Calling all critics
by Kevin Epps · in Torque Game Builder · 05/26/2008 (8:52 am) · 13 replies
I've done two new tunes and I'm looking for all kinds of feedback from the public to make sure that I'm on the right track of becoming a better composer.
These two will be in my new game, Space Renegades 2 Remix, that's scheduled to come out later this year(7/2008). I'm redoing some of the music to give it more of a fun filled 2D arcade space shooter feel. To me, anyway, music plays probably the highest role in getting your players engaged into the game, outside of the gameplay itself. Please let me know anything you can. I can take whatever you dish out. This isn't an ego stroker, I REALLY want to become a better composer, but won't know if I'm doing goo d or not without feedback from other musicians and the general public.
The first tune is for one of the stages(Could you hear this over and outer space or land stage?):
http://www.unitedmindsgames.com/music/space_renegades_remix/new5_23_08_2.mp3
The next tune is the boss music:
http://www.unitedmindsgames.com/musi..._08_boss_3.mp3
You critiques are all appreciated!
These two will be in my new game, Space Renegades 2 Remix, that's scheduled to come out later this year(7/2008). I'm redoing some of the music to give it more of a fun filled 2D arcade space shooter feel. To me, anyway, music plays probably the highest role in getting your players engaged into the game, outside of the gameplay itself. Please let me know anything you can. I can take whatever you dish out. This isn't an ego stroker, I REALLY want to become a better composer, but won't know if I'm doing goo d or not without feedback from other musicians and the general public.
The first tune is for one of the stages(Could you hear this over and outer space or land stage?):
http://www.unitedmindsgames.com/music/space_renegades_remix/new5_23_08_2.mp3
The next tune is the boss music:
http://www.unitedmindsgames.com/musi..._08_boss_3.mp3
You critiques are all appreciated!
About the author
#2
05/26/2008 (10:49 am)
Sounds good! I would switch up the drums on the second track a little - it's a little distracting in a way thats hard to describe... I think it's the frequency with which it switches back and forth with the up-beats.
#3
Nothing wrong with the composition, production could be better but then again you are going for a retro feel.
The great thing about music and any art, you will never be able to please everyone :). As long as you end up happy with it and the piece gets the message across or does its purpose as best as you can make it, then time to move on to creating the next piece.
05/26/2008 (3:11 pm)
The pad sounds you have starting early in both pieces seem to have a slight fade in and [ to me ] gives it a slight impression of being out of time.Nothing wrong with the composition, production could be better but then again you are going for a retro feel.
The great thing about music and any art, you will never be able to please everyone :). As long as you end up happy with it and the piece gets the message across or does its purpose as best as you can make it, then time to move on to creating the next piece.
#4
05/26/2008 (3:55 pm)
Sounds good, I would speed up the tempo with the boss music to give a tiny bit more andrenaline and panic... 
#5
05/26/2008 (4:06 pm)
Good concepts in both. Personally, my only gripe is the synth you are using for rhythm in both pieces. The slow attack and decay on that instrument actually attacks my equilibrium. Usually instruments designed that way are meant to be held and not hammered.
#6
05/26/2008 (4:25 pm)
Man, they remind me of MegaMan Zero games...
#7
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT i WAS GOING FOR!!!
I've always loved Megaman and Capcom in general's music. That's the type of feeling I want from this music in this game. Great music that actually sounds like you're playing a game and not watching a movie.
It seems like Song #1 is like by all (That means it finished....Even though I thought it was)
I always had a small feeling about Song #2 that I just figure out. I'll look into that some more then.
Thanks guys!
05/26/2008 (6:32 pm)
Tyler:THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT i WAS GOING FOR!!!
I've always loved Megaman and Capcom in general's music. That's the type of feeling I want from this music in this game. Great music that actually sounds like you're playing a game and not watching a movie.
It seems like Song #1 is like by all (That means it finished....Even though I thought it was)
I always had a small feeling about Song #2 that I just figure out. I'll look into that some more then.
Thanks guys!
#9
Well I got it to download using "save as", but it will not play. Windows media player says the file has an extension that does not match its format.
05/26/2008 (7:35 pm)
Broken link?Well I got it to download using "save as", but it will not play. Windows media player says the file has an extension that does not match its format.
#10
05/26/2008 (8:04 pm)
Ooops! Sorry about that. Forgot some characters in the url. Fixed link.
#11
Not my kind of music. But I do understand there's always a particular type of melody and beat depending on what the music is geared to.
I'm actually a musician myself. Currently composing the sound tracks, and sound effects for my games.
All in all not bad. If you didn't know this already listen to movie sound tracks (musical scores), music from commercials, radio, and sound tracks from other games to build up your creativity inside of you and get fresh ideas.
B. Spencer
05/28/2008 (1:08 am)
Sounds pretty good.Not my kind of music. But I do understand there's always a particular type of melody and beat depending on what the music is geared to.
I'm actually a musician myself. Currently composing the sound tracks, and sound effects for my games.
All in all not bad. If you didn't know this already listen to movie sound tracks (musical scores), music from commercials, radio, and sound tracks from other games to build up your creativity inside of you and get fresh ideas.
B. Spencer
#12
Yeah, I grew up in the 80's and 90's, so they style of music is what I've always known.
I've always listened to other music for ideas, but I would listen to Nintendo, SNES, Genesis, older Playstation, and DS games. Also, I listen to music from all kinds of anime as well for my inspiration.
I guess it really depends on a person's taste, and I just think game music should sound like you're playing a game and not watching a movie, so I rarely listen to movie soundtracks when thinking about game music. I just don't think they mix.
Thanks for your critique, though!
Do you have any sound tracks that I could listen to?
05/28/2008 (7:44 am)
Hey Spencer, Yeah, I grew up in the 80's and 90's, so they style of music is what I've always known.
I've always listened to other music for ideas, but I would listen to Nintendo, SNES, Genesis, older Playstation, and DS games. Also, I listen to music from all kinds of anime as well for my inspiration.
I guess it really depends on a person's taste, and I just think game music should sound like you're playing a game and not watching a movie, so I rarely listen to movie soundtracks when thinking about game music. I just don't think they mix.
Thanks for your critique, though!
Do you have any sound tracks that I could listen to?
#13
05/28/2008 (8:23 am)
If I ever get a chance I'll post some snippets up, or send you an email. 
Associate James Ford
Sickhead Games
Song one is pretty good. Very nice.
Song two could still use some work. The melody seems too "random". I can tell you wanted something edgy, but its coming across more like you picked random notes. The background "rhythm" sometimes seems to fight with the melody.
You also could experiment with using more cords and cord progressions.
Sorry I am not experienced enough to offer more specific suggestions.