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Darthcaboose -> Adding to the Soundtrack! (3/30/2010 1:08:26 AM)
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Hey all,
First of all, just want to get this out of the way, the soundtrack for Distant Worlds is quite fitting of the genre and very impressive to listen to. For a game as detailed and, at least from my perspective, as laid back and non-click-festy (in a good way!) as this, it does an excellent job!
No for my gripes. I've played this game quite a bit this past week, and as great as the soundtrack is, it is a little limiting. In all, the soundtrack is just shy of 30 minutes in total! Well, to combat this, let's dedicate this thread to adding new songs to the pool!
Before I get to my own personal picks, I'll start by saying that you can add music directly to the Distant Worlds\Sounds\Music folder and the song will be added to the pool. If you would like to add songs to create a theme (through the Customization folder), you can do so with a little guidance from the Customization guide at the top of this forum. Keep in mind though that setting Distant Worlds to that particular theme will NOT play the default songs in the regular music folder unless, of course, you add the default music into that folder too! Make sure the files are mp3 too, as Distant Worlds will only use mp3 sound files!
Additionally, I'm aware that some of these songs may not be public domain for the intents and purposes of adding them to the game. Personally, most of the songs listed here are from other video game soundtracks, so shifting a few files around your computer should be alright. If you do not own the game though, be aware of the ethical issues behind getting those type of sound files! As such, take the songs listed here as suggestions and opinions and use common sense when figuring out how to get to listening to them!
Legal issues aside, let's get to the lists! Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any way to associate events happening in-game to the soundtrack. That won't stop me from listing songs pertaining to certain game elements!
Starting Out / Exploration / Expansion: Ahhh, the true essence of what it means to play a 4X. Starting with but a handful of ships and colonies, you take to the stars in your scout ships to explore strange new worlds and for colony ships to go boldly where no [insert alien race here] has gone before!
Most have probably not heard of it, but there's an ambitious space-flight MMO that's been in the works for quite a while (and quite a while still) called Infinity: The Quest for Earth. Part of its development process is based on graphics and audio contributions by the masses. The soundtrack for the game, intended to be epic and exploration-y, would fit quite well in any 4X game.
Here's the Forum link for all the Music Contributions thus far, if you're interested in checking out opinions on some of the songs.
Here's the link for the list of music itself.
What do I recommend? Well, most of what the users on that forum suggest work well. Personally though, these are my favorites:
Paaltio - Interstellar travel: Such an epic song. Words don't do justice to convey the sense of "You are here. But not for long!" you get from hearing this song!
Helios - The Sun
TheDarkPal - Exploring The Infinite Universe (might be too dissonant for some)
Kaiyoti - Infinity Fantasia
Listen to them all; there's quite a few that could fit into other categories in this list!
Epic / Mid-Late Game / Managing The Empire: So you've built your empire and the rate of expansion is slowing down. You've got an economy to manage for the sake of keeping the Private sector safe, and you'll need some epic music that makes you feel like the Universe is yours for the taking (though you ain't quite there yet!).
Sins of A Solar Empire; some on the forums consider it a light 4x-RTS game, but the music for that game fits the mood quite well!
Vasari Theme: Here be space aliens! The Vasari theme is an excellent depiction of the mature (though somewhat despotic and, gasp, SINful) alien empire that's trying to rebuild from its fallen state (in game, they're running away from an unknown monster / alien force / destroyer-of-everythings, which is how they end up in human/advent territory). Zooming out to watch your empire take its place in the stars, the stoic nature of the music helps develop the feeling of true power! ...And maybe even a tinge of fear and desperation over the prospect of some alien force / empire attacking and bringing your mighty regime down!
Advent 5: Short, but sweet. An interplay of the whispy, non-violent Private sector that dominates the melody (and your economy!) along with the arpeggio-like rhythm that is the rock-solid defensive support of the military ships of the State. What song could better describe Distant Worlds?
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 & 2: An awesome game... Heck, any soundtracks by BioWare'll usually be worth scavanging!
The Sith: I am the emperor now! *Only an emperor of the Way of Darkness!* Rawr!
The Sith Lords Theme: Not the stoic song like those from Sins of a Solar Empire, but a tad more fluid; like you manipulating those hundreds of troops on different planets to stop the AI from bankrupting you by buying guns without thinking of the gooey, tasty power of butter!
Space Battles! / Pew-Pews Galore! / Unleashing the Might of [Insert Race here] on [Insert other race here]:
Star Wars: KOTOR: Again! Just for this one song...
Darth Malak Battle: The frantic pace of the music is pretty much the sensation you get when watching your hastily-drafted escorts and frigates rush in to battle, while the capital ships stay on the back line firing salvo-after-salvo of torpedos. Yum!
Eminence Symphony Orchestra's take on the Starcraft II trailer theme: Sounds quite cool, dunno if I'll add it, but it sounds dynamic enough to any space battle of sorts. Mad props to the Eminence Symphony Orchestra though; lots of their music just sounds quite impressive enough for anything!
*More to come*
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