game world to life.

 

I couldn't agree with this statement more, Syraxis!

 

Before New Vegas I hadn't played any of Obsidian's games, I remember being worried that the sound design wouldn't match Fallout 3...but you guys hit it out of the park, I don't have any concerns for Project Eternity

[eimatshya]

Sounds are also important for more than ambiance. They play an important role in making combat feel immersive, which is especially important in games with limited animation/graphics. For example, Final Fantasy Tactics wasn't exactly a visual powerhouse, but the sound design for the battles was so amazing that it really brought combat to life. The impact sounds for some of the attacks would practically make me cringe. I could totally feel my knight's sword slashing through some dude's ribs.

[Starwars]

I'm not too worried about this as I think Obsidian's later offerings has been very good in this regard. New Vegas in particular was fantastic, Alpha Protocol and Dungeon Siege 3 were also good sound-wise.

 

So Obsidian, don't skimp on this please!

 

I hope I don't sound too overconfident when I say that, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed here. Those of us in the audio department are relentless in our pursuit of creating living breathing worlds through sound. We rarely settle for second best. PE is one of those dream projects that just begs for a rich, lush, and immersive soundscape. We can't wait to dig in...

 

Ambiance sounds are a huge role in what brings a game world to life.

 

I couldn't agree with this statement more, Syraxis!

 

Excellent to hear, can't wait to hear what you guys come up with in this area!

[True_Spike]

Sound is extremely important, so is the music. Both are key contributors to the feel and atmosphere of the game.

[Shevek]

Sound is huge. I loved the background noice in taverns, dungeons, etc. They really set the tone quite nicely.

 

On a related note, I hope they have good soundsets for PCs. I also want to be able to make my won ala IE games.

[Gyges]

Sound is extremely important, be it for atmospheric purposes or for combat. A powerful spell is nothing without the sweet sound of space and time cracking beneath the oscillations of a small star forming in your palms.

[Combine]

I concure with everything in the topic post.

[Lostbrain]

Yeah, I support this. The sound for Boo is one of the best thing in Baldur's Gate (that's not a joke, EVERYBODY remenber that sound ! Isn't it incredible ?^^)