What is the key progressive change in these objects?

Audio Limitations

Understand the key audio limitations of game platforms

Learning Objectives

“The term ‘platform’ refers to the specific combination of electronic components or computer hardware which, in conjunction

with software, allows a video game to operate.”

Game PlatformsVideo game platforms fall under several broad categories, as follows.

PC – Windows, Mac, Linux Home Console – Xbox One, PS4, Wii U Handheld Console – PS Vita, 3DS Mobile – Android, iOS, Blackberry

Audio quality (among other things) can be limited by the amount of storage available for the game.

Xbox 360 games are stored on DVDs – these have a memory capacity of 4.7GB which must store the entire game.

PS3 games are stored on Blu-Ray discs, which have a memory capacity of 25 or 50GB, allowing for much higher quality assets to be stored.

PC games are usually installed directly to a hard drive, which commonly range up to 2TB.

LimitationsStorage

Audio quality is seriously limited by the output device.

Fallout 3 is a game capable of outputting 7.1 surround sound, but this will obviously only be available for 7.1 setups.

5.1 setups (or even stereo) will have drastically reduced audio quality, through no fault of the game’s developers.

LimitationsOutput

Limitations

An SPU is the device responsible for converting a digital audio file to an analogue signal.

Some SPUs are integrated (consoles, phones etc) PCs have a range of SPUs available to them Low end SPUs are capable of stereo output and

usually some form of input Higher end SPUs are often capable of 5.1 or even 7.1

surround sound, along with input.

LimitationsSound Processing Unit (SPU)

These include, but are not limited to: Storage capacity Sound output device and available hardware SPU / sound card RAM Sample rate

SummaryAudio quality is limited by a range of issues, based on the game platform.

Pass Merit Distinction

describe methods and principles of sound design and production using

some subject terminology

appropriately

explain methods and

principles of sound design and

production with reference to

detailed illustrative examples and with generally correct

use of subject terminology

comprehensively explain methods and principles of sound design and

productionwith elucidated examples and

consistently using subject terminology

correctly

Grading CriteriaUnit 73: Sound for Computer GamesP2 | M2 | D2