GDC 2025 Session Viewer
Audio Summit: Audio with Intent: A Creative Framework for Communicating Gameplay Information
Robin Butel (Technical Sound Designer & Audio Programmer, Demute)
Pass Type: All Access Pass, Summits Pass, Audio Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Audio
Format: Lecture
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
This session will break down how popular games have successfully used audio to communicate gameplay-crucial information to add depth, complexity and intuitiveness to their games. The talk will focus on practical, real-world examples, and provide a framework that the audience will be able to apply to their own projects. From these video examples, the speaker will define the different types of informative sounds, as well as the methods that can be used to communicate them. The session will discuss the best use cases for each, along with their pros and cons, helping developers guide player behavior, improve feedback, and deepen engagement. Whether in the early or later stages of development, the audience will leave with a framework and the knowledge required to implement informative audio in their projects, improving player interaction and immersion.
Takeaway
The goal of this talk is to present to the audience a framework and method for communicating gameplay-crucial information to the player, allowing them to implement these techniques in their own projects. Supported by video examples of popular games, the speaker will also offer concrete nomenclature and characterization of the subject at hand.
Intended Audience
This talk is aimed at audio directors, producers, and leads, sound designers, game developers, as well as anyone interested in using sound to enhance gameplay. No prerequisite knowledge is required, though a basic understanding of game design and audio implementation may be beneficial.
