Posts Tagged ‘Games’

Using Sound Fx in Podcasts and Video Games

There’s a trend towards more professional podcasting and video games by using impactful sound FX and implementing professional sound design in podcasts and video games. We would suggest that there are in essence are three main categories of sound FX people looking for in producing podcasts: cartoon sound FX, explosion sound FX and movie sound FX.

Cartoon sound FX can be a popular choice because of their instant recognition. Cartoon sound FX instantly triggers memories from shows and associate their podcast with a professional show. Secondly, explosion sound FX is used to maximize impact on the listener in a podcast. Sound FX in this category normally is items such as auto crashes, explosions, building crashes, earthquakes, house explosions.  The point being that they surprise the listener and get the listener’s attention. An example of explosion effects is the Impact Effects 2 CD by Sound Ideas who have created some of the largest variety of explosion sound FX.

Thirdly, movie sounds FX are generally used by people who are looking to use sound FX for Foley. Your wondering what is Foley? Foley is process of adding background sound FX to a story line, film production, or this case, podcast. Movie sound FX can contain almost anything but are often taken from digital libraries from previous sound designers who have gone through the painstaking process of recording individual sound effects for their films. Some film producers, example being in Bollywood, might rely almost solely on digital libraries of sound FX for their productions.

Today, at the same time, sound FX are taking a new turn in technology with video game producers. Sound FX is being in video games using something called positional audio. Positional audio utilizes complex calculations to determine how loud or quiet a sound effect should be in a video game depending on the distance of the player from the originating sound. For example, a first person shooter game would hear a gunshot much quieter if it was across the street then if the gun was shot right next to him or her. This is making sound FX design much more dynamic then has been historically. With video game productions become more main stream than many movies, sound design for video games has become just as important as in feature films.

If you don’t have actually sound FX how can you create them? Can you create them yourself? Many sounds FX are replicated with everyday items you can find in your house. For example, a heartbeat effect might be replicated by a plastic trash can lid! The popping out of the plastic lid creates a controllable “pumping” sound that might be used. Or, in order to create a sound effect of something dramatically freezing, one can record brushing the bristles of a wire brush brushing firmly against something metal, like a steel drum. As the brushes come closer it gives you the effect of rippling freezing ice. Recording a slithery snake effect might be when you take a wet sponge and drag it across a rubber surface. Creating sound FX can take some creativity!  In essence, adding sound FX to your podcasts can be a great help for a professional effect on the listener, sometimes you just need to get a bit creative!

Video Games Suppliers or Video Games Distributors For Business?

Video games suppliers were already doing business in the internet without video games distributors during the early years of the video game business in the internet. During those early years there were only two players in the video games business: the video games suppliers and the video games retailers. The video games retailers were only those who had website stores and sold video games to online clients supplied to them by suppliers.

Originally, suppliers of these video games were usually the marketing department of the company that made the video games. As the competition for the production of new video games and its marketing heated, affiliated companies involved in the manufacture of video games began to realize that they can save more if they just concentrate in video games production and let other middlemen do the marketing for them. A perfect example of leverage and delegation for sure!

This concept gave birth to the wholesale distributorship of video games. Soon, wholesale video games distributors were already the ones supplying the video games need of both the online and offline retail outlets.

With this set up, wholesale distributors will purchase from the video games suppliers or maker of the video games the finished products and will be the ones to distribute them to their respective retailer outlets at wholesale prices. Depending on their arrangement with suppliers, the cost of marketing tools like stickers, leaflets, posters and even TV and print media ads will either be shouldered by supplier or wholesale distributor.

Some knockout differences between the two and things you should know about how they conduct their business most of the time. In Terms of Ownership: Suppliers are usually the sales department of a firm engaged in the production or bulk distribution for some companies for video games.

Originally, they were supposed to be tasked the marketing and distribution of their products, but to save on cost, they are now mainly the servicing department for privately owned wholesale distributors who would purchase their products in bulk orders and distribute them to online and offline retailers at wholesale prices. Thus, suppliers are owned by the manufacturer of goods while distributors are privately owned firms that buy goods in bulk from the supplier.

In Terms of Function: In most cases, video games distributors have exclusive contracts with suppliers that would make distributors the only firm to market the video game products of their company. As such, suppliers will have only to sell direct to the wholesale distributors.

On the other hand, wholesale distributors will be the one who will function to market the products they bought from the suppliers. Their distribution of the video game products will include both online and offline retail.

In terms of effort, it is the wholesaler distributor who is tasked with the burden in making sure that the video games will be popular with players. But in terms of profit, he also has the most to gain because of the volume of transaction that he handles among the video game retailers that he supplies.

In a sense, video game distributors have the freedom to be retailers as an additional option to maximize profitability while video game suppliers would be more than happy seeing their products well marketed by video game distributors. So what is better for you may be the next question you may ask perhaps?

Best Xbox 360 Video Games

Video gaming has changed into one of the all-time biggest forms of recreation for folk of every age. Kids play Nintendo games, and adults do, too. The XBox 360 is one of the favourite games systems for folks who like to have a big range of games available to them, and who like to play live with others all around the world. For christmas 2009, there are a grouping of XBox 360 video games that people are waiting anxiously for.

For youngsters, a favorite XBox 360 video game is Cars, which is aptly named and modeled after the hit film of the same name. This story-based journey lets youngsters play through key movie moments, and have some fun in over thirty different races and games. There are over ten characters that kids can play and multi-player mode makes automobiles even more fun!

Kids and adults will adore playing DJ Hero for XBox 360. Have a battle of the DJs in your own home or online with turntables and a Guitar Hero controller. You get a turntable and mixer controller with your DJ Hero game – these let you scratch and mix to a variety of music content – you can choose the genre that suits you most perfectly. Multi-player modes include DJ vs. DJ, DJ and guitar, or DJ and DJ.

Call of Duty : Modern Warfare is high on the inventories of XBox 360 gamers everywhere. This game for mature players brings warfare to the present day with updated automobiles and weaponry, and new locations. Several multi-player modes add to the excitement where method and talent are utterly vital for survival.

DragonAge : Origins is a new and high in demand single-player role playing fantasy game letting players travel the lands of Ferelden to decide the fate of countries and ultimately the player him or herself. Players have plenty of character customization options including appearance, abilities, race, class, and appliances.

For XBox players that like dealing with the challenge of zombies, Left4Dead two is the most recent XBox 360 video game that may be a must-have. The player’s performance decides the level of customization for enemies, effects and even music. Levels, weather and lighting can even be customised to add to the excitement. Require some cool zombie fighting weapons? Try the new melee weapons – chainsaw, baseball bat, frying pan and axe. These let you get close and private with the undead that are on your trail.

If you have an XBox 360 gamer on your xmas gift list, try any of these great games – each offering thrills, fun and maybe even the occasional chill! Check out Amazon for the best prices and reviews.

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