Sound Design and Audiovisual Memory in the Instantiation of Digital Game Worlds: An Essay on Iconophonics

Abstract

The article approaches the relationship between design, memory and technoculture through a conceptual discussion of audiovisual culture and the techno-aesthetic expressions of sound design in digital games. Hence, instead of describing it for its technical aspects, sound design is more broadly framed here as a technocultural practice deeply related to an audiovisual memory of media. The paper also presents the concept of iconophonics, by articulating this theoretical framework with an analysis of sound design features in five digital games: Jazzpunk (2014), Rayman: Legends (2011), South Park: Stick of Truth (2014), Inside (2016) and Spec Ops: The Line (2012).

Keywords

• sound design
• audiovisual memory
• digital games
• technoculture
• media studies