University of Bolton

A Conceptual Framework for the Design and Analysis of First-Person Shooter Audio

First-person shooter audio functions as a complex acoustic ecology that fundamentally shapes player immersion, spatial awareness, and team coordination.

• Effective FPS audio design prioritizes 'strategic caricature' over acoustic realism, leveraging established player conventions and psychological cues to enhance gameplay.
• Audio in FPS titles functions as a critical functional tool for navigation and tactical decision-making, rather than serving solely as a narrative or atmospheric element.
• Developers should categorize sound into diegetic, ideodiegetic, and telediegetic modes to better manage the non-linear nature of virtual environments.