Game audio is an important aspect of game development that helps set atmosphere and mood, provide gameplay cues, enhance player satisfaction and immersion. It uses various formats like FM synthesis, MIDI, sampled audio and DLS. Sound effects provide feedback, warnings and unique identities while voiceovers provide spoken dialogue. Music sets the tone, provides cues and comes in different styles for games versus films, with looping and adaptive music and no standardized tools.

1. Game Development Essentials An Introduction (2 nd Edition)

2. Chapter 9 Audio creating the atmosphere

6. Game Audio Formats FM Synthesis FM synthesis (used by synthesizers such as the DX7) involves generating sounds from mathematical data associated with sound waves.

7. Game Audio Formats MIDI A musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) setup incorporates several different devices that work together to create sound.

8. Game Audio Formats Sampled Audio The Fairlight CMI (expensive hardware-based pioneer), Emu E4 (modular unit), and Gigastudio (software) represent three different eras in sampling tools.

9. Game Audio Formats DLS Microsoft’s DirectMusic Producer—which supports DLS2—is used by game audio professionals because it allows for game-specific dynamic audio creation.

10. Game Audio Formats Redbook Audio Redbook Audio is used for commercial games distributed on CDs.

11. Game Audio Tools ProTools is considered to be the industry standard for audio recording, editing, and mixing.

13. Sound Effects Dead Rising and Condemned have received awards for excellent game sound effects.

16. Music Soundtracks are recorded in a home recording studio (Aaron Marks’ depicted) or a professional recording studio (Ron Jones conducting).

17. Music God of War and Fable both won awards for their epic and inventive game soundtracks. (Fable’s theme was composed by Danny Elfman.)