The Importance of Sound

In game development circles, audio is no longer taking a backseat to visual effects.

Game publishers are beginning to realize how important sound elements are to bringing their games to life. Some could argue that surround sound is even more critical in games because sound cues can increase the interactivity.

But do gamers really care about surround sound?

The Nielsen study revealed that more than 54 percent of PS3 and 48 percent of Xbox 360 consoles are currently connected to multi-channel (5.1 or greater), home theater systems.

In fact, more gaming consoles are now connected to surround sound systems than traditional stereo television speakers. This indicates that surround sound has grown in importance among the gaming community and more and more console owners are making the jump to multi-channel systems.

Who are the early adopters? The research shows that PS3 owners are the first to embrace multi-channel audio systems.

PS3 owners tend to be early adopters of many new technologies, followed closely by Xbox 360 owners.

PS3 Owners Drive Adoption
- Only 27% of PS3s are connected to just TV speakers.
- 30% of PS3 owners have at least a 5.1 set-up; 24% have jumped to 7.1.
- 73% PS3 owners who do not currently have a multi-channel system indicated they would be likely to upgrade to a multi-channel set-up.

Source: THX Gaming Study, The Nielsen Company, 2007