Call to Arms' Musical Direction

[SAUSAGESTAB]

I feel that Call to Arms' Musical Direction is heading in a wrong direction, I've done some research on the subject, I've talked the talk and walked the walk, I've asked some Call to Arms players about the current music, like the loading theme and the main theme and the general consensus, is muted, meaning the music is either unpleasant, or infact boring. (sorry Instinct et al)

I feel that the current musical direction (especially the loading screen) is trying to tell me to take this game seriously in a cringe way, and I don't feel that this is a good direction to be taking Call to Arms musically.

What I mean (loading theme for this example) when I hear the current loading theme to Call to Arms I feel like I'm going to sit down about to watch Black Hawk Down or something instead of pumping myself for action and gameplay. Which I'm going to use Battlefield 2's MEC loading theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0aXAm0jqd0 as what good video game "middle-eastern" loading theme feels like. This is a good theme, as it gets me pumped for the match ahead (Strike at Karkand anyone?). (edit oops wrong youtube link out lol)

What I am suggesting is that the music style should change towards a more Modern and Video Gamey feel. Going back to the older RTS's of our times with great soundtracks like KKND xtreme and Command and Conquers where the musics I feel played with not only sounding good, but improving the immersion of the game. I will also add, the potential is great for Call to Arms, as its not just about USA vs GRM, when other factions are added, its a Free for All in terms of factions and the music can capture that feeling, especially during multiplayer.

I wish to post up these musics as more of inspiration for potential music styles for Call to Arms. As you can see most video game music have strong defining beats, normally making the music more memorable and provides an "oompf" to the gameplay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAwsH2vCiUE (KKND xtreme Survivors 1) - a more "in your face" ingame theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9-Yfa9HRTw (KKND xtreme Survivors 2) - a more subtle ingame theme, but picks up with a strong beat in a minute.

https://youtu.be/Vx1igDCbgq8?t=55s (Command and Conquer 1 Gameplay) This YouTube video is to show how a good theme can benefit a game even if its an RTS. (As I think it was Sunbeam who said that RTS's aren't really that good for music).

For more complex musical ideas, ingame music can change perhaps depending if the match starts at night, and if so could have a more stealthy and subtle feeling, but also works when theres action, heres an example using Syphon Filter's Soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ZdxwCg01U - open the description and look up the music in the tracklist, 00:43 Georgia Street (Suspense), 06:33 Destroyed Subway (Suspense) and 28:32 Expo Center Reception (Suspense). I can imagine playing Call to Arms on Dam, Consturction Sight, Market etc at night with these tracks.

Also returning to loading themes from before, I would suggest that loading themes should change depending on which faction your vsing which would be interesting to give every faction a special theme.

If I get the chance, I would appreciate if someday the music director of DMS (if you guys have one) and he/she would like to join the discussion here on the forum would be an honour and to discuss about the direction Call to Arms is taking musically. Also I hope I'm not too late with this suggestion and I hope not all the music has been completed or set in stone yet.

[natnat]

Interesting Sausages, I feel that Mowas2 was due a new soundtrack.
Personally that Middle Eastern one has too much going on. RTS soundtracks need to have a subtle but memorable music (Age of Myth anyone?)
The KND tracks feel a bit too 90's for my taste and i would prefer a slicker and edited track would be more suitable for modern combat.
Also this game is considerably more tactical based so music should pay heed of this fact by ensuring the music isn't too grand/epic.

[O()O]

You can make your own Call To Arms music mod to suit what music you
like or think the game needs.

[GamingOutkast]

Originally posted by O()O:

You can make your own Call To Arms music mod to suit what music you
like or think the game needs.

or you could just appreciate a customer gave a well thought out thesis and back it up with a conclusive argument

[Alldaboss]

All are valid points im sure there will be more music added in the future, hopefully we will recieve some for missions for cool action scenes and such, we just got to let the game grow and see what it has in store for us.

