The Secret to Immersion in Gaming
The video game industry loves the word “immersion,” and so do gamers. The desire for a game to feel real is tantalizing. What sets gaming apart from traditional storytelling media is participating in the story ourselves, rather than simply observing. We want to feel what it’s like to really be part of the stories we love so much.
Immersion in gaming can mean a couple different things. It’s commonly used to refer to the sensation of feeling as though one truly exists in the game world, like they’re “really there.” It can also mean the emotional connection one has to the story, that they “really feel” what the situation would make them feel if it were really happening to them.
In essence, immersion is tricking a person into thinking that they are really participating in the events they’re interacting with, whether physically or emotionally. A powerful way of doing that is to fully encompass one of their senses.
Recently, this is often sought after through the technology of virtual reality. It can give the player a full view around them and track their head movement, giving a sense of really existing in a certain space. There are glaring limitations, however, such as restricted movement and limited graphical fidelity when trying to create a physically realistic environment, not to mention susceptibility to motion sickness.
Rather, the secret to immersion lies in one of the other senses: sound.
Often the last thing that game developers and even film makers think about, sound is actually the most important part of immersing an audience. It’s far easier to forgive horrible cinematography or game graphics than horrible sounds or annoying music. Visuals can be wild and crazy and unrealistic, but sound design keeps us grounded and helps us believe what we are seeing. Try virtual reality with no sound and see if you can convince yourself you’re really there. But close your eyes with headphones on and see if you can convince yourself you’re not.
Sound effects give us the sense of “really there,” and music helps us “really feel” what it’s like to be part of the story. In the age of silent films, there was always an orchestra playing music. When reading, most people imagine sound along with the visuals in their head. I even know people who have complained about how actors sound in movie adaptations, because they imagine the character’s voice to be so different. Without sound, it can be difficult to tolerate a story medium.
While great strides are being made in immersing other senses, such as VR for visuals and special peripherals for kinesthetics, we should not leave sound design behind. Rather, it is more easily attainable and arguably more effective for immersing an audience.
When seeking to immerse participants in the experience of your design, always plan your sound design carefully, because that is where your success will be determined.
