ABSTRACT
Console games often support simultaneous local two-player action using a single split screen. This is thrilling for the participants but a challenge for the entire game engine, not just the audio, as it means running the entire game twice, from two viewpoints, without sacrificing much of the single-player experience. This chapter deals with personalising the audio experience when several players share a room while minimising the risk of confusion.
Techniques to deliver distinct audio for up to four simultaneous players are explained, including three ways to overlay soundfields for multiple listeners in a room, ways to take advantage of surround speakers in 2D and 3D, exploiting input controller audio and rumble including 5.1.1 surround, optimisations to forestall performance bottlenecks, synergies to be exploited and the audio implications of different screen geometries.
