Advanced research in Cultural Industries

As part of my academic journey, I explored the cultural significance of sound design in video games— analyzing how different cultural backgrounds shape player experiences. This research took countless hours of research, analysis, and late nights, and I'm thrilled to present my findings here.

Read on to discover what inspired me, the key arguments I explored, and the fascinating results I uncovered!

Introduction

In video games, visuals are often credited for their impact on storytelling and immersion. However, sound design plays an equally crucial role in shaping the player's emotional experience. From subtle environmental sounds to intense musical scores, audio enhances realism and engagement, making players active participants in the story. My research examines the cultural significance of sound design, focusing on how players' cultural backgrounds influence their responses to sound in games, using a cross-cultural analysis of Home Sweet Home.

What Inspired Me to Choose This Topic

I have always been fascinated by how media reflects culture, and video games are no exception. While visuals are often discussed, I noticed that sound design is sometimes overlooked despite its powerful tole in storytelling and emotional engagement. This led me to explore how cultural backgrounds shape players' reactions to in-game sounds, especially in horror games, where sound plays a critical role in building tension and fear.

Key research question

How do players from diverse cultural backgrounds actually perceive and interpret the sound elements in video game, and to what extent does cultural context influence their responses and experiences emotionally?

Why "Home Sweet Home"

The selection of Home Sweet Home as the focus of this study was driven by three key factors:

Cultural Context

The game deep cultural context rooted in Thai folklore and its unique use of sound design to enhance the horror experience. Unlike many mainstream horror games that rely on universal horror tropes. Home Sweet Home integrates thai mythology, beliefs, and supernatural elements, making it an excellent case stuudy.

traditional Thai auditory elements

The use of traditional Thai auditory elements, such as Buddhist chanting, Thai ,mythological creates sounds, and Thai classical music. These elements add authenticity to the game's atmosphere, reinforcing its connection to Thai spiritual beliefs and folklore.

International recognition

Home Sweet Home has gained international recognition and is widely played by streamers and horror game enthusiasts across different regions. Its availability on multiple platforms, including Playstation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch, has allowed for diverse player base, making it a suitable game for cross-cultural analysis

Research design

The study focused on analyzing how players responded to 19 specific audio cues in Home Sweet Home, categorized into dialogue, ambiance, music, and diegetic game sounds. These cues were carefully selected for their cultural significance and their impact on the gaming experience.

the research prioritized identifying key cultural sound elements to streamline the observation process.

To ensure consistency, a coding sheet was developed for each gameplay session, documenting emotional responses to the 19 audio cues.

Although timestamps varied slightly between playthroughs, the sequence of events and sounds remained consistent across all

The collected data was synthesized into thematic analysis tables for both Thai and Western players

Key steps in the analysis included:
- Identifying recurring Themes: Noting patterns in how different cultural groups reacted to specific sounds
Comparing emotional responses: Assessing similarities and differences between Thai and Western players in their engagement with culturally significant sound elements

Highlighting cultural influence: Understanding how cultural background shaped the way players perceived fear, tension, and immersion in the game

Key takeaways

Understanding cultural interpretations of sound can enhance game design, making horror experiences more immersive and tailored for diverse audiences

Some audio elements transcend cultural boundaries, while others carry deep-rooted cultural meaning that affects players differently

Cultural background influences how players and emotionally react to sound in video games

Professor's comments

"Your paper was a great read. There is a clear thread of argument that runs through the paper, your thoughts are well organized, and your writing is clear and engaging. Your analysis ends with a number of insights, particularly by noting the common responses elicited by the games but also by noting the key differences between Thai and western players."

Russell Johnston, Associate professor

Thank you

Thank you for your interest in my research! I appreciate you taking the time to explore my work on the cultural significance of sound design in video games. If you’d like to dive deeper into the analysis and findings, feel free to read the full paper for more insights.

Research PDF