For this edition of the Tune Contest, please write a song that could've been used well in a NES game of the late eighties/early nineties. What this means is: up to three layers maximum, if you use MIDI, make sure to use the patch "Lead 1 (Square)" for all layers exclusively, nothing else, if you insist on producing an .ogg/.mp3, please use a synthesizer that gets as close as possible to this sound. For extra points, add parts in your song that would be played when the player loses a life, gets into a fight (boss fight?), wins a stage etc. Of course, it's also a good idea to actually imagine a game you're writing music for - for example you could think of a game set in Persia, use a lot of Arabian scales in your track and that would be a good extra advantage to have as well. Be creative!
It's due December 15th 2008, GMT+/- 1 hour. Extensions are possible.
I hope a lot of people enter, I might whip up some trophies.
Good luck and have fun!
No, no, no, no! That's not how a Nintendo Entertainment System works at all.
Quick blargh on what the sound part of the RP2A03 chip does:
There are five channels:
Two pulse wave channels which can have a duty cycle of 12.5% (thin angry sound), 25% (fatter sound), 50% (squarewave doot doot) and 75% (sounds the same as 25%) and 16 volume steps, from 0 to 15
One digital 4-bit triangle wave channel on which the volume can't be changed. Either on or off.
One noise channel, generates white or periodic noise. 16 volume steps.
And lastly a DPCM channel, for 6-bit delta-PCM samples, sampling rate at most 33.14 KHz
Luckily, there are a bunch of relatively easy to use tools for making proper NES music around. Have some useful links:
http://www.2a03.org/ - the NES music archive
http://gigo.retrogames.com/download.html#g-nsf - G-NSF, a player that plays NSF (NES Sound Format) files. I recommend getting the English version.
http://www.nullsleep.com/treasure/mck_guide/ - Music Creation Kit / Music Macro Language tutorial by Nullsleep
http://famitracker.shoodot.net/ - Famitracker, a tracker that it's impossible to make anything else than NES music with. This is what I use. Exports to NSF.
http://ekid.nintendev.com/nes.htm - s3m2nsf, a nifty little thing by Mukunda Johnson that takes special s3m files (created from template included in the zip) and converts them into nice and shiny NSF files.
You still need a tracker to create s3m files though, such as Open Modplug Tracker (http://lpchip.com/modplug/viewtopic.php8) or any other tracker that saves to s3m.
As I was typing about chiptunes on my blog. Great Idea man. I'll try and enter this one.
I know, I know, Inkoddi. I have been making music using famitracker myself. :p
I just don't want everybody to have to download a certain program in order to enter, then nobody would. So I tried to get as close as possible with standard MIDI limitations. If you have a better idea on how to do that, I'm all ears!
I'm posting my chiptune cover on the Barn Runner's theme..hope you like it. And I hope it's an acceptable entry.
Listen (http://ledzepforever.googlepages.com/barnrunnerchiptune.ogg)
Quote from: Dualnames on Fri 05/12/2008 12:28:04
I'm posting my chiptune cover on the Barn Runner's theme..hope you like it. And I hope it's an acceptable entry.
Listen (http://ledzepforever.googlepages.com/barnrunnerchiptune.rar)
Hey Dualnames, that's really a no-go, posting a .rar file in a contest that could quite possibly involve tracker files - I've been listening to a compressed archive for 20 seconds waiting for the melody to begin...haha
Well, that tune contest is the one to finally present to everybody who has not yet enjoyed the sadly discontinued Ben304 game Appleseed:
Applecore (http://www.box.net/shared/iafpezhs47)
I realize that the polyphony is ridiculous, but I am such a polyphonic guy, I can't help it.
edit: Thanks, peder! Fixed the link.
Well, I posted it in a ogg file..Damn, I really have trouble getting your humour ;D Anyways, I made it so rather than sit where it sits, I'd rather it doesn't.
For a VST softsynth solution for NES sounds, try (the free and downloadable) TriForce... it sounds great and authentic. I use this often for composing before I patch up more complex voices on my analogue gear.
