Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/more-on-the-sound-design-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/more-on-the-sound-design-for-guild-wars-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/03/more-on-the-sound-design-for-guild-wars-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Yesterday, the Guild Wars 2 sound team got to have a day in the limelight with a video detailing the process of making the sounds that go into the game. Today, the team is back in the spotlight, showcasing an equally-important but slightly different aspect of the audio game. This time, the video isn't showing off getting the sounds just right, it's showcasing getting the sounds to work correctly in the game world, rather than just playing a footstep effect every few moments.

As demonstrated in the video, the team uses a complex dynamic layering system in which several different sounds can have varying levels of volume, frequency, and focus -- as demonstrated by a windmill, which has ten different sounds playing at intervals to create the illusion of wood and cloth slowly turning. Guild Wars 2 players might not find any tips about the gameplay just past the cut, but they will find a video that further explains how you make just the right kinds of noise in the game.

Continue reading More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2

MassivelyMore on the sound design for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarena-netarenanetaudiobehind-the-scenesdesignguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftsoundsound-designsound-effectsvideoWed, 03 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Going behind the scenes of Guild Wars 2's sound team]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/going-behind-the-scenes-of-guild-wars-2s-sound-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/going-behind-the-scenes-of-guild-wars-2s-sound-team/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/going-behind-the-scenes-of-guild-wars-2s-sound-team/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Listen for a second. Do you hear anything? Jets of flame being spewed by dragons, the sharp slide of metal on metal, the hard report of a gunshot? Of course you don't because you're not part of the Guild Wars 2 sound team, hard at work for yet another day. But then, even if you were, you wouldn't be hearing a dragon spitting flame -- you'd be figuring out how to make a sound that will tell players that this is a dragon spewing flame, which is a bit harder. (And safer.)

This short video documentary chronicles some of the methods that the team uses to draw players into the game world via just the sound, just to make each little echo sound as immersive and natural as possible. It's a look at one of the more ubiquitous aspects of MMOs that most players don't think about, so if you're at all interested in the design going on behind the scenes of Guild Wars 2, jump on past the break.

Continue reading Going behind the scenes of Guild Wars 2's sound team

MassivelyGoing behind the scenes of Guild Wars 2's sound team originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetaudiodesigndevelopmentguild-wars-2gw2ncsoftnewssoundsound-designvideovideosTue, 02 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR lifts the sound curtain in Friday update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/swtor-lifts-the-sound-curtain-in-friday-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/swtor-lifts-the-sound-curtain-in-friday-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/20/swtor-lifts-the-sound-curtain-in-friday-update/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In video games as in film, sound design is usually something a designer hopes goes unnoticed, but if it weren't there, viewers might think part of the game was missing. Star Wars: The Old Republic is obviously no different, but there is an extra challenge that comes with working on a widely recognized intellectual property. "Establishment of style has to be done a bit more carefully in The Old Republic than in other games; after all, there is a long legacy of signature sounds associated with the Star Wars universe that came out of the films, television series, and even previous games," declares Audio Designer Scott Morton in this week's Studio Insider. Iconic sounds such as lightsabers igniting, blasters firing, droids buzzing, and ship taking off have to encapsulate the Star Wars feel.

Those of you who like to dive behind the scenes of your favorite game should check out the rest of the Studio Insider all about combat sound. In the same article, Senior Concept Artist Clint Young answers fan questions about the visual concepts of Star Wars: The Old Republic. TOR is really appealing to the senses in this week's Friday update.

MassivelySWTOR lifts the sound curtain in Friday update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareclint-youngEAElectronic-Artsfoleyfriday-updateLucasArtsScott-mortonsoundsound-designStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStudio-insiderswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 20 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Darkfall video highlights environmental sounds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/new-darkfall-video-highlights-environmental-sounds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/new-darkfall-video-highlights-environmental-sounds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/13/new-darkfall-video-highlights-environmental-sounds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Asking a room full of MMORPG enthusiasts what the word Darkfall brings to mind isn't likely to net you many serene responses. The game and its associated tomfoolery certainly don't trigger tranquil thoughts or conjure idyllic fantasy scenes complete with beautiful deserts, atmospheric forests, and stoic mountain terrain. No, the sandbox title from Aventurine is most famous for its cutthroat FFA full-loot PvP implementation, which makes a new video designed to show off the game's stunning environmental soundscapes all the more curious.

This isn't the first time Aventurine has experimented with environmental sounds, but it is the very latest iteration of how Agon is seen and heard.

The clip runs for over five minutes and features a multitude of characters traversing many of the terrain types found in the huge game world. The trailer also highlights the upcoming tweaks that link Darkfall sounds to specific locations as well as the continuous randomization of environment sounds and 3-D emitter effects. Immerse yourself in the world of Agon after the cut, or head to the Darkfall Epic Blog to learn more.

