What's that about Blu-ray discs not being needed? According to Develop Magazine, Heavenly Sword has over 10 GB of sound FX, with three and a half hours of music, 4500 different lines of dialogue, and an hour and a half of cut scenes recorded in eleven (!) different languages. This means that without even counting the textures, art, models or anything else, the game couldn't fit on a normal DVD. It also means we're in for a hell of an aural treat when the game comes out next month.
Tom Covin, the audio lead for Ninja Theory, explains why they've put so much time and effort into their music and sound effects, "For me, sound is very 'immediate' to the player. Music has a well-established cultural language; sound is much less clearly delineated – but you can get straight to someone's emotional responses with it – there's little time for the brain to analyse. Sound is key in making this awesome weapon – the Heavenly Sword – come to life so you can sense its brooding power and almost hear it feeding off each kill."
The Develop article delves in deep into the sound theory and technology that was used in the development of Heavenly Sword and is a great read for those interested in some of the behind-the-scene machinations of one of the PS3's most anticipated titles. If only September would come a little quicker ...
Heavenly Sword has 10GB of sound data alone
Posted Aug 14th 2007 8:00PM by Colin Torretta
Filed under: News
Tags: blu-ray, heavenlysword
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-14-2007 @ 8:12PM
GL said...
Well, xbox360 could always just compress it and reuse audio tracks for that "real next gen experience."
LOL!
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:14PM
Magma said...
Yep @ 1.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:22PM
miglaugh said...
Haha... thats the first time I've seen that pic... I guess they know who their audience is. It's a little hard to look anywhere but the middle for some reason... can't quite nail down why. :P
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:26PM
GL said...
miglaugh,
Nariko must work out?
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:33PM
SkeetSkiLee said...
@3 miglaugh
I know! i cant stop looking at her cannon... hahha so freak'n huge =]
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:38PM
John said...
I'm very impressed so far with what these people are doing, they're obviously pouring a ton of quality creativity into this piece. I am curious how sound will be used other than music-- from what Covin said, I'm imagining, rather than JUST sounds of battle and sword slashes and all there is some ambient background tone, as the sword gains power, or something, something curved sounding, like a whale sound, but lower, more complex. Something like the monstrous sound they're using in the previews for that movie that doesn't say it's name but it has this humongous warped woven sound that is gritty and tonal, a very strange assemblage of timbres bringing to mind something powerful and hardly contained, if at all.
While I like the pic (nice butt) her stance is correct for showing her butt and the backs of her legs, not for holding a weapon, or just finishing using a weapon.
If Nariko is going to pose like that, it should be a pose, intended in the same vein as those of rock n roll stars. If she's just gotten through using a massive gun, it's more likely her feet would be spread and her weight distributed differently.
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8-14-2007 @ 8:48PM
GL said...
Magma,
Did you miss my sarcasm? Maybe I should be more upfront next time... :)
I just trying to beat all xbot comments to the punch. Here's another...
DVD9 IZ TEH FUTUR3! :P
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:49PM
clavian said...
That picture is awesome.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 8:50PM
Magma said...
Did you miss what I actually meant? ;p
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 9:09PM
naruto007 said...
omg what a nice a$$
sorry couldnt help it have to said it XD
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 9:10PM
GL said...
KsE 79,
Are you new to this site? You sound like it. Any controversial PS3 story gets infested by xbots!
Live and learn...
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 9:18PM
Ruben said...
You can still play it on 360, 3 dvds #1- Part one of the game #2 Part 2 of the game #3 All the sounds and music that weren't on the other parts
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 10:20PM
mccomber said...
It's not that BluRay is really needed yet; it's just that it's really, really nice to have. There's a bit from Epic saying the same thing in relation to UT3.
Now, I'm pretty sure needed will arrive sometime in mid 2008... then we'll see what BluRay truly offers gaming.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 10:38PM
Matt B said...
This and Lair may get me to buy 7.1 Surround. You never hear of gamers talking about sound. I mean yeah, get the TV first. But sound is the other level of immersion. I may have to invest soon.
*rubbing chin evilly*
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 11:07PM
GL said...
@14
I agree mccomber. "Needed" is subjective. Especially early on in the PS3's lifecycle. But it becomes more valuable the longer the PS3 is on the market.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 11:20PM
mccomber said...
Agreed Matt B, sound seems to be overlooked by gamers too much. I miss my 7.1 setup. I think that was something I noticed not just about gaming this generation, but also about several BluRay movies; it just plain sounds much better, so much fuller.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 11:33PM
Scott Krueger said...
KsE 79
You are Full of it.
The 360 Drones Flood this Site because they have some insane need to discredit any console that does not have a 25%-30% Failure Rate.
If your PS3 is so Useless... Can I have it?
All joking aside, I also Have a 360 and I am the Opposite. I don't Buy for my 360 anymore because I am not going to let Microsoft Shaft me Next Gen with their Poor Excuse of Backwards Compatibility. I cannot afford to Throw away another Library of games and cannot keep 2 generation of consoles on my entertainment center.
Reply
8-14-2007 @ 11:59PM
GL said...
Hey e-girl. Did you even read the article. Uncompress audio wasn't even mentioned in the article. Specialized and unique (proximity based) audio was mentioned. Uncompressed audio is just one factor.
As far as 2009. Remind me what disc format the 360 will be using in 2009? Hmmm?
PWND!
Reply
8-15-2007 @ 12:20AM
clavian said...
I don't care what gaming machine you own, denying that games will eventually (some have already started) require more space than a DVD is akin to arguing the world is flat. Since when is DVD going to be sufficient forever? People's ignorance on this matter is astonishing.
Reply
8-15-2007 @ 12:31AM
mccomber said...
Huh. I love how to apparently different people both used the exact same "5.5 waiting to happen" phrase.
Either you xbox fans really do think alike, or one person's desire to troll this site is extra pathetic.
Reply