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No need to postpone, I'll have an entry in before the 25th!

I am now postponing it already, waiting for your song now  :

Do acoustic guitars count as strings?

Well, I think I clearly stated that by strings I referred to bowed string instruments, not plucked string instruments... unless you want to try experimenting how guitar sounds when bowed 



P.S. Now if anyone wants, I can postpone the deadline.

No more competitors? Come on...  :

We have always heard string instruments, specially in movies and tv series and we all like string sounds in a form or another. About strings, I mean bowed instruments like violin, viola, cello and so on.

I still remember, long time ago, the time when I didn't like symphony music at all but loved all sort of synthesized string sounds and electronic music... But then I soon realized that to my surprise it was all about the way how they are being played, the style and genre. It was just because of the style that was annoying me and didn't offer the "my cup of tea". The real turning point was maybe the composer of LOTR trilogy; howard Shore... as soon as I saw the Fellowship of the ring, I truely realized that I really like string sounds so much.

"Wow, so beautiful music... there must be some electronic sounds. Uh, no??? Damn. How can this be, I like pure symphony music.. didn't I hate it?"

And now here I am, listening all kind of music, electronic or not...



I think it's enough about the story of mine... now let me explain the rules and the theme of the contest:

1. The main approach into contest theme is soundtrack. Each competitor must introduce us some specific story, situation or just feeling and make the song as a soundtrack for it.

2. The song that each competitor make, should have string sound(s) as essential. It does not matter whether the string(s) of the song is made purely with, covering whole song or is just the "climax" part of it. As long as the string sound is more or less the essential part of song, it's valid. Also I am not restricting the genre.

I must point out that this contest IS NOT about "who's got the most expensive, most realistic and best string samples". Any string sound is valid... it may be sampled, emulated, totally synthesized or even real acoustic instrument. I accept even synthesized "pad" sounds as strings. I am not restricting it too much. Even though if you are in a situation that you "accidently" made a great soundtrack although the strings are maybe not the main role of it, I'll accept it.

What matters in this contest is the expression of the strings and the soundtrack itself, how well it describes the images you gave us and how well the sounds sits in a mix.

As a hint, it may be easier if you would use the situation or feeling that you are experienced or familiar with and use it as an inspiration. If you want, you could tell us something from real life. Also you could introduce us, for example, a painting, a picture, a photo or even a video clip helping you for the inspiration of the story and soundtrack.

If needed, I can postpone the deadline a week maximum.


And now I am pronouncing the contest to begin. May the inspiration be with you! 


As my favourite artist said: "What makes a violin is a violin player, not the violin itself"

Hm design wise I'd say Monkey Island 2. I think this is as good as any adventure can get. CMI is my favourite for graphics and music and just overall feel. I also think "Snatcher" for the SegaCD was a great adventure. For the recent ones I really enjoyed Book of Unwritten Tales.

@ptpt Dark Eye seems really interesting. I saw it on underdogs some time ago before it went offline. Should have gotten it.
For Morpheus: I think I played the demo way back, thought of it as a mediocre myst clone. Maybe I should have given it another try. These days the market was so oversaturated  with CG 1st person adventures

@placebo: Feeble Files was a huge disapointment for me. It had some great moments...and some really frustrating ones.

The underdogs didn't went offline but changed their server and url. It's http://www.hotud.org/

About Morpheus, previously I found the demo (it's totally trashed everywhere... completely deleted from every server) but it wasn't even working properly so can't blame it didn't impress.

I want to know what are you guys thinking about my creation... it can be hardly called as a "song". Maybe "soundtrack without pictures" would be better.

Originally I did this song for a game soundtrack as a new extra song but it became much greater and horrifying than I could even imagine.

I didn't add any pics or videos because I wanted to let you feel free to unleash your imagination. Just close your eyes and create your own version about the context and happenings of this "soundtrack".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LflZckrD-p0&fmt=18

Finally! I managed to finish the song for the contest as promised. 

It became a bit weird... maybe I should had spent more time with it, but at least it's "original". 

The song is called;  "Waking up from unknown place (am I dreaming?)"


http://www.dmelody.com/music/Other%20Creators/AnalogGuy/Waking_up_from_unknown_place.mp3


I basically just improvised everything with a use of some overdubbing.

Sigh...  

Seems like there's either too few composers in AGS community or too few composers who are interested of such competitions.

I will do my own song for this so you will get at least some competitor. It's really disappointing to win for nothing...


I try to hurry and finish it tomorrow, but I may require to postpone it into next tuesday.

Ptpt88, if you need an extension, I think I can work something out, if it's 2-3 days...

I doubt 3 days would be enough... you see, I am doing it with collaboration with a singing friend and she needs a bit training 

I was about to release the Disquiet soundtrack but I thought there's not really much of material so I decided to do at least one bonus track. 

But then I realized I did something more radical than the same style of Disquiet's dark ambient... instead of just some ambient addition, I did soundtrack for an unseen scene of the game!  :o

Now I want Dualnames to hear it first, because I belive he maybe could make an additional scene for the game because I think this soundtrack deserves it. 

I sent several messages for Dualnames without responds althought he's online so I hope he sees at least this message. 

Did you already tell us what is the theme for the music? And when will be the new "hour"?