You can download TriForce here:
http://www.tweakbench.com/triforce
I'll try to come up with an entry for this one. :) Does the three layers include all drum sounds + all voices?
Quote from: kaputtnik on Fri 05/12/2008 12:38:54
Well, that tune contest is the one to finally present to everybody who has not yet enjoyed the sadly discontinued Ben304 game Appleseed: Applecore (http://www.box.net/shared/iafpezhs47")
Fix your link!
You got " after the link which messes it up ;). (adds %22 after the link).
Peder.
This contest seems a bit too exclusive for my taste. I'd love to enter but I really have no interest considering the restrictions you've set.
Couldn't you just accept any song and then judge on whether it sounds appropriately like NES music or not?
Like I said, I'd love to enter.
Awesome topic I will definitely try to enter sometime!
In Legfish Adventure World, you control Legfish, a top hat wearing fish with legs that likes to collect magic star shaped crystal shards for no apparent reason. There is a problem though, all seven star shaped crystal shards are guarded by evil bosses with hordes of minions out to stop poor little Legfish at any cost.
But with fishlike jumping and, after a few powerups, laser shooting abilities, Legfish is able to murder anyone that tries to oppose him.
This is the music for Stage 1-1: Jimble coast.
(http://www.armchairs.be/Inkoddi/jimblecoast.png)
NSF: http://www.armchairs.be/Inkoddi/jimbles2.nsf
MP3: http://www.armchairs.be/Inkoddi/jimbles2.mp3
Inkoddi, your song is adorable, and it sounds just like the real thing!
I really want to enter, but all I have is Anvil Studio. Does anyone know of a way to convert a midi so it can use these sounds?
Now thats awesome Inkoddi! Instantly took me back a couple of years!
I have downloaded the famitracker program but didnt find it very intuitive and would have needed some time to get into it. So I chose the square-wave-method proposed by dkh to make a short tune. Therefore I've imagined some Mega Man sort of game.
edit: Here's the new file using Triforce as creatorlars' proposed. (http://www.box.net/shared/6opqe30dqo)
The tune is build up like:
- 0:00 - 0:20 - short intro sequence
- 0:20 - 1:18 - loopy level music part; easily rushing through the level and shooting stupid metallic-monster-creatures.
- 1:18 - 1:42 - disgustingly difficult boss fight; player's death after a few seconds making it necessary to play the whole level again -.-
Here's mine
NES style
(http://www.box.net/shared/t1h3em9y52)
Boojiboy, your song sounds familiar... very Maniac Mansion-ish. :)
Thanks,
if you're not saying I ripped it off.
Dare I ask for an extention till the 17th? So I can change my entry?
But you already have plenty of time to change your entry in two more days, Dualnames. No need for an extension.
Yes, there are still two more days. If you really need more time than that though, please reply and I'll grant the extension.
Great entries so far, by the way. Please keep 'em coming!
Well, actually I'm a little short on time till the 14th..anyway.. but well..it's your call. My entry still is up.
Okay, ~16 hours left! If you are working on something it might be a good idea to let me know here, just so I don't close the competition before you've entered. Also, if an extension feels necessary now is the time to let me know.
Last minute submission!
Forces of Nature: The Epic Fantasy RPG that Totally Doesn't Rip Off Final Fantasy
(Right-click, Save As on the links.)
"Main Theme" - www.freewebs.com/luvrayman/NESFON.mp3
"You Died Because You Were Dumb" - www.freewebs.com/luvrayman/NESFONDEATH.mp3
Okay, then this is closed now. Thanks for all your entries. Winner will be announced shortly.
Okay, this was extremely hard to decide, I loved all the entries and they really all had at least ONE thing really amazing about them, but in the end I liked Inkoddi's entry the most. He also did a lot of extra work, even drawing that mock-up etc.
As I said, I was happy with the participation and the quality, thanks guys!
Yay!