Sound Designing for Games in China: Enhancing Player Experience through Quality Audio

2. Designing Sound for Games in China Yang Jie Virtuos Games

3. About Yang Jie • Audio Director – Virtuos Games • Over 10 years of experience as a game sound designer • One of the first audio specialists at Ubisoft Shanghai • Apple-certified Audio Trainer • Founder: BSP Sound Studio (now part of Virtuos Games)

4. About Virtuos Games • One of China’s largest independent game studios - offices in Shanghai, Chengdu, Paris and Vancouver • 3D Art, Software Engineering, Codevelopment and Sound Engineering services • Experience with 14 of the • top 20 game developers • Experienced developers from 10 nationalities

5. 1 What is Sound Design?

6. What does a sound designer do? • The sound performance quality for a project. - The bridge between hearing and samples • Creates a systemized sound production plan • Integrates sound with the game and delivers a polished product • Talented sense of acoustic and psy-acoustic audio • Skills with sound production and digitized audio

7. The impact of good sound design • Improves sound quality • by understanding and efficiently utilizing the game sound engine • Improves the creative polish of the game • by ensuring sound diversity and harmony • Improves production efficiency • with systematic production plans and detailed technical requirements • Improves game performance • with smart data management protocols

8. Understanding The Sound Engine • Sound Designer’s main tool • Dictates the technical and logistical needs of the project • Gives sound robust texture • Engine effects give sound their texture • Allows efficient project planning • Smart use of effects means fewer samples will be needed

9. 2 Chinese players don’t care about game sound?

10. Great sound – players know it when they hear it • Customers are always learning • New games are constantly advancing players’ expectations • Who will teach them to appreciate the next level of great sound design? • Different cultures hear differently • Cultural expectations for sound and music are not the same in China as in Western markets

11. What is different – China Online Games • Longer, steady player experiences • Designed to be played all day • Designed for a wide range of demographics • Sounds should be magical and hypnotic

12. Great sound – benefits the whole game • Great sound improves the game experience • A game with great sound may be perceived as more engaging or immersive • Fresh, unique sound differentiates your game • Personality is key in the crowded game market • Makes efficient use of the sound engine • Great sound does not need to be tech-intensive • Sample quality is not the same as in-gamequality

13. Building China’s Game Audio Capabilities 3

14. Sound Design in China Today • Many China developers have no dedicated sound team • Programmers, artists and musicians fill in • Difficult to recruit sound teams in China • China has no formal training • Most sound teams need workflow improvements • Process controls and risk planning

15. Training Solutions • Technical training • Sound Engine training and technical communication • Workflow training • Effective project planning and risk awareness Virtuos’ Three-Level Training

16. Essential steps for improving game sound • Start with a solid plan • The Creative vision: how will sound contribute to the game • Technical understanding of the sound engine

17. Essential steps for improving game sound • Give each sound proper attention • Gameplay purpose • Emotional purpose • Cohesion with the game

18. Essential steps for improving game sound • Use quality sound sources • Find a good sound production outsource partner • Purchase commercial sound libraries • Record and create your own in-house library

19. Takeaways • Sound design is important to all games! • Hire good Sound Designers, train them well, and give them the freedom to create • Know your sound engine • Start every project with a clear creative vision and a detailed technical plan

20. Q&A time

21. Thanks for your time!