Creating A Sample Libary Assignment Task 1 : Game Soundtrack Analysis (MLB 2K12)

1. How you think the sound in your chosen example has been produced (production techniques)
I believe the soundtrack for this game was created by recording a live arena audience at a real live Major League Baseball game. The crowd reaction sounds are live recordings from a real game. I think that some of the specific chants that the crowd make may have been recorded in a studio and added into the soundtrack afterwards. Things such as when the player hits the ball may have been a sound effect or a live recording. As well as this being live recorded; I believe the sound of the players running from base to base may have been recorded in a real game situation or in a studio with real game simulation.

2. What post-production techniques have been used to create the soundtrack (using subject specific terminology)
I believe that the soundtrack has used a mixer to combine the live environmental audio recordings and the voice recordings. The effects are very predominant and you can tell quite clearly that there is a huge outside effect (although the player is really outside when shouting) on the players shouting to one another. I also think that the crunching sound of when the players are running on the gravel may have been intensified or the volume turned up slightly to give it a bit more emphasis when a player is running in the game.

3. How the sound design of your chosen examples might enhance the gaming experience for audiences.
This Soundtrack is a soundtrack of a crowd chanting and then added features such as the running sound effects added later. This adds a huge amount of realism to the player’s experience playing the game as well as making them feel involved within what is happening. This mimics how they would feel if they were at a baseball game or just watching a baseball game on TV.
The sounds of the crowd chanting and cheering changes when certain things happen such as a chance in the final seconds occur. This gives the player an adrenaline rush when they get a chance, just as they would in real life, playing the game. Also the crunching sound of the gravel under the players feet when running just adds to the realism factor as it will give the player the effect as though they are in or watching the game in real life rather than playing it. It also gives the game a bit more intensity and aggression as the sound is usually connected with the feeling of aggression or anger. Therefore it also adds the adrenaline rush that the game gives the player.