music is as important as gameplay

[D3preda7ion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcDPr...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2p9Lckj3pc

those amazing pieces of music are what made Generals so memorable. i haven't heard from the composer Bill Brown in ages, but his music style from generals with his hybrid of techno/metal/oriental/middle eastern is amazing and will always stay with me.

i really hope EA will get a really good composer. i don't mind james hanningan again, he did a great job, it's just that for Generals 2 maybe it's better to get Bill Brown again- it's HIS baby!

[hellodean]

agreed, half the atmosphere setting is done with music

[Lauren]

Interesting thing that when Generals came out everyone was nagging about the music.

[[GR]Agm]

music is as important as gameplay

No.

Music in RTS is a distraction from the gameplay

For example, you can't hear Stealth Comanches hovering, or the sound of units crushing trees to help zero in on where the enemy is.

And of course people will come in here and say it means the game is poorly designed if you have to rely on sounds, but that's silly and narrow-minded. If anything, it's more tactical BECAUSE it involves more senses than just visuals. Imagine if there was a jungle guerrilla tactics game where part of the gameplay required you to use sound to your advantage. Music would be incompatible with such a game, and since the point of a game is GAMEPLAY, then sound-based gameplay is more important than music.

[methuselah]

One of the first things I do is turn the music off. I personally want nothing distracting me from the game itself so off goes the music. I know music is very important to some C&C'ers so I'm cool with those of you that love it.

But music is as important as gameplay? Not even maybe. You can have a great game with no music and have some fun. You can have a great soundtrack on a pig of a game and play it once.

[Golan2781]

I don't think ambient music as in Gen1 is as important as the gameplay. It creates part of the atmosphere but there are more ways to do this. At best it's part of the gameplay. Overall, I prefer subtle situational music that is integrated into the gameplay itself over a background soundtrack - the transition from the old approach to situational tracks is part of why I liked Gen1's more then previous scores.

And of course people will come in here and say it means the game is poorly designed if you have to rely on sounds, but that's silly and narrow-minded. If anything, it's more tactical BECAUSE it involves more senses than just visuals. Imagine if there was a jungle guerrilla tactics game where part of the gameplay required you to use sound to your advantage. Music would be incompatible with such a game, and since the point of a game is GAMEPLAY, then sound-based gameplay is more important than music.

I'm quite impressed by how much you know about people. Usually before they know it.
By the way, in a game based on sound as a means of gameplay communication, music isn't incompatible but part of the game, similar to how graphical display is a means of gameplay communications but is deliberately restricted through FX (scrambling distortion and light tricks are quite popular these days) and FOV limitations such as limited camera heights. Ambient and localized music forms the modern equivalent to this now that game developers increasingly realize how narrow-minded they were for considering such elements only as tacked on.
Note how games relying on visual communication do not allow disabling key visual background effects. Similarly, a game relying on audio communication should not allow turning the music off or down as it severely distorts the feedback.

[Klandri]

Music is incredibly important in establishing the atmosphere and the music of the original Generals was one of the best aspects of the game but nevertheless gameplay, imo, always trumps pretty much everything else.

No.

Music in RTS is a distraction from the gameplay

Just turn it off in the settings then...

[bladexj]

No.

Music in RTS is a distraction from the gameplay

For example, you can't hear Stealth Comanches hovering, or the sound of units crushing trees to help zero in on where the enemy is.

And of course people will come in here and say it means the game is poorly designed if you have to rely on sounds, but that's silly and narrow-minded. If anything, it's more tactical BECAUSE it involves more senses than just visuals. Imagine if there was a jungle guerrilla tactics game where part of the gameplay required you to use sound to your advantage. Music would be incompatible with such a game, and since the point of a game is GAMEPLAY, then sound-based gameplay is more important than music.

No it's not more important than gameplay, but it is important for atmosphere. I don't understand how a little music can be distraction. The whole point of a game isn't just playing the game but being immersed in it. It seems like your here to disagree with everybody.

[Commander_McNash]

Every piece of the game is important, it's just like limbs, you can still go without one or two, but it's not the same as having all your parts working.

[hellodean]

No.
Music in RTS is a distraction from the gameplay

im curious, do you turn the graphical quality down as well so it doesnt distract you aswel? so the units are easier to see.

i see your reasoning in it but
im starting to think you dont like anything about the c&c franchise other than the fact its something you can compete against another human player with