3 of my favourites;

"Morpheus" from 1998. This is really the best adventure game of all. Nothing else haven't ever touched me in a same way. Just amazing... the graphics and music is stunning! See the trailer (sadly made from spanish dubbed version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px-roc9sA6Q&fmt=18

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Morpheus/Morpheus_Review.shtm


"Dark Eye" from 1995. This is a true masterpiece that is sadly forgotten. This is one of the most original games ever! This is more likely called as visual novel because there's really no puzzles to solve, only hotspots. But the game itself is visually stunning and the twisted atmosphere is one of the creepiest I have ever experience. Specially the voice acting is mind blowing and the music is totally horrifying... in a perfect way! See the trailer by yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPJF3ksJic&fmt=18

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Dark_Eye_HOF/Dark_Eye.shtm


"The Last Express" from 1997. The big GEM! Animation is made from real live acting scenes and transformed into darn great comic style animation and it's just amazing. And the gameplay works at realtime!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aj3SIXUqlo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ykBrHYjAzw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33CScBb1eQE

http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/TLE/TLE.shtm

I also feel a bit shamed of those arrogant people giving only one cup.

This game is more or less something like visual novel which means the gameplay is not the main thing at all and in my opinion electronic and visual novels are always the most underrated games... they are not games, but so called "multimedia experience".

I certainly have played many different adventure games and I have always loved visual novels even more than adventure games with puzzles.

Among the best games I have ever played is this among the most underrated and forgotten game called "Dark eye". It's made in 1995 and it's just stunning at atmosphere and visual elements. The game is made from several Edgar Allan Poe's horror novels. Specially the voice acting is stunning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfPJF3ksJic&fmt=18

LOL. This contest is like made for me! 

A pity thought I must do cover... I hate covers because it's better to do new things and not to be stuck on same stuff...

But as I love 80's music, I really have to do something. The examples above sucks IMHO because they are nothing else than 80's songs turned into nowadays rock.


EDIT: I will make the cover, but sadly I think it won't be finished before the deadline.

So now I learned from previous topic and putted this thread only for my specific song I want you guys to review and make any comments about it.

http://www.dmelody.com/music/Other%20Creators/AnalogGuy/Untitled_Movement.mp3

This song is simply nothing else but an improvisation with my electro-acoustic piano, Yamaha CP-60M (meaning it's totally acoustic instrument with real hammers and strings but designed specially for touring, so less weight and the sound is electrically amplified with Piezo pickups, so you can plug the piano directly into speakers so no micing required! Plus other "improvements" which made it's unique and beautiful character. Sadly any similar instruments are not being made at all nowadays because they think digital piano is fine ). It was made in 1986 but because of poor sales, I presume less than 3000 were ever made. I used only stereo tremolo effect with piano, but otherwise it's totally "dry" sound unlike the overdubbing with rest of my synthesizers with high quality reverb.

http://www.denhaku.com/86/cp60m.jpg


So about the song, I had it for a pretty long time as is... only piano improv. But before releasing it, I wanted to overdub it for better result, and even to my own amazement, it became much much greater than I could ever imagine... I had really a truely creative moments when overdubbing it and I constantly got ideas what I could add and improve and then, finally, after 6 hours of non-stop working, I finished it and the result is really outstanding when comparing to any other music I have ever done.  :o

Well... I certainly know, my sense of rhythm is not good but as always, IMHO the atmosphere and emotions behind the music is more important than the technical context.

Anyway, as you may notice, Dualnames liked it so much he wanted me to put it into his OROW game Disquiet and then to compose the whole game.

So, if anyone could make any critic I would be pleased to hear. If nothing else, just express your opinion about the song, whatever it is positive or negative 

Thanks. But next time I really hope there's separated voting section for music... or is it not good idea?

There's missing "best music" voting... or I presume it is included to the sound department? It should be best sound/music or something like that, right?

And also, can anyone suggest me anything regarding to "One Room" game. I am so frustrated because I can't simply do anything at the beginning because it does not accept or recognize anything I type into input...

Most of us aren't musically skilled enough to give very insightful criticism.    Personally I can tell you my favorites and what I feel about them.

"Lonely music box in the orchestra"

"unforgiving world called the reality"

These felt like your most confident songs.   Many of the others I listened to sounded very unsure, very uncertain.   Or they just weren't to my liking.  *not a big new age fan*

I don't really enjoy the songs of the dolphins and whales, if you catch my drift.

Here's the 2nd thing:   You posted about 20 songs.    Nobody could ever give you constructive criticism of 20 songs in a thread like this.   That tells me you aren't so much looking for criticism but looking for praise.    That's fine.   But you asked for a reason why people aren't chiming in.   I think it might be that they sense you don't actually want criticism, you want to hear good things.

I like those 2 songs!  Maybe make another thread with one song and specific instructions about what you need help with.

Thanks. Well... you're right but I really don't feel right to post over 20 topics for all songs 

I was surprised you actually like the "unforgiving world called the reality". In my opinion it was failure, because at the time I couldn't have proper lead sound and it sounds a bit irritating and also... the worst thing... it was a shock, that I found out to only afterwards that the recording was in fact mono, not stereo, just because I accidently used mic input. This happened before I got my professional sound card.

I disagree because In fact, I was looking for a criticism... and not praise but simply opinions. My songs lacks comments so I really do not mind negative comments as well.

LOL. I really know the term of "dolphins and whales" songs and I do not want to make such, but those songs I did... it was only about my boredom, nothing else.

Bump.

Why it's the music which always get least amount of interests in here forum? 

When the voting starts? And where the OROW games can be tested?