2. Creating Audio Content for Mobile Games Presented by: Ben Long

3. Personal History: Memphis, TN “Birthplace of Rock and Roll”

4. Personal History:

11. Monster Panic (my first mobile game)

12. Audio meets computers =

13. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games First mobile game in history: Nokia ‘ Snake’ released in 1997

14. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Color graphics and sound were slowly introduced as the power of mobile devices increased

15. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Graphics advanced quickly but audio limitations remained

16. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Graphics advanced quickly but audio limitations remained

17. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Limitations: Small speaker size continues to be a challenge Small speaker size continues to be a challenge Limited to frequencies between 100hz and 4khz Limited to frequencies between 100hz and 4khz Size constraints leave very little room for audio Size constraints leave very little room for audio Early phones only supported basic MIDI technology Early phones only supported basic MIDI technology Audio quality sounds similar to a ringtone (harsh) Audio quality sounds similar to a ringtone (harsh) Phone brands have different audio specifications Phone brands have different audio specifications

18. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Graphics advanced quickly but audio limitations remained

19. Each computer has a different way of singing the same song! Fragmentation

20. A Brief History of Audio in Mobile Games Symbian Game project example: This is a sample of the music style the developer wanted

21. Project Requirements Size limit for entire game – 60K Size limit for entire game – 60K Size limit for music – 4K Size limit for music – 4K Developer required.MID format Developer required.MID format Developer based in Turkey, where bandwidth is limited Developer based in Turkey, where bandwidth is limited General MIDI sound quality is nothing like a live orchestra! General MIDI sound quality is nothing like a live orchestra! Playback had to be tested on 40 different phones Playback had to be tested on 40 different phones Each one sounds different when playing the same MIDI song Each one sounds different when playing the same MIDI song Back to Reality!

22. mobile games composer: I thought I would be making music!

23. Mobile Today’s mobile landscape iPhoneAndroidBlackberry Palm OS Windows Phone 7 Symbian OS Java ME (Sun) BREW (Qualcomm)

24. Mobile The iPhone Revolution Audio quality is greatly increased Total app size limit is 2GB overall Total app size limit is 2GB overall Total app size is 20MB (over cellular network) Total app size is 20MB (over cellular network) Almost every audio file format is supported Almost every audio file format is supported MP3s are finally supported (bringing rich sound) MP3s are finally supported (bringing rich sound) Uncompressed WAV and AIFF files also supported Uncompressed WAV and AIFF files also supported

25. Mobile The iPhone Revolution Challenges with developing audio Speaker size remains a limitation Speaker size remains a limitation Looping MP3 files can be problematic Looping MP3 files can be problematic Audio must be appealing when heard repetitively Audio must be appealing when heard repetitively Headphone use must also be considered Headphone use must also be considered Audio can occupy 50% or more of entire game Audio can occupy 50% or more of entire game

26. Mobile The iPhone Revolution General tips for developing audio Background music/ambience are typically MP3 Background music/ambience are typically MP3 Mono MP3 files (96kbps) save a lot of space Mono MP3 files (96kbps) save a lot of space Use WAV files for User Interface and short sounds Use WAV files for User Interface and short sounds Check volume levels for consistency on iPod Check volume levels for consistency on iPod Create a test build to check for audio bugs Create a test build to check for audio bugs

27. Mobile The iPhone Revolution Payload: Truck Game for iPhone Object sounds Object sounds Background music Background music Soundscape and ambience Soundscape and ambience Quality of overlapping audio Quality of overlapping audio

28. Mobile The iPhone Revolution 8 Planets: Educational game for iPhone Object sounds Object sounds Background music Background music Soundscape and ambience Soundscape and ambience Human voice adds realism to games Human voice adds realism to games

29. Mobile Android Considerations General tips for developing audio OGG format natively supported on Android OS OGG format natively supported on Android OS OGG superior to MP3 in quality, size and looping OGG superior to MP3 in quality, size and looping WAV & MP3 are problematic in Android game dev WAV & MP3 are problematic in Android game dev Test content on growing number of new handsets Test content on growing number of new handsets Galaxy Tablet should be included in QA process Galaxy Tablet should be included in QA process

30. Mobile Sony – MDR 7506 Sony – MDR 7506 The headphone of choice in studios worldwide The headphone of choice in studios worldwide Flat frequency response and very accurate Flat frequency response and very accurate High quality sound and inexpensive High quality sound and inexpensive Quality Headphones are important

31. Mobile The secret of mixing audio for mobile? Open headphones and lay them on the desk! Open headphones and lay them on the desk!

32. Mobile Lode Runner for iPhone 1983  2011 Preserve and restore original sound effects Preserve and restore original sound effects Create new music for the menu and credits screen Create new music for the menu and credits screen Modify audio content for 20MB app limit Modify audio content for 20MB app limit My Tasks:

33. Mobile Lode Runner for iPhone A games main menu is like a lounge or lobby area A games main menu is like a lounge or lobby area Player should be able to relax and prepare Player should be able to relax and prepare Music needs to fit the era (1983) and sound cool Music needs to fit the era (1983) and sound cool Main menu

34. Mobile Lode Runner for iPhone Repair pops and clicks in broken sounds Repair pops and clicks in broken sounds

35. Mobile Lode Runner for iPhone Original game sounds needed volume and EQ changes Original game sounds needed volume and EQ changes Original game had no background music either! Original game had no background music either! Always use the same sample rate for files (44.1khz/16bit) Always use the same sample rate for files (44.1khz/16bit)

36. Mobile Lode Runner for iPhone It sounds too good, can you make it sound worse? It sounds too good, can you make it sound worse? credits screen

37. Mobile Thank You! Thank You! contact me: info@noisebuffet.com contact me: info@noisebuffet.cominfo@noisebuffet.com