[Scourge012]

Originally posted by GamingOutkasts:

Originally posted by O()O:

You can make your own Call To Arms music mod to suit what music you
like or think the game needs.

or you could just appreciate a customer gave a well thought out thesis and back it up with a conclusive argument

Conclusive Argument: Music is a matter of taste. What one thinks is appropriate, another will think is inappropriate. This has been true since the dawn of time. There is, never was, nor will be One True Music. If your vision is so different, the game allows you to change it for yourself through modding.

I for one feel the music is appropriate. It fits the theme. Funny the OP should mention Black Hawk Down. I loved that movie. And I love that the game's music evokes it.

[Tiberius]

Originally posted by SAUSAGESTAB:

I feel that Call to Arms' Musical Direction is heading in a wrong direction, I've done some research on the subject, I've talked the talk and walked the walk, I've asked some Call to Arms players about the current music, like the loading theme and the main theme and the general consensus, is muted, meaning the music is either unpleasant, or infact boring. (sorry Instinct et al)

I feel that the current musical direction (especially the loading screen) is trying to tell me to take this game seriously in a cringe way, and I don't feel that this is a good direction to be taking Call to Arms musically.

What I mean (loading theme for this example) when I hear the current loading theme to Call to Arms I feel like I'm going to sit down about to watch Black Hawk Down or something instead of pumping myself for action and gameplay. Which I'm going to use Battlefield 2's MEC loading theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0aXAm0jqd0 as what good video game "middle-eastern" loading theme feels like. This is a good theme, as it gets me pumped for the match ahead (Strike at Karkand anyone?). (edit oops wrong youtube link out lol)

What I am suggesting is that the music style should change towards a more Modern and Video Gamey feel. Going back to the older RTS's of our times with great soundtracks like KKND xtreme and Command and Conquers where the musics I feel played with not only sounding good, but improving the immersion of the game. I will also add, the potential is great for Call to Arms, as its not just about USA vs GRM, when other factions are added, its a Free for All in terms of factions and the music can capture that feeling, especially during multiplayer.

I wish to post up these musics as more of inspiration for potential music styles for Call to Arms. As you can see most video game music have strong defining beats, normally making the music more memorable and provides an "oompf" to the gameplay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAwsH2vCiUE (KKND xtreme Survivors 1) - a more "in your face" ingame theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9-Yfa9HRTw (KKND xtreme Survivors 2) - a more subtle ingame theme, but picks up with a strong beat in a minute.

https://youtu.be/Vx1igDCbgq8?t=55s (Command and Conquer 1 Gameplay) This YouTube video is to show how a good theme can benefit a game even if its an RTS. (As I think it was Sunbeam who said that RTS's aren't really that good for music).

For more complex musical ideas, ingame music can change perhaps depending if the match starts at night, and if so could have a more stealthy and subtle feeling, but also works when theres action, heres an example using Syphon Filter's Soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ZdxwCg01U - open the description and look up the music in the tracklist, 00:43 Georgia Street (Suspense), 06:33 Destroyed Subway (Suspense) and 28:32 Expo Center Reception (Suspense). I can imagine playing Call to Arms on Dam, Consturction Sight, Market etc at night with these tracks.

Also returning to loading themes from before, I would suggest that loading themes should change depending on which faction your vsing which would be interesting to give every faction a special theme.

If I get the chance, I would appreciate if someday the music director of DMS (if you guys have one) and he/she would like to join the discussion here on the forum would be an honour and to discuss about the direction Call to Arms is taking musically. Also I hope I'm not too late with this suggestion and I hope not all the music has been completed or set in stone yet.

Too much text about a minor issue.

What you are trying to say is :" This game needs more content related music ".


I agree with you, even if it is the first time I've ever thought about it.


PS: The first song was used in Battlefield 2, as far as I can remember? A great game!!

[SAUSAGESTAB]

Originally posted by Scourge012:

Conclusive Argument: Music is a matter of taste. What one thinks is appropriate, another will think is inappropriate. This has been true since the dawn of time. There is, never was, nor will be One True Music. If your vision is so different, the game allows you to change it for yourself through modding.

I for one feel the music is appropriate. It fits the theme. Funny the OP should mention Black Hawk Down. I loved that movie. And I love that the game's music evokes it.

