Task 2 Computer Game Cut Sequence Sound Design Analysis

Game Title
Batman Arkham Origins 19:20 – 25:30 https://youtu.be/es0fnozQ5OQ?t=19m20s


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

The setting would be in a crowded fight arena, all of the cheering from the crowds and the speech lead me to believe that. From the speech I think that the setting is also in a casino. The area after the fight arena is deserted as the only things that can be heard are the footsteps of Batman and the ambient wind.




I think that all the voices from the main characters and the background characters were made in a studio recording. I also think that the ambient wind and footsteps were done in an audio field recording
Mood

The mood would be quite tense with the constant sounds of action and the ambient sounds like wind in some parts of the scene. There are also sounds of punching and hitting throughout the scene. The mood is also quite frightening as the Penguin is also interrogating a man with electricity. There is also quite a scary vibe when there is a song playing quite sluggishly.





I think that the sounds of punching and hitting were created with a VST instrument. The booming drums during the fight arena I think were made with traditional instruments. The song was probably created using VST instruments and an effect placed over it to make it sound more eerie.
Game genre

I think the setting would be an action game as there is fighting throughout the scene and there are sounds of electricity everywhere. This game may also be an exploration game was Batman needs to find various people and he has gadgets at his disposal like explosives to break walls and futuristic sounds. When Batman is attacked it sounds like a grapple hook that tripped him up.
I think that the sounds of electricity was created using VST Instruments. The various punches and hitting sounds I think were made using VST instruments. 
Narrative

The narrative would be that someone has put a bounty on Batman’s head and people are always after him. From the sounds of Slade attacking Batman I think that all of the people were to kill the Batman for the bounty. The various ambient sounds like the wind and the drums create a quite tense atmosphere which relates to the position that the Batman is in.





The tense drums throughout the whole scene I think were created using traditional instruments. The voice of Slade would have been created in a Studio Recording but when he has his mask on there would be a VST effect put over it.


Game Title
Batman Arkham City 1:07:47 – 1:11:10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaxTY9f864o

Ben Ankers
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

The setting would be around an abandoned area as the ambient sounds are very eerie and there in no other sound except those made from the characters present in the scene. The setting may also be in the future as there are various futuristic and scientific sounds that Mr Freeze makes when explaining the problem to Batman like the static and the high pitch beeping throughout the explanation. Also it sound like Mr Freeze is in a Robotic suit or he is part robot as when he moves he makes sounds like a small motor. The setting is also a fantast setting as there are people who have lived for over 600 years like Ra's al Ghul.

All of the speech from the scenes would have been done in a Studio Recording to get the best quality of sound and no imperfections.  Mr Freeze’s however would have been done in a studio although there would have been a VST effects over it to create the robot sounding voice near the end of the clip.
Mood

The mood is quite tense as the background music is quite eerie and dark with the drum and the brass instruments in conjunction creating a scary atmosphere. The mood is also quite sad as there is a real possibility that the Batman and the Joker may die if there is no cure made soon. There is a sound of glass breaking and then another character appearing
The sound of the drums and the brass instruments I think would have been created with the use of traditional instruments. I think that the sound of the glass breaking was created using an Audio Field Recording as I think that it sounds realistic. The various ambient sounds I think were created using VST Instruments. Also during the penguin fight I believe that the music was made using traditional instruments.
Game genre

The sounds of the Penguins weapon indicated that this is an action game as the explosions are quite common in action games. In the same scene Batman also punches the Penguin which is another staple in the action/fighter genre, punching. There may also been a gameplay element of exploration as Batman said that he needs to find the body of Ra’s al Ghul to get the enzyme to help create the cure.
I think that the sounds from the weapon was created using VST Instruments. Also I think that the punching sounds were created using VST effects. All of the voices would have been created in a Studio Recording but as stated earlier, Mr Freeze’s voice would have a VST Effect over it to create the robotic voice.
Narrative

Batman has his life on the line as he in infected with something that has immediate cure and he needs the help of Mr Freeze. He also has the same disease as the Joker as reference by Mr Freeze. The talking says that Batman needs to search for the needed parts of a cure for both he and the Joker. Also the ambient noises and music keeps the tense atmosphere up which is essential as Batman and the Joker are still not cured of their ailment.

The ambient noises I think were made using VST instruments/effects but I think that music was created using Traditional Instruments.

Game Title

Ben Ankers
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



The sound of the Phone leads me to believe that this game is set in the modern day. The TV channel showing the news says that there is a pandemic nationwide which may signal that there is an outbreak that could kill many. The setting where this cut scene is would be a city like area as there are gas stations. The city like area is in ruins as there are incident happening such as a farm being on fire and people getting attacked out of nowhere. Also there are sounds of horrifying screaming which leads me to believe that the pandemic has spread very fast and the city is now a dead zone as everyone is trying to flee, also there are ambulances around trying to help the unlucky civilians.



