There are many elements which are associated with the process of game design. Amongst them is music, which is a factor that most students may not pay much attention to. After all, it has become such a commonplace element in the development process that, sometimes, we often forget just how much work goes into this level of composition. For this reason, I believe it's vital to look into the importance of music, as it relates to game design.
If you want to talk about how music plays into the game design, you have to look at how it gains someone's attention. For example, if a soundtrack is composed for a lengthy roleplaying game, chances are that it'll have a grand feeling, as if a greater destiny awaits. However, it's just as easy to assume that a game in the horror genre will possess an air of tension. Simply put, music is tailored to fit any scenario and it's better because of this factor.
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.
One of the most effective video game composers, in my view, is a man by the name of Koji Kondo. For those who do not know, he was the composer behind a number of video games, amongst the most popular being the "Legend of Zelda" series. In fact, he purposely created music so that he could listen to it, giving himself an hour or so before he decided whether or not the music annoyed him. It was a strong strategy which ultimately resulted in equally strong soundtracks for games he helped with.
To put it simply, music is always going to have a place in game design. It's just a matter of how well it's composed, which is what the aforementioned talking points have been able to cover. Without music, it's easy to see that most video games will fall flat, since audio has the potential to create some of the most engaging atmospheres imaginable. Without this element, it's easy to see why the efforts of those in game design may not be as strong.
If you want to talk about how music plays into the game design, you have to look at how it gains someone's attention. For example, if a soundtrack is composed for a lengthy roleplaying game, chances are that it'll have a grand feeling, as if a greater destiny awaits. However, it's just as easy to assume that a game in the horror genre will possess an air of tension. Simply put, music is tailored to fit any scenario and it's better because of this factor.
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.
One of the most effective video game composers, in my view, is a man by the name of Koji Kondo. For those who do not know, he was the composer behind a number of video games, amongst the most popular being the "Legend of Zelda" series. In fact, he purposely created music so that he could listen to it, giving himself an hour or so before he decided whether or not the music annoyed him. It was a strong strategy which ultimately resulted in equally strong soundtracks for games he helped with.
To put it simply, music is always going to have a place in game design. It's just a matter of how well it's composed, which is what the aforementioned talking points have been able to cover. Without music, it's easy to see that most video games will fall flat, since audio has the potential to create some of the most engaging atmospheres imaginable. Without this element, it's easy to see why the efforts of those in game design may not be as strong.
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