Sound Design for Magnetic: Cage Closed
I was the sound designer for this first person puzzle game. Below you will find links to videos that show how some of the sounds were designed. Farther down you will also find links to reviews and game-play videos.
“Magnetic: Cage Closed is a first person puzzle game where the player manipulates magnetic forces to accomplish their goals. The mechanics are focused around a single tool: The Magnet Gun which allows you to create electromagnetic fields with either positive or negative charges. This power is used to either repel or attract magnetical objects. However, if the objects are heavier than you, you will be the one flying trough the room.” (Guru Games, 2014).
Links
Tesla Coils
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
Electricity is random, wild and unpredictable. Very important factors when creating this sound. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.

Spike Traps
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The low hissing sound from the sliding swords followed by the metallic bang when they hit the stop. The aim was to create a feeling similar to getting attacked by a snake. When you hear the hissing warning sound, it’s already too late. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
The Seesaws
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The seesaws in Magnetic are large and made out of metal. It was important to make a dynamic sound that well represents the speed of which the seesaw is moving. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Metal Gates
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
Each time metal scratches against metal a unique sound is generated. To achieve this, three audio channels were used for the sound event with different recorded loops, all with randomized starting times. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Main Doors
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
This sound is built up from recordings of trains, a washing machine, chains dragged over metal, a ticking bicycle, drawers opening and closing, a camera lens motor and more. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Magnet Gun
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The Magnet Gun is the main tool you as a player have in the game Magnetic. My goal was to create a vibrant, responsive sound that also gives a clear indication of how much power is applied with the Magnet Gun. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Levers
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The sound of the levers is built up from recordings of metal scraping, door handles and and different door locks. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Glass Doors
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The motors struggle with opening the heavy unbreakable glass doors. Each time the door is opened, the hard working motors sound a bit different. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Flamethrowers
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The flamethrowers use three separate sound events – Open Hatch, Flame and Close Hatch. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how these were done.
Box Counters
Magnetic: Cage Closed – Sound Example
The box counters in Magnetic are mechanically built little machines with cogwheels and gears that tells how many boxes are left in the dispensers. The display consists of several metal plates in a row and to change the number they spin in a certain way. Watch the film clip to see more in depth how it was done.
Reviews
Here I have collected reviews of Magnetic: Cage Closed. Most of them are in English, but there are some in other languages, for anyone who knows these languages or like a challenge.
In EnglishGeek Bomb [Text] – June 25, 2015 – Verdict: 9.2/10 |
Other LanguagesDigital Life [Text] (Swedish) June 1, 2015 – Verdict: 4/5 |
Game-play Videos
Here you will find online game-play videos of Magnetic: Cage Closed recorded by different people and uploaded to Youtube. They are great if you want to hear how the different sounds work together in game. Some are split up into several parts. Here I chose to link to different parts in the series to show as much variety as possible.
There are videos both with and without commentary. The ones without are great if you want to hear the game’s sound design. The other ones are of course nice if you want to know more about the game and the players’ opinions about it.
Without CommentaryGaming Insider – May 30, 2015 |
With CommentarySargentCobi – May 31, 2015 |