The phone sounds were most likely made from Virtual Instruments but the speech was done in a recording studio but with a virtual effect over it to make is sound like a phone call.
The various explosions were probably made using audio field recording but with an effect over it to make it sound much more distant.
I also believe that the crackling of the fire on the farm would have been using field recording.
The sounds of the multiple screams would have been made in a recording studio.
The ambulance was probably taken from a real ambulance.
Mood

The mood of the game is set very early from the man on the phone, he seems to be in a rush as he is talking fast and he needs to speak with someone urgently. Also there is fear in the game when there are explosions nearby the starting area, and also an infected man making horrifying sounds attacks the characters which created a tense and frightful mood. There are also frightful screams throughout the scene which inflicts a sense of fear and horror of the unknown.



The noises of the infected man I think were made in a recording studio with a virtual effect over it to make it sound much more raspy and rough to correlate with the fact that they are infected.
The sounds of the thrashing in cars I think were made in a field recording in a quite area.
Game genre

The sounds of explosions and the sounds of the infected man attacking the characters lead me to believe that the games genre is a survival game with some use of weapons such as guns. The genre may also include the use of stealth to evade the enemy as they seem very ruthless as there are sounds of them thrashing around in cars attacking the civilians. There may also be a safe haven where the characters aim to go as the pandemic spreads.


The sounds of the gunshot I think was created in a field recording using a real pistol as it wound realistic. All of the talking used throughout the whole clip would have been done in a recording studio to capture the real emotion of fear and distraught inflicted on the towns people from the pandemic.

Narrative

The narrative of the game is to survive; they show this by ignoring people in need and killing the creatures that are attacking the city. The sound of multiple vehicles implies that there was a traffic jam of people trying to escape into the safety of the army, although this lead to someone getting attacked. All the various sound of the thrashing and noises from the enemies makes the player want to avoid them.


The sounds of the cars were probably taken in a field recording as well as the driving. The sound of the people in shock and horror were done in a recording studio also to capture the realistic emotions of people.

Dead Space 3 (start 3:45 stop 9:22) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUgrIBqFHY4
Ben Ankers
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

The setting is being portrayed as a snowy landscape in a remote area as there are footsteps on the snow and the radio that they are using is being cut off. The booming sounds throughout the clip gets across that there may be something large out there coming towards the earth, the booming sounds may be large airships. The intense wind during the beginning leads me to believe that they are in a high up remote area and this is supported by the radio producing static as well. In the second half of the clip there are a lot of futuristic sounds going by quickly indicating that there might be flying cars/ships fleeing.



I think that the footsteps during the beginning were made using Virtual Instruments as it does not sound like real footsteps on real snow.
The sounds from the radio would have been recorded in a studio but then multiple effects would have been
I think that the wind could have been wind recorded on top of a mountain or somewhere else with quite strong wind/audio field recording.
Mood

The mood created is quite serious and sinister as the soldiers may be stranded far away from friendly people, the sound conveying this mood is the radio static as they can hardly communicate through them since they are so far away. The sounds such as bodies hitting the floor and the breaching of doors makes the mood quite dark and one of the characters is being blackmailed into submission. The drums increasing in volume make me think that there will be some sort of conflict in the future. The message left by the woman to the main character came across as quite sad as the woman was saying that she was moving on.
The sound of the main character being forced to the floor was made through traditional means as there are multiple sounds that lead on together.
I think that the drums in the background that lead up to conflict were created using Virtual Instrument as it is a simple sound to create through the computer and it would also take less effort then is would to create it using real drums.
The message left from the woman would have been recorded in a studio for the best sound quality but there would have been a virtual effect over it to make it sound like a voice mail.
Game genre

The game genre would be a shooter game as I hear gunshots and the characters talking about protecting the earth. The characters talk about the end of the world. The use of futuristic sounds would make me thing that the game is set in the future. The use of booming sounds and futuristic effects throughout the clip may signal that there is an alien invasion of some sort which would bring about the end of the world as some characters have said.




I think that the gunshots are created using Virtual Instruments and virtual effects to enhance it to make it seem more realistic.
The sounds of futuristic cars going by would be created using virtual instruments, although they could be existing sounds with virtual effects put over them for added effect.
Narrative

From this small clip and the sounds that I heard I gathered that the main character is being forced to do the bidding of the government. He may be tasked to use his prior experience to help stop the impending doom. The woman who left the message may have been the woman used to make the main character obey the government. Lots of the loud and deep sounds like the drums convey the feeling that something big is happening/about to happen.




I think that the drums and the other loud instruments were created with the use of real instruments but with virtual effects.
All of the talking throughout the scenes were probably done in a studio but when the talking is not face to face and through some other means of talking (radio, voicemail) an effect would be put onto it