Hello Voyagers! Michael /[url=https://twitter.com/WatChuKnow] [b]Spacenorth[/b][/url] here with an exciting peek behind the curtain of Voyagers of Nera's development. Today, we're diving into something that brings our magical world to life in ways you might not even notice (and that's exactly the point!) - the sound design of our game. [previewyoutube=YTgb1mzAxTQ;full][/previewyoutube] [h2]Meet the Maestros[/h2] First, I'm thrilled to introduce you to [b][url=https://x.com/benmakesnoise]Ben [/url][/b]and [b][url=https://x.com/bsnydersound]Billy [/url][/b]from[b] Hitbox Sounds[/b], two talented hybrid game developers and sound designers crafting every creak, splash, and magical whisper you hear in Voyagers (on top of some fan favorite systems like fishing!). If you caught our[url=https://youtu.be/YTgb1mzAxTQ] recent dev stream[/url], you already know just how passionate these folks are about their craft. If you missed it, don't worry - we'll cover some of the highlights right here! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44779674/5e8199d001ee71e3f08a026932701f0f942cd890.png[/img] [h2]Finding the Voice of Nera[/h2] When Ben and Billy first joined our team, they faced an exciting challenge: what does a vast, vibrant, magical ocean world full of spirits and monsters actually sound like? They began by identifying the core elements that make Nera unique: [list] [*] [b]Naturalistic: [/b]Every sound needs to feel grounded in reality [*] [b]Ancient:[/b] The world carries echoes of its history - long-dead massive golems, dark creatures under the waves [*] [b]Magical:[/b] But with a fantastical, ethereal, not-just-Earth element [*] [b]Mysterious:[/b] Sound cues that make you wonder what's around the next corner [*] [b]Alive[/b]: A breathing, moving world full of living creatures [/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44779674/26ccd0ed20f28e160b13ac4018ecfdab9a4c9c2f.png[/img] [h2]Bringing the World to Life[/h2] [h3]The Living Environment[/h3] Our sound team focused on two major aspects of environmental audio: [b]1. Ocean Soundscapes[/b] [list] [*] Creating vast, inviting oceanic sounds that draw players to explore [*] Dynamic ambience that shifts with the time of day [*] Wildlife sounds that make the world feel inhabited and alive [/list] [b]2. Player Movement[/b] [list] [*] Footsteps that tell a story - about your character, the surface you're walking on, and the world around you [*] Boat sounds that make seafaring feel as amazing as it looks (because let's face it, boats are central to our game and super cool) [/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44779674/6d3bf60b32dae47956a9e9133a5d67a3ffbafc5b.png[/img] [h2]The Subtle Craft of Audio Design[/h2] Here's something fascinating we learned from Ben and Billy:[i] everyone's an audio expert[/i], even if they don't realize it. We all know exactly what footsteps should sound like because we hear them every day. This makes sound design particularly challenging. If you get it right, it’s feedback to your actions that feels like it [b]FITS[/b], immerses you, and reinforces your actions. But if it’s even a little off, your brain can [b]INSTANTLY[/b] tell! In building some of the sounds in the game, Ben and Billy looked to real-world inspirations and reference to build something authentic and immersive. [list][*]They actually [url=https://www.twitch.tv/voyagersofnera/clip/SingleBeautifulCardSSSsss-rdINQT0o_Yb78-Ij?filter=clips&range=30d&sort=time]bought planks of wood from hardware stores[/url] to record authentic creaks slaps for when your character runs down a wooden hallway or across the deck of the ship. [*]The ocean sounds you hear in-game? Those are[url=https://www.twitch.tv/voyagersofnera/clip/CaringSuccessfulBarracudaTBTacoLeft-MLBSnpHJu6eoLr7E?filter=clips&range=30d&sort=time] recordings from the San Francisco Bay and Davies Cove in Maine[/url] - bringing a piece of Ben and Billy's hometowns right into Nera! [/list] [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44779674/8090ab97cc4db26d39595ce9808433f695132889.png[/img] [h2]Looking (and Listening) Ahead[/h2] We still have plenty of exciting audio work ahead of us that we can’t wait to unleash Ben and Billy’s talents on. Some of them will be cracking exciting new ground: [list] [*] Spirits and boats are going to be coming together - what does a boat augmented by a spirit sound like? [*] What's the perfect musical score for discovering an ancient ruin? [*] How does the soundscape change when you're deep underwater versus skimming across the surface? [/list] Stay tuned for a future stream where we'll dive deep into the music of Voyagers - there are some incredible things in the works that we can't wait to share! [img]{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/44779674/faae3be4c56c028f6aecc855f1fc020d96bdff0f.png[/img] [h2]Thank You for Listening![/h2] Your feedback helps us fine-tune every aspect of the game, including its soundscape. Keep those comments coming, and don't forget to [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/2686630/Voyagers_of_Nera/]wishlist Voyagers of Nera[/url] if you haven't already! Until next time, Michael and the Treehouse Team! Join our Discord to stay connected: [url=discord.gg/VoyagersofNera]discord.gg/VoyagersofNera[/url]