Having established my visual direction, it seemed like an obvious step to consider how the audio could enhance the overall experience. To ensure that the player’s actions in the restoration part of the game are soothing and fulfilling, I concluded that the sound design should also remain minimalist.
Museum Atmosphere
Regarding the museum itself, I would like to use ambient sound to make the space feel more believable and immersive. It can include soft footsteps, ambient room sounds, and some distant environmental sounds. Apart from that, I would like to use silence in the museum space. I believe that using moments of silence will make the environment more tranquil while also enhancing the collection’s mystery.
Restoration Sounds
During the restoration process, there will be simple audio feedback on players’ actions. Soft sounds associated with touching, cleaning and discovering the artwork will provide the players with feedback and make the process more engaging. I want to use these sounds to make the player’s action feel more natural without exaggerating the restoration process.
Mystery Music
During exploration and restoration, minimalist music will play in the background to maintain a calm atmosphere. With the discovery of unusual links between the paintings, the music and ambience will become more mysterious. It will make the players understand that something is going on, but it will not be revealed to them until the end of the experience.
Audio Progression
My current audio direction matches the progression of the experience:
Calm Museum → Restoration → Discovery → Growing Mystery
This will allow me to enhance the sound while maintaining the relaxing atmosphere through the experience.
Establishing the audio direction has allowed me to think about how sound design can enhance the experience without being its core component. The paintings and restoration will always be the main parts of the experience, and the sound will enhance the atmosphere, satisfaction, and sense of mystery.
This segment contains an audio review^