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.
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.
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.
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.
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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