SOLITAIRE ARCANA

Solitaire Arcana is a card solitaire game set in the context of Tarot cards. The game is a meditative journey through the world of ancient mythology and esotericism. The player encounters no antagonists along the way, only companions who help them discover the meaning of their existence.

An important audio challenge is to create a cohesive soundscape that can facilitate both the relaxed process of laying out the solitaire and a meditative immersion into the world of Tarot. The stylistic goal is to deviate from the traditionally cheerful, casual sound typical for this genre towards a more restrained and premium sound, with precision and aesthetic quality in music, mix, and sound design.

The majority of the game time is spent by the player in the soothing process of laying out the solitaire. The mixing decisions in Solitaire Arcana are based on the principle that the artistic aspect of the game is just as important as the informational one, so we devoted great attention to the sound environment for each location, creating a sense of presence and enhancing immersion. The ambience includes subtle audio easter eggs related to the art and lore in each location. We made the sounds of the cards as natural and pleasant as possible, leaning more towards a natural sound rather than an overly casual one typical of such projects.

Within the dynamic mix, we established a hierarchy of sounds from the most to the least important:

• Rewards;
• Card Mechanics;
• Music;
• Environment.

Moreover, the interactive real-time mixing works almost imperceptibly: it makes the mix clean and spacious, allowing players in calm phases to enjoy the relaxing environment and pleasant music, while during victories and notifications, less important events recede into the background. In other words, the aim of the interactive mix is to eliminate excessive noise and subtly control the balance without abrupt volume changes.

In this mode, the player unlocks Tarot cards using stars earned in the solitaire levels, learns about tarot, and meditates. Each Tarot piece unveils a new sound layer and accompanying text that reveals additional details about the arcana. The goal for the audio in this mode is to enhance the story with numerous details, create an atmosphere that invites the player to return to the narrative from time to time, and ultimately further motivate the player to earn stars.

The voicing of each card is carefully staged. For example, in the card featuring a priest, the background features actors’ voices immersed in cathedral reverb speaking in pseudo-Latin. In the second plane, you can hear whispers and subtle movements of secondary characters, and when the final piece is revealed, the foreground emerges with the voice of the arcana’s main character. The actors’ voices are chosen and recorded to reflect the characters’ personalities.

In this mode, the audio aims to offer a different perspective on slot machines by creating a feeling of gentle excitement and leisure. The environment is inviting, and the relaxing jazz music filling the hall plays a key role in establishing the right mood. In the background, one can hear casual conversations, the click of high heels, the rustle of fine fabric, and the splash of champagne. The unobtrusive mechanical clatter of the slot machine and the other sounds are precise and somewhat restrained, leaning closer to realism than to a casual sound typical of such projects. The chips fall easily and slightly carelessly, evoking a sense of unhurried enjoyment, as if the gold is dispersed without the sensation of a casino jackpot. We intentionally avoid over-the-top applause and artificial elation, opting instead for more authentic reactions such as a lady’s brief expression of admiration or a friend’s friendly pat on the shoulder.

When composing the music, we were inspired by the idea of a leitmotif that would connect all scenes both through specific instrumentation and melody. It was important that this leitmotif appears throughout all musical compositions in every layer of the game and can be recognized from just two notes. The primary instrument chosen was the cymbal. The main theme of the game is built around them; they are also featured in the gameplay music, the slot machine mode features the melody played on piano, and in the Tarot mode, cymbals are used as a supporting element in the sound design.

The main musical theme is written in a waltz time signature (3/4) in C major. The menu employs variations of the main theme played on both cymbals and piano, implemented using interactive music mechanisms in Wwise.

Using Wwise’s capabilities for gameplay music, we implemented several variable mechanics:

• Depending on the winning streak, the player hears an increasingly richer composition; this buildup continues up to three wins, after which the background music softens to provide a break and allow the ambient sounds and subtle background layers to shine.
• With each new combo, regardless of the game phase, string and balalaika parts are woven into the music, reaching peak volume when the combo is full and fading out upon its execution.
• During the phase of purchasing extra moves or winning, a repeating calm background interlude plays until the player makes a decision.
• The slot machine mode utilizes an even more complex system, where all musical parts are divided into components and variations occur both in form and arrangement.

The goal of the trailer’s audio is to capture attention and give the player a glimpse of the mystery that the game offers. Therefore, the promotional elements feature game leitmotifs and textures, while maintaining a consistent overall style. The audio and musical accents are derived from the narrative structure:

• Setup — we see a sorceress from behind, accompanied by mystical harmony.
• Rising Action — when the main heroine wins the jackpot, there is a sharp shift in mood that defies expectations, reflected by a change from the main theme to a recognizable gameplay melody.
• Climax — the heroine hits the jackpot, coinciding with the most intense moment of the arrangement.
• Resolution — we see the game’s identity and conclude the trailer with a fitting musical phrase.