It is true that Music is a matter of taste, but Black Hawk Down is a movie, and Call to Arms is a game, yes Black hawk down has powerful emotional music, but I don't think it belongs in Call to Arms. I don't think Call to Arms is about an overarching story where the "GRM" is starving out its citizens for domination and dictatorship and the USA flies in with Black Hawks and then it gets RPG'd and so-on. Call to Arms really just an RTS with little context, its practically (like any other RTS) "they are not the same team, so fight those guys".

Plus Call to Arms won't just be about USA vs GRM (if your going on that it must be a fight between the West and the Middle-East) it will be all sorts of combination of factions battling each other. I feel that Call to Arms will be about the major factions whatever they'll be, will be fighting for control on whatever lands, therefore making it more reminiscent of Command and Conquer, with major factions fighting for control. I reckon a rocking, high octane beat can really make a game, as shown on the example I used of Command and Conquer gameplay. Where the game is all about major factions fighting each other. (I can't wait till all other factions are done and seeing perhaps EU vs USA or Russia vs GRM or some other crazy scenarios even USA vs USA or GRM vs GRM)

Also once you add in other major factions the game becomes ridiculous at that point, so instead of trying to follow the "Black Hawk Down" music style of seriousness, you might as well get a good beat ingame and there isn't really a need to force serious into the game.

To Natnat, I don't think RTS music necessarily have to be subtle, it can be a rocking theme and still work fine, but I do agree that KKND's theme is probably a bit old in terms that its in the 90's and a slicker approach would work better, but I wasn't really asking for a copy, but putting them up as inspiration to the video game feeling of the music.

I will say Voice acting of individual soldiers play a huge role in adding to the immersion with the music, I can't imagine playing KKND with the cool theme and all and the soldiers just randomly yells "For Uncle Sam!" or "Enemy is in the reach zone!". (But I won't continue this conversation about voice acting and how it can work in conjunction with a good soundtrack, as this is for another suggestion another time)

But for Slicker Tracks, have you heard the Syphon Filter soundtrack in the OP, and the specific tracks I outlined, would work well with Night time matches/campaign, where it is more subtle than the KKND/C&C soundtrack, but because of the way Call to Arms is designed, where characters are capable of independent and stealthy movements.

[76561198051514398]

Nat Nat - Interesting Sausages, I feel that Mowas2 was due a new soundtrack.
Personally that Middle Eastern one has too much going on. RTS soundtracks need to have a subtle but memorable music (Age of Myth anyone?)

Sausage Stab - as what good video game "middle-eastern" loading theme feels like. This is a good theme, as it gets me pumped for the match ahead (Strike at Karkand anyone?). (edit oops wrong youtube link out lol)

" Anyone? " I hate both of your opinions now

[SAUSAGESTAB]

Just wanted to share a bit more music from RTS's with some amazing beats!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mECdES52F_Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mzfnUIdzq4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJuwmmN9CfI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umC-1xMQs4w

[Nooblesse ✿]

Please someone kill her!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl5YvN21pG0

[Mastermind2000]

I agree. I did post it in a wishlist earlier, hopefully devs are reading it. I did play a game after a long break, and that music sounded too pompous, and unfitting, i had urge to turn it off. I suggested they take a look at classic CnC games for inspiration or Act of Aggression soundtracks for inspiration. It should sound more modern, not necessary have a fast tempo, but still. Not orchestral WW2 era one.

[Bruno Fisto]

I agree that music isn't that memorable in CTA but something like the C&C 95 soundtrack just would be unfitting.

I think this examples would be better:

https://youtu.be/xVJqw977S_8

https://youtu.be/x530q4hlv9c

https://youtu.be/OBm2mz3IHoM

Command and Conquer Generals had the best soundtrack in C&C, in terms of immersion, in my opinion. Every faction had it's own unique sondtrack that was fitting it's scenario.

But just copying this style won't be good. C&C and CTA have very different gameplay. So I woudn't make something as fast paced as the C&C music.