Video Game Console Audio: Evolution and Future Trends

Rapidly advancing technologies and the increasing role of computers give the computer game boundless potential for the future. Among the various game industries, the console game industry in particular has attracted significant attention, bringing the importance of sound and music to the forefront. Game music was traditionally used for sound effects to prevent user boredom. As gaming developed, so did audio, being utilized for numerous purposes. As gaming platforms increased in power and complexity, audio, which was once limited to simple beeps, started to play a larger role, becoming back ground music (BGM) having quality at par with that of films. This paper discusses the evolution of video game console audio specifications and hardware, from simple 8-bit machines to future directions in the development of audio generators for game sound & music.