This document analyzes the sounds used in the opening cutscene of the video game Halo 2. It describes the sounds that establish the setting as possibly a factory or building due to an alarm sound and later explosions and gunfire, suggesting a war zone. It identifies lifts and aircraft sounds that indicate the character is in a building set in the future. The document states the mood is serious due to violent sounds of gunshots and explosions, and an emotional musical score. It suggests the game genre is a sci-fi first or third person shooter due to futuristic laser and gunshot sounds. The narrative involves humans fighting another clan on earth, as indicated by references to attacking and defending the planet.

1. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
Game Title Halo 2 start- 0:00 End- 2:55 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_HxlekWWN0
Lewis Brierley
Provide detailed descriptions from chosen examples of
sounds that establish…
Clearly state what production
technique(s) you think have been
used to create specific
soundtrack elements
Setting From the start of the cut scene we heara loudalarm as if it iscountingdownto
something,the game couldbe setina factoryor a buildingdue tothe soundof the
alarm. We alsolaterin the cut sequence here the soundof explosionsandgunfire
thisscene couldbe setin a warzone. Furthermore inthe scene we hearthe sound
of a lift,asif someone isusingitto go toanotherfloorso thiscouldindicate thatthe
character isin building,inadditiontothiswe hearthe soundsof aircraftsflyingby,
game couldbe setinthe future due tofuturisticsounds.
The soundof the alarm couldhave beencreated
usingVSTor an AudioFieldRecording. The
explosionsandcouldhave beencreatedbyVSTor
and audiofieldrecordingorevenFoleyartistry.
The liftsoundcouldhave beencreatedbyVSTor
fieldaudiorecording.The soundsof futuristic
aircraftscouldhave beencreatedbyVST or Field
AudioRecording.
Mood The mood inthis cut scene isquite a seriousmoodaswe hear the soundof
gunshotsandexplosionswhichshowviolence andaggression.Furthermore we hear
talkof a bombby the characters inthe game,whichcould meanthattheyintendto
destroysomething.The musicalsochangesthe moodof the game as itsoundslike
somethingbigisaboutto take place,alsothe musiccan be heard as quite emotional
as it iscreatedthroughclassical music,itmakesthe playeranticipate somethingthat
isabout to happen.
The gun shot soundsandthe explosionsounds
couldhave beencreatedthroughaudiofield
recordingor VST.The voice of the characters
couldhave beencreatedbya voice actor through
a studiorecording. The intensive musiccouldhave
beencreatedwithclassical instrumentsoritcould
have beencreatedbyan orchestra.
Game genre The game genre bythe soundscouldbe a Sci-Fi aswe hear lasers,gunshotsand
explosionwhichcouldindicate the game issetinthe future.Furthermore the game
couldbe a thirdor a firstpersonshooter,due the gunshotswe hearandalsoat the
endof the cut sequence we hearsoundof charactersayingthat theyare takingthe
battle to earth,hintingatthe nextlevel ormission.Alsothe game couldalsobe a
strategygame maybe where the playercancreate and control differentunits,due
to whatthe charactersin the cut scene say.The game couldalsobe a stealthaction
game as 1 of the characters saysthat he wantsto give a bombto the enemiesIthink
The soundsof the gunshotsandlaserscouldhave
beencreatedthroughVSTor a fieldaudio
recording. The soundsof the characters could
have beencreatedthrougha studiorecordingor
Foley artistry.

2. Salford City College
Eccles Sixth Form Centre
BTEC Extended Diploma in GAMES DESIGN
Unit 73: Sound For Computer Games
to destroythem.
Narrative
The game narrative soundsasif it couldbe humansfightingagainstanotherhuman
clan or army or maybe evenaliensknownasthe covenant.Due totowardsthe end
of the cut scene a character says“theyare goingto take the fightto earth”.Maybe
the playerisattackingearth or maybe theyare defendingit.Alsosome of the
soundsinthe game like the gunfire andalarmssoundveryfuturisticanddifferent,
so itmay be due to that the game isa Sci-Fi.The characterknownas the captain
referstoanothercharacter, The Master Chief andhe says “heywantsto give the
covenantbacktheirbomb”,thisadds to the narrative of the game as 1 of the
characters intentsittodestroyor blowupsomething.
The voice of the characterscould have been
createdthrougha voice actor in a studio
recording. The futuristicsoundsof gunfire and
explosionswe hearinthe cutscenescouldhave
beencreatedbyVSTor maybe evenafieldaudio
recording.