So as many of you may know, I'm making a sort of fast-paced action platformer with some tribute to the Castlevania franchise, which I've played none of. The story is centered around the events of a man who brought winter to a place that never knew snow, in an effort to wake the remaining members of his dying race, the yukinoko. These monsters don't necessarily get along well with humans, so the protagonist, being his city's guardian figure, is the one sent to deal with them.
Along the way, he meets someone with moderate time-controlling powers, which the player can exploit during stages. However, they soon learn that the antagonist plans to freeze time, condemning the country to eternal winter, and ending all life in favor of the yukinoko.That being said, I have a few requests:I've been quite busy the last month and it's only going to get busier. I can crank out maybe 2-3 stages and their respective bosses before the deadline, but I'd really like to get as much done as I can, and I promised not to drop out.If you are looking to participate in F4D and haven't been able to, I need either someone who has good level design skills that pertain to action platformers, or someone who can take over drawing backgrounds and tiles, which is my primary weakness.If anyone wants to take one of those immense weights off my shoulders, I would be more than obliged.As an added note, due to my impending graduation, the need to find a full-time job, and the dedication to my portfolio project, Summer's End, I am sad to announce that this is the last large-scale competition I plan to enter for a while. That is, unless someone goes off and makes one of those tempting large-scale comps again (I'm looking at you, Toast).For what it's worth though, I'm going to be spending the entire first half of next year working on nothing but my portfolio project. While I hope to show my progress here once in a while, I'll also be needing people with a good eye for detail to do testing. It's a 3D psychological survival horror game focused around puzzles and actual survival (none of this machine-gunning down hordes of enemies shit), and something I'm very eager to work on.
With my lack of feeling like working on my F4D game… A collaboration sounds like a nice idea. I'll try to catch you on IRC.
All of you are jerks except for Mega. >=[
…Who, after a short discussion on IRC, decided against graphics because of our clashing styles.So since nobody's expressed interest, let me leave off with an experimental track of mine.I like to experiment with nearly every new track. The experiment here was to venture away from my usual instrumentation style while still maintaining my composition style, by combining a fair variety of instruments. Additionally, I wanted to mess around with having strings as a supporting instrument rather than my lead (as per the middle section). It came out pretty well, I think. My favorite part is 0:42.My workflow for this track was so ridiculously different from any other track I've made.For all those who call my music Asian, that is a dulcimer, not a koto. Not saying it doesn't still sound Asian, just that the general consensus that my music sounds Asian is a total accident.Now comment so I feel loved.I love the start to that piece. And it does sound a bit Asian, but in a very good way. :P
This is probably my first track that sounds Asian in instrumentation. Most of the "Kilin writes Asian music" comes from the compositional structure. According to Steven and sirxemic, it's something about using a pentatonic scale, which, upon closer examination, is exactly what's going on with the dulcimer-koto instrument.
I just don't know enough about ethnic music to really understand this. I just compose whatever comes to my head. Thing is, I don't listen to any Asian music.Except Touhou.Seriously though, I'm pretty equally influenced by both Eastern and Western music.This coffee tastes like rum.Here's a comment, feel loved. I'll take a listen tomorrow.
I love your music, it's quite amazing and definitely has a well polished feel to it!
That being said…um…I haven't been on this website in FOREVER. (practically forgot about it) I only found this site randomly searching for competitions…At the risk of sounding like a complete noob, what is F4D? I can't find any information on it anywhere. :/-blush-Ah, thank you. And welcome back
F4D stands for Frosty Four Digits, which is a winter-themed competition. It has two weeks remaining, but the competition page is here.Maybe you are secretly Asian :P
And because I'm not well informed in music theory terms I'll just say I think it is the chords and keys you use that cause this sound. Is that what Steven and sirXemic were saying in more informed terms?That being said, these are obviously the chords and notes that inspire you the most, so I see no need to change that intentionally. If you want a different sound I suggest looking up not only different keys, but also different scales. Just listening to them you can hear a large variety of a… what's a good word… tones, influences maybe: some are dark, some light, some have a distinct Spanish sound, and I even remember one that sounded Egyptian. Perhaps you can find some inspiration there for a new sound :)As for this piece, it sounds like a very good battle sequence tune, with already a hint of victory. The only part I might comment on is making the transition into the loop at :56 a little smoother. The song goes from the climax to just the background beat and base. It leaves me with the sense that something is missing. Perhaps you can wind down out of it or leave just one harmony piece playing? Whatever sounds right. Now go back to eating your fried rice with chopsticks on the Chabudai. :>Oh, no, no, I wouldn't change how I compose at all. I just love feedback and when people's feedback implies that I picked up a certain style unintentionally, I want to learn more about how that happened. It's a good thing though.
Thanks everyone for your feedback. Judging by the reduced criticism I'm getting, I can either assume I'm getting better, or that whatever I'm making is no longer interesting enough to criticize fully.I do like experimenting with various musical concepts though. Maybe one day I'll attempt to compose in the Locrian mode.I'm cringing already.