The contribution of sound design elements to the sense of reality in video games and the emotional impact on the player/viewer

This thesis analyses the effects of sound design in video games on the player and the viewer. In the gaming experience, sound is not only a background element but also an important component that enhances the atmosphere of the game and makes the player/viewer more involved in the game. Through sound and visual elements, the player and the viewer receive feedback from the game world. In-game sound design, silence, realistically designed sounds, and absurd sound designs can lead to different emotional responses. While realistic sounds increase environmental awareness, silence can cause negative emotions such as panic. Absurd sounds, on the other hand, can create complex emotions by creating a surreal atmosphere, but this does not always make it difficult to immerse in the game. In the thesis, the effects of three different sound designs on the players and the viewers were analyzed: Silent Game (2A), Realistic Sound Design (2B), and Absurd Sound Design (2C). In the Silent Game, the sounds are intentionally muted, creating an experience that requires the audience to be aware. In Realistic Sound Design, footsteps, nature, and animal sounds were designed to be in harmony with the graphics, and the speech parts were translated into Turkish. In the Absurd Sound Design, unusual sounds were used to observe whether the players would adapt to the experienced reality. As a result, while realistic sound design made the participants feel a sense of belonging to the game world, silence and absurd sounds had negative effects on the sensory connection to the game. This study contributes to understanding the importance of sound design in the game experience in the direction of the individual expectations of the experiencer.