PROD229-20SU2 (C) Summer Nov 2020 start

Special Topic: Introduction to Game Audio

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 9 November 2020
End Date: Sunday, 13 December 2020
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Friday, 13 November 2020
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 27 November 2020

Description

This introduces the student to foundational skills in the design of music and sound effects for interactive video games. Those interested in any aspect of game development will benefit from exposure to historical and current perspectives towards game audio, and will gain knowledge of a variety of approaches to audio creation, editing and integration into video games. Specific practical techniques for working with music and sound effects will be covered. No prior experience in music or sound design is required.

Learn foundation skills in sound design and music for games. The course will survey current industry practices, and students will gain knowledge of a variety of approaches to audio creation, editing and integration into video games. No prior experience in music, sound, or game design is required.

Learning Outcomes

Be able to source and edit appropriate sounds and musical content

Be able to demonstrate proficiency in industry standard interactive audio tools (eg Unity, FMOD, WWise)

Develop a perspective on socially responsible game development informed by Tikanga Māori, and how this influences approaches to music and audio design

Understand how audio design fits in to the game development cycle

Understand the impact of audio design on the user experience

Prerequisites

Subject to the approval of the Head of School.

Course Coordinator

Adrian Clark

Course Administrator

Alison Lowery

Lecturers

Reuben de Lautour and Hamish Oliver

Additional Course Outline Information

Assessment and grading system

Unless otherwise noted, assessments are due by 5 pm on the specified date. Assessment material should be uploaded via LEARN.

In the event of online submission via LEARN not working, or being unsuitable for the materials being submitted, please contact the Course Coordinator for advice and alternative submission methods.
Assessment #1: Triggering Sounds
Load sound effects into the Unity game development environment and assign them to actions in a sample game.
Weighting: 20%
Due: Friday November 27th (end of week 2)

Assessment #2: Sound capture and editing
Record real world sounds with a field recorder, edit and prepare for game integration.
Weighting: 20%
Due: Friday December 4th (end of week 3)

Assessment #3 Modulating audio parameters
Simulate distance effects and other real-world acoustic phenomena using Wwise.
Weighting: 30%
Due: Friday December 11th (end of week 4)

Assessment #4 Integration of audio in a game environment  
Combine ambience, effects, and music into a complex sound scene in Unity and Wwise.
Weighting: 30%
Due: Friday December 18th (end of week 5)

Restrictions

MUSA229

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $867.00

International fee $4,250.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Product Design .

All PROD229 Occurrences

  • PROD229-20SU2 (C) Summer Nov 2020 start