Don't kill me for this.
But I would imagine that music/audio in general plays a rather important part in a game. At least I do take into account. But there isn't a choice to vote, visual/overal enjoynemnt etc... but no audio.
Is there a reason on why there is no audio? Maybe other people don't think it's neccessary? Dunno...
Yeah! Why?!!!!!
And for audio speech the closest thing is "use of sound". I guess there are only a handful of games with speech, and that's why I would have stood a good chance of winning that award! ;D
Maybe they're counting audio as an 'immersing' aspect of the game.
And maybe they're, by using the term "visual", actually meaning "The number of weeners in this game"! :=
/EDIT: Thank you, Pumaman.
Quote from: Steel Drummer on Sun 28/01/2007 16:09:39
Maybe they're counting audio as an 'immersing' aspect of the game.
Yes, this was discussed and the feeling was that music came under the "Immersion" category since good music will really help to make you feel part of the game, whereas bad music can have the opposite effect.
It'd be nice for music & sound to have it's own vote.
QuoteYes, this was discussed and the feeling was that music came under the "Immersion" category
Was it? :P
Indeed! ;)
If you fancy a blast from the past, check out this thread which is where we created the new voting system:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=10267.0
While I do think music plays an important element in a game, it's one of the few elements people can turn on/off, and it's effects on the game are a huge contribution to Immersion. It's also rare that anyone will play a game purely for for the music.
Aahh...memories.
-MillsJROSS
Loom?
Actually I've REplayed plenty of games only because of the music. Lands of Lore, MI, Betrayal at Krondor, to name a few...
The thing is that voting for me, is also a strong feedback to the creators. So the guy who made the game gets it's feedback with a 79% (example), the guy who did...graphics takes the feedback, but the audio guy has nothing really...
Anyway...
Well, some audio guys are going to get something today when they hear the Best Music and Best use of Sound nominations...
It would be nice if there was space for a whole lot more on the AGS games pages... for example, a recommendation system (as someone else suggested recently), a note of if the game had any external awards or reviews (from AdventureGamers, Just Adventure, etc.), a note of whether the game had any AGS awards nominations, etc.
QuoteWell, some audio guys are going to get something today when they hear the Best Music and Best use of Sound nominations...
If they do admirably well, perhaps they will. But what if they don't? Or what if their soundtrack is just 'pretty good' and does not get a nomination? I, as a musician, personally like to hear opinions on my game soundtracks(scarce as they might be), but that doesn't happen too often due to the fact that there isn't a music category in the games page. Take The Shivah/freeware version/, which I made the music for. Apparently 19 people voted for it on the game page, but I got feedback from no more than 4-5 people for my work.
Just my two cents.
As much as I'd love to agree that feedback is nice, I think that the point of the voting sytem is being overlooked. It is mainly for those who haven't played the game. Yes, the game author can get valuable feedback from the voting system, but most of the feedback should probably be drawn from the game thread, or via reviews. It's not like a number score is really going to eleborate that much on anything you need improvement on. If you want your music to be critiqued, ask people in the game thread.
As a musician, I don't really have any problem with music being considered in the immersion category. As far as replaying games with good music, that's fine and dandy, but that must mean you had played it first. I don't think the average person is going to play a game based entirely on the musical score (that's not to say there aren't some people who won't).
-MillsJROSS
I, too, think that music should have its own category. I thought that the music in 6DAS was great, but it didn't draw me in as well as some of the other games that came out last year.
It's obvious that m0ds is just trying to make music for as many games as possible to get an award. CONSPIRACY.
Perhaps the Immersion category could be renamed to Immersion and music(or vice versa)?
QuoteI, too, think that music should have its own category. I thought that the music in 6DAS was great, but it didn't draw me in as well as some of the other games that came out last year.
LOL, well this isn't just about me...but as an ags musician I do feel there's a slight lack of what immersion actually includes in the voting system. It's just too broad. I'm not fussed that its just falls into "immersion", I just agree with Nikolas that it would be nice for a clearer understanding that that means music & sound.
QuoteIt's obvious that m0ds is just trying to make music for as many games as possible to get an award. CONSPIRACY.
One that's obviously not working, as I haven't been nominated for music in any years of the AGS awards :P
QuoteOne that's obviously not working, as I haven't been nominated for music in any years of the AGS awards
That particular conspiracy belongs to me. You will never win!
Definately, music should have its own category.
CJ, or anyone responsible (AGA?) is there any chance of adding audio, or sound in the voting as a new category, and deleting immersion, or either way adding it just like that. Cause right now, I really feel that immersion does not really imply that it is mainly for the sound/music of the game... :-/ It seems that some members here would like that (mainly the music members... raggit, mOds, Vel, me... :p)
And another argument I thought of, a game does not necessarily have to have music to be immersing, or it can be immersing without much music, or even pale and otherwise weak music.
Immersion = use of sound effects, themes of music and art creating athmosphere, style of writing to support the atmosphere...
The rating system isn't a straightforward vote, it's more a guideline to the players possibly playing the game. The categories are good just as is. Actually, the graphics category seems a bit redudant to me, because good graphics are such a subjective thing. Ofcource, there is such a thing as bad graphics, but the scope of good ones is so broad that you can get a completely different rating for two games with almost identical graphical styles and execution of the styles.
I say keep the rating system as it is!
I agree. Once again, I must point out that the rating system isn't for the game author. It's for people who are seeking games. And regardless of your love for music, most people are not searching for games on the criteria of music alone. I don't really think the numbers that you get through voting is going to point out what you did right or wrong in your music. That only a detailed response or review, will fully give you constructive feedback. If I get a 73% on graphics, there's very little I can do with that number. Wheras, we have a forum for the whole purpose of people critiquing your work. Most of any productive criticism will be well written, and won't be converted into a numerical score, just make sure you stress that you'd like criticism whenever a game is released with your music.
-MillsJROSS
Well, it's a good idea to narrow down the awards so you don't have to scroll through things like "Most Frequent Use of Sideburns by Poster". :=
Quote from: TheCheese33 on Wed 31/01/2007 21:00:01
Well, it's a good idea to narrow down the awards so you don't have to scroll through things like "Most Frequent Use of Sideburns by Poster". :=
Awards? The what?