Assignment Brief

1. 1
Assignment brief
Qualification Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Media Production – GAMES DESIGN Y1
Unit number and title
L3 Unit 73 Sound for Computer Games
L3 Unit 1 Pre Production Techniques
L3 Unit 2 Communication Skills for Creative Media Industries
Start date Monday 06/01/2015
Deadline Friday 05/06/2015
Assessor name Iain Goodyear
Assignment title IG2 – Computer Game Audio Cut Sequence Production
The purpose of this assignment is to:
Unit 73 Learning Outcome 1 – Understand the use of sound and music in games.
Unit 73 Learning Outcome 2 – Understand methods and principles of sound design and production.
Unit 73 Learning Outcome 3 – Be able to create sound assets for a computer game following industry practice.
Unit 73 Learning Outcome 4 – Be able to apply sound assets to a computer game following industry practice.
Unit 1 Learning Outcome 1 - Understand requirements for a specific media production.
Unit 1 Learning Outcome 2 – Be able to prepare pre-production documentation for a specific media production
Unit 1 Learning Outcome 3 – Be able to apply pre-production planning for a specific media production.
Unit 2 Learning Outcome 1 – Be able to extract information from written sources.
Unit 2 Learning Outcome 2 – Be able to create a report in a media production context.
Unit 2 Learning Outcome 3 – Be able to pitch a media production proposal using appropriate technology.
Scenario
Sound is an essential part of the computer game experience. Forming 50% of our sensory experience, and good game soundtrack
can enhance our pleasure of a computer game and help bridge the ever decreasing gap between games and more traditional
forms of storytelling such as films.
You have been commissioned by Sony Europe to produce the audio soundtracks for cut sequences that will be used in a series of
planned mission expansion packs for key game franchises due for release in 2015.
This assignment will introduce you to audio production and post-production technologies so that you will be able to produce
technically competent and professional sound assets that will used in the cut sequences of planned mission expansion packs.
You will produce voice recordings and sound assets using portable audio recording hardware, studio based production hardware
and post-production computer software using VST instruments and effects. This newly acquired audio production knowledge will
equip you with the skills needed to produce a cut sequence soundtrack.
This assignment will do the following:
 Require pitching a group idea for a computer game audio cut sequence production.
 Introduce portable audio field recording technology.
 Require the use audio field recording techniques to capture sound assets.
 Introduce studio dialogue recording technologies and techniques.
 Require the use of studio recording technologies to produce clear voice recordings.
 Introduce audio post production software and editing techniques.
 Require the application of field recording and computer audio synthesis to create a computer game audio cut sequence.

2. 2
Tasks Grading Criteria Mapping
1.
Produce a glossary of terms specific to the methods and principles of sound design and production.
Using a provided template, you must research and gather definitions specific to provided glossary
terms. Any definitions must be referenced with the URL link of the website you have obtained the
definition.
As your practical audio production experience develops, by way of improving your initial report, you
must also provide specific details of how researched definitions relate to your own production
practice. This improved report must be uploaded in addition to your initial glossary research report.
Your completed glossary of terms and definitions must be uploaded to your Unit 73 IG2 assignment
blog with the title Methods and Principles of Sound Design and Production
Unit 73 P2/M2/D2
Unit 2 P1/M1/D1
Unit 2 P2/M2/D2
Unit 2 P3/M3/D3
2.
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
Unit 73 P1/M1/D1
Unit 2 P2/M2/D2
3.
Use Celtx software to produce a 2 page script featuring two characters. This will form the narrative
basis for your audio cut sequence production for the GTA 5 mission expansion pack release. Your script
pages must include correctly formatted character names, character dialogue and action description
that clearly indicates reference to sounds that will feature in your audio cut sequence.
You must produce an initial draft and a final draft. Your final draft is expected to refine and improve
upon the initial draft you produce.
Your 2 page draft script and final draft script must be uploaded to a blog post on your IG2 blog using
the title Audio Cut Sequence Scripts
Unit 1 P2/M2/D2
Unit 2 P3/M3/D3
4.
Produce a report & a budget that outlines the specific requirements for an audio production with
supporting research & staff and equipment costs:
 Describe the job role of the sound designer and be able to define the job responsibilities of
that role.
 Equipment needed for sound recording and daily hire costs (researched with links and
Unit 1 P1/M1/D1

