Difference between revisions of "Death"

Revision as of 12:17, 13 October 2011

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Synopsis

Relationships

Context:
Failure , Emotional Script , Awareness .
Peers:
Imminent Death , Ouch! .
May use:
Grunts , Foley , Sound Effects , Dialogue .

Description

In games where the idea of "live(s)" is part of the gameplay, the condition of the PC's Death represents an extreme condition of Failure, calling for an appropriate level of Awareness.

Moreover, the ("real-life") concept of death holds inherent associations to emotions that may be explored in games, namely with the contribution of sound design, both to enrich the (Emotional Script) and to emphasize the pertinence of avoiding such condition.

In some games the PC's Death is an acoustically complex episode, involving for instance PC's Grunts (Ouch!), NPC's Dialogue (of sympathy or despise), Foley from the action conducing to the death, and some additional Sound Effects.

For the design of PC's Death it is crucial to assess the expected recurrence of dying, according to the gameplay and difficulty level. For instance, Variety may be required to avoid compromising the emotional intention upon repetition.

Conversely, NPC's Death, being a frequent and usually intended event (that is, emotionally positive), usually consists of simpler stimuli serving essentially as a death certificate (Awareness). In some games the possible emotional distress related to the idea of death is completely absent and the "termination" of opponents is purely characterized as an Achievement.

Examples

InFamous: Death coming as the conclusion of a not reversed condition of Imminent Death.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Death as a deeply emotional episode, including flashbacks and despair comments from friendly NPC, also supported by powerful visuals.

Uncharted: The Dialogue from friendly NPC plays a strong emotional role in the perception of Death.

Mirror's Edge: The Foley sounds of the body crashing in the ground effectively convey an uncanny sense of embodiment.

Half-Life 2:

Pac Man: Regardless the non-realistic scenario and the frequency of the event, this sound keeps being emotionally effective.

Papa Sangre: The tension maintained during the Gameplay and the embodied violence of the attack make Death an emotionally intense experience.

Patapon:

Ico: A rare characterization of Death. The fulminant Sound Effect exposes a baffling sense of impotence and irreversibility once the condition is met. The PC doesn't even have the chance to participate in the composition.