Continue reading New Darkfall video highlights environmental sounds

MassivelyNew Darkfall video highlights environmental sounds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d-soundsaventurineaventurine-sadarkfallenvironmental-soundsfantasysandboxsoundsound-emitterssoundssoundscapetrailervideowork-in-progressFri, 13 May 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Enter at Your Own Rift: The little things]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-little-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-little-things/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/13/enter-at-your-own-rift-the-little-things/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For me, it's all about the little things in life: the smell of a good cup of coffee, the enthusiastic hug of my two-year-old, an illicit pack of Lemonheads candy, or throwing punny tags into Massively articles. While big things are essential to have and get right, it's the little things I find that give life its unique flavor.

So when I enter MMORPGs, I'm always on the lookout for little things. Oh, sure, PvP and raiding and overarching epic stories are all well and good, but it's from the little things that the soul and flavor of a game emerges. I'm often far more delighted when I stumble upon a funny little Easter egg in a game than if I win that roll for a purple piece of armor.

Today I want to look at 10 little things in RIFT that I've come to appreciate and savor over the past month or so. Maybe these elements don't get all of the glory, and maybe they're even seen as superfluous to some, but without them the game would be far less to me. So while we rush between rifts and struggle with expert dungeons, I'd encourage all of us to take some time to reflect on all of the supporting cast of features that are just as important to the overall effort.

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The little things

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The little things originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>achievementachievementsartifactsdefianteaster-eggend-of-the-worldfeaturedguildiesguildshumorlemonheadsnon-combat-petpublic-groupingpvpraindrops-on-roses-and-whiskers-on-kittensriftrift-planes-of-telarascottysoundsound-editingtelaratriontrion-worldsvanity-petsvideo-recordingvoice-overwaypointsworld-of-warcraftyoutubeWed, 13 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's in your ears while you play?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/the-daily-grind-whats-in-your-ears-while-you-play/#commentsFiled under: , ,

When it's time to sit down and play an MMO, very few of us do so in total silence. Even neglecting the occasional burst of profanity at the game, there's usually a wide selection of game audio to be heard, ranging from environmental noises like rustling leaves to simple and evocative music that stays with you even if you leave the game behind. But for all the care put into it, the in-game music can eventually get boring to many players.

Maybe you still have the game soundtrack turned on, and you occasionally just stop and listen to one of your favorite melodies. Perhaps you've moved on to listening to a favorite playlist on iTunes or Pandora while you play, or you might turn off the sound altogether to focus on the business of voice chat. There's even a chance you've decided to be charmingly meta and listen to another game's soundtrack altogether. What are you listening to while you play your favorite game?
Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's in your ears while you play? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiointernet-radioituneslisteningmusicmusical-tastesopinionradiosoundtdgthe-daily-grindvoice-chatSat, 20 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Creating the sound and music of Jumpgate Evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/creating-the-sound-and-music-of-jumpgate-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/creating-the-sound-and-music-of-jumpgate-evolution/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/12/creating-the-sound-and-music-of-jumpgate-evolution/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been wondering what's happening over at NetDevil with Jumpgate Evolution of late. It's been a bit quiet on the news front, but we've come across a recent dev blog from Jumpgate Evolution Producer Hermann Peterscheck that explains the importance of audio in this sci-fi MMO.

Peterscheck explains NetDevil's approach to audio in a space game and the various steps taken to ensure the game sounds as good as it looks. He writes, "Try imagining Star Wars without John Williams' sound track or James Earl Jones' booming Darth Vader voice. Poor audio on top of great video can really deteriorate production value. The trouble with audio is that it generally comes late in the development cycle and all too often as an afterthought."

Continue reading Creating the sound and music of Jumpgate Evolution

MassivelyCreating the sound and music of Jumpgate Evolution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the development budgets of new MMOs. To stay ahead of the technological curve, a large portion of the budget invariably goes toward the graphics department. Studios produce impressive graphics engines and mountains of art assets in an effort to make their game one of the most visually impressive out there. Amidst all the fuss over graphics and gameplay, audio is often overlooked and underfunded. It's been shown that good music and sound effects can have a significant impact on the perceived quality of a game. This is something that some development studios recognise and support but many continue to neglect this vital part of the gaming experience.

In this article, I examine the importance of good audio in an MMO and explain the underlying psychology involved.

Continue reading The importance of good audio in an MMO

MassivelyThe importance of good audio in an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audioblack-prophecychoireveeve-onlineeverquest-2everquest-iifantasyfeaturedindustryjoystiqfeaturesmoodmusicorchestrapsychologysci-fisoundworld of warcraftworld-of-warcraftWorldOfWarcraftMon, 15 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Starting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/31/starting-out-in-vanadiel-see-no-evil-hear-no-evil-smell-n/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Hola mi amigos! Hoy es la dia de Vana'diel! *clears throat* Ahem, sorry about that. Hello adventurers, and welcome to another edition of Starting out in Vana'diel! Today's topic is actually one that I find quite cool about Final Fantasy XI, especially when you compare it to other MMOs. It's the mechanic that puts the fear of Promathia into every adventurer's step.

