Graphics vs Sound Quality

[Iggy Wolf]

Does anyone else feel like new games as of late put too much emphasis on graphics and not enough emphasis on sound design/quality? I remember playing the COD 4 Remaster, and while the graphics improvement was certainly noticeable, the bigger thing was the sound quality and design. Each individual footstep could be heard clearly, and the weapons fire, reload, and explosions were all fuller and richer.

Even the animations of switching weapons and reloading had fuller sound to them. It makes me realize that sound quality is an underused and underappreciated aspect of game development. Perhaps gamers should be demanding more attention to sound as much as they demand prettier graphics. It's really contrasting and feels "uncanny" when a game looks really good but it's sound quality is ♥♥♥♥. That usually also goes along with the animation quality for faces and lip sync.

[Snapjak]

The thing is, everyone can turn up graphical settings while only a very small number have the audio systems that can take advantage of high quality sound.

Most gamers use cheap crap headsets or $10 speakers and those are junk for audio "but it works good".

Oh, or built-in speakers... ugh talk about horrid.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

The thing is, everyone can turn up graphical settings while only a very small number have the audio systems that can take advantage of high quality sound.

Most gamers use cheap crap headsets or $10 speakers and those are junk for audio "but it works good".

Oh, or built-in speakers... ugh talk about horrid.

Yeah, but the equipment people use isn't really the problem. I mean, sure, having a dedicated audio card and better quality headphones help, but ultimately, the actual sound design in the game can still affect how it's heard, regardless of the equipment people use. If guns sound like peashooters and foot steps are heavily muffled, they'll be so even with better audio systems. I use a pair of studio heaphones and my computer's built in Realtek HD Audio.

I don't think it necessarily lets me hear the music and sound design at their best quality, but said best quality is only as good as the game's own sound design. Unlike graphics, I doubt audio quality demands better equipment just to run the game though. Better discrete GPUs are only needed for higher graphics settings. Sound quality can certainly demand better CPUs though, but it's a given most people who want the best graphics and sound would be keeping their rigs up to date in every aspect anyway.

[Snapjak]

Oh sure I'd absolutely love it if the quality was higher across the board but when so many users have substandard junk... why invest money when everyone only seems to care about flashies and splosions.

[🍋 Lemonfed 🍋]

personally the thing I want to see is having more games use Binaural sounds , having proper 3D sounds in a game really add up to the immersion when using headphones and you can tell when something is coming from behind too.

the tech work with every headset for as long they produce a good quality sound.

[Iggy Wolf]

It's funny, cause higher graphics are obviously pushed, whether people have the rigs to accommodate them, or are possibly gaming on consoles, making it irrelevant. And yet, sound design isn't, even though I'm sure some people have set up better audio equipment and sound systems to take advantage of better sound design. Why should those people be ignored? We don't ignore the people rocking i9 9900Ks and 2080Tis who want to game at 4K at 120 FPS, so why should people with better sound rigs be ignored? In fact, some games now actually do offer better sound options (Dolby Atmos being the most popular lately).

But like I said, sound quality in general can be improved, even if one isn't rocking a Dolby Atmos system. After all, the newest gamest at lowest or medium quality still look better than old games at high quality. Even movies now focus on the sound as much as the CGI and cinematics. I dare say older games actually had more effort put into sound design than newer ones. Play any of the old CODs and/or Medal of Honor (WWII ones) and you'll hear the difference.

[🍋 Lemonfed 🍋]

Originally posted by Iggy Wolf:

It's funny, cause higher graphics are obviously pushed, whether people have the rigs to accommodate them, or are possibly gaming on consoles, making it irrelevant. And yet, sound design isn't, even though I'm sure some people have set up better audio equipment and sound systems to take advantage of better sound design. Why should those people be ignored? We don't ignore the people rocking i9 9900Ks and 2080Tis who want to game at 4K at 120 FPS, so why should people with better sound rigs be ignored? In fact, some games now actually do offer better sound options (Dolby Atmos being the most popular lately).

But like I said, sound quality in general can be improved, even if one isn't rocking a Dolby Atmos system. After all, the newest gamest at lowest or medium quality still look better than old games at high quality. Even movies now focus on the sound as much as the CGI and cinematics. I dare say older games actually had more effort put into sound design than newer ones. Play any of the old CODs and/or Medal of Honor (WWII ones) and you'll hear the difference.

Overwatch has Dolby Atmos integrated and it doesn't add up too much in term of cpu usages.

the hardware might help making the effects better but at it's base 3D sound can be done with proper recording and coding.

[Iggy Wolf]

Originally posted by Lemonfed:

Overwatch has Dolby Atmos integrated and it doesn't add up too much in term of cpu usages.

the hardware might help making the effects better but at it's base 3D sound can be done with proper recording and coding.

That just proves my point even further. If such improvements in sound design barely require better PC hardware just to take advantage (apart from better sound equipment that might end up making the sound come out better), then there's no excuse why it's ignored, other than lack of investment by publishers/devs and that it would either require more money or they think most gamers wouldn't notice the difference. It IS noticeable though. It's just not talked about as much.

[Paratech2008]

I can't tell the difference between 128 bps mp3s and 320 bps mp3s. I am also happy with 1080p.

But I'm poor...and I'm just happy with what I have.

[Zekiran]

I use headphones exclusively and have for many MANY years. I absolutely agree OP, sometimes... sound design is just *lacking*.

to the point when where I'm in a game that has GOOD sound design and quality, I markedly like it more than I might otherwise. "Like wow I can hear the right echoing of my feet on the metal here" or "crap I know there's a guy around the corner because his weight just shifted..."

Throwing in sounds for the sake of it is sad, making a soundscape worth listening to is, imo, golden.

[🍋 Lemonfed 🍋]

Originally posted by Paratech2008:

I can't tell the difference between 128 bps mp3s and 320 bps mp3s. I am also happy with 1080p.

But I'm poor...and I'm just happy with what I have.

It's depend on the song but often at 128 bps things like drums tend to sound flat compared to a higher bit rates , it's something I can notice even when I listen to music with cheap headphones.

[bren]

I find every game is not able to display sound right there are always issues

[☆ƧQυiяяєL♫]

Originally posted by Zekiran:

"crap I know there's a guy around the corner because his weight just shifted..."

Me: (Crouching down with my ready quad-laser X-blasto rifle) "How do you know that?"

Zekiran: "Because I heard the squishyness sound of his stomach contents move to the side.
Shhh, listen closely, you might hear his 'silent but deadly ninja fart' before you even smell it.
A totally ultra sneaky guy, he is."

[Zekiran]

LOL thank GOD we don't have smell-o-vision because NOPE.
NOOOOOPE.

[☆ƧQυiяяєL♫]

:D

[GuRu Asaki]

I favor Graphix more then FPS & Hz...
Just as long as my PC can run them Stable enough to support the Graphix...

Sound was never my strong suit, but Speakers have not been Updated in meerly a Life Time now, only the Drivers, & Software for them have...

Its a little crazy that we are running Computers with 4K Visuals, 8 Core CPU's, M.2 Drives, & such, & yet cant even get at least some form of better Sound Quality from beyond the 1990's from our Speakers, oO

Its a little Embarasing, oO