Post Magazine

March 2014

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/283421

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 5 of 43

4 Post • March 2014 www.postmagazine.com editor's note Game sound, previs and more! I t's pretty incredible — the detail that goes into the sound of today's video games. I grew up playing Intellivision — the first generation — and the repetitive sounds from many of its games are still burned into my memory. My brothers and I would have day-long Baseball marathons, and I've probably heard the 'Yer Out!" vocalization a couple of billion times — each one exactly like the one before it, and just as frustrating to hear when arguing that the "tie" should have "gone to the runner!" The referee's whistle in Hockey, sending one of us to the penalty box, is just as familiar. It was pretty much just two high-pitched tones that quickly repeated back and forth, but back in the early 1980s, that was OK. More obscure games also left their mark. I can still hum a few bars from the snake-inspired Snafu too. The repetitive sounds got annoying at times. Mostly when I was losing a game, and probably after hours of game play, yet it never made us stop playing. Today's gamers don't have to worry about that, as audio pros working on new releases put an incredible amount of effort into making sure a game's sound never gets to that annoying stage. Weapons no longer have that generic "pew-pew-pew" sound. Instead, in games like Titan- fall (pictured), which graces our cover this month, each weapon is given its own personal- ity and signature. And these sounds can vary based on proximity to the player. There's lots of variation. Jennifer Walden dives into "Audio for Games" this month with her feature on page 26. The focus is specifically on "battle sounds," and how audio pros keep game sound from getting repetitive and fatiguing. We've also got a feature that looks at the "Previs" process (page 14). Previs (and post- vis) can serve much like an insurance policy, letting productions know what hurdles to anticipate, and helping to determine if a shot ultimately will or won't work before serious time and money is invested. In our "Director's Chair" column, Iain Blair catches up with Justin Chadwick, who was tasked with telling the life-long story of the late Nelson Mandela. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom was shot on 35mm in South Africa, and looks at the leader's life and fight against Apartheid during some very violent times in the country's history. And be sure to check out our bonus "Storage Supplement," which looks at a number of facilities that have recently upgraded their storage needs. There's also a look at some new product releases designed specifically for post production. Enjoy! By MARC LOFTUS Senior editor/ director of Web content mloftus@postmagazine.com Post Magazine is published by Post, LLC, a COP communications company. Post does not verify any claims or other information appearing in any of the advertisements contained in the publication, and cannot take any responsibility for any losses or other damages incurred by readers in reliance on such content. Post cannot be held responsible for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited articles, manuscripts, photographs, illustrations or other materials. Subscriptions: Address all subscription correspondence to Post Magazine, 620 West Elk Ave, Glendale, CA 91204. Subscribers may also contact customer service at 818-291-1158, or send an email to csr@postmagazine.com For change of address please include the old and new address information, and if possible, include an address label from a recent issue. Subscriptions are available free to qualified individuals within the United States. Non-qualified 1 year rates: USA $63.00. Canada & Mexico $94.00. All Other Countries $133.00. Airmail Delivery is available for an additional $75.00 annually. Postmaster : Send address changes to Post Magazine, P.O. Box 3551, Northbrook, IL 60065-3551. Please send customer service inquiries to 620 W. Elk Ave., Glen- dale, CA 91204 See uS on E D I T O R I A L MARc LOfTus Senior Editor/Director of Web Content (516) 376-1087 mloftus@postmagazine.com chRIsTInE BunIsh Film& Video IAIn BLAIR Film JEnnIfER WALDEn Audio DAnIEL REsTuccIO West Coast Bureau dansweb451@aol.com BARRY GOch West Coast Blogger/Reporter MIchAEL VIGGIAnO Art Director mviggiano@postmagazine.com A D V E R T I s I n G MARI KOhn Director of Sales (818) 291-1153 cell: (818) 472-1491 mkohn@postmagazine.com GARY RhODEs Eastern & Intl Sales Manager (631) 274-9530 cell (516)410-8638 grhodes@copcomm.com LIsA BLAcK Corporate Sales Executive, Events, Custom and Integrated Print/Publishing Services lblack@copcomm.com (818) 660-5828 suBscRIPTIOns (818) 291-1158 cusTOMER sERVIcE 620 West Elk Ave, Glendale, CA 91204 csr@postmagazine.com (800) 280 6446 DALE EscEn Account Manager 818-291-1122 descen@copprints.com REPRInTs Reprints (781) 255-0625 • (818) 291-1153 LA sALEs OffIcE: 620 West Elk Avenue, Glendale, California 91204 (800) 280-6446 WILLIAM R. RITTWAGE President / CEO

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Post Magazine - March 2014