does sound make a difference?

[1up]

Was just wondering if sound makes a difference in shmups. Do you play as good with the sound off as with the sound on?

I mostly play with the sound off as the shmupping sounds drive my girlfriend nuts.

[clp]

only in terms of enjoyment factor i think , tell your girlfriend to leave the room.

[MX7]

I play awfully without sound. All STGs have a memorisation aspect, and the brain encodes memories better if they're encoded in many different ways, preferably acousticly and semantically.

I also feel that BGM is just as important as the scoring system and the stylistic embelishments of the game, when considering it from an artistic stance. It a game doesn't have good music, it is not a good game.

[Frederik]

Use headphones then. Or get a room for yourself.

I have the impression that I notice more details when having the sound off (and not playing something else in place), but then again this could just be my mind playing tricks. What´s more important: Games are considerably less fun without sound, even if it´s just blips and beeps.

[Kaiser]

I play awfully without sound. All STGs have a memorisation aspect, and the brain encodes memories better if they're encoded in many different ways, preferably acousticly and semantically.

I also feel that BGM is just as important as the scoring system and the stylistic embelishments of the game, when considering it from an artistic stance. It a game doesn't have good music, it is not a good game.

It is important, some attacks are done on specific moments of BGM

[MX7]

I play awfully without sound. All STGs have a memorisation aspect, and the brain encodes memories better if they're encoded in many different ways, preferably acousticly and semantically.

I also feel that BGM is just as important as the scoring system and the stylistic embelishments of the game, when considering it from an artistic stance. It a game doesn't have good music, it is not a good game.

It is important, some attacks are done on specific moments of BGM

Exactly. Certain games (like Ikaruga) are actually scored to the action on screen.

[eight]

only in terms of enjoyment factor i think , tell your girlfriend to leave the room.

QFT

[Kaiser]

I play awfully without sound. All STGs have a memorisation aspect, and the brain encodes memories better if they're encoded in many different ways, preferably acousticly and semantically.

I also feel that BGM is just as important as the scoring system and the stylistic embelishments of the game, when considering it from an artistic stance. It a game doesn't have good music, it is not a good game.

It is important, some attacks are done on specific moments of BGM

Exactly. Certain games (like Ikaruga) are actually scored to the action on screen.

Radirgy too, some bosses are just synced with BGM, cool

[ROBOTRON]

Gosh yes.

I have two subwoofers for my home entertainment center and I drive my neighbors nuts, at least in the summertime when I will open windows. I'm not sure if they can hear anything in the colder seasons.

Good sounding shmups to me are:

Axelay
Alpha Mission II
Last Resort
Viewpoint
Border Down
Zanac Neo
RSG
Souky
Asteroids PS1
R-Type Delta

They rock my subs!

[BulletMagnet]

I rarely play anything with the sound turned down, so I can't comment too much on any contrast between "sound on" and "sound off" play, but whenever I bring up something in MAME which has no sound I don't think I play too much better or worse than usual, for whatever that's worth. "Practically," the sound probably doesn't make all that much of a difference in most cases (i.e., if you can 1CC a shmup with the sound on, you can do it with the sound off), but a good soundtrack does "complete" the experience if the rest of the game is done well.

[Milkgoat]

I can't stand to play any game without sound. Even if the soundtrack is terrible.

[sikraiken]

Doesn't make a difference to me.

[JoshF]

It's harder to play muted because you're usually missing auditory queues, or at least have one less thing you can use to memorize patterns.

[Keade]

It probably depends on the game, but I just played a few manic without sound, for some hours, and I didn't see any difference in "performance".
But in general I hate to play without sound or too low volume, for me it's the same than watching a movie with no sound but subs only.

I use headphones most of the time, so I can play setting the volume how I want, at any hour, without disturbing anyone...

[dolph]

Was just wondering if sound makes a difference in shmups. Do you play as good with the sound off as with the sound on?

I mostly play with the sound off as the shmupping sounds drive my girlfriend nuts.

My girlfriend likes it. She likes the Mushihime OST very much. I can't play so good without sound. Dunno why, I think it's has to do sth. with concentration. I think i concentrate better while hearing the sound.

Also in some games the sound gives you a hint. For example in ESPGaluda Stage 1 Boss there is a sound short before she throws those bullets where you can score well.

[MathU]

I have to crank the sound way up when I'm playing Chaos Field.

[Zeether]

Hell yes.

Especially if the explosions are loud bass explosions like in Raiden II.

[Frederik]

Also: Games are MORE FUN with sound.

Yes, fun. There, I´ve said it.

[Necronopticous]

Break up with her. She's not adding to your score multiplier, anyway.

[Rob]

I don't think it matters much. I listen to non-game music and I think that actually gets me more into the game. Hearing the same shit over and over is one way to lose focus.

[Davey]

The only game I play without sound is Tetris: The Grand Master, because that horrible siren sound keeps going even after your credit is over (in MAME). For everything else, playing without sound just doesn't seem right, even if I don't like the music. To me, it makes it easier to focus on the game. I probably don't play much better or worse, but it's certainly less immersive without sound.

I play shmups in my room with the door shut, but my girlfriend still invested in a pair of headphones to drown out all the explosions and random outbursts of profanity. Apparently this is a common problem on this board.