Blip!: The Subtlety of Sound

"Blip!", the original sound effect. Not the original onomatopoeia. 

What makes a game good? A tough, if not unanswerable, question. There are so many factors that go into the creation of a game, sprawling epic and micro-platformer action title alike, that naming them all would be take more than this article alone. However there are a few factors that usually stand out in games; controls, graphics, and music to name just a few.

Graphics and controls are almost always the first thing mentioned when talking about games, and they are admittedly vital to video games regardless of genre. Without graphics to see what you are doing, or controls to guide how you are doing it, video games wouldn't be video games. I feel, though, that many tend to overlook the truly important role that music and sound effects have in games and our enjoyment of them. From beeps to bangs, synthesizers to orchestrations, the sounds we hear change the games we play, and without them video games and gaming would not exist as we know it.

Deny it all you want, but you probably cried when you played this scene. 

Ask yourself what moves you when you are playing a game? Storyline? Gameplay? What is it that gets you into the game? For many it is a combination of things, but I would argue that in many cases music and sound effects are the driving force for in-depth, emotionally touching and memorable experiences in games. For example many "old-school gamers" reminisce about their favorite moments in classic games, and one that comes up time and time again is the Opera Scene from Final Fantasy III (aka Final Fantasy VI). What could have been just another button-mashing sequence with Midi-tune synthesis ended up being one of the most talked about, loved and remembered scenes from any game ever. Seriously. So popular is this particular scene from FFIII (VI) that not only does it have entire articles written about it alone, but it has been remade, redone, and even transcribed and performed by live symphonies and Operas. An impressive feat for a tune without words, composed in Midi, and only used in one scene of one game. Why has this particular scene had so much affect on its audience? I think it may be due to the fact that not only was it flawlessly intertwined with the storyline it was written for, but also because of the obvious care, skill and thought that were put into crafting the perfect sound for the setting given.

Taiko Drum Master the only game where you beat sentient drums to make them happy.
Seriously.  You probably didn't even know this ball of awesome existed. 

Video game music in its earliest forms can be traced  back to the late 1970's, but it would be years before game makers were truly taking advantage of music to influence gamers, and how they played games; and decades before the music itself was taking center-stage in games like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, and even Taiko Drum Master. While in the early days of the video game industry many companies didn't put much thought or care into developing soundtracks for their games, a few small studios recognized, and focused on, the impact that music and sound effects had on games, and those that played them.With limited means at hand, many game programmers had to develop, discover, and/or resort to "tricks" to make quality sound effects and music for games. With early systems being able to emit only two or three tones at a time, many games had simple, repetitive synth music, often playing in loops; sound effects usually being a "bleep", or sometimes just static white noise. But the composers of this time wouldn't be stopped by these limitations, and often pushed programming to its limits to produce pieces of music worth remembering. While much of the music from this period got old quickly, a few titles had stand out tunes that, though repetitive, didn't seem to wear out their welcome with gamers. As early as 1983 (and possibly earlier) a few titles had music so popular they had soundtracks produced for them; a not uncommon practice nearly thirty years later, and an impressive accomplishment considering the technology at the time. Think about it: how often have you gotten a track from Tetris, Mario or Mega Man stuck in your head? Hard to believe some of those old tracks were programmed with only three or four tones being played at a time.

It's called Korobeiniki, and was written in the 19th century,
not for Tetris. Get over it.

As gaming and computer systems progressed in power, game companies started to realize the importance and significance of music and sound effects. Major game developers began hiring composers, musicians and sound effect specialists to work on their games. With this development came the ability to use music and sound effects more effectively and accurately in order to influence and inspire gamers; sometimes to powerful effect. Today it is not uncommon to hear that a game was developed using the actual items, weapons and locations found in the game. Nor is it unbelievable to think that an entire symphony, professional rock band, rapper, or even groups of them were used to create the soundtrack for a single game. All to create a more in-depth, realistic experience for gamers; many of whom never consider the effort, cost, or time to produce such considerable sounds.

The 18-disc Castlevania: Best Selection Soundtrack box set.
Yeah, I own this, and it is rad. 

But why go to such lengths? I think it is because no matter how good a game is, without the proper sounds it will just not feel right. Sound, along with sight, is one of our most descriptive and prominent senses. Our sense of sound/hearing helps us find our way around, understand and communicate with others, and even helps us entertain each other. In modern gaming when games lack good sound effects or music it is often commented on, and sometimes can even ruin the experience of a game. On the other hand a good soundtrack and solid sound effects, simple or complex, only add to a games enjoyment, and sometimes become a highlight of the game or series. Some game series, such as Castlevania, have become known for their music, with certain tunes and melodies being expected in new iterations of the series. Some series have pieces that have become so loved that, when omitted, some fans lament their loss, or grow angry at their exclusion.

GigaWing 2 (pictured) has a neo-classical brass-marching soundtrack.
I dare you to look at that screenshot with that in mind and say your
perception of it was not challenged!

Music and sound are primal forces, and their ability to conjure emotions and influence us cannot be overstated. When used well, their benefit to a game, or any form of entertainment for that matter, is nearly immeasurable. Music and sound can change every aspect of what a person perceives in a game, and sometimes even inspire them to go beyond their favorite form of entertainment and effect their lives in positive and uplifting ways.

Primal, yet uplifting. Like a wolf.  That and the game Primal
was kind of lame, so I wasn't putting a screenshot of that here.  

Sounds are a subtle part of games, always there, always working, ever important, yet not always noticed. Amongst the most notable parts of our games, and senses, yet hiding in plain sight. Brightening and dampening moods, expanding and shrinking environments, what you hear in a game can move you without conscious knowledge of its effect, and evoke emotions and impressions inconspicuously. Music and sound, or the lack thereof, can help or hinder a game, and change the way you play it.

So next time you pick up a game and hear the intro music play, pay a little closer attention, and see how it affects you.

Until next time, game on.