The document analyzes and describes the sound design techniques used in the video game Bloodborne. It examines four different examples - the church bells, creaking wheelchair, background music, and water drops - and speculates on how each sound effect was likely produced. The assistant identifies field recordings, studio recordings with live instruments, and digital editing of found sounds as the main production techniques used to create the realistic and immersive soundscape that helps establish the game's setting, mood, genre, and narrative.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
Game Title Bloodborne
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 To help show the setting of the game which is of a horror themed Victorian city they
use the sound of a church bell ringing. The church bell is a sign of older times from
when the church was more prominent and it links with the games themes of
demons and the undead with them being linked to the church through traditional
horror.
The church bells that ring in the game cutscene
sound like they have been recorded as ambient
noise, my guess would be that they recorded a
church bell being rung from a distance and then
edited it to filter out any other sounds that may
have been recorded alongside it and refine it to
sound just right for the image on screen
Mood The mood is set with some small sound effects and the background music, one of
the several sound effects used is the creak of an old wheelchair being used. The
creak is used to set an eerie and uncomftable mood exaggerating the horror
elements of the game. The background music to the game includes heavy string
instruments which inspire a sense of dread in the player and the music is composed
in such a way to build tension.
The creaking metal could have been a recording
of many things such as a stiff door or an old bike
and would have likely been recorded up close and
the finely edited in sound software. The
background music would have been recorded in a
sound studio where they have a full set of
instruments and a recording room to keep other
sounds out.
Game genre The game is in the horror genre and this is shown through a mixture of sounds that
set up tension or show danger, nearing the end of the trailer where water drops are
used to create a eerie atmosphere and when the character is in danger they create a
sound that starts quiet and then raises to show that.
The drops of water could have been recorded
with a directional microphone and a tap. The
sound to create danger sounds like it could be a
instrument, if this was the case the recording of
the instrument would then be edited to raise its
volume at a specific time to create the sense of
danger
Narrative The narrative is shown through sound effects such as the main character cutting
through enemies and small sounds that indicate something is happening or on the
screen such as the growling of a undead dog
The sound of the main character cutting through
enemies could have been made by recording
cutting meat at a butcher or by cutting fruit and
veg for the crunch effects. Sounds like the dog

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
would have come from a real animal most likely a
dog or possibly a wolf for a more aggressive
effect.