Breakfast Topic: Do you rely on game sounds to help you play WoW?
by Aiden James Kosciesza 
Mar 20th 2011 at 8:00AM
There are many reasons why WoW is a great game, but to me, one of the things that sets it apart from other MMOs is the sound design. The music is top quality, the voices are entertaining and memorable, and the sound effects are relevant and informative. As a matter of fact, sound effects are critical to the way I play.
Even if I turn down the game music or environment sounds, I leave my sound effects turned way up. Why? Simple. Without them, I would be a less effective player. I rely on the casting sound to tell me when my heals will land and when I can cast the next one, and I listen for the thud of a tank's block or the clink of a parry to let me know when damage has been mitigated. My druid's inarticulate grunts tell me to back away from adds or to move out of the fire, and even when I'm watching the health bars instead of the characters, the game sounds tell me what spells my party members are casting.
I don't always recognize all these things literally, but the presence of Blizzard's sound effects gives me an idea of how the fight is going by sound alone. In the midst of a tense encounter, I can't always keep track of all the visual cues, but sound effects help me follow what's going on.
Do you use sound effects to keep track of what's going on in combat? Which sounds are the most identifiable to you? Without the sound effects, would you be as effective a player?>
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Goulashia Mar 20th 2011 8:04AM
Yes I do use the sounds in WoW, not talking about mods either. Example, I listen for the spinning mechanical noise for my holy paladin's Infusion of Light proc.
Nintai Mar 20th 2011 8:34AM
Never ever ever use sound, I'm not able to distinguish between sounds very well so I have to turn them off if I'm on vent.
K2 Mar 20th 2011 10:17AM
For me as well, as a holy paladin, that has become the most recognizable (and satisfying) sound in the game.
Tryliana Mar 20th 2011 1:41PM
I dont rely on the sounds, but I do enjoy having them. It gives me more of an experience playing the game. Without the sounds its just "a game" add the sounds and it is an experience. Besides the sounds help when something or someONE is sneaking up behind me and hits me!! lol
Drakkenfyre Mar 20th 2011 3:06PM
I don't get people who say "I don't use sounds or music, ever."
Really? The sound of a Rogue unstealthing doesn't tip you off you are about to get ganked? When fighting a boss that has specific sounds to their spells, it doesn't tip you off when it goes off? Hearing battle sounds near you doesn't tip you off someone is in combat?
(Exceptions for like Nintai, above.)
Minstrel Mar 20th 2011 4:51PM
I generally have sounds off in raids, when we're doing progression, because the sounds make vent hard to hear. I've never found I need sounds, as the visuals and DBM give me all the information I need to handle mechanics.
If something is on farm, and there's little pressure or need for urgent communication, I may turn sounds back on to hear the music and voice acting designed for the encounter.
Rai Mar 20th 2011 8:10AM
If Atramedes loses his speakers, he's screwed.
In seriousness though, I believe that the game sounds help a lot towards the atmosphere of some fights, not to mention Deadly Boss Mods often screams at you if you're stood in the fire. I know it's not techncially an original game sound source, but it works under a similiar cloud.
Dugmet Mar 20th 2011 8:10AM
The sounds are as much a part of the overall game design as the graphics. And, there are so many audible cues and clues to hear -- such as the sound of incoming traffic and then the sound of someone entering stealth mode in the WsG flag room. My only regret is having to turn the in-game sound down during raids so that I can hear vent a bit better.
RussianRoulette Mar 20th 2011 10:00AM
This is why I love Mumble. It automatically turns the in-game sound down whenever anyone talks, so I can always have the sound as high as I want.
vinniedcleaner Mar 20th 2011 11:58AM
I use the addon iTalk, you bind your PTT vent key to it and it turns down all the sounds when you talk on vent.
Mebh Mar 20th 2011 8:13AM
I just love the "you're about to get aggro" sound. When I tank, it signals relief, when I dps, it's the wake-up call for me to think: "Holy sh*t! Am I attacking the wrong mob? Stop NOW, hit assist focus macro again, now go."
Jorges Mar 20th 2011 12:36PM
This!
As an aggro cat (Feral DPS) the aggro warning is my cue to "COWER!... ok now, slow down and back up a bit". Sometimes is really hard to have a quick look to the threat meters, so this sound is an amazing alert.
Drakkenfyre Mar 20th 2011 4:10PM
Back when the built-in aggro meter and sound was put in, it would go off even if you were pulling aggro off an NPC.
The sound effect sounded like a sawblade grinding against metal. It was changed after a couple of patches, and the frequency of it going off was lowered. It would literally go off at the slightest bit of aggro off something.
Bvannas Mar 20th 2011 8:13AM
I rely on sounds a surprising amount for procs. Really annoying when you hear the distinctive sound of a Fingers-of-frost proc, hit deep freeze and realise: 1) That was the frost mage next to you in the heroic. 2) Your playing a shaman, you just earthsheilded yourself.
Therar Mar 20th 2011 9:59AM
Or when you're fishing, and your lure bobs, you click on it only to realize it was the person next to you.
Rhamona Q Mar 20th 2011 10:34AM
Absolutely for fishing. That way I can pay half attention to the TV while waiting for the bobber to bob. Staring at the bobber for up to 20 seconds at a time, repeatedly, is not fun.
Minos Mar 20th 2011 11:40AM
I cannot stand fishing near other people for that very reason. It took me a LONG time to get all the coins from the Dalaran fountain, only fishing there when it was deserted.
o0amber0o Mar 20th 2011 8:18AM
Sounds definitely plays a big role in my game play. I can't ever just turn it completely off when playing, I have to at least keep the effects on. I'm a big PVPer so sounds I listen for are mostly because I'm keeping myself on guard in a battleground or out in the world.
Things like:
The sound of someone dimounting - I immediately tense up when I hear that noise by me when I'm out and about. I know someone is by me and I know that they dismounted for a reason: I'm either near something really great or they're looking for a fight.
Stealthing - for obvious reasons, another thing that perks my ears up, even if it's a ally.
The drum noise you get when you get full aggro of a mob.
My PoM chime! I love hearing that go off because I know it's still out there and I know it's still working. And no I don't think it's loud enough.
And I always click on baby murlocs when I'm near them because I love their gurgle.
Aticus Mar 20th 2011 8:17AM
I don't play with the sound at all. I'm usually watching TV or over Skype. Over the years, you get used to using your eyes to see when certain events are happening. I will usually raid with sound just for the experience tho.
Tribunal Mar 20th 2011 11:13AM
I turned off game sound shortly after I started playing, due to a number of factors (crappy laptop sound, someone else playing in the same room, etc). I still turn it back on occasionally, especially for ugh fishing, and it is in some ways enjoyable, but I mostly still keep it off.
Part of why is watching tv, or music, etc, but really, I would keep my game sound pretty quiet so I think that would (mostly) not bother me (damn you annoyingly loud Mimi head).
The big one is probably "someone else in the same room". I get a bit of game sound from him anyways (since we raid together), and having my own, when I notice it, is strange and echo-y, combined with just being new and strange since I usually have it off. Vent or anything like that is way way way worse though, so I might give gamesound another crack in the future.