Guiding the player in a non-linear environment using sound

Abstract

Through history of videogames to modern day examples, the importance of sound in guiding the player through non-linear environments is apparent. Modern games can have hundreds of hours of gameplay and vast, massive areas. As the player has control of the events and progression of the gameplay, it raises unique challenges only present in videogame development such as player navigation.

In the thesis these challenges were explored through an auditory point of view. The techniques behind them, their implementation and their functionality were studied from various examples and through interviews. The role of audio and its functionality in guiding the player was examined as a part of the game development process.

In the practical project these theories were applied to an example game scene showcasing their functionality and importance in the game world. This also shows what goes into the technical side of implementing these sounds and why that is important for the player experience.