Simple poll - do you like music during game play? I’m trying to decide whether or not to rip the theme out of a game I’ve released.
Personally, I hate sounds in games… I have no music in my game and with 2 mil downloads I’ve not had a single complaint about it.
That’s what I wanted to hear :-). But seriously, not even SFX for yours?
@Sphere Game Studios - your game has great subtle sound effects so it has a sound atmosphere is not a soundtrack.
I like sound effects and musics in games but it is, in my opinion, often added as an afterthought and not executed very well. The sound design, be it a soundtrack and/or sound effects should we something that is addressed at all stages of development. If it adds to the feel of the game, keep it. If it’s an afterthought consider dropping it.
I think it depends on the game… as @sporkfin says I have ambient effects as opposed to a sound track. I have a few effects but not much really. None of the many thousands of support emails I get have have been about sounds. I really think sounds are secondary to playability no-one cares about sounds. most players mute sounds
Thanks for the feedback. I shelled out a couple hundred for exclusive rights to what I think is a killer soundtrack for my game, but it tends to drown out audio cues that are more important.
I will say, though, that two of my favorite games of all time – Super Mario Brothers 2 and the original Doom from the early 90s – wouldn’t be the same to me without their respective soundtracks. It’s been over 20 years since I’ve played the former but those tracks are forever imprinted in my brain.
Something about me and campy 8-bit music, I guess.
ALL of my favorite games feature excellent sound design. Usually there is a soundtrack that sets a particular mood as well as well-crafted sound effects. My comment about poor sound design was really focused on the tendency for rapid-fire app developers to just throw some music and sounds onto an app as an after thought.
@davemikesell - it seems that you put some thought (and money) into your soundtrack. Could you push the music into the background and the just make it louder during tense moments of the game before letting it recede into the background again?
Eh, I really didn’t put a lot of thought into it - I contracted it out, but the guy hit the mood I was looking for perfectly. I still like it, but now that I’m enhancing audio cues it feels a little overbearing. I’m not married to it - working on enhancing the game play now, which appears to me to be missing something.
Missing the elusive “it”, so to speak.
+1 for Doom (especially level 1). What’s your game… is it finished?
4 Eels is the one in question. It’s a simple arcade endless runner.
1.2 is up on the app store now, but the next version will feel a good bit different.
Personally, I would remove the mandatory requirement to enter a name before allowing play. Never put hurdles in the way of game play.
I hear you, but I have to do it at some point since it’s needed to log scores in the global table.
most of the indie programmers don’t have a clue about music, so they just put bad sound effects or worst, bad music on their games.
music is a sense, and it’s a very important one. don’t underestimate it.
background music or effects will improve the user experience, using it badly will lower it. if you have a good musician in your back, use it. if not it’s better not even bother about music.
I studied music since the age of 3 till 14 and I play some instruments. Still, when I want to use music on an app I prefer to go for a professional musician. they are in another league and they will help you extend you app/game to another level.
Sorry, I missed this question earlier - just a server via HTTP/PHP. Completely unsecured.
BTW, new version available on the app store:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/4-eels/id1207560270?ls=1&mt=8
Since my game is a FP RPG, I usually create ambient soundscapes for the game. So depending on different factors per level, I have different soundscapes that I call up. For instance if it is night time, I play a soundscape of crickets, frogs, and owls. My soundscapes are rather small and they loop. (like 15-20 seconds long) Dungeons have rather dark moody soundscapes, some of them such as caves have water drips, bat noises and are created with a filter to create an echo effect. Since you move around from level to level it really compliments the game.
The main music I have in my game is at the Main Menu, that’s usually the longest piece and is about 1 minute long. Then I have music for losing the game and finishing the game. All in all, music seems to be the largest part of the game, and I keep mine rather small to make the download footprint rather small.
I enjoy making the music and I have practiced for a very long time using my trusty Yamaha PSR-170 Keyboard, Garage Band, a bunch of pedal effects and I chop it all up and together with Audacity (which is free and highly recommended) I wouldn’t recommend _making the music _for first time developers with no music experience. But thinking in the same lines and using quality stock music/sound effect to piece together ambient tracks can get you there.
Tangent: one of my favorite things is sound effects. I have a lot of fun making sound effects. Sometimes I have freaked my wife out by using an iPad and Garageband to record sound effects of me banging pots and pans and kitchen knives together to get the weapon sounds. :lol: It’s quite a sight to stumble upon me doing that in the kitchen. :D One of my favorite sounds is when you cast a spell to freeze an enemy, the entire effect is just turning the enemy sprite blue like it is frozen, but the sound effect of me crinkling plastic container (something crunchy like cookies or chips package) really brings the simple effect together.
While my first game completely lacks a Volume control like my sequel does, you can check out my Ambient soundscapes & sound effects in my first game. (not free of course, nothing for free ^_^ ) www.questlord.com
@Lava,
Cool, I’m a musician as well and I’m playing around with sound effects now. I think the best ones will come from my kids.
I just bought QuestLord, what are your other apps? I’m going to make a suggestion that Corona add a place in our profile for our apps. I’m always curious to see what everyone else is up to.
Hey sporkfin!
lol re: best sound effects come from [your] kids. :lol:
Thank you for buying QuestLord 1 !!!
This is my 29th year making video games, my other ‘apps’ are not really on mobile phones but on things such as Arcade coin-op machines (NBA Jam Tournament Edition, Revolution X, (back when I met John Romero for the first time)), Dreamcast (Rainbow 6), Gamecube/Xbox/PS2(Over the Hedge), Gameboy Color (Nascar, Frogger2), Gameboy Advance (Earthworm Jim, Cat in the Hat, King Kong, etc.)
So QuestLord is my 21st game… and my first and only App.
Currently busting hump to get the sequel finished!! (QuestLord 2)
@Lava
Now that I know the sources for your sound files, I’m cracking up while I play QuestLord - especially the damage and death thuds and moans ; )
Congrats on a long and remarkable game-making career.
One request for QuestLord 2 - lateral movement (so I don’t have to turn to sidestep). There might not be enough room on the control panel for this but it’s a feature I’m officially requesting now 