Skip to main content

Sniper rifles and explosive powder: The secret sauce behind one Bungie soundtrack

Official Bungie ViDoc – The Sounds of Destiny
Destiny had some major issues when it launched back in 2014. Its story was almost nonexistent. The missions were repetitive. The loot system was completely broken. But the game’s sound design was as good as anything Bungie had done before, and the developer has released a new video diary to show exactly how Destiny‘s audio was created.

“The thing that’s most important to us as an audio team is making sure that the person is always hearing the most important thing in the game at the time they’re supposed to hear it,” says Jay Weinland. “So when you’re firing your gun, that should be the most important thing that you hear in the game.”

Related Videos

Although Destiny’s weapons are far more futuristic than anything available today, Bungie took the opportunity to record real firearm audio in an area outside of Las Vegas. The M249 SAW, P90 submachine gun, and even a Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle were all captured, but the studio also made use of an explosive substance called Tannerite, which was used for the game’s grenade detonations.

For the use of more subtle, mystical effects, musical instruments functioned perfectly. Sound designer Evan Buehler made use of a vibraphone and a cello bow to create soft, ringing tones that were used for energy fields and other more “magical” sounds.

“Bungie has gotten so much bigger, but Bungie still maintains the philosophy of ‘iteration until it’s right,'” says audio director C Paul Johnson. “There’s a system there to build on and there’s a lot of depth to that.”

It’s pretty remarkable to see what Bungie has been able to accomplish with Destiny‘s audio since parting ways with longtime audio director and composer Martin O’Donnell. O’Donnell claimed he was “terminated without cause” after completing his work on the original game, and won a lawsuit last September against Bungie CEO Harold Ryan for unpaid wages and lost shares. He’s currently working with new studio Highwire games on the PlayStation VR-exclusive Golem

Editors' Recommendations

Cities: Skylines 2: release date window, trailers, gameplay, and more
A screenshot from Cities: Skylines 2's cinematic reveal trailer.

After the Sim City franchise faded away, gamers were left with few options when it came to city-building simulations. That changed when Cities: Skylines came out. The first game was a smash hit, filling the void left by the pioneer of the genre, and in many ways even surpassing it. However, that game came out in 2015, and even the numerous updates and DLC packs added to the game could only extend its life so long. Now, Cities: Skylines 2 has been officially revealed and fans have already built up their hopes as high as skyscrapers. Have the developers designed the perfect system for this sequel to thrive and grow? Let's take a bird's eye view and see what groundwork has been laid for Cities: Skylines 2.
Release date

As of the time of this writing, Cities: Skylines 2 doesn't have a specific release date and is only slated to come sometime in 2023.
Platforms

Read more
Miasma Chronicles’ critical hits might be the deadliest of any video game
miasma chronicles preview gdc

Just when I think there are no new ways to make a tactics game, something like Miasma Chronicles completely blows that notion apart. Developed by The Bearded Ladies, the upcoming tactical RPG is something of a continuation of the studio’s previous project, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden. It’s another post-apocalyptic adventure that has players freely exploring large worlds and stopping to battle monsters in traditional turn-based tactical battles. Don’t expect the exact same experience, though; the old dog has learned plenty of new tricks.

I sat down with The Bearded Ladies’ team at this year’s Game Developers Conference to learn all the ins and outs of its latest project. While many of its features build and iterate on the studio’s previous work, it’s one specific combat tweak that has my attention: Miasma Chronicles might have the deadliest critical hit system ever.
Truly critical hits
Miasma Chronicles takes place in a far-off future where a mysterious substance called Miasma has turned America into a wasteland. Players control a trio of heroes, including a boy named Elvis and his robot brother. It’s all set in the southern part of the United States and has been developed with a bit of reverence for the area’s architecture. There seem to be some political themes at play too, as part of the story revolves around a corporation that’s taken control of “New America.” The team on hand noted that those capitalistic threads are present, but noted that the game mostly tackles some familiar territory. It’s not quite the scorched Earth political allegory we’re getting from Redfall.

Read more
Aliens: Dark Descent: release date, trailers, gameplay, and more
Alien screaming close-up.

In space, no one can hear you scream. While the Alien franchise has been hit-and-miss when it comes to video games, the good ones have been great. Alien: Isolation is the most recent example of a game absolutely nailing the tone, atmosphere, and sense of dread of what it would be like to be trapped on a ship with the most dangerous hunter in the universe. Just like the jump from the first film to the second, though, our next Alien game to look forward to appears to be less about the horror and intends to mix in a healthy dose of action.

Aliens: Dark Descent is the newest game to drop us into the nests of the Xenomorphs. However, unlike most other games that used this license, it isn't a straight-up horror game, nor is it a first-person shooter.  This is one of the most beloved franchises in film history, so if you're at all curious about diving into Aliens: Dark Descent, we'll use our motion tracker to guide you along safely.
Release date

Read more