Today's column is all about the different monster aggro types -- yes, there are different types. You want to find out more? Come, follow me, and let's find out more!

Continue reading Starting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil?

MassivelyStarting out in Vana'diel: See no evil, hear no evil, smell... no evil? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aggressiveaggrodamagefeaturedffxifinal-fantasy-xiguidehatehealershealsjoystiqfeatureskupomagicscentsightsoundspellssquare-enixstarting-out-in-vanadieltankthreatwhite-mageTue, 31 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Earthrise sound effects designer discusses influences and approach]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/earthrise-sound-effects-designer-discusses-influences-and-approa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/earthrise-sound-effects-designer-discusses-influences-and-approa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/earthrise-sound-effects-designer-discusses-influences-and-approa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Earthrise is the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO being developed in Bulgaria by Masthead Studios. We've been keeping an eye on this title at Massively, but admittedly it hasn't been that difficult so far. Although Masthead Studios is a comparative newcomer to the MMO industry, the company has been doing a good job of raising awareness of Earthrise through the press, while fostering an active community which is eagerly awaiting beta.

Their latest media coverage comes to us through Massimo Villa's interview with Earthrise's Kamen Atanasov, Sound Effects Designer for the title. The interview touches on how Atanasov progressed from being a freelance sound designer to working on the audio backdrop of Earthrise. If you're curious about the development of this title, check out this Q&A with Kamen Atanasov.

[Thanks, Nolvadex.]

MassivelyEarthrise sound effects designer discusses influences and approach originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alterego-onlinealterego-online-networkalteregonlineatanas-atanasovaudiobulgariacommunityearthriseinterviewskamen-atanasovmassimo-villamasthead-studiospost-apocalypticsci-fisofiasoundsound-designsound-designersound-effectsThu, 21 Aug 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Stargate Worlds reaches 200k beta signups, dev chat on Friday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/stargate-worlds-reaches-200k-beta-signups-dev-chat-on-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/stargate-worlds-reaches-200k-beta-signups-dev-chat-on-friday/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/20/stargate-worlds-reaches-200k-beta-signups-dev-chat-on-friday/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Stargate Worlds team announced yesterday that 200,000 people have signed up for the game's beta test. That's not an unimpressive number, although both Age of Conan and Warhammer Online reported a lot more (but at later stages in development). Of course, history has shown that the number of beta applicants doesn't necessarily reflect on a game's post-launch popularity.

In other Stargate Worlds-related news, the game's sound designer (Nick LaMartina) will be participating in a live dev chat that will be open to all on Friday the 22nd at 11:00 AM Pacific time. Head over to the Stargate Worlds website for details and links on reaching the IRC chat room where it will take place.

When we visited Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment just over a month ago, a representative told us that the company was hoping to start the closed beta phase before the end of the summer. We've been a bit skeptical. Time's a-tickin'!

MassivelyStargate Worlds reaches 200k beta signups, dev chat on Friday originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanapplicationsaudiobetachatcheyenne-mountaincheyenne-mountain-entertainmentcmedeveloperfireskynick-lamartinasgwsign-upssignupssoundsound-designerstargatestargate-worldswarhammer-onlineWed, 20 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[NCsoft Audio Director reveals his old-school secrets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ncsoft-audio-director-reveals-his-old-school-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ncsoft-audio-director-reveals-his-old-school-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/14/ncsoft-audio-director-reveals-his-old-school-secrets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

He uses an electric razor on a frying pan for a space ship sound. He uses marbles in his mouth to sound like an alien. No, this isn't a low-budget director in a 1950's monster movie, this is the brilliant work of NCsoft's Audio Director Tracy Bush who uses everyday household items to create the unique sound effects we've heard in some of NCsoft's top games of the last 4 years.

If you've ever played Dungeon Runners, you know that along with the wonderful sense of humor in the game, the sound effects are equally as entertaining. The same goes for Tabula Rasa. The Bane drop ships and the horrifying whispers of "Kill them all!" are all part of this wonderfully immersive experience that is just as important as graphics, gameplay or anything else in the game.

So the next time you're playing a North American NCsoft title, listen closely to the sound effects and see if you can guess which household item was used in its creation.

MassivelyNCsoft Audio Director reveals his old-school secrets originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austindungeon-runnersncsoftncsoft-north-americasoundsound-effectstabula-rasatracy-bushWed, 14 May 2008 13:30:00 EST