game audio for game jams
Post on 09-May-2022
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SoVGA.com
Game Audio for Game Jams
Leonard Paul - School of Video Game AudioSoVGA.com
Learn game audio online.
SoVGA.com
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Overview
● Jam Preparation● Jammin’● Post Jam● Student projects
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Game Jams
● Mostly online: https://itch.io/jams● Make game in a time limit on a topic● Collaborate with game developers to add audio● Have fun making games together!
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Preparation
● “Mise en place” – have all your ingredients ready to go– Choose from a palette to help focus your creativity
● Install engine (Unity, Unreal..) software, update and test● Get comfortable with version control (Git, SVN..)● Create small sketches to build from● Read rules for the jam● Backup your computer
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Equipment
● Make a checklist● Portable setup – laptop & digital recorder● Closed-back headphones or earphones● Small MIDI keyboard● Pen & paper, can share photo with phone● Charge devices & free HD/stick space
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Communication
● Discord● Slack● Email● Connect with teams before jam
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Practice
● Practice with sources for previous game jams on Global Game Jam● Try sketching music and sound design with your portable setup● Test your workflow● Maybe learn one new (small) software before● Refine what you know● Be comfortable with all your tools
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Free Audio Resources
● Free samples: Sonniss● SDK examples from Wwise and FMOD for coder● Jsfxr (pretty overused)● FreeSound.org● Audio tutorials by Alessandro Famà
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Version Control
● Stores a working copy to share and backup to revert to● Not always used to reduce complexity but increases risk● Git (500 MB free limit)● Subversion (TortoiseSVN..)● Perforce (3 users free)● Unity Collaborate (1 GB)● Keep your files in one folder if possible
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Collaboration Tools
● Google– Sheets– Docs
● Trello
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
HTML5
● Unity● Haxe & Haxeflixel● Godot● Easier to play your game and get votes
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Game Engines
● Unity● Unreal● Godot● GameMaker Studio 2● ...
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Unity
● Use prefabs, avoid touching scene file● Scriptable objects
– Download link to School’s version of scipt (contact us)● Fabric 2.0 (good with HTML5 export)● Can use FMOD Studio (test first)● Not all functions work with HTML5 (reverb)
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Unreal
● Visual scripting with blueprints● Modular Synths● Effects (Granulation, Convolution)● Doesn’t export to HTML5
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Godot
● Free and open-source● Open source game jam example: Sealed Bite● Exports to HTML5
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Audio Middleware
● Possibly more viable for jams over 48 hours● Wwise● FMOD Studio● Fabric 2.0● Understand how to uninstall, plan for the worst
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Wwise
● Free but need a license to go over 200 sound objects– Get game jam license by asking:
https://www.audiokinetic.com/community/game-jams/● Doesn’t export to HTML5
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
FMOD Studio
● Free for indies and use on game jams● Use stable version instead of “Early Access”● Exports to HTML5 but test features you’d like to use
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Health
● Regular:– Sleep– Eat & drink– Shower
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Teams
● Multiple– Create audio for several teams
● Single– Focus just on one team– Might help with quality & communication
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Audio Design Tips
● Keep scope of audio design small, polish if time● Be flexible at start but also ready to cut (many) ideas● Fit in with the team, help with implementation if needed● Create an asset list with the team at the start and update● Define where music will be● Make music loopable and fairly short● Reserve time for exporting & uploading...
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Game Jam Benefits
● Career building● Portfolio● Network● Push you to learn● Refine your process● Practice work under pressure
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Tips
● Don’t sweat the small stuff● Don’t wait on team members● Don’t be too precious about the result, prioritize and cut● Jump in, learn and have fun, no experience necessary● Incomplete is usually better than broken● It’s ok to work offsite (& offline) with notice● Leave team if it’s a negative experience
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
After the Jam
● Polish game after the jam with the team if needed● Make a demo reel of the game for your portfolio● Send out social media posts about your project● Keep in touch with jammers you connected with
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Case Studies
● James Mello – Mech Medic● Doug Walters – Scare’s Repairs● Emily Meo – Call of Flutey
Learn game audio online.
SoVGA.com
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Mech Medic
● James Mello - @spidertears– JamesRMello.com
● 72 hour game jam – Unreal● pupcheco.itch.io/mechmedic
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Scare’s Repairs
● Doug Walters - @goonaudio– GreyGoon-GameAudio.com
● 48hr Global Game Jam● westonbdev.itch.io/scares-repairs
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Call of Flutey
● Emily Meo - @EmilyEMeo - EmilyEMeo.Com● Used Wwise for interactive music● 1st place audio for Austin in Global Game Jam● globalgamejam.org/2020/games/call-flutey-2
School of Video Game Audio SoVGA.com
Demo: FMOD Studio
● Demo adding FMOD to jam game● Unity - source
– github.com/anttihaavikko/fff● Uses an AudioManager● Play online using HTML5 export
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