Sound in videogames has the potential to elevate an experience. Dead Space (which is free on Origin right now), for example, would not have been half as creepy without its bone-shilling audio. It’s something the makers of upcoming alien: isolation certainly believe in, as they detail in a brand new developer diary.
“Sound is a massive component of any horror experience,” creative lead Al Hope says, adding that it’s “definitely the case with Alien.” Continuing, he says “In our game sound is critical, because when you’re hiding in the dark what you can hear might just be the key to your survival.”
In this developer diary, the team talks about how much sound will influence the game. It’ll have a dynamic audio engine that knows when the player is hiding from the sole Xenomorph in the game, ramping up the audio to increase tension.
Earlier this week, we revealed that the game would be coming to scare the pants off of you on October 7 2014 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC. After the mess that was Aliens: Colonial Marines, I’m rather excited to play an alien game that’s actually about survival and scares, and not just shooting absolutely everything that moves.
This is more of a creepy game of cat and mouse, with Ripley’s daughter trying to outrun and outsneak a big nasty alien.anyone else get the feeling that this would be terrifying as an Oculus or Morpheus game?
Last Updated: April 4, 2014
Kromas
April 4, 2014 at 12:10
Beats by Xeno. Now available at your nearest Weyland Yutani Space Station.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:11
XD
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:11
Yup, time to ready the man-diapers
Lourens Jordaan
April 4, 2014 at 12:18
I should have listened to your advice before I watched the freaken video.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:18
Doh!
Jedi JJ
April 4, 2014 at 12:19
Don’t know if I should be happy or upset that I can’t watch the vid.
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:19
Upset, its good. Lets hope they deliver
Dutch Matrix
April 4, 2014 at 12:16
Just how unlucky can the Ripley family be?
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:17
Believe it, or not
Norm the Horrible
April 4, 2014 at 12:21
ZING!
Dutch Matrix
April 4, 2014 at 12:22
Skerp soos ‘n graad een vetkryt!
Tauriq Moosa
April 4, 2014 at 16:08
genius
Jedi JJ
April 4, 2014 at 12:17
I hope he eats and craps out those headphones.
Norm the Horrible
April 4, 2014 at 12:21
Wow, the sound just in that video is incredible!
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:28
I’d love to work in sound engineering, finding weird things to make noise with, recording, editing, changing, messing around…..ahhhhhh
Jedi JJ
April 4, 2014 at 12:29
I worked in a studio for about a year. Then took a finance degree to the knee.
Unavengedavo
April 4, 2014 at 13:53
Well all you need is a balloon…
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
April 4, 2014 at 12:31
*ducks to get closer look at something. Game thinks you’re hiding. Crap pants. Start running. Chasing music ensues*
Alien is on the other side of the ship taking a nap….
Admiral Chief Railjack
April 4, 2014 at 12:38
LOL
Tauriq Moosa
April 4, 2014 at 16:11
Two things I find interesting about horror: I agree with critics like Jim Sterling who rate lighting and sound as being the most essential aspects, above graphics. You don’t need slick graphics to be an amazing horror games. Chunky, clunky, gory, pixel, hard to see can actually aid immersion – not detract. Second, this game looks gorgeous – but that’s because the photorealism here is essential. It’s successfully immersing you because it also plays with nostalgia of the Nostromo. And obviously the sound is top notch.
Point is better graphics doesnt make a better game (cough, Thief 2014, cough); and, as with most things, is just a tool to create a better game. How it’s used matters more than whether it sucks up more of your console’s power/