Development Info Pillars of Eternity Kickstarter Update #76: Justin Bell on the Music of Pillars of Eternity

[Ignatius Reilly]

Yep, that's wandering around a quiet town music. Beginning is very, yeah, whatever, we're going on an adventure. Though it's not over the top heroic theme. Last 1:30 is pretty damn heavy though. Starting at around 2:55 mark specifically. I mean, it's like a freaking funeral procession. At least that's how I visualize it. But then we're back to everything being OK.

I don't know if it's better or worse than X music, but it's definitely got it's own qualities.

(I think the Codex is overly obsessed with rankings)

 

[jdinatale]

So, we DISCUSSing music ?

I'll just unleash my inner fanboy at this thread then :



Kirill just has this soupçon of... je ne sais quoi... originality ? It's not all celtic sounds and traditionnal instruments or something.

Spoiler

Parts of that song remind me of this, also an amazing song:

 

[Lord Trousersnake]

Seems like there's been a lot of moaning about some background music for a village

So long as it doesn't loop too frequently it can sound like Hiver fucking for all I care.

 

[Abelian]

Yep, that's wandering around a quiet town music. Beginning is very, yeah, whatever, we're going on an adventure. Though it's not over the top heroic theme. Last 1:30 is pretty damn heavy though. Starting at around 2:55 mark specifically. I mean, it's like a freaking funeral procession. At least that's how I visualize it. But then we're back to everything being OK.

I don't know if it's better or worse than X music, but it's definitely got it's own qualities.

(I think the Codex is overly obsessed with rankings)

No. Why would you ever think that?

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Sounds Lord of the Ringsy, in a good way.

Glad I'm getting the soundtrack on my tier, this'll go on the iPod.

 

[Visbhume]

 

[Nihiliste]

The music is whatever. Sure it's ambient town music but there's also nothing interesting about as far invoking the character of a type of place. In general this traditional orchestral scoring bores the shit out of me so as long as the music suits the game world and adds some color, which I'm sure it will, I'm happy. Would never expect anything that I'd actually want to sit down and listen to as separate from the game.

 

[jdinatale]

Geeze, even a super low budget game has better music than P:E.

 

[tsabu]

I think that these track is quite good actually because it doesn't distract you from the game world. These kind of music should hook you into the game world unnoticed. More like a backstabbing rogue than taunting warrior in shining armor.

When I'm hearing soundtrack above (Lords of Xulima) my reaction is: Ok these soundtrack is awesome! Lets download it! (fuck the game)

 

[Grotesque]

Look at them retards, praising music for not distracting them instead of realising that music should enrich, adorn and enhance player ingame experience.

 

[Flacracker]

is he the same guy that did the intro music of the kickstarter video?
because I can clearly remember that when it was stated that some of that extra money could be used to hire a talented composer, all jumped butthurt that he is a talented guy and they should keep it inhouse.



Ok, now I know why I don't like this crap. Because it sounds too much like this:

Oblivion has great music.

 

[Septaryeth]

Not bad. It has some atmospheric feel to it. Not bad.

Need to see how it works with game play first and foremost.

True to that.
I have no memory of NWN1/2 music, the plot and dialogues (and the annoying voice acting) simply frustrates me so much that I don't really care about background music.
MotB on the other hand left a very big impression. Mulsantir, Lake Shore, Ashenwood, Immil Vale...
Though sometimes there are the opposite, Of Orcs and Men do not deserve Boston Cello Quartet.

 

[himmy]

The PoE music is just fine in my books. Sure, there's games where the music adds a lot to the atmosphere (Gothic series, Morrowind and HoMM IV spring to mind), but in most games music should at least do no harm.

That being said, after trying the alpha for D:OS, I now not only think it might just turn out the best game from the Kickstarterwave, but I'm fairly sure it will have the best music.

 

[KevinV12000]

After all these years, I have to say that Arcanum's violins strike me as the most moving and beautiful game music I've ever heard. Planescape's music would be a close second for me.

With regard to MMOs, I love the music of Vanguard and hope that there is some way I can capture that music before SOE shuts the poor thing down in July.

 

[Abu Antar]

I rhink this was a decent track. Nothing amazing, but also nothing that will be annoying to listen to while exploring the town. It's not really memorable, would be my complaint.

 

[AbounI]

Would never expect anything that I'd actually want to sit down and listen to as separate from the game.

You should sit and listen to this

Spoiler

The Witcher OST : City Safe.I'm sure everyone knows what this track worths

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Well, it's no Final Fantasy 6, but what is nowadays.

 

[The Great Deceiver]

The screenshots are great, such a lovely looking game (to tell you the truth, I was beginning to think we'd never see "painted" backgrounds in cRPGs again; glad I was wrong). The music, however, is (as many have noted) very uninspiring.

I'll just leave some superb pieces from MotB here:





And my absolute favourite:



Ambient really doesn't have to be synonymous with boring. Bell's intentions are clear - but the compositions really fall short of (admittedly high) expectations so far, which is rather worrying at this point.

In contrast, Mark Morgan's early tracks from Tides are, at least for me, far superior.

 

[Gremius]

Obsi, you have a real problem when this tune is more catchy and memorable than yours:


The Great Deceiver: Ah yes, I really love MotB soundtrack.
One of my fav

 

[Grotesque]

Unforgetable.
On my top 5 list of the greatest soundtracks of all time until the end of this universe. (and beyond).

In my opinion, the soundtrack took the game to a whole another level.
Distracted much?

 

[Duraframe300]

Music should complement the gameplay itself. I don't care about listening to game tracks outside of games. At that point I might as well listen to better music.

I like the track and I like the amount of thought Justin is actually putting in to let it complement the game and its sound design.

Also I find nothing more amusing than music discussions because it always ends with pages of pretentioussnes as everyone listens to music and is THEEXPERTZ.

 

[garren]

Music should complement the gameplay itself.

In other news, I hear the sun is pretty darn hot.

I don't care about listening to game tracks outside of games. At that point I might as well listen to better music.

Many people, like myself, enjoy listening to game soundtracks.

I like the track and I like the amount of thought Justin is actually putting in to let it complement the game and its sound design.

Cool.

Also I find nothing more amusing than music discussions because it always ends with pages of pretentioussnes as everyone listens to music and is THEEXPERTZ.

Like yourself?

Now before your inevitable response, I'd just like to point out that, what rubbed me wrong was you claiming that everyone are some pretentious experts, while I think there's some good music and examples posted here. And yes, some people prefer the BG style of music, and PoE is a spiritual successor to it anyway. Not saying Justin's music couldn't work in PoE, best of luck to the guy. I guess we'll see how it holds up after the game is released.

Meanwhile, I hope Obsidian posts more samples so we can continue to nitpick

 

[Duraframe300]

I'd just like to point out that, what rubbed me wrong was you claiming that everyone are some pretentious experts, while I think there's some good music and examples posted here.

Said nothing about everyone. Still pages of pretentious people. As I said the reasons for that are that everyone frequently listens to music and as such as his big opinion/*expert* badge.

]Like yourself?

God no. I'm terrible at music criticz.

 

[Abelian]

it always ends with pages of pretentioussnes as everyone listens to music and is THEEXPERTZ.

everyone are some pretentious experts, while I think there's some good music and examples posted here.

Said nothing about everyone. Still pages of pretentious people. As I said the reasons for that are that everyone frequently listens to music and as such as his big opinion/*expert* badge.

You guys keep misspelling "prestigious" as "pretentious".

Spoiler

 

[tsabu]

Oblivion has great music.

Indeed.
As long as war drums won't appear because some mud crab is chasing you.