There are several elements to be had when it comes to game design, music being amongst the most important. In fact, I am sure that many students, in this field, can tell you all about how this element is so commonplace in this day and age. With that said, there is still the idea of why, exactly, music is so necessary for this type of work to be fulfilled. For those who are hungry for knowledge, as far as art is concerned, here are a few points to make note of.
To start off, music helps to captivate a gamer's attention at the onset. It could be done in a few ways, one of them being the excitement factor that comes from racing titles like "Need for Speed." However, soundtracks can just as easily instill feelings of dread in players, provided that's the design. After all, titles such as "The Evil Within" show that you do not necessarily need a catchy soundtrack but rather ambiance that can make an experience greater.
Of course, if we're talking about actual music, it should be crafted in such a way that it doesn't annoy the player after a while. Most games, in this day and age, can last for hours and you're not going to want to hear the same repetitive loop without a break. For this reason, it's important to create audio that doesn't drone on players. You may wonder how this can be done but there are a few examples of composers who have done this rather well.
Koji Kondo has been revered as one of the greatest composers in the world of video games. The way that he created music, for titles like "The Legend of Zelda," was interesting because of how he was able to listen to his creations for extensive lengths of time. He knew that certain pieces of music could grind on the brain after time has passed, which he did not want. The fact that he judged his own music, based on this system, showed how in-tune a composer can be with his or her audience.
Music is, to put it simply, one of the most integral points that game design students should keep in mind. It is able to help set the scene, in many situations, but it's just as easy to assume that this type of music can create soundtracks anyone can leisurely listen to. However, it's important to note that audio can only be effective with strong capabilities in place. Without these, students who are focused on the creation of video games may not see the strongest work come about.
To start off, music helps to captivate a gamer's attention at the onset. It could be done in a few ways, one of them being the excitement factor that comes from racing titles like "Need for Speed." However, soundtracks can just as easily instill feelings of dread in players, provided that's the design. After all, titles such as "The Evil Within" show that you do not necessarily need a catchy soundtrack but rather ambiance that can make an experience greater.
Of course, if we're talking about actual music, it should be crafted in such a way that it doesn't annoy the player after a while. Most games, in this day and age, can last for hours and you're not going to want to hear the same repetitive loop without a break. For this reason, it's important to create audio that doesn't drone on players. You may wonder how this can be done but there are a few examples of composers who have done this rather well.
Koji Kondo has been revered as one of the greatest composers in the world of video games. The way that he created music, for titles like "The Legend of Zelda," was interesting because of how he was able to listen to his creations for extensive lengths of time. He knew that certain pieces of music could grind on the brain after time has passed, which he did not want. The fact that he judged his own music, based on this system, showed how in-tune a composer can be with his or her audience.
Music is, to put it simply, one of the most integral points that game design students should keep in mind. It is able to help set the scene, in many situations, but it's just as easy to assume that this type of music can create soundtracks anyone can leisurely listen to. However, it's important to note that audio can only be effective with strong capabilities in place. Without these, students who are focused on the creation of video games may not see the strongest work come about.
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