TIGSource Forums

What is it?

Shabda is an early prototype of a upcoming game that will be nothing like you have ever seen. Literally, there is nothing to be seen :) Shabda relies completely on spatial 3d sound for navigation.

As an exploration/puzzle game, Shabha will make you relate to sound like you’ve never done before. The entire game can be played with your eyes closed. In fact, not only it can, it should be!

Don’t all games have 3d audio?

Yes, but there is a difference between 3d audio and spatial(binaural audio). Binaural audio uses special sounds to trick your brain to position sounds in 3d space as if they were real. With that, you can actually understand how close, far, up or down something is in relation to your head.

Sounds cool. Tell me more

I have a few ideas for the first puzzles, but this is a very early-stage prototype. One thing is clear, i do NOT intend to make another "blind exploration" game (like papa sangre). The purpose of Shabda is to make us think about sound. How would a puzzle with nothing but sound, play like?

A first prototype demo is also available with a simple demonstration of game mechanics.

In order to run and play it with spatial sound, you need to enable HRTF in your sound system. Please note that without HRTF enabled, it will be close to impossible to play Shabda, as the sounds will just be regular stereo.

Downlods: http://www.bitoutsidethebox.com/shabda/downloads/
HRTF setup info: http://www.bitoutsidethebox.com/shabda/hrtf-info/

obviously, there are no screenshots to share :)

it turned out that since I had this idea (many months ago), coming up with original sound puzzles is not that easy!

My idea for how this could go forward is to make an online repository of levels(mini-games), and allow people to upload their own creations, creating a virtually unlimited number levels for everyone to play.

what do you think?