Terms

Question 1

AAA

Answer 1

A big budget, commercial title developed by a large studio that is fully staffed with a dedicated team.

Ex: Netflix, Warner Brothers, Disney.

Question 2

Agile Dev

Answer 2

Refers to incremental software development involving iterative processes, creativity, collaboration and programming. A team of individuals collaborating on an ever-changing design over a period of time.

Question 3

Action Item

Answer 3

Audio-related tasks you are responsible for completing.

Question 4

Ad-Hoc (testing)

Answer 4

A method of audio testing that is less reliant on scripted protocols. Free-form testing, typically involving qualitative assessment.

The tests are conducted informally and randomly without any formal procedure or expected results.

ADHOC TESTING is an informal testing type with an aim to break the system.

Question 5

Alpha

Answer 5

Significant milestone that signals the end of production and into the “Final-ing” stage of development. All features should be represented in-game in some form.

Question 6

Attenuation

Answer 6

Gradual reduction of intensity/strength of a signal. Attenuation loss is a natural consequence of signal transmission over long distances, and this can be stimulated in audio middleware software.

Question 7

Asset

Answer 7

Represents an audio file that can be played back in the game.

Question 8

Audio Listener

Answer 8

A microphone-like device within a game engine. It receives input from audio sources and plays sounds through the computer speakers. Typically the listener is attached to the Main Camera.

Question 9

Beta

Answer 9

Significant milestone during the Final-ing when audio should be focused on resolving all bugs in order to achieve a release candidate & audio lock.

Question 10

Build

Answer 10

A playable version of the game, built from compiled assets and data, playable on a Devkit.

Question 11

Bug (defect)

Answer 11

An issue preventing from appropriate feature playback.

Question 12

Critical path

Answer 12

the highest priority action item or deliverable task.

Question 13

deliverables

Answer 13

required submissions intended for a milestone.

Question 14

drop dead date/time

Answer 14

the absolute latest a deliverable can be submitted

Question 15

diegetic sound

Answer 15

sound occurring “on screen”, within the narrative. In game audio, pertaining to sounds occurring within the game environment (as heard by the PC or Audio Listener)

voices of characters
sounds made by objects in the story
music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( = source music)
Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the game’s world

Question 16

ducking

Answer 16

allows you to alter the amplitude levels of one group based on what is happening in another group. an example might be to reduce background music or ambience while priority dialog is playing.

Question 17

emitter

Answer 17

a 3d game object that sound emanates from diiegetically, heard over an area or distance. also known as “Spot Ambience” in game audio.

Question 18

Envelopment

Answer 18

The act of enveloping through audio; to wrap, cover or surround.

Question 19

Enumerations (Enums)

Answer 19

A data type consisting names for values that are attached in code by the SEs during integration in order to set integer values correctly.

Question 20

Feature Creep

Answer 20

A surprise feature that gets ‘added’ to the plan during production despite not having been planned in pre-pro.

Question 21

Generate

Answer 21

To export of convert something (in our case, audio) into usable data real time.

Question 22

Immersion

Answer 22

Deep mental and emotional involvement, the state where you cease to be aware of your physical self

Question 23

implementation

Answer 23

the act of creating audio framework and logic in middleware software

Question 24

integration

Answer 24

the process of bringing together the component sub-systems (ie: audio, logic, animation, AI, etc.) into one sytem.

Question 25

iteration

Answer 25

the act of repeating a process with the aim of approaching a desired goal, target or result

Question 26

localization (LOC)

Answer 26

adapting audio per shipped territory (ie: dialog)

Question 27

milestone (also Dev-Milestone)

Answer 27

a checkpoint during the game development

Question 28

Optimization

Answer 28

making the most effective use of resources, resulting in better performance, speed, size, and efficiency.

Question 29

Outsourcing

Answer 29

The process or hiring an external vendor to own an aspect of development

Question 30

Parameter

Answer 30

A quantity whose value can be modified for the particular circumstances iin relation to game contexts (ie: parameterized trigger)

Question 31

Pre-Pro

Answer 31

The earliest stage of Game Development, prior to the production phase.

Question 32

Procedural

Answer 32

Audio being created on the fly. It doesn’t exist on the disc, it’s being generated by tools at runtime

Question 33

Prototype

Answer 33

A functional example of features running in software.

Question 34

Pseudo-Coding

Answer 34

Informal, high-level description, projection or investigation of operating functionality.

Question 35

Quality assurance

Answer 35

Game testing

Question 36

Release candidate

Answer 36

a build that resembled the end product to be sent out for subsequent (rigorous) testing

Question 37

Scripted testing

Answer 37

Audio testing focused on specific TFCs. Intended to verify assigned functionality aimed at quantitative assessment.

Question 38

Snapshot

Answer 38

A means to capture the volume settings in a group is referred to as a snapshot. Snapshots can be transitioned between during gameplay to create different mixes or themes.

Question 39

Sprint

Answer 39

An ‘incrementa’ unit of Agile development where a critical path goal is defined and all team members must track toward its completion.

Question 40

Stretch goal

Answer 40

A “nice-to-have” feature to be worked on if time allows.

Question 41

Trigger (sound trigger)

Answer 41

a game action of ‘game call’ resulting in a sound event playing.

Question 42

Variables (GameVars)

Answer 42

Changeable items that software evaluates in real time.

Question 43

Waterfall Dev

Answer 43

A software development model that is a sequential, non-iterative design process (as compared with AGILE DEV).

Question 44

Work-Life Balance

Answer 44

A measurement to prevent ‘burnout’ of employees.