music feedback request

[steve bisson]

http://www.mainbrain.co.uk/working_soundtrack

ho nooo not more techno, enough already ! :)

what do you guys think of this preview from our upcomming game's soundtrack ? its all unfinished stuff, comments are welcomed.

is it too weird ? or fresh ? or just plain same old same old ? when you are in the middle of creating something you often cant see the big picture.

[Ricardo Vladimiro]

Hi

boss_fight_maybe: The first minute sounds a lot like something suited for a boss fight, after that it's too "atmospheric", sounds good though. Maybe you could loop it until there.

end_credit_maybe: Wonderful. I really like it and it sounds a lot like End Credit.

main_theme: Nothing to say here, it's cool. Kick and snare are a bit too present.

typical_in_game: It's a bit too filled and upbeat comparing to the boss_fight_maybe. It depends on how the boss is presented of course, but it can be an anti-climax. Switching the two could be an idea.

[truth]

Hey, you're an awesome musician!

[Tom Gilleland]

The songs are interesting, but I think it is really important that they match the game art and gameplay style. In fact, I think it might be a fun test to start a product with a soundtrack and then design the game around the feel and emotion of the music.

Tom

[AnthemAudio]

Now I would LOVE to be part of THAT project.

As for the music, I can't relay as to whether it fits the subject matter since I don't know what the game is.

So reviewed as music by itself...it doesn't really stand out. It's frenetic and tension building to be sure. And since there is no real sense of dynamics I'm assuming it's going to loop and ultimately end up in a puzzle game.

That so?

If yes, then it will be fine. Even without paying attention to it the syncopation alone will bring tension and forward progression to a player.

Tony

[soniCron]

In fact, I think it might be a fun test to start a product with a soundtrack and then design the game around the feel and emotion of the music. Interesting you should mention that. The first project I release was created that way! ;)

[Tom Gilleland]

Interesting you should mention that. The first project I release was created that way! ;)

Did it turn out well? Animation normally has voice tracks first, so if music is really good, it would make sense to extend that idea for a game.

I've always felt that sound is overlooked in many products, and it a really important part. It is the emotion of product. Just try playing any quality game and turn off the sound.

Tom

[soniCron]

Did it turn out well? Animation normally has voice tracks first, so if music is really good, it would make sense to extend that idea for a game. Well, you'll have to be the judge of that (soon?), but I'm rather pleased with the results. It ended up drawing me to create a game I never would have considered creating otherwise, and it has now turned into a big social experiment. The music really guided me through development and fed me ideas when I needed them most.


I've always felt that sound is overlooked in many products, and it a really important part. It is the emotion of product. Just try playing any quality game and turn off the sound. I couldn't agree more. Sound, more than any other sense (available to us as game developers), is capable of shaping our emotions, and to a very high degree. Without well constructed audio, the experience is severely limited.

[janwinnicki]

Main_Theme: As Main theme it cointans quite catchy simple melody (after 30 s.) but repetitive riff in background has to be reworked. It's horrible in every aspect. More work in with pads, choirs etc. should bring some positive impression of this tune.

Typical_in_game: Nice, promising begining but after 1:15 s. it can compete only with midi files. Find an idea!

End_Credit: Hmm... The best amongst presented here. But... (as always;)) it's very sad "the end". Could be more polished, faded (in-out) strings etc. but I like some parts of melody, bass guitar slapped sometimes and the congas.

Boss_fight_maybe: It's very long fight. Maybe not...

[steve bisson]

Thanks for all your comments... we just started working on the game. I started working on the soundtrack first and yes it does influence the graphic style i finaly choosed but i already had the game's theme in mind when creating the game's music.

Main_Theme: As Main theme it cointans quite catchy simple melody (after 30 s.) but repetitive riff in background has to be reworked. It's horrible in every aspect

Its difficult to get comments on art as people's preferance are very varied. When i sent the music pack to my friend after 20 minutes i asked "so how did you like the music pack ? " to wich he replied " well i dont know about the 3 other tracks yet i have been listening to the main theme for the last 20 minutes ". He wast too keen on the rest tho :/

Typical_in_game: Nice, promising begining but after 1:15 s. it can compete only with midi files. Find an idea!
The low fi / quirky aspect is very much intentional. That would explain why the snare is a sound fx and the bass drum sounds like its distorted 8 bit. hehe

So ill take every comments into consideration Ricardo's view was really helpfull. Tony , i guess we will have to contract you then ;)

[AnthemAudio]

Tony , i guess we will have to contract you then

Sorry...I seem to excel at the underhanded comment on occasion.

And I'd take the contract except I'm busy composing tracks for Staring Contest 2006 (working title) for Conhugeco Games.

It's an online MMORPG with battles all being staring contests. You have to have a webcam to play. The software judges what is a blink/laugh or whatever you have the outcome goal set to.

The guys said, "we need about 5 or 6 songs that really lend themselves to staring contests." So I littered my studio with a combination of mirrors and pictures of people looking at me.

I can't finish a single track. They're ALL looking at me! ALL OF THEM!!!

So, I'm a little busy with that.

Tony

[steve bisson]

i was not serious about contracting you... our game as 0 budget :(

well i spent 30$ so far , 20$ for domain registering etc and 10$ for a scrap book and a good pen. I dont see other expenses before marketing.

good luck with your project !

[AnthemAudio]

That's alright, I was joking about the Staring Contest MMORPG...

OR WAS I?!?!?!?!?!?

[Daedalus]

nice beat. a bit retro but still very interessting.
the Boss maybe one could be speed up a bit . if i remember correctly boss's music is "always" some intense guitar-solo-ish kind of put you in mood for some heavy combat. the rest is very cool
belle job C'est quoi le projet??

[steve bisson]

belle job C'est quoi le projet??

TRANSLATION : Nice job what is the project ?

Its for www.mainbrain.co.uk's (http://www.mainbrain.co.uk) first game. Cant say much because of agreements with the rest of the team and stuff. Its a very simple project so the wait should not be long. Might be ready in a month or so ( part time development ).

Its nice to see some indie game developers from Montreal :) ever though of moving to Perce ? hehe there is something strange starting here... multimedia studios are growing like mushrooms. There is even an indie ip phone company starting up !... weird for such a region of Quebec.

[2EastMusic]

I'd love to review your soundtrack on my website, if you're interested. Tell me more about what you're working on!

-Matt
matt@2eastmusic.com

[steve bisson]

we droped this soundtrack :) because we re-skinned the game we went and made a deal with an industrial techno band from california.

I will submit it for a review in a month ? when the game will be ready or just about ready :)

Its a killer soundtrack really, i know you will be impressed... i just cant have you review it right now tho as the game is not finished :( i want to have as much exposure as possible on the release date.

i will contact you when we are ready for sure ! thanks ! :D