Everyone here is busy considering gameplay . . . Since I'm late to that dance, and since I've got a fondness for the music of this game (now and in the past) I wanted to say a few words about what currently is in the game . . . what may be in the game . . . and what can we get into the game.
I've been really taken with the new version of the Main Theme. A great piece, that at times borders on a masterwork!
If this piece is a collaboration between Mr. Mason Fisher and Mr. Geoff Knorr, then I say bravo! It begins with the classic theme and then, at 20 seconds in, weaves it into something new, something aspirational, something very HUMAN. At 28 seconds we get the first Creshendo, but not the last, as we climb the metaphorical mountain in a amazing, full throated chorus of Brass and Strings and Percussion that lasts until the one minute mark (the chimes are a particular favorite of mine).
This 32 second bit is what I really want to see more of in the game. That theme could be twisted into a few different ambient pieces that could easily compliment much of the early and middle games.
At the 2:14 mark, everything quiets down down a few notches, but the violas and cellos keep time and the violins and flutes sing a ballad and we imagine the successes and failures of our growing Civilizations, leading to the ultimate goal, found at the 3:49 mark. And we're at the peak, we've succeeded and our people have attained the apex we have striven for.
Frogboy, in his comments, stated his preference that the Main theme only be played as the game opens. He's probably right about that. Yet I cannot help but think that by keeping the themes developed here and kept here would be a missed opportunity. There is great potential, especially in the 2:14 to 3:49 area, for ambient music that can build tension, build anticipation, build excitement, without exhausting the listener.
I know many people choose not to listen to the music the game comes with. I would love to have this game be one of the few, like the Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, that people feel like they'll need to own if only just for the music.
I'm really tired right now, so if I've prattled on, forgive me. Yet I am passionate about the music and would encourage the Development team to perhaps ring some more work outta Mr. Fisher and Mr. Knorr.
His Grimmness, Tolan Tiberius Grimm
Glorigoth, Capitol, the Grimmian Federation
You really do love music.^
This is going to date me, but anyways... Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s I purchased the theme music from Star Wars films - on vinyl (!) - later the CD collections -- and I immersed myself in every delicate phrase and sweeping crescendo, the minor interludes expressing emotion, or building tension, and the major chords of thundering marches and dramatic adventure. I memorized many themes and can hum some of them today even in order with some film sequences. As background, in high school I was a student of music (choir and band) so the that equipped me to appreciate in detail epic music in epic films -- and epic games .
I am really looking forward to hearing the various theme music to come in Gal Civ III, and I agree, Froyboy should not be shy to exploit the potential of music to assist our immersion into the game experience.
Don't worry about dating yourself. I already hold the record, having been alive for 3/4 of a century. Ever heard of a singer named "Johnie Ray" and the song "The Little White Cloud That Cried"? Then, of course, there was the Elvis Presley period that followed.
Yes, the game, and in particular the main theme, is/are spectacular. I have high hopes for the finished compositions.
Yes, I do love the music . . . and I'm very fond of Mason Fisher, as I'm also a fan of the Age Of Wonders games and he's been a contributor to their music library as well.
I think it would be cool if maybe Mason or Geoff Knorr would pop on here and give us a feel for what, if anything else, they have in store for Gal Civ 3. I'd be especially interested if Knorr made appearances in the Twin Cities, area as he has, in the past, done some composing here.
While not bad, I have to say I prefer the music in SoaSE. But good music definitely makes a difference in a game like this.
To paraphrase, "Beautiful music is in the ear of the beholder." I have not found the music in any of the GalCivs to be pleasing, so I was very glad when they added support for playlists. I am hoping for playlist support in GC3. For now, I have the music settings in GC3 turned off and I play my own playlist through a media player that came with Win8.1.
I don't want to poke fun of your age, but I have a question.
You were alive and kicking when the The Beatles were around; what were they like? I've never heard one of their albums, only crappy digitalized versions.
Random question, I know.
I never went to a concert. From everything I saw and heard from folk at the time, the Beatles experience was execrable. Screaming beatlemaniacs ruined any live experience for musical purposes. At least, it was so here in the US. In performances on TV and such they were charming guys who sang and played all right if not great. Their strength was always in the quality of their writing. They produced high quality albums for the time, but I won't debate vinyl versus digitized.
I didn't care much for them at the start, or for Presley either for that matter. But both the Beatles and Presley later came out with numbers that were quite different to their initial work and that showed flexibility, sensitivity, and taste (IMHO). I never went to any of their concerts. I only listened to their music via the radio or vinyl. I never liked the popular concert scene.
Haven't seen one of those in ages, still have a player in my garage though. Not sure if that dates me more than you
Honestly, it never even occurred to me that older people (beyond 50) even gave video games a passing glance, let alone played them with enough dedication to buy-in to something like the founder's edition or converse regularly on forums on the internet. Ignorance on my part; I'm glad to have been shown wrong.
I just wanted to note that I absolutely love the new music in GCIII, and for me music is a big part of the experience!
You might say I am the exception (one of them at least) that proves the rule.
Greetings! Mason here...one of the GC3 composers.
Thanks for all of the positive comments!
Geoff Knorr worked his magic with the GC3 Main Theme. Yes, I'd have to agree, a wonderful piece of music! He's also composed many of the game's thematic music tracks.
I've been working through the ambient game play music tracks. I think if there is a general concept for the ambient music, I'd have to say I'm trying to preserve the GC2 flavor while at the same time, working to move the Soundtrack into the future of the series. Many of the melodies will be familiar..several will be totally brand new, and a few may be surprising.
@Tolan_Grimm Thanks for the kind words about AoW! Another fantastic series....
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