music, fx and legal considerations

Summer Bates                                                                                                                                Nathan Bolton

Music, FX and Legal Considerations

Understanding the use of Sound and Music in Games.

Recognise the sources of Music & FX available and legal considerations needed whilst obtaining, creating or using sound.

Sources of music/FX sounds

YouTube (Cover/Edit) – buy the rights to use a song/sound, ask permission

Instruments

Household objects – Produce your own

Voice

Asset Store – Royalty free music/sounds

Purpose of Game Music

Tftb Episode 4 – Intro sequence: Music/Song called ‘To the Top’ by Twin Shadow. This music creates a positive atmosphere: Upbeat music. It also advances the plot as it implies that the characters are ‘making their way to the top’.  This music is played over a cut scene where the main characters are heading into space in a ship. The music puts you in a good mood, making you ready to play an action and comedy packed game. Drums – lightly played. Guitar. Quite slow-paced. Mixture of high pitch and low pitch.

Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNaPCIxCmWM

The ending sequence of Tftb Episode 4 has dark music. It makes the atmosphere all eerie and negative, it also represents danger. The music also implies that something bad is going to happen.

The credit sequence plays the same song as the Intro sequence, this shows you that there is still hope for the characters. It also shows that positive will overcome negative in the end in Episode 5.

Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5O3UxUaLzo

Five Nights at Freddy’s – Intro sequence: There is low music and the occasional sound of static. The music creates tension, you know that something bad is going to happen just by listening to it.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLI9T0hICJY

Outlast – In the intro sequence, the music is very sinister and gives you the feeling of suspense throughout. The general mood the music gives you is fear, fear of what is to happen next. Some music throughout the entire game, whenever the music gets more intense, it notifies you to run, giving it more action.
Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEjn63QGL-s

The closing music features very slow and calm violin music, letting you know that the game is near its end. Then the credits come on, the music in the credits lets you know that there is still more to fear. There is still more to come in the future. The music is still quite fast and eerie.

Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKNyhCIOa6M

Legal considerations for using music and FX in games include getting permission to use other people’s creations as to not get sued for copyright. Getting permission means that you are allowed to use what someone else has produced. You can buy the rights to using someone else’s work, and there would usually be a contract involved. To try and not get any copyright infringement, you could try and create your own music and sounds. Ofcom is a communications regulator in the UK, they make sure that TV, radio sectors, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services and airwaves over which wireless devices operate are within their Code of Conduct, is it is not within their Code of Conduct, they will take your creation off sale.