När tomrum tar plats : Hur ljuddesign kan tillämpas för att väcka känslor i moderna skräckspel: en användarstudie

Sammanfattning

Since the early 1980's, video games began to implement a genre at that point only present in other forms of media. That genre was horror, and through various iterations and a multitude of games we eventually reached what most would call "modern horror games". But an aspect that has always been present throughout is that of sound. In this research paper we have examined how sound is being implemented in what we refer to as modern horror games, as well as how the target audience for horror reacts to the techniques present in these games. A qualitative user study with five participants was conducted in which they played through segments of three different horror games within the subgenre called "survival horror". The empirical data was collected with the use of interviews and observations. Results from this gathering of data was then analysed and categorized as larger themes to provide a broader understanding of what creates negative emotions within the player and what elements present within these games are viewed as ineffective or obstructing by its audience. This analysis was then viewed through the lens of what improvements could be attempted and in what ways future game developers could implement or adapt to create an enhanced experience of horror within the realm of sound design. The results show that feelings of suspense, discomfort and terror can be constructed within the consumers of horror games with the help of certain implementations of sound, with some of the more prominent techniques being silence, interactive sounds and stingers.