Aspects of Sound

Analysing Sound and Music in Games 

Creating Atmosphere
This may set the overall theme, sound is core to making a space a place. This could be music, ambient sounds or sound effects.

Assigning meaning to an event
these are  happy sounds, something that sounds rewarding to the player for example the picking up of an XP boost.

Appeal to a Certain Market
This is mostly done through music on games such as Dj hero vs Guitar hero

Providing Rhythm for gameplay
bit trip runner, this can be used in games to give the player a sense of momentum and adrenaline, or the synchronised sounds with player movements.

Cueing Gameplay Events
5.1 surround sound noises coming from a certain direction, this works great in games such as horrors.

Linked to Broader set of concepts
sound and music may have deeper contextual relevance to individuals.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFGnBoS95SU I think there a 2 different kinds of atmosphere in this scene. 1 being the lighting used, and 2nd being the piano soundtrack in the background. Also as the pod is descending into a building in the city there are people singing  this song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4cWPKRhwIc
This gives a really sense of importance about the place, like this is a new eden thats been created in the heavens, this place is magical. Its so relaxing and keeps the gob smacked effect in motion from the previous scene which has you floating through the city. also this song is echoing through the halls, it starts quite faint and gets louder as you get closer to it, this is guiding the character through the level and is a great example of 'cueing gameplay events'.

Once you've stepped out of the pod you find yourself walking through water with candles lit all around you, this can provide really interesting ambient and background sounds, especially with the water, there's always something relaxing about hearing water droplets. It also provides Foley sounds of your footsteps as you walk through the water. Again as you step out of the pod you get assigned an objective which has a distinct sound which is used throughout the game, its a rememberable sound and could be considered 'assigning meaning to an event' sounds and Bioshock 2 uses plenty of these in the form of 'Pick ups' throughout the game.

Once you enter the city more atmospheric sounds come into play as you can here people all around you having conversations with eachother, birds flying, church bells, and children playing around a burst water pipe. Another great feature that Bioshock does is instead of using a general soundtrack that plays in the background while your walking around the world, the game uses old radio's, so as the player is discovering the world you will hear various old fashioned songs from the 60's. Of course there not everywhere so at times all the player will here are the sounds of his surroundings.