3. 3
equipment hire company quotes)
Produce a budget expenditure spread sheet in Excel that outlines expenditure to a budget of £1500
and what this will be spent on.
Your research and budget sheet must be uploaded to a blog post on your IG2 blog using the title Audio
Cut Sequence Production Costings
5.
Prepare a pitch
 Finalise ideas for your media product
 Prepare a project proposal in response to the brief
 Prepare a presentation including visual aids, delegate notes and presenter’s notes
 Give the presentation in the form of a pitch to the client
Your pitch materials and notes should be uploaded to your IG2 blog using the title Pitching an Audio
Cut Sequence Production Idea
Unit 2 P4/M4/D4
Unit 2 P5/M5/D5
6.
Record your audio cut sequence script in a recording studio environment. You must ensure that your
dialogue is clearly recorded to a good technical standard. You are free to record yourselves and/or
others when recording script dialogue.
All audio recordings must be renamed once produced to clearly indicate character names and
dialogue spoken.
Audio recordings must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page and embedded into a blog
post in its unedited form with the title Audio Cut Sequence Raw Recordings
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
Unit 1 P3/M3/D3
7.
Use Reaper post-production software to edit and manipulate produced audio recordings using VST
effects. You must use dialogue recorded for task 6 to produce variations that clearly demonstrate the
application and manipulation of a range of VST effects plugins.
This must be supported by annotated screen captures that show:
 The effects plugins applied.
 Clear explanations of what parameters have been adjusted.
 Clear explanations of how effects applied have altered the sound of your original recordings.
Your effects manipulated dialogue recordings must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile
page. Accompanying screen grab annotations and produced sounds must be embedded into a blog post
with the title Audio Recording VST Effects Manipulation
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
8.
Use Reaper post-production software to create audio using VST sound generating plugins. You must
produce sound effects for your 2 minute computer game cut sequence.
This must be supported by annotated screen captures that show:
 The sound generating plugins used.
 Clear explanations of what type of sound effects that you have created.
 Clear explanations of what this sound will be used to depict in your computer game audio cut
sequence.
Your VST produced sounds must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page. Accompanying
screen grab annotations and produced sounds must be embedded into a blog post with the title VST
Produced Sound Effects
Unit 73 P3/M3/D3
9. Unit 73 P3/M3/D3

4. 4
Use Reaper post-production software to create a 2 minute computer game audio cut sequence as per
the requirements of the brief
Your completed audio cut sequence must be uploaded to your SoundCloud account profile page and
must be embedded into a blog post with the title Computer Game Cut Sequence Audio Production
10.
Select sound effects and music that you have produced which you will programme into a game you
have produced as part of your Unit 70 Computer Game Engines unit.
Each sound must be blogged on your Unit 73 IG2 blog as an embedded SoundCloud file. Each uploaded
sound must be accompanied by a short explanation that describes what the sound will be used for
within your game i.e. an explosion.
For this blog post you must use the title Sounds I will Programme Into my Game
Unit 73 P4/M4/D4
11.
You must produce a series of annotated print screens that clearly describe the process you have
followed to program sounds that you have produced into your unit 70 computer game via either Unity
or Game Maker.
Your annotated process of programming sounds to your game must be uploaded to your Slide Share
account and embedded into a blog post on your Unit 73 IG3 blog using the title Programming My
Sounds Into my Game
Unit 73 P4/M4/D4
This brief has been verified as being fit for purpose
Assessor Iain Goodyear
Signature Date 03/01/2015
Internal verifier
Signature Date

5. 5
Unit 73 Sound forcomputer games
P1 describe uses of sound
and music in games using
some subject terminology
appropriately
M1 explain use of sound
and music in games with
reference to detailed
illustrative examples and
with generally correctuse of
subject terminology
D1 comprehensively explain use
of sound and music in games
with elucidated examples
and consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P2 describe methods and
principles of sound design
and production using
some subject terminology
appropriately
M2 explain methods and
principles of sound design and
production with reference to
detailed illustrative examples
and with generally correct
use of subject terminology
D2 comprehensively explain
methods and principles of
sound design and production
with elucidated examples
and consistently using subject
terminology correctly
P3 create sound assets for a
computer game following
industry practice, working
within appropriate
conventionsand with some
assistance
[CT; SM]
M3 create sound assetsfor a
computer game working to
a good technicalstandard
following industry practice,
showing some imagination
and with only occasional
assistance
D3 create sound assetsfor a
computer game working to a
technicalquality that reflects
near-professionalstandards
following industry practice,
showing creativityand flair
and working independently
to professionalexpectations
P4 apply sound assets to a
computer game following
industry practice, working
within appropriate
conventionsand with some
assistance.
[CT; RL]
M4 apply sound assetsto a
computer game working to
a good technicalstandard
following industry practice,
showing some imagination
and with only occasional
assistance.
D4 apply sound assets to a
computer game working to a
technicalquality that reflects
near-professionalstandards
following industry practice,
showing creativityand flair
and working independently
to professionalexpectations.
Unit 2 Communication Skills for Creative Media Production (Level 3)
P1: use appropriate techniquesto
extract relevant information from
written sources
M1: use appropriate techniquesto
extract information fromwritten
sources with some precision
D1: use appropriate techniques to
extract comprehensive information
from written sources
P2: present a media production
report which conveysrelevant
information [IE]
M2: present a structured and
detailed media production
report which conveys information and
explains conclusions with clarity
D2: present a well-structured and
substantialmedia production report
which conveys information with
precise exemplification and justifies
conclusions with supporting
arguments
P3: review reportsto make changes
with occasionalbeneficialeffects
[RL]
M3: review reportsto make
changes with frequent
beneficial effects
D3: review reports to make
changes with consistently
beneficial effects
P4: deploy and manage appropriate
technology to pitch a media
production proposal[SM]
M4: deploy and manage
technology to pitch a media
production proposaleffectively and
with some
imagination
D4: deploy and manage
technology to pitch a media
production proposalwith
creativityand flair and to
near-professionalstandards
P5: employ appropriate forms of
address in a media production pitch
to communicate ideas [CT]
M5: employ forms of address in a
media production pitch
to communicate ideas
effectively
D5: employ forms of address in a
media production pitch with flair to
communicate ideas with impact
Unit 1 Pre-Production Techniques for the Creative Media Industries (Level 3)
P1: outline requirements and sources
of requirements for a specific media
production [IE]
M1: explain in some detail
and competently present
requirements and sourcesof
requirements for a specific media
production
D1: comprehensively explain and
present to a quality that reflects
near-professionalstandardsfully
detailed requirements and sourcesof
requirements for a specific media
production
P2: generate outline preproduction
documentation for a specific media
production with some assistance
M2: generate competent, carefully
presented and detailed pre-
production documentation for a
specific media production with only
occasionalassistance
D2: generate thorough and
comprehensively detailed pre-
production documentation for a
specific media production, working
independently to professional
expectations
P3: apply pre-production
planning to a specific media
M3: apply pre-production planning to
a specific media production
D3: apply pre-production planning to
a specific media production to a

6. 6
production working with some
assistance. [TW, SM]
competently with only occasional
assistance.
quality that reflects near-professional
standards, working independently to
professionalexpectations.
:PLTS: This summary referenceswhere applicable, in the square brackets, the elements of the personal,
learning and thinking skills applicable in the pass criteria. Itidentifiesopportunitiesfor learners to demonstrate
effective application of the referenced elements of the skills.