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Humanities on Tap: Immersive Sound in Video Games

Humanities on Tap
Fri, April 17, 2026
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
LevelOne Barcade

The OSU Humanities Institute recently launched Humanities on Tap, a monthly series of community presentations that brings the humanities to life across Columbus. Each gathering offers an easygoing space to explore big ideas, hear fresh perspectives and connect with others. Led by local experts and storytellers, these talks make learning engaging, approachable and fun—perfect for curious minds throughout our community.

All "Humanities on Tap" events are free and open to all. 

April brings the last event of the season, with Alex Sallade, associated faculty in the School of Music, presenting a talk on the music of video games.

Have you ever wondered how music and sound design in video games can make you feel so immersed, despite it being a virtual world? Psychology, perception and a player’s knowledge of gaming mechanics or real-world culture all play a huge role! This presentation will explore five different categories of audio techniques that are used by game designers to bring fantastical realms to life. By analyzing the sound design in highly successful games, including Hogwart’s Legacy, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Genshin Impact, Fallout 4 and others, we can make sense of the immersive worlds that so many of us have fallen in love with.

Location & Parking

Level One Bar & Arcade is located at 130 Hutchinson Ave, Columbus, OH 43235, near the intersection of Route 23 and 270 in Worthington. Parking can be found in the adjacent parking lot. For bus route information, consult the online